 Introduction  Historical sources – ‘Indika’ by Megasthenes and ‘Arthashastra’ by Chanakya and rock and pillar edicts of Ashoka

  321BCE – ascended the throne by defeating Dhana Nanda  Successful because of the guidance and training given by Chanakya  305BCE – Chandragupta defeated Seleucus and conquered north – western India (between Asia Minor and Indus) Chandragupta Maurya

  Seleucus – Chandragupta Treaty – Seleucus gave Eastern Afganistan, Baluchistan and areas west to Indus. Also gave his daughter’s hand in marriage to Chandragupta. He sent Megasthenes to Chandragupta as ambassador and in return got 500 war elephants.  Chandragupta built the first great empire in Indian history.  Empire – Hindu Kush (north – west to Bengal in the east); from the Himalayas in the north to the Narmada in the south. Kalinga was independent. Chandragupta Maurya

  Chandragupta Maurya’s son  Ruled for 25 years  Extended Mauryan Empire to Mysore  Succeeded by his son Ashoka Bindusara

  273BCE – Ascended the throne  261BCE – Got the powerful kingdom of Kalinga under his control. Kalinga was known to control the land and sea routes to South India and South – East Asia.  Kalinga War – turning point in Ashoka’s life – gave up violence and he embraced Buddhism.Fom ‘dig vijaya’ (conquest of territories) he moved on to ‘dhamma vijaya’ (conquest through dharma) Ashoka

 Ashoka’s vast empire Himalayas – north Mysore – South Hindu Kush in North – West Brahmaputra – East Kabul, Kandahar, Herat Parts of Nepal and Kashmir

  dhamma = dharma (religious duty)  Inspired by human values, code of conduct based on the teachings of Buddha  entire life - spread his dhamma  Principles of his dhamma –  1. people – peace, harmony  2. ahimsa, non – violence, non – injury to living creatures  3. love, tolerance and respect towards other religions  4. children – obey elders, elders – sense of understanding  5. truthful, charitable, kind to all even servants and slaves Ashoka’s Dhamma

  followed it strictly himself – set an example for others  visited places related to Buddha’s life like Bodh Gaya and Sarnath  funded construction of Buddhist monasteries  sent Buddhist scholars to spread Buddhism  sent son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka  special officers ‘Dhammamahamatras’  engraved in Prakrit on rocks, pillars and caves – people can read and follow them  organized third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra discuss ways to propogate Buddhism Propagation of Dhamma

  important historical source  comprise of royal commands or proclamations  inscribed on rocks, polished stone pillars and caves  composed in Prakrit and written in Brahmi script  north – west – written in Greek, Kharoshthi and Aramaic Ashokan Edicts

  Ashoka – one of the greatest kings in Indian history  Believed that king is like a father to his subjects  Prosperity, happiness and welfare of subjects – given importance  ‘mahamatras’ – administrative officers  Good roads, shady trees on both sides  Wells, rest houses for weary travellers  Health centres – men, animals  Officials – tour among subjects to solve people’s problems  First monarch to give up violence – universal brotherhood, tolerance Ideals of Kingship

  King – supreme power  Council of Ministers – ‘Mantri Parishad’  Departments – treasury, industry, revenue, security  Official supervises each department.  Division of empire – provinces – controlled by princes of the royal family – ‘kumaras’ – ‘viceroys’ or representatives of the King  Provinces further divided into districts. Districts divided into many nagaras (towns) and gramas (villages)  Every level ruled by an official. Mauryan Administration

  Capital city of Mauryan empire  Administration – role model for administration of cities  Six Committees of five members each  Each Committee in charge of a particular department like industries, regulation of births, deaths, care of foreigners, trade and commerce.  These 30 members – supervised health, sanitation, education related problems.  Elaborate spy system  Well equipped army, infantry, cavalry, elephants, chariots, navy  Department to look after production of weapons.  Army always alert and ready. Pataliputra

  Magnificent walled city  Many gates, watch – towers  Well connected  King’s palace – large, made of stone Pataliputra

  Age of cultural brilliance  Numerous stupas, monolithic pillars (edicts of Ashoka), caves and sculpted figures – highly polished Eg – Sarnath pillar  Influenced by Buddhism  Ashoka got 84,000 stupas built.  Stupas – strong, semicircular, dome – like structures, made of stones, bricks  Relics of Buddha – his hair, tooth – kept at the base of stupa  Eg – stupa at Sanchi  Built prayer halls, monastries (viharas) Mauryan Art

  Lion capital  Four lions sitting back to back on a circular base – carved from a single piece of stone  Base decorated – sculptures of four animals – separated by four wheels (dharma chakras)  1950 – Lion capital adopted as national emblem of India – currency notes  Wheel – motion, progress – national flag of India Pillar at Sarnath

  Peace, stability – growth of economy  Main occupation – agriculture – farmers encouraged to cultivate on a large scale – irrigation facilities provided to them  Land revenue from farmers – chief source of income for King  Mining, forestry, carpentry, pottery, masonry, trade and commercial activities  Inland and overseas trade – Sri Lanka, Egypt, Greece  Taxes collected from mines, forests, other professionals.  Taxes used for paying salaries to officers, maintain army, build roads, hospitals. Mauryan Economy

  232BCE – Ashoka’s death  Ashoka’s successors – weak, inefficient  Vast empire – difficult to control  No strong central authority – Viceroys became independent  Expenses increased – maintain army, elaborate administrative system  Last ruler Brihadratha killed by Pushyamitra Sunga (founder of Sunga Dynasty) Decline of Mauryan Empire

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