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(Sample Material) Online Coaching for CAPF (AC): History of

India "Ancient Indian History (Part 2)"
in

OnlineCoachingforUPSCCentralArmedPoliceForces(AC)
WrittenExamination
HistoryofIndia
AncientIndianHistory(Part2)
TheMauryanEmpire
TheMauryanempirewasthefirstandoneofthegreatestempiresthatwereestablished
ontheIndiansoil.ThegrowthofMagadhaculminatedintheemergence,oftheMauryan
Empire.ChandraguptaMaurya,whofoundedtheempire(321BCE),extendedcontrolas
far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and his grandson Ashoka, arguably the
most famous ruler of early India, conquered Kalinga (presentday coastal Orissa).
Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler who unified entire India under one political
unit.

ChandraguptaMaurya(321297BC)
In 305 BC Chandragupta defeated Seleucus Nikator, who surrendered a vast
territory. Megasthenese was a Greek ambassador sent to the court of
ChandraguptaMauryabySeleucus.
He occupied the region north of the Narmada (d) But 305 BC saw him in the
campaignagainstSeleucusNikatorwiththetreatyof303B.C.concludingthewar
in favour of the Mauryas. By the treaty, Chandragupta made a gift of 500
elephantstoSeleucusandobtainedthetransIndusregion(theterritoryacrossthe

Indus).
ChandraguptabecameaJainandwenttoSravanbelgolawithBhadrabahu,where
he died by slow starvation (Sale/than). Under Chandragupta Maurya, for the first
time, the whole of northern India was united. Trade flourished, agriculture was
regulated,weightsandmeasureswerestandardizedandmoneycameintouse.
TheJunagarhrockinscriptionofRudradamansaysthatadamontheSudarshana
lake for irrigation was constructed by Pushyagupta, a provincial governor of
Chandragupta Maurya. Later Yavanaraja Tushapha excavated canals for irrigation
duringAshokasreign.

Bindusara(297272BC)
Bindusara extended the kingdom further and conquered the south as far as
Mysore.BindusaraskedAntiochusIofSyriatosendsomesweetwine,driedfigs,
and a Sophist. Antiocus I sent wine and figs but politely replied that Greek
philosophersarenotforsale.BindusarpatronizedAjivikus.
Bindusara,knowntotheGreeksasAmitrochates(derivedfromtheSanskritword
`Amitraghata or slayer of foes), is said to have carried his arms to the Deccan,
extending Mauryan control in the peninsular region of India as far south as
Mysore.
From Divayayadana we come to know that Bindusara appointed his eldest son
Sumana(alsonamedSusima)ashisviceroyatTaxilaandAshokaatUjjain.Italso
tells us that a revolt broke out at Taxila and when it could not be suppressed by
Susima,Ashokawassenttorestorepeace.

Asoka(268232BC)
According to the Buddhist tradition, Asoka usurped the throne alter killing his 99
brothers and spared Tissa, the youngest one. Radhagupta a Minister of Bindusar
helpedhiminfratricidalstruggle.
In 1837 James Prinsep deciphered an inscription referring to a king called
DevanampiyaPiyadassi.Later,manymoresimilarinscriptionswerediscovered.
InitiallytheserecordscouldnotbeattributedtoAsoka.Butin1915wasdiscovered
MaskiinscriptionwhichspeaksofAsokaPiyadassi.
TherewasastruggleforthethroneamongtheprincesonthedeathofBindusara.
This war of succession accounts for the interregnum of four years (272268 BC),
and only after securing his position on the throne, Asoka had himself formally
crownedin268BC.
UnderAsoka.theMauryanEmpirereacheditsclimax.Forthefirsttime,thewhole
of the subcontinent, leaving out the extreme south, was under imperial control.
Asoka (ought the Kalinga war in 261 BC in the 9th years of his coronation. The
king was moved by massacre in this war and therefore abandoned the policy of
physical occupation in favour of policy of cultural conquest. In oilier words,
BherighoshawasreplacedbyDhammaghosha.

AshokaisthefirstkingintheIndianhistorywhohaslefthisrecordsengravedon
stones.TheinscriptionsonrocksarecalledRockEdicts,andthoseonPillars,Pillar
Edicts. The Ashokan inscriptions are found in India, Nepal, Pakistan and
Afghanistan.Altogether,theyappearat47places.
However,thenameofAshokaoccursonlyincopiesofMinorRockEdictIfoundat
threeplacesinKarnatakaandoneinMadhyaPradesh.Ashokanameismentioned
inonlyfourplacesGurjara,Udgolan,Maski,andNittur.
The inscriptions of Ashoka were written in four different scripts. In Afghanistan
area they were written in Greek and Aramaic languages and scripts, and in
Pakistanarea,inPrakritlanguageandKharosthiscript.Inscriptionsfromallother
areasareinPrakritlanguage,writteninBrahmiscript.
AsokasentmissionariestothekingdomsoftheCholasandthePandyas,andfive
StatesruledbyGreekkings.WealsoknowthathesentmissionariestoCeylonand
Suvarnabhumi(Burma)andalsopartsofSouthEastAsia.
According to tradition, Asoka built the city of Srinagar. The Mauryans had closed
connections with the area of modern Nepal. One of Asokas daughters married a
noblefromNepal.TheCeyloneruler,Tissa,modelledhimselfonAsoka.
ThemostimportanteventofAsokasreignseemstohavebeenhisvictoriouswar
withKalinga(260BC).Bhabruinscription,statesthatafteraperiodof21/2years
he became an ardent supporter of Buddhism under the influence of a Buddhist
monk,Upagupta.
ThefindofAshokaninscriptionsatGirnarhillsinJunagarhdistrict(inGujarat)and
atSopara(Thanedistrict,Maharashtra)showsthattheseareasformedpartofthe
Mauryanempire.
Ashokas inscriptions have been found at Maski Yerragudi and Chitaldurga in
Karnataka. Rock Edict II and XIII of Ashoka mentions that his immediate
neighbouringstateswerethoseofCholas,Pandyas,SatyaputrasandKeralaputras.

AsokasDhamma
AsokasDhammacannotberegardedassectarianfaith.Itsbroadobjectivewasto
preserve the social order it ordained that people should obey their parents, pay
respect to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks and show mercy to slave and
servants.AsokasDhammawasneitheranewreligionnoranewphilosophy.Rather
itwasawayoflife,conductandasetofprinciplestobepractisedbythepeopleat
large.
The message of Dhamma was propagated in Aramaic and Greek in the north
westernborderlandofthesubcontinent.Ontheotherhand,theemperorchoseto
issue a large number of edicts in Prakrit in Brahmi script for areas in the Deccan
whichmusthavebeenbetteracquaintedwithDravidianlanguages.
The Kandahar Greek edict, the contents of which have considerable similarities
with and correspondence to REs XII and XIII, enlists the virtues to be inculcated
bypeopleforpractisingEusebeia,i.e.Dhamma.

Though Ashoka accepted Buddhism as his main faith, it would be wrong to think
thatheforcedBuddhistidealsonhissubjects.Heshowedrespecttoallsectsand
faithsandbelievedinunityamongethicalandmoralvaluesofallsects.
InRockEdictVIIhesays,Allsectsdesirebothselfcontrolandpurityofmind.In
RockEdictXIIhepronounceshispolicyofequalrespecttoallreligioussectsmore
clearly. He says, that he honours all sects and both ascetics and laymen, with
giftsandvariousformsofrecognition.
Pillar Edict II Ashoka himself puts the question: What is Dhamma? Then he
enumeratesthetwobasicattributesorconstituentsofDhammalessevilandmany
gooddeeds.Hesayssuchevilsasrage,cruelty,anger,prideandenvyaretobe
avoided and many good deeds like kindness, liberality, truthfulness, gentleness,
selfcontrolpurityofheart,attachment to morality, inner and outer purity etc.
aretobepursuedvigorously.
WhiledifferentMajorRockEdictstalkaboutdifferentaspectsoftheDhamma,the
Major Rock Edict XI contains an elaborate explanation of the Dhamma. The
followingarethemainfeaturesoftheDhamma:

1. Prohibitionofanimalsacrificesandfestivegatherings(M.R.EI),andavoiding
expensiveandmeaninglessceremoniesandrituals(M.R.EIX)
2. Efficientorganisationofadministration(M.R.EVI)inthedirectionofsocial
welfare(M.R.EII)
3. Considerationandnonviolencetoanimalsandcourtesytorelations(M.R.E
IV)andliberalitytoBrahmins,Sramanas,etc.(M.R.EIII)
4. Humanetreatmentofservantsbymastersandofprisonersbythe
government(M.R.EV)italsomentionstheappointmentsofDhamma
Mahamatras
5. Toleranceamongallthesects(M.R.EVII&II)(6)Replacementof
Bherighosa(soundofwardrums)Dhammaghosa(soundofpeace)i.e.
conquestthroughDhammainsteadofroughwar(M.R.EXIII)
6. Maintenanceofconstantcontactwiththeruralpeoplethroughthesystemof
Dhammayatras(M.R.EVIII).

MauryanAdministration
TheKing
TheMauryangovernmentwasacentralisedbureaucracyofwhichthenucleuswas
theking.Asokadeclared:Allmenaremychildren(RockEdictVI).Thekingwas
head of the state. He had judicial, legislative and executive powers. The king
issued what were known as sasana or ordinances. The edicts of Ashoka are
examplesofthosesasanas.
ThekingwasassistedinadministrationbyaCouncilofMinisters(Mantriparishad).
Besides,thereweresomeofficersknownasAdhyakshas(superintendents).
TheMauryanempirewasdividedintoprovinces.Theimportantprovinceswere

directlyunderKumaras(princes).
Theempirewasdividedintoprobablyfiveprovinces.

Provincesweresubdividedintothedistricts,eachofthesewasfurtherdividedinto
groups of villages and the last unit of administration was the village. The
Arthashastramentionsawiderangeofscales in salary, the highest being 48,000
papasandthelowest60panas.

MantriParishad
ThekingwasassistedbyMantriParishad,whosemembersincluded
(i)TheYuvaraj,thecrownprince
(ii)ThePurohita,thechiefpriest
(iii)TheSenapati.thecommanderinchiefofthearmyafewotherministers.

ImportantOfficials

27Adhyakshas
Someofthemare:

The state controlled almost all economic activities.Tax collected from peasants varied

from 5 to 1/6 of the Produce. The state also provided irrigation facilities and charged
watertax.Tollswerealsoleviedoncommoditiesbroughttotownforsaleandtheywere
collectedatgate.Theslateenjoyedmonopolyinmining,saleofliquor,manufactureof
armsetc

CityAdministration
A number of cities such as Pataliputra. Taxila, Ujjain. Toshali, Suvarnagiri,
Champa, Isila, and Kausambi are mentioned in the edicts of Ashoka. The
Arthashastra has a full chapter on the administration of cities. Megasthenese has
describedindetailtheadministrationofPataliputraanditcanbesafelypresumed
thatsimilaradministrativesystemwasfollowedinmostoftheMauryancities.
Megasthenese tells us that the city of Pataliputra was administered by a city
councilcomprising30members,whichweredividedintofivememberseachofsix
boards.Eachoftheseboardshadspecificresponsibilitytowardstheadministration
ofcity.

TheofficerinchargeofthecitywasknownasNagaraka.Thetaxwasnormallyone
tenthofthesoldgoods

VillageAdministration
GramikaHeadofavillage.Hewasgenerallyelectedbythepeople. He was not a paid
servant.GramvriddhasVillageelders(ToassisttheGramikainhiswork).Everyvillage
had its own Panchayat to settle the disputes. The village was the smallest unit of
administration. The head of the village was called gramika who was assisted in village
administrationbyvillageelders.Thevillagesenjoyedconsiderableautonomy.Mostof
thedisputesofthevillageweresettledbygramikawiththehelpofvillageassembly.

Army

The most striking feature of Mauryan administration was maintanence of a huge

army.TheyalsomaintainedaNavy.AccordingtoMegasthenestheadministration
of Army was carried by a board of 30 officers divided into six committees, each
committeeconsistingof5members.Theyare:
(i)Army
(ii)Cavalry
(iii)Elephants
(iv)Chariots
(v)Navy
(vi)Transport

SocietyandCulture
Megasthenese speaks of Mauryan society as comprising seven castes
Megasthenese could not properly comprehend the Indian society and failed to
distinguish between jati, Varna and the occupation. Megasthenes Division: He
mentionssevenclasses:(a)Philosophers(b)Cultivators(c)Soldiers(d)Herdsmen
(e) Artisans (f) Magistates and (g) Councillors. The above division seems to be
economicratherthansocial.
The urban way of life developed. The residential accommodation, its wealth etc.
were entered into official records and rules and regulation were well defined and
strictlyimplemented.
Thechaturvarnasystemcontinuedtogovernthesociety.
Amarriedwomanhadherownpropertyintheformofbridegift(streedhana)and
jewels.Thesewereatherdisposalincaseofwidowhood.Thewidowshadavery
honourableplaceinthesociety.Therearefrequentreferencestowomenenjoying
freedomandengagedingainfuloccupation.
Megasthenese has stated that slavery did not exist in India. However, forced
labourandbondedlabourdidexistonaverylimitedscalebutwerenottreatedso
harshlyastheslavesinthewesternworld.

Economy
LandRevenue:Mainsourceofincome1/4thto1/6thoftheproducedirectly
collectedbythekingsofficials.

IndustrialCrafts
TheMauryanstatecreatedamachinerywhichgovernedvastareasdirectlyandto
enforce the rules and regulations in respect of agriculture, industry, commerce,
animalhusbandry,etc.
The vastness of Indias agricultural and mineral resources and the extraordinary
skillofhercraftsmenhavebeenmentionedwithadmirationbyMegastheneseand
other Greek writers.The state also owned agricultural farms, cattle farms, dairy
farmsetc.

Industry was organised in various guilds. The trade was regulated by the state.
India supplied the western countries with indigo, various medicinal substances,
cotton and silk Growth of Crafts: (a) Metallurgy (b) Woodworking (c) Stone
cutting (d) Textilemanufacturing (e) Pottery. The Mauryan State exercise
monopolyovercertainindustrialactivitieslikemining,armourandweaponmaking,
brewingofliquor,shipbuildingetc.
Foreign trade was carried on by land as well as by sea. The trade had to get a
licensetotrade.Thestatecontrolledandregulatedtheweightsandmeasures.The
chief of a guild was called Jesthaka. The guilds settled the disputes of their
members.Afewguildsissuedtheirowncoins.Theguildsalsomadedonationsto
educationalinstitutions,learnedBrahmansandtothedestitute.
Thelandtaxwasonefourthtoonesixthoftheproduce.Tolltaxwasleviedonall
items which were brought for sale in the market. Tax evasion was considered a
very serious crime and offenders were severely punished. The income from the
kingsownlandorestatewasknownassita.
Brahmans children and handicapped people were exempted from paying taxes.
Alsonotaxwasleviedinareaswherenewtraderoutesornewirrigationprojector
newagriculturallandwerebeingdeveloped.
During Mauryan rule, though there was banking system in India. yet usury was
customary and the rate of interest was 15/ per annum on borrowing money. In
lesssecuretransactions(likeseaVoyagesetc)therateofinterestcouldbeashigh
as 60 % per annum. During Mauryan period, the punch marked coins (mostly of
silver) were the common units of transactions. Tamralipti m the Gangetic delta
wasthemostprosperousportontheEastCoastofIndia.

ArtandArchitecture
ThemainexamplesoftheMauryanartandarchitecturethathavesurvivedare:
(i)RemainsoftheroyalpalacesandthecityofPataliputra
(ii)Ashokanpillarsandcapitals
(iii)RockcutChaityacavesintheBarabarandNagarjunihills
(iv)IndividualMauryansculpturesandterracottafigurines
The famous city of Pataliputra (modern Patna) was described in detail by
Megasthenese, reference of which is found in the writings of Strabo. Arrian and
other Greek writers. It was enclosed by a wooden wall and had 64 gates. The
Mauryan wooden palace survived for about 700 years because, at the end of the
fourth century A.D. when FaHien saw it, it was astounding. The burnt wooden
structureandasheshavebeenfoundfromKumrahar.
TheMauryasintroducedstonemasonryonlargescale.Thepillarsandthecapitals
were made of sand stone, near Chunar in Mirzapur district. Fragments of stone
pillars and slumps indicating the existence of an 80pillared hall have been
discovered at Kumarhar on outskirts of Patna. The pillars represent the
MasterpieceofMauryansculpture.Eachpillarismadeofsinglepieceofsandstone.
onlytheircapitalswhicharebeautifulpiecesofsculptureinformoflionorbullsare

joinedwithpillaronthetop.
SingleLioncapitalatRampurvaandLauriyaNandangarh.
SinglebullcapitalatRampurva.
FourlioncapitalatSarnathandSanchi.
AcarvedelephantatDhauliandengravedelephantatKalsi.
SevenrockcutcavesintheBarabarandNagarjunihillsshowthatthetraditionof
rockcutcavesinIndiabeganwiththeMauryas.Thesecaveswerecausedtobe
excavatedbyAshokaandhisgrandsonDasarathafortheabodeofAjivikamonks.
SomeYakshaandYaskshinifigureshavebeenfoundfromMathura,Pawayaand
Patna.Theyarelargesizedstatuesrepresentingfolkartoftheperiod.TheYakshi
figurefromDidarganj,nearPatnashowsahealthyfemalefigurewithfully
developedbodyholdingchorineinherhand.

LaterMauryas(232184BC)
AsokasdeathwasfollowedbythedivisionsoftheMauryanEmpireintotwoparts
WesternandEastern.
ThewesternpartcametoberuledbyKunala(probablyoneofthesonsofAsoka)
and then for a short while by Samprati. It was later threatened by the Bactrian
GreeksintheNorthwestandbytheSatavahanasinthenortherDeccan.
The eastern part of the empire, with Pataliputra as the capital came to be rules
successively by Dasaratha (probably one of the grandsons of Asoka), Samprati
(who succeeded both Kunala and Dasaratha in the western and eastern parts
respectively), Salisuka, Devavarman, Satadhanvan and finally Brihadratha. The
lastMauryanruler,Brihadratha,wasassasinatedin184BCbyhisCommanderin
chief,PushyamitraSunga,whoestablishedhisownSungadynasty.

CausesofDecline
The Mauryan Empire lasted a little over a century and broke up fitly years after the
deathofAsoka.Slowly,thevariousprincesoftheempirebegantobreakawayandset
upindependentkingdoms.In185BC.theMauryankingwasoverthrownbyPushyamitra
Shunga, an ambitious CommanderinChief of armed forces. He started the Shunga
dynastyinMagadha.TheMauryanEmpireusheredinadreamthatwastosurviveand
echo again and again in centuries to come. Some probable causes of decline of the
MauryanEmpire:
1. Brahmanicalreaction
2. Financialcrisis
3. Oppressiverule
4. Neglectofnorthwestfrontier.
5. Weaksuccessors
6. PacificpolicyofAsoka
7. NewknowledgeinoutlyingareasDisseminationofknowledgeofmanufacturing
Iron.

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