Chandragupta Maurya
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Transcript Chandragupta Maurya
Introduction
Historical sources –
‘Indika’ by
Megasthenes and
‘Arthashastra’ by
Chanakya and rock
and pillar edicts of
Ashoka
Chandragupta Maurya
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.
Bindusara
Chandragupta Maurya’s son
Ruled for 25 years
Extended Mauryan Empire
to Mysore
Succeeded by his son
Ashoka
Ashoka
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’s vast empire
Himalayas – north
Mysore – South
Hindu Kush in North
– West
Brahmaputra – East
Kabul, Kandahar,
Herat
Parts of Nepal and
Kashmir
Ashoka’s Dhamma
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
Propagation of 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
Ashokan Edicts
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
Ideals of Kingship
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
Mauryan Administration
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.
Pataliputra
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
Mauryan Art
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)
Pillar at Sarnath
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
Mauryan Economy
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.
Decline of Mauryan Empire
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)
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