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    Mauryan

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    Shambhav Singh
    The Mauryan Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that existed from 322 BCE to 185 BCE. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka. The Mauryan state had a highly organized administrative system with provinces governed by governors, as well as departments overseeing finance, justice, and public works. It also had a strong military and established an extensive infrastructure and trade networks during its rule over most of South Asia. However, after Ashoka's death, the empire began to decline due to internal conflicts and instability, and was eventually conquered by the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Mauryan

    Uploaded by

    Shambhav Singh
    43 views8 pages
    The Mauryan Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that existed from 322 BCE to 185 BCE. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka. The Mauryan state had a highly organized administrative system with provinces governed by governors, as well as departments overseeing finance, justice, and public works. It also had a strong military and established an extensive infrastructure and trade networks during its rule over most of South Asia. However, after Ashoka's death, the empire began to decline due to internal conflicts and instability, and was eventually conquered by the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE.

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    The Mauryan Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that existed from 322 BCE to 185 BCE. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka. The Mauryan state had a highly organized administrative system with provinces governed by governors, as well as departments overseeing finance, justice, and public works. It also had a strong military and established an extensive infrastructure and trade networks during its rule over most of South Asia. However, after Ashoka's death, the empire began to decline due to internal conflicts and instability, and was eventually conquered by the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    43 views8 pages

    Mauryan

    Uploaded by

    Shambhav Singh
    The Mauryan Empire was a powerful empire in ancient India that existed from 322 BCE to 185 BCE. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reached its peak under Emperor Ashoka. The Mauryan state had a highly organized administrative system with provinces governed by governors, as well as departments overseeing finance, justice, and public works. It also had a strong military and established an extensive infrastructure and trade networks during its rule over most of South Asia. However, after Ashoka's death, the empire began to decline due to internal conflicts and instability, and was eventually conquered by the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 8

    Chandragupta

    Bindusara
    Ashoka

    Literacy sources

    Archaeological source
    empire
    powerful
    a
    of
    rise
    the
    marked
    It
    period
    significant
    a
    was
    state
    Mauryan
    The
    that
    was
    in
    the
    characterized
    history
    of
    ancient
    by
    a
    centralized
    India.
    form
    of
    governance,
    a
    complex
    administrative
    system,
    and
    a
    well-developed
    infrastructure.
    The Mauryan state was a significant period in the history of ancient
    India.

    It marked the rise of a powerful empire that was characterized by a


    centralized form of governance, a complex administrative system,
    and a well-developed infrastructure.
    The Mauryan Empire was an ancient Indian empire that existed from 322 BCE to 185 BCE.

    It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reached its peak under the rule of Emperor
    Ashoka.

    Under the rule of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, the Mauryan state expanded its territory and
    established its dominance over most of the Indian subcontinent.

    The empire was divided into provinces, each governed by a governor who was appointed by the
    emperor.

    Under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya, the empire expanded its boundaries to include most of
    present-day India, as well as parts of Afghanistan and Iran.

    The empire was governed through a bureaucratic system, with a strong focus on efficient
    administration and effective governance.

    The Mauryan state had a highly organized administrative system, which included various
    departments such as finance, justice, and public works.

    The empire also had a large army, which was organized into different units and was used to
    maintain law and order and protect the empire from external threats.

    One of the most significant achievements of the Mauryan state was the establishment of a
    uniform system of weights and measures, which facilitated trade and commerce.

    The empire also had a well-developed system of roads and communication, which allowed for
    efficient administration and facilitated the movement of troops and goods.

    The Mauryan state was known for its cultural and intellectual achievements. It had a thriving
    trade network with other regions, including the Hellenistic kingdoms and the Roman Empire.

    It also became a center of learning, with the establishment of universities and the patronage of
    scholars and philosophers.

    The Mauryan state also had a strong military, with a well-organized and disciplined army
    It employed various military strategies, including the use of elephants, chariots, and cavalry.

    The empire had a standing army and maintained a network of forts and garrisons to protect its
    borders.

    Emperor Ashoka, who ruled from 268 BCE to 232 BCE, is known for his conversion to Buddhism
    and his efforts to spread the teachings of the Buddha throughout the empire.

    He promoted ethical governance, religious tolerance, and social welfare, and is considered one
    of the greatest rulers in Indian history.
    Despite its many accomplishments, the Mauryan Empire eventually declined and
    collapsed after the death of Ashoka.

    The empire faced internal conflicts, economic instability, and external invasions.
    After Ashoka's death, the empire gradually disintegrated and was eventually conquered
    by the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE.

    Mauryan administration
    Centre administration
    The Mauryan organised a huge administrative system

    The council was headed by ‘mantriparishad-adhyakshya’ akin to the Prime Minister


    of today.
    Important officials(officers)
    Tirthas: the highest category of officials in the administration.
    There were 18 Tirthas.
    Adhyakshya: Ranked next only to Tirthas. There were 20 Adhyakshyas. They
    had economic and military functions.

    Mahamattas: Higher ranking officials.

    Amatyas: High ranking officials almost like present-day secretaries. They had
    administrative and judicial roles

    Yuktas: Subordinate officers responsible for the king’s revenue.

    Vyavharika Mahamatta: Judiciary officers

    Pulisanj: Public relations officers


    .
    Provisional administration

    Province Capital
    UTTARAPATHA
    AVANTIRASHTRA

    PRACHI
    KALINGA
    DAKSHINAPATHA
    District administration/Aahar/Vishay
    Each was administered by officers i.e Pradeshika, Yukta and Rajukka.

    Pradeshika was senior and Rajukka was subordinate. Yukta was


    subordinate to both of them.

    It was duty of Pradeshika to tour the kingdom every five year


    and collect details of the administration.

    The revenue and general administration was carried on in the districts


    by Sthanikas and Gopas with their own staffs of officials.

    The Gopa had charge of five to ten villages in which he supervised


    the maintenance of boundaries, registered gifts, sales and mortgages
    and kept an accurate census of the people and their material
    resources.

    The Sthanika had similar duties in the district under his charge and
    the Gopa necessarily functioned under him.

    The Sthanikas were responsible to Samaharta who commanded the


    services of Pradeshtris who were identical with the Pradeshikas of the
    Ashoka inscription for the supervision of local administration
    Village administration
    The village was the smallest unit of administration incharge of an official
    called Gramika

    Also, village elders(gram-viddhas) are often mentioned in the Arthshastra


    and they had a share in guiding and assisting the people generally and
    assisting the officials of the government in disposing of petty disputes
    arising in the village.

    Municipal administration
    According to Megasthenese, Patliputra was controlled by a municipal commission of
    30 members who were divide into 6 boards of five members each.

    All the municipal commissioners in their collective capacity were required to control
    all the affairs of the city and keep in order the markets, temples, harbours and public
    works.

    Judicial administration
    The Mauryan state had very efficient judicial system.

    The king was the fountain head of justice. There were two classes of courts.

    Dharmasthiya(diwani) were civil courts which decided cases relating to contract, gift,
    aggrement, sales, marriages,etc.

    Kantakshodhan(faujdari) courts were criminal courts which dealt with the cases of theft,
    robbery, murder, sex offences,etc

    The Supreme Court was at the capital and was presided by the king as the chief justice.

    There were subordinate courts at the headquarters of the provinces, divisions and
    districts.

    Villages had in addition popular courts consisting of village elders who tried minor case
    Espionage System

    Kautilya had put a great emphasis on the espionage system which was
    intended to promote progress, efficiency and stability in the state.

    Mahamatyapasharpa was the head of the spies. Mainly there were two types
    of spies:

    Sanstha- they were stationed at one place.


    Sanchara- they used to wander in the empire

    There were spies who informed the king about the bureaucracy and markets.

    There were two types of spies: Sansthana (stationary) and Sanchari


    (wanderer).
    Gudhapurushas were the detectives or secret agents.

    They were controlled by the Mahamatyapasarpa. These agents were picked


    from different segments of society.

    There were also agents called Vishakanyas (poisonous girls).

    Military organisation
    The Mauryas maintained a large well equipped army which was three times
    larger than the Nandas.

    The Mauryan army consisted of four wings i.e the infantry, the cavalry, the
    elephants and chariots

    The Arthashastra refers to camel and as corps as well

    The administration of the army was looked after by a war office consisting of
    30 members who were divided six boards of 5 members each.
    The end mauryan empire

    Despite its many accomplishments, the Mauryan Empire eventually


    declined and collapsed after the death of Ashoka. The empire faced
    internal conflicts, economic instability, and external invasions.
    After Ashoka's death, the empire gradually disintegrated and was
    eventually conquered by the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE

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