Index

1. Introduction to the Mauryan dynasty

2. Growth of magadha
3. Chandragupta Maurya
4. Kautilya/ Chanakya
5. bindusara
6. Asoka- the great
7. War of kalinga
8. Asokas inscription describing kalinga war
9. Asokas dhamma/ propagation of dhamma
10. Mauryan administration
11. Mauryan economy
12. Mauryan society
13. army
14. Mauryan Art
15. Mauryan architecture
16. Chronology of Mauryan dynasty
17. End of Mauryan empire
 Introduction
The Mauryan Empire, which formed around 321 B.C.E. and ended
in 185 B.C.E., was the first pan-Indian empire, an empire that
covered most of the Indian region. It spanned across central and
northern India as well as over parts of modern-day Iran.
Based in Magadha, the Mauryan empire was founded by
Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, and existing until 187 BCE. The
Maurya Empire was centralized by the conquest of the Indo-
Gangetic Plain, and its capital city was located
at Pataliputra (modern Patna). Outside this imperial center, the
empire's geographical extent was dependent on the loyalty of
military commanders who controlled the armed cities sprinkling it.
Chandragupta Maurya raised an army, with the assistance
of Chanakya, author of Arthashastra, and overthrew the Nanda
Empire in c. 322 BCE. Chandragupta rapidly expanded his power
westwards across central and western India by conquering
the satraps left by Alexander the Great, and by 317 BCE the empire
had fully occupied northwestern India. The Mauryan Empire then
defeated Seleucus I during the Seleucid–Mauryan war, thus
acquiring territory west of the Indus River.
Under the Mauryas, internal and external trade, agriculture, and
economic activities thrived and expanded across South Asia due to
the creation of a single and efficient system of finance,
administration, and security. After the Kalinga War, the Empire
experienced nearly half a century of centralized rule under Ashoka.
Ashoka's embrace of Buddhism and sponsorship of Buddhist
missionaries allowed for the expansion of that faith into Sri Lanka,
northwest India, and Central Asia.
GROWTH OF MAGADHHA
 CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA

Chandragupta Maurya, (died c 297 BCE), founder of

the Mauryan dynasty was the first emperor to unify most
of India under one administration. He is credited with saving the
country from maladministration and freeing it from foreign
domination.
Chandragupta Maurya was an important figure in the history of
India, laying the foundations of the first state to unite most of India.
Chandragupta, under the guidance of Chanakya, created a new
empire based on the principles of statecraft, built a large army, and
continued expanding the boundaries of his empire until ultimately
renouncing it for an ascetic life in his final years.
Prior to his consolidation of power, Alexander the Great had
invaded the North-West Indian subcontinent before abandoning his
campaign in 324 BCE due to a mutiny caused by the prospect of
facing another large empire, presumably the Nanda Empire.
Chandragupta defeated and conquered both the Nanda Empire,
and the Greek satraps that were appointed or formed from
Alexander's Empire in South Asia. He set out to conquer the Nanda
Empire centred in Pataliputra, Magadha. Afterwards, Chandragupta
expanded and secured his western border, where he was
confronted by Seleucus I Nicator in the Seleucid–Mauryan war.
After two years of war, Chandragupta was considered to have
gained the upper hand in the conflict. Instead of prolonging the war,
both parties settled on a marriage treaty between Chandragupta
and Seleucus I Nicator's daughter.
Chandragupta's empire extended throughout most of the Indian
subcontinent, spanning from modern
day Bengal to Afghanistan across North India as well as making
inroads into Central and South India. According to the Jain
accounts dated to 800 years after his death, Chandragupta
abdicated his throne and became a Jain monk, travelled away from
his empire to South India and committed Sallekhana or fasting to
death. Chandragupta's reign, and the Maurya Empire, set an era of
economic prosperity, reforms, infrastructure expansions, and
tolerance. Many religions thrived within his realms and his
descendants' empire. Buddhism, Jainism and Ajivika gained
prominence alongside Vedic and Brahmanistic traditions, and
minority religions such as Zoroastrianism and the Greek
pantheon were respected.
 Chanakya
Chanakya also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta was an
ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author,
strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor. he was
prime minister under the reign of Chandragupta. He is best known
as the author of the political treatise Arthashastra (a compilation of
almost everything that had been written in India up to his time
regarding artha) which he wrote as an instruction manual for the
young Chandragupta on how to rule effectively.
Chanakya was born into a Brahmin family and was educated at
Takshashila which is an ancient center for learning that is located in
north-western ancient India. He was a person who had in-depth
knowledge in various subjects such as politics, economics,
medicine, war strategies, and astrology and he was highly learned.
He began his career as a teacher and later he became the trusted
ally of Emperor Chandragupta. He acted as the emperor’s
counselor and advisor and helped Chandragupta in overthrowing
the power Nanda dynasty at Pataliputra, in the Magadha region. He
was instrumental in helping Chandragupta to consolidate his
powers.
 BINDUSARA
Chandragupta succeeded by his son Bindusara, who Ruled between
297 and 273 B.C. The famous indian teacher, Chanakya, who guided
Chandragupta, also remained the chief advisor of Bindusara. The
Mahabhashya refers to Chandragupta's successor as Amitraghata,
which literary means a player of enemies. On the other hand, Greek
accounts knew him as Amitrokhates or Alitrokhates.

Bindusara was successful in consolidating the empire established by

his father. he Successfully campaigned in the Deccan and ended his
quest near present-day Karnataka, presumably because of the
camaraderie shared by the Mauryas with the Cholas, Cheras and
Pandyas ruling the extreme southern territories.
Bindusara inherited a fairly huge Empire which included Baluchistan,
Afghanistan, Assam, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar, Mysore, Narmada
and Hindukush from his father Chandragupta. It is said he conquered
sixteen states to extend the empire between the two seas.
He ran the administration smoothly and maintained a good relation
with distant countries like the Greeks, the Syrians and the Egyptians.
Ambassadors from these countries lived in the King's court, as so he
was called "Amitrochates' or the 'destroyer of enemies' by the
Greeks.
Bindusara was a diplomatic and successful monarch to inherit
Chandragupta's huge legacy and extend it. Historical data indicate,
his death occured in the 270 BCE, after his death the great 'Mauryan'
dynasty placed in the arms of of his son, Asoka.
 ASOKA THE GREAT
Ashoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian
emperor of the Maurya Empire, son of Bindusara, who ruled
almost all of the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232
BCE. Ashoka promoted the spread of Buddhism across ancient
Asia. Considered by many to be one of India's greatest
emperors, Ashoka expanded Chandragupta's empire to reign
over territory stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the
west to present-day Bangladesh in the east. It covered the
entire Indian subcontinent except for parts of present-day Tamil
Nadu. Following his successful but bloody conquest of
the Kalinga country on the east coast, Ashoka renounced
armed conquest and adopted a policy that he called “conquest
by dharma” (i.e., by principles of right life).
At its height, under Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire stretched
from modern-day Iran through almost the entirety of the Indian
subcontinent. Ashoka was able to rule this vast empire initially
through the precepts of the political treatise known as
the Arthashastra, attributed to the Chanakya.
 Kalinga war
The Kalinga War was fought between the Mauryan
Empire under Ashoka the Great and the state of Kalinga, a
feudal republic located on the coast of the present-day Indian
state of Odisha and northern parts of Andhra Pradesh. The
Kalinga city was the capital of Kalinga kingdom, it is situated in
present day Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh.
The battle of Kalingan became a turning point in the life of
Asoka the Great. Ashoka, like Bindusara before him, inherited a
large part of the subcontinent as empire. The only significant
area not under his suzerainty was Kalinga. It was in 200 BCE"
that Kalinga was finally brought under Mauryan control as a
result campaign led by Ashoka: Strategically Kalinga was
important as it was rich in forest resources and also lay on the
Mauryan trade route with the peninsula through the east coast.
However, the campaign itself was very destructive with
thousands killed, and many more captured as prisoners. The
large-scale destruction is said to have filled Ashoka, with
remorse.
The remorse over the Kalinga war sparked his interest in
Buddhism and started his journey of conversion. It was not
however an overnight conversion, as Ashoka's sympathy
towards Buddhism had been brewing. He himself states in
Minor Rock Edict I that he has been a lay devotee for two and a
half years, indicating that he turned towards the Buddha's
teaching only gradually and not suddenly.
 Asoka’s inscription describing Kalinga
war
Inscriptions of Ashoka on different edicts are a significant
aspect of the history of Ancient India. In total there are 14 major
rock edicts. The Rock edict XIII throws light on the Kalinga War
conquered by Ashoka.
This is what Ashoka declared in his inscriptions:
“Eight years after becoming king I conquered Kalinga.
About a lakh and a half people were captured. And more than a
lakh
of people were killed.
This filled me with sorrow. Why?
Whenever an independent land is conquered, lakhs of people
die, and
many are taken prisoner. Brahmins and monks also die.
People who are kind to their relatives and friends, to their
slaves and
servants die, or lose their loved ones.
That is why I am sad, and have decided to observe dhamma,
and to
teach others about it as well.
I believe that winning people over through dhamma is much
better
than conquering them through force.
I am inscribing this message for the future, so that my son and
grandson after me should not think about war.
Instead, they should try to think about how to spread dhamma.”
 Asoka’s dhamma
The victory in Kalinga was marked by the official replacement
of the war drum (bherighosha) with the sound of "Dhamma”.
Dhamma was an ethical code to incalculate a social
responsibility among the people, it was different from various
religions popular at that time. For Ashoka, Dhamma, was a way
of life and was based on a high degree of social ethics and civic
responsibility. Dhamma was meant to reach every member of
the society for which Ashoka formed a different cadre of officers
known was the Dhamma- Mahamattas The 13th Rock Edict
expresses an idea of conquest by Dhamma instead of by war
and violence i.e. dhammavijaya. Ashoka was successful in his
dhammavijaya by eliminating aggressive warfare. The ultimate
good of Dhamma was to create in harmonious environment
where all people, irrespective of their caste and religion, lived in
peace and harmony with each to ensure the security and
stability of the empire.
 Mauryan administration
The Mauryan Empire was divided into four provinces with the
imperial capital at Pataliputra. From Ashokan edicts, the name
of the four provincial capitals were Tosali (in the east), Ujjain in
the west, Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north).
According to Megasthenes, the empire exercised a military of
600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants. For
the purpose of internal and external security, a vast espionage
system was there to keep a watch on the officials and
messengers that went to and fro. Kings appointed officials to
collect taxes from herders, farmers, traders and craftsmen etc.
The head of the provincial administration was the Kumara
(royal prince), who governed the provinces as king's
representative. The king was the centre of administrative
superstructure and king used to select ministers and high
officials. Administrative structure was- King assisted by
Mantriparishad (council of ministers) whose members included
Mantriparishad Adhyaksha and below him was as following:
Yuvaraj: The crown prince

Purohita: The chief priest

The Senapati: The commander in chief

Amatya: Civil servants and few other ministers.

 MAURYAN ECONOMY
Political unity and military security allowed for a common
economic system and enhanced trade and commerce,
with increased agricultural productivity. The previous
situation involving hundreds of kingdoms, many small
armies, powerful regional chieftains, and internecine
warfare, gave way to a disciplined central authority.
Farmers were freed of tax and crop collection burdens
from regional kings, paying instead to a nationally
administered and strict-but-fair system of taxation.
Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency
across India, and a network of regional governors and
administrators and a civil service provided justice and
security for merchants, farmers and traders. Maurya also
sponsored many public works and waterways to
enhance productivity.
While internal trade in India expanded greatly due to
new-found political unity and internal peace, External
trade was carried on with foreign countries, particularly
with the Hellenic (Greek) world and Burma to some
extent. The main exports were different spices, pearls,
diamonds, cotton textiles, ivory works, conch shells, etc.,
 Mauryan society
In the Mauryan period, the social organisation based on Varna
and Ashrama which had begun in the Vedic age, reached a
definite stage. Megasthenes divides the Mauryan society into
seven divisions –
•Philosophers- considered as public benefactors, making
prophecies, referred to a range of ascetic groups and sects-
philosophers.
• Cultivators - most numerous of all groups; large scale of
agrarian population and operations.
Hunters and herdsmen - non-agrarian activities such as herding
of animals
• Artisans and traders- independent artisans, the armourers,
shipbuilders, traders, etc.
• Soldiers- the second largest group, the Mauryas had a
standing army.
• Overseers (spies) - the most trusted persons in the realm and
never lied.
• King's counsellors - the smallest in number, include the
highest administrative functionaries, army generals, revenue
heads.
Megasthenes notes that these occupations were hereditary in
nature and inter-marriage between groups was not allowed -
two features crucial to the functioning of the caste system.
Megasthenes seems to think that there was no concept of
slavery in India.
On the other hand, sources say of situations that led to
enslavement- a person could be a slave either by birth, by
voluntary selling, by being captured on war of judicial
punishment.
 ARMY
The Mauryas maintained a large standing army. It was
adequate for all its needs of controlling very large
empire. According to scholars, the empire wielded
600,000 infantry, or foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, or
soldiers on horseback, and 9,000 war elephants. There
were six varieties of chariots according to their role in
battle. The chariots were two wheeled, four wheeled and
eight wheeled. The infantry carried bows and arrows.
Some soldiers carried javelins and all of them,
irrespective of what they carried, always had one sword
with them.
There were six types of troops in the Mauryan imperial
army: the Kshatriya, or troops of the hereditary warrior
class who formed the majority of the army; mercenaries
and freebooters hired as individuals seeking military
adventure; troops provided by local zamindars and
business men; troops supplied by allies; deserters from
the enemy; and tribesmen from the wild forests and hills.
The tactical organization of the Mauryan army of this
period had a basic unit called the patti, a mixed group,
comprising one elephant carrying three archers or
spearman and a mahout (the elephant trainer and
handler) three horse cavalrymen armed with javelins,
round buckler and spear, and five infantry soldiers
armed with shield and broadsword or bow.
 Art and architecture
Mainly in the period of Ashoka, the art and architecture was at its
zenith and fall within the category of court art. Ashoka embraced
Buddhism and the immense Buddhist missionary activities that
followed encouraged the development of distinct sculptural and
architectural styles. Various art and architecture of Mauryan period,
which had connected to the lives, activities and patronage of
ordinary people can be classified into Stupas, Pillars, Caves, Palaces
and Potter.
STUPAS
In the Mauryan period, numerous stupas were constructed and
scattered all over the country. The Ashoka stupas were constructed
to celebrate the achievements of Gautama Buddha. The Great Stupa
at Sanchi was built with bricks and several changes were done. The
inner wall of the stupa was built either by terracotta bricks or by sun-
burnt bricks. The top of the dome was decorated by a wooden or
stone umbrella which denotes the universal supremacy of Dharma.
Parikrama was also there by encircling the stupa. The Amravati stupa
was built in the Lower Krishna Valley in 200 A.D. Nagarjunakonda
Ghantasala stupas built in later ages in South India.
PILLARS
The most famous monuments of Mauryan art were the Pillars, the
pillars of Dharma. Capital of Mauryan period found at Sarnath near
Varanasi, known as the Lion Capital. The capital has four Asiatic lions
seated back to back, which symbolize power, courage, pride and
confidence. The drum there on the bell base, i.e. Abacus has the
depiction of chakra on all four directions and a bull, horse, an
elephant and a lion between every chakra. It has 24 spokes and
these 24 spoke chakra is adopted to the National Flag of India.
CAVES
Rock cut caves are also an artistic achievement of Ashoka’s reign. The
caves at Barabar hill in the north of Gaya and the Nagarjuni hill caves,
the Sudama caves, etc. are the several examples of cave
architecture.
POTTERY
here are numerous different types of ceramics linked with the
Mauryan period. However, the most advanced technique may be
observed in a form of pottery called Northern Black Polished Ware,
which was popular during the previous and early Mauryan eras. It
features a highly polished glaze coating that ranges in color from jet
black to deep grey or metallic steel blue. On occasion, there are little
red-brown areas visible on the surface. It has a unique sheen and
brightness that sets it apart from other polished or graphite-coated
red products.
 MAURYAN ARCHITECTURE
While the period marked a second transition to use of brick
and stone, wood was still the material of choice. Kautilya in
the Arthashastra advises the use of brick and stone for their
durability. Yet he devotes a large section to safeguards to be
taken against conflagrations in wooden buildings indicating
their popularity.
According to Megasthenes. The capital city of
Pataliputra was encompassed by a large timber-palisade,
punctured by holes or slits through which archers might
shoot.
The palace of Mauryan period had gilded pillars with golden
vines and silver birds. All the towns were surrounded by the
high walls with battlements, water ditches, bearing lotuses
and plants.
CHRONOLOGY OF MAURYAN DYNASTY
Ruler Span of Rule
Chandragupta 321- 297 BC
Maurya

Bindusara 297- 272 BC

Ashoka 272-232 BC

Dasaratha 252 – 224 BC

Samprati 224- 215 BC

Salisuka 215- 202 BC

Devavarman 202- 195 BC

Satadhanvan 195- 187 BC

Brihadratha 187- 185 BC

THE END OF MAURYAN
DYNASTY
Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker
kings. He was succeeded by Dasharatha Maurya, who was
Ashoka's grandson. The empire lost many territories under
Dasharatha, which were later reconquered by Samprati,
Kunala's son. Post Samprati, the Mauryas slowly lost many
territories. In 180 BCE, Brihadratha Maurya, was killed by his
general Pushyamitra Shunga in a military parade without any
heir. Hence, the great Maurya empire finally ended, giving rise
to the Shunga Empire.

Reasons advanced for the decline include the succession of

weak kings after Aśoka Maurya, the partition of the empire into
two, huge Expenditure on army and bureaucracy, the growing
independence of some areas within the empire, a top-heavy
administration where authority was entirely in the hands of a
few persons, an absence of any national consciousness, the
pure scale of the empire making it unwieldy, and invasion by
the Greco-Bactrian Empire.
 CONCLUSION
The Mauryan period saw the establishment of the first empire in
the history of Indian subcontinent. As a large empire required
new strategies of governance, the complex system of
administration was set up under the Mauryas which became
the foundational basis of succeeding polities. The social and
economic pros of agrarian expansion and urbanization of the
preceding centuries continued under Mauryan rule, and there
was a further growth in cities, trade, and the money economy.
Chandragupta, followed by Bindusara and finally inherited by
Ashoka, were the three successful-precious monarchs to vice
such a great dynasty. However, after Ashoka, the empire saw a
vast and a rapid decline. The empire became weak and
fragmented. The Mauryan dynasty came to an end with the last
king Brihadratha being killed by commander Pushyamitra, who
then established the Shunga dynasty in c.187 BCE.