Mauryan Empire:

Asokas Dhamma,
Administration and Economy
Do you
recognize
which
modern
nation
the
Mauryan
empire was
located in?
The period from the late 7
th
to the late
5
th
century B.C. was a most decisive
phase of the history of Indian
subcontinent.

In this period the first territorial
kingdoms were established in the
central part of the Gangetic plains.

From the numerous small tribal
kingdoms (Janapadas), sixteen major
ones (Mahajanapadas) emerged in the
5
th
century B.C
The rise of the Mahajanapadas was
directly connected with the emergence
of the early urban centres of the
Gangetic plains that were the capitals
of Mahajanapadas.
ANGA
KASI
KOSALA
VRIJJI
MALLA
CHEDI
KURU
PANCHALA
VATSYA
AVANTI
MAGADHA
MASTSYA
SURASENA
ASMAKA
KAMBOJA
GANDHARA
Origins of the early state
A new phase of political development
in the Eastern Gangetic plains started
when some of the Mahajanapadas
established their hegemony over
others.
Koshala.
Vatsa.
Magadha.
Another important indicator for a well
developed urban culture, a script has
not yet been found in those Gangetic
cities. Asokas inscriptions of the 3
rd

century B.C. still remain the earlier
evidence for an Indian script. But since
the two scripts Brahmi and Kharoshthi
were fully developed, scholars believe
that they may have originated in the
5
th
century B.C.
This new culture found its spiritual
expression in reform movements which
was a reaction to Brahmin Kshatriya
alliance. This reform movement is
mainly identified with the teachings of
Gautama Buddha who is regarded as the
first Historic figure of Indian History,
and of Mahavira, the founder of
Jainism, the younger contemporary of
Buddha
Religious Beliefs
Buddhism
Hinduism
Jainism
Mauryan Dynasty
Chandra Gupta Maurya (321- 297
B.C.)

Bindusara (297-272 B.C.)

Asoka (268-232 B.C.)
CHRONOLOGY OF MAURYAN
DYNASTY
321-297
Chandragupta Maurya
297-272
Bindusara
268-232
Asoka
232-224
Dasaratha
224-215
Samprati
215-202
Salisuka
202-195
Devavarman
195-187
Satadhanvan
187-180
Brihadratha
Chandragupta maurya
Unified northern India.
Defeated the Persian
general Seleucus.
Divided his empire into
provinces, then districts
for tax assessments and law
enforcement.
He feared assassination food tasters, slept in different
rooms, etc.
301 BCE gave up his throne & became a Jain.
War
Invasion of
Alexander the Great
(320 B.C.E)

Defeat of Seleucus
(305 B.C.E.)
Battle at Kalinga
(265 to 264
B.C.E.)

kautilya
Chandraguptas advisor.
Brahmin caste.
Wrote The Treatise on
Material Gain or the
Arthashastra.
A guide for the king and his
ministers:
Supports royal power.
The great evil in society is anarchy.
Therefore, a single authority is
needed to employ force when
necessary!
King Asoka
Religious conversion
after the gruesome
battle of Kalinga in
262 BCE.
Dedicated his life to
Buddhism.
Built extensive roads,
hospitals for man and
animals.

King Asoka
was a religiously
tolerant ruler.
He respected all
religions. He
ruled a vast
empire and he
ordered the
building of roads
and hospitals
Edicts scattered in
more than 30 places
in India, Nepal,
Pakistan, &
Afghanistan.
Written mostly in
Prakrit, but one was in
Greek and Aramaic.
rock edicts.
Each pillar [stupa] is
40-50 high.
Buddhist principles
dominate his laws.
POLITICAL STRUCTURE
Centralized
Large staff
Tax collection,
trade and
commerce, vital
statistics, welfare
of foreigners,
maintaining public
places
Organized army
Provinces
Districts
Villages


Mauryan Administration
Based on Saptanga theory or the theory of
seven elements of State:
Swamin (King)
Amatya (Ministers)
Janapada (Territory and Population)
Durga (Fort)
Kosa (Treasury)
Bala (Army)
Mitra (Ally)


Revenue Department:
Samaharta: (In charge of collection
of all revenues of empire and looked
after income and expenditure)
Sannidhata: (Chief treasury officer)
Military Department: (Under Senapati)
According to Megasthenes: divided into 6
committees of 5 members each.
Supervision of Naval fleet.
Supervision of War materials.
Infantry.
Cavalry.
Chariots.
Elephant corps


WEAPONRY

They used both weapons and military
engines.
Variety of bows
Weapons with piercings (kunta).
Different types of swords
Razor-type weapons (parasu, kuthara)
Variety of armors and shields


Judicial department
Dharmasthiya
Civil Court
Kantakshodhana
Criminal court
Police Department: Two fold functions:

Preventing the commission of crimes.

Bringing the transgressors of law to
justice.
Espionage department


Department of Foreign Affairs


Palace Department
Provincial Administration
Four Provinces:
Uttarapatha (Capital- Taxila)
Avantiratha (Capital- Ujjain)
Dakshinapatha (Capital- Suvarnagiri)
Kalinga (Capital- Tosali)
Municipal Administration
According to Megasthenes: Six
committees of five members each.
Related to industrial arts.
Attend to the entertainment of
foreigners
Registration of Births and Deaths.
Trade and commerce.
Supervises manufactured articles.
Payment of taxes.
Economy of the Mauryas
Land Revenue.
Extension and intensification of
Agriculture.
Industrial Crafts.
Artisan Guilds.
State Monopolies.
Trade and Commerce.
Urbanisation.
KHYBER PASS
Agriculture
Food Crops
Rice, Coarse Grain, Sesamum, Pepper, Saffron, Wheat,
Barley, Linseed, Mustard, Grapes, Sugar Cane, Pumpkin,
Medicinal Roots






Economy was driven by agriculture
Huge farms were kept by the state and were
operated and cultivated by slaves.



Most Important Least Important
Trade/Economy
Mauryan empire was
driven by agriculture
Internal trade
expanded greatly due
to newfound political
unity and internal
peace
Chandragupta
established single
currency across India.
Silver punch mark coin
The Arts
The Mauryan Empire were the first in India to
transition from wood to stone in their architecture
and art.
Stupa
Pillars
Coins
THE WRITING SYSTEM
Sanskrit - was the
writing system that was
used during the
Mauryan Empire. Only
used by scholars
however.

King Asoka encouraged teachers
to spread Buddhism throughout
India and beyond.
Asokas Policy of Dhamma
Dhamma is the prakrit form of Sanskrit
world Dharma. However, Asoka tried to
use it in a much wider sense. His
Dhamma was a code of moral duties,
benevolent acts and freedom from
passions for an individual. It comprised
personal, social and moral virtues. The
principles of Dhamma were such as
could be acceptable to people
belonging to any religious sect.

Main Features:


Prohibition of Animal sacrifices.
Avoiding expensive and meaningless
ceremonies.
Non- violence to animals.
Humane treatment of servants.
Tolerance among all the sects.
Appointment of Dhammamahamatyas.
Dhammayatras.
Social welfare policies.
Replacement of Bherighosha by
Dhammaghosha
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