Mauryan Empire:

Asoka’s Dhamma,
Administration and Economy
 Do you
recognize
which modern
nation
the Mauryan
empire was
located in?
• The period from the late 7th to the late 5th 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 5th 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.
• 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.
Invasion of
Alexander the Great
(320 B.C.E)
WAR

Defeat of Seleucus
(305 B.C.E.)

Battle at Kalinga
(265 to 264
B.C.E.)
 Chandragupta’s
advisor. KAUTILYA
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!
 Religious conversion
after the gruesome
battle of Kalinga in
KING ASOKA
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
• 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

Most Important Least Important

• Economy was driven by agriculture

• Huge farms were kept by the state and were operated and cultivated by
slaves.
•Mauryan empire was TRADE/ECONOMY
driven by agriculture
•Internal trade
expanded greatly due
to newfound political
unity and internal
peace
•Chandragupta
established single Silver punch mark coin
currency across India.
The Mauryan Empire were the first in India to
transition from wood to stone in their architecture
and art. THE ARTS
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.
 ASOKA’S POLICY OF
 Dhamma is the prakrit form of Sanskrit world DHAMMA
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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