MAURYAN EMPIRE:Culture,Administration,Society and Decline

OVERVIEW

The sixth century BC witnessed series of conflicts. between Avanti, Kosala and Magadha Mahajanapadas for territorial expansion. Ultimately, it was won by Magadha.After Nandas, a powerful Mauryan dynasty established itself on the throne of Magadha. Later on, it became one of the most important dynasties in ancient Indian History.

Sources of Mauryan Dynasty

• Both Indian and classical sources suggest that Alexander's retreat from India facilitated Chandragupta to carve out a kingdom for himself.

• Kautilya's "Arthashastra" is one of the greatest treatises on economical, socio-political condition of the contemporary period. It gives fair idea about foreign affairs, administration, military arts, war and religion of Mauryan Empire.
• Mudrarakshasa a historical play in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta of fourth century AD narrated the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya to power in Northern India with the aid of Chanakya. It gives an account of socio-economic conditions of that era.
• Parisisthaparvana, a Jain work, written by Hemachandra is a biography of Chanakya.
• It also provides crucial information about Chandragupta Maurya, such as his early life, his conquest of Magadha, the famine in Magadha and his conversion to Jainism.
• Other sources, namely, Rajatarangini of Kalhana, Kathasaritsagar of Somadev and Brihatkathamanjari of Kshemendra also provide vital information about the Mauryan period.
• Buddhist Jatakas describe the stories of previous births of Gautama Buddha. They tell us about the prevalent social order, existence of guilds, popular customs which flourished till the Mauryan age.
• Manjusrimulkalpa is a non-canonical Buddhist work that covers wide historical period from the seventh century BC to the eighth century AD. It also contains important information about the Nandas and Mauryas.
• Greek Governor Strabo (64 BC-19 AD) wrote important geographical works named 'Geographics He also refers to the matrimonial alliance between Seleucus Nicator and Chandragupta Maurya and the women bodyguards of Chandragupta.
• The Work of Diodorus (First century BC) is the earliest available Greek account of India named Bibliotheca Historica. His accounts on India are derived from Magasthenes Indica.
• Pliny (First century AD) is the author of Natural History (75 AD) and gives the account of India base on Greek sources and reports by Western merchant.

Rulers of Mauryan Dynasty

Prominent rulers of Mauryan Dynasty are as follows:

• Chandragupta Maurya
• Bindusara
• Ashoka

Mauryan Administration System 

• The king was the head of the Mauryan administrative system. Kautilya has called the king Dharma Pravartak L.e., the "Operator of the Social System".
• The top officials in the Mauryan administration were called Tirthas (18 in numbers). Most of the officers were paid in cash. Ministers, priests, commanders and princes were of the highest order and were given high salaries.

• The messenger was an important official. He moved from place to place and kept an eye on the activities of the spy officers of the king.

• In the Central Government, there were more than two dozen departments for the administration, which looked after the social and economic activities in the areas adjacent to the capital.

Provincial Administration 

• The Mauryan Empire was divided into severalprovinces. Each province was under the control of a prince. 
• Provinces were also divided into smaller units.There was a system of administration in both Gramanchal and Nagaranchal.

Provinces and Capitals during Mauryan Period

Provinces  - Capitals

Avantika-Ujjaini

Uttarpath-Taxila

Dakshinapath- Suvanagiri

Magadh-Paraliputra

Kalinga-Tosall

City Administration

• Megasthenes has described the city administration of Pataliputra. Pataliputra city was administered by a group of 30 members. There was a total of six committees in the city and each had five members.

• The head officer of the city was Astronomoyi and the head of the district was Agronomoyi.

Military Administration

• According to Megasthenes, there was a council of 30 members for military administration, which was divided into six sub-committees having five members each.

• These six sub-committees were:

1. Infantry

3. Elephant

2. Cavalry

5. Boat

4. Chariot

6. Transport and provisions

Economic Structure

• According to Arthashastra, 27 Adhyaksha's were appointed in the entire state. They were responsible mainly to regulate economic functions.

• These officers used to control and regulate agriculture, trade and commerce, weight and measurement, mines, spinning and weaving.

• State also provided facilities for irrigation and water distribution and levied tax on the same.

• Kautilya's Arthashastra mentioned that, there is a system of forced labour in agriculture, which was an important social development.

• However, Megasthenes said slavery was not present in Mauryan Empire.
• In the Mauryan empire,the state had a monopoly on the sale of mines, alcohol and the manufacturing of weapons.
• Historically slave system came to India with Turkish rulers. However, in the ancient period, it existed in the form of domestic servants and were generally regarded as the members of the master's family. • The trade routes contributed greatly to the advanced economic system of the Mauryan Empire. A popular trade route of this empire was from Pataliputra to Nepal via Vaishali and Champaran. 

Transportation

• There was also a road in the foothills of the Himalayas. There were major trade centres such as Vaishali, Champaran, Kapilvastu, Kalsi (in Dehradun district), Hazara and Peshawar.
• In the Northern Plains, the Ganges and its tributaries were part of the water transportation.

Tax structure

• Kautilya has described various taxes that were collected from farmers, craftsmen and traders.. The Samaharta was the supreme authority of tax assessment and the Sannidhata was the custodian ofthe state treasury and warehouse. The elaborated system of tax assessment was first evident in the Mauryan Empire in ancient India.
• In rural areas, there were state warehouses, which indicates that tax was also collected in the form of food grains. 
• The taxes collected from farmers ranged from 1/4th to 1/6th of their produce which can be increased at emergency.
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• Custom duty was also levied on goods brought for sale in the city.

Agriculture

• The punch marked silver coins with peacock, mountain and crescent moon were the valid denomination of the Mauryan Empire.
• During Mauryan Empire, fallow land has been brought under agriculture. Forced labour and cultivators played an important role in this This also increased the revenue of the state. 

Mauryan Society 

• Society was mainly divided into four Varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra). The Varna system became very rigid and no vertical movement was allowed.
• However, Megasthenes divided Mauryan society into seven categories:

1. Philosphar
2. Farmer
3. Soldiers
4. Herdsmen
5. Artisan
6. Magistrates
7. Councellors

• Join Casily system was prevalent and family structure was predominantly based on patriarchy. 

• Women were allowed to accumulate streedhan (property in the form of bride-gift).

• Women were also give respected position in the society. Any offence against women get punished severely.

Religion During Mauryan Period 

• Mauryan period was religiously very active period. witnessed rise and growth of Buddhism and Jainism over Brahmanism.

• Chandragupta Maurys followed Jainism and went to Shravanabelagola after renouncing the materialistic world. 
• Bindusara and his successors were the followers of Sarmanas and Ajivikus.

• Ashoka was the greatest patron of Buddhism and al convened Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra in 247 BC

• There was general tolerance prevalent in the society.However, Incidents were also mentioned by historians about religious persecution of Brahmins. 

Mauryan Art and Architecture 

• Stone and wood architectural work began on a massive scale during the Mauryan period Magasthenes mentioned that the Mauryan palaces Pataliputra were as grand as the palaces built in the Persian empire. 

• Fragments of stone pillars and their stubs have been found at Kumhrar in modern Patna, which indicate the existence of a huge building with 80 pillars,.

• Mauryan pillars made of a single piece of yellow sandstone is also found which was brilliantly polished.

• Carved top with lion and bull are evidenced of uniqu architectural developments of that time. Mauryan craftsmen also started the tradition of making rock- caves for the Buddhist monks. The oldest example of this is the Barabar Caves.

• In the Mauryan period, the baked bricks were started using in North-East India. Baked brick structures made during this period have been found mainly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

• It is known from the excavations that logs of wood were used to build important water channels and dams to protect against floods and external attacks.

• Ringed wells first came into prevalence during the Mauryan period which later spread to the outer provinces of the empire.

• The potteries of Mauryan period was called Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). It is associated with the second urbanisation in India. These were made of clay with black polish and were highly glazed in appearance.

• In Bangladesh, inscriptions of Mahasthan in Maurya Brahmi script have been found in Bogra district and Northern Black Polished Pottery has been found at Bangrah in Midnapore district.

• The settlement of Shishupalgarh (Odisha) is believed to be from the third century BC of the Mauryan period. And here, along with the Northern Black Polished Pottery, iron tools and punch marked coins have also been found. Iron tools and weapons of that time have also been found at many places in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

• The art of iron-making spread to some parts of the country through Mauryan contacts. With the spread of iron, some improved methods of clearance of forest and farming began. As a result, conditions for the rise of the Chedi kingdom were created in that region.

Decline of Mauryan Empire

Decline of the Mauryan Empire can be attributed to many factors. Not a single reason dominated, rather it was the accumulation of all the reasons that were related by the chain reaction.

These were:

• Weak and Incapable Rulers After the death of Ashoka, Mauryan Empire ruled by numerous weak and incapable rulers, which resulted into decrease of area under direct control of Mauryan Empire.

• Foreign Invasion Many Greek and Achaemenian rulers started invading India. As a result, Mauryan Empire was divided into various independent and autonomous regions, particularly in North-Western parts of India.

• Rise of New Dynasty Pushyamitra Shunga, who was the Commander of last Mauryan King 'Brahadratha', killed the king and established himself on the throne at Pataliputra. He was a Brahmin and tried to revive Brahmanism and established his control over North and Central India.

• Economical Degradation Ashoka maintained a large army, which required huge sum of money for its maintenance. This led to the decline of royal treasury. Further, huge donations given by Mauryan rulers to Buddhists also depleted the treasury.

• Reaction of Brahmins Although Ashoka adopted policies of non-violence and prohibition of sacrificial rituals, but it displeased Brahmanical sacrificial order. This resulted into increased support of Brahmins to create displeasure and sense of insecurity against Mauryans (like Pushyamitra Shunga). As a result, many new dynasties emerged during this time, were ruled by Brahmin kings e.g., Satavahana, Shunga etc. 

FAQ

Q1. Mauryan Empire known for what ?

Ans. Mauryan Empire was an efficient and highly organized system .Mauryan dynasty established itself on the throne of Magadha. Later on, it became one of the most important dynasties in ancient Indian History.Known for its admistration structure.

Q2. Who was most powerful king of mauryan dynasty?

Ans. Ashoka was most powerful king of mauryan dynasty.

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