Mauryan Empire Flashcards
Bindusara SN
Slayer of Foes
conquered 16 rulers
maintained friendly relations with the greek
What emblem was selected as the emblem of India??
The Lion Capital was a sculpture of 4 Asiatic lions standing back to back facing four different directions on an elaborate base.
Advantages of the pan-indian character of the mauryan empire
- Marked the end of small states
- Helped form trade links with foreign countries
- Helped the Mauryans face foreign agressions successfully
- After the Kalinga war helped them focus on the social and economic welfare of the people.
Changes that ashoka made in the administration.
- Added a new 5th province with Tosli as it’s capital
- Simplified many practices like heavy taxation, etc.
- Appointed Mahamatras to look after the wefare of his people.
Who was known as the Devanamapriya and the Priyadarshi? and what do they mean?
Ashoka
Beloved of the gods
Beautiful one
SN on sanchi stupa
- A stupa is a semi-spherical done shaped structure made out of unburnt bricks and rocks.
- Ashoka built the sanchi stupa in sanchi, on madhya pradesh.
- A stupa represents budhha containing his relics like hair, teeth. bones, etc
- Carved panels depict scenes of buddha’s life including scenes from the jataka tales
- Buddha is represented as a peepal tree, a lotus or a wheel.
SN on Indika
Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus Nicator, a Greek ruler. The Indika is everything Megasthenes heard and saw during his stay in India.
SN arthashastra
Kautilya/Chanakya/Vishnugupta wrote it
It was written in sanskrit
it is a comprehensive manual that deals with politics, administration, diplomacy, etc
SN on edicts of Ashoka
- An edict is a decree issued by a sovereign
- the edicts of ashoka are the oldest, best preserved and precisely dated records of india
- they contain the life and ideals of ashoka
- they are all written in the brahmi lipi script from left to right.
- include 14 major rock edicts, 7 pillar edicts, and many other minor rock edicts
- After the conquest of Kalinga the suffering causes upon his people awakened ashoka’s conscience and decided to not take up arms anymore. Rock Edict 1 talks about how ashoka protected animals
What is the Bherighosha and dhammaghosha
war drum, and drum of peace and non-violence
SN on central government
- King was the supreme authority
- King’s throne was hereditary
- King was assisted by a council of ministers (mantri parishad) headed by the prime minister
- Purohit - chief pujari
- Senapati - in charge of the army
- Sannidhata - treasurer
Samaharta - Tax collector
SN on provincial government
- There were 5 provinces
- the head of the province was called the kumar
Only princes were appointed this position.
Mahamatra helped in administration
Pradeshika helped in tax collecting
Rajuka was the revenue officer
Yukta was the treasurer
Chandragupta maurya SN
founder
Combined with Chanakya and overthrew nandas
Fought seleucus
Won Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, etc and Helen’s hand in marriage
Handed over the empire to his son Bindusara
Consequences of kalinga war
- Lack of military preparedness
- It caused a great change in Ashoka’s personal life
- He abandoned the life of luxury
- He himself went on tours to preach buddhism
- Ordered many edicts to be erected to spread the teachings of buddhism
- He embraced the buddhist policies and principles
- prisoners of war were used for agricultural work which increased productivity.
Who looked after district administration
Yukta ( treasurer), Rajuka (revenue officer) Pradeshika (tax collector)
Who was the head of the city??
Nagaradhyaksha
State the 2 types of taxes
Bali and Bhaga.
Bhaga was the tax on agriculture and cattle which was at the rate of 1/6th.
Taxes were imposed on liquor, shops, gambling, etc.
SN on the spy system.
Chandragupta maurya had a wide network of spies to keep an eye on what was going on the bureauocracy.
SN on military
Chandragupta maurya maintained a huge standing army. The king was commander in chief. They had a well laid recruitment policy and the soldiers were paid in cash.
Principles of Ashoka’s Dhamma are–
- Respect elderes and love for children
- Ahimsa or non-violence
- Good deeds or good karma would give happiness to a man in his next life.
- Respect all religions
- Disapproved of empty rituals
Impact of Ashoka’s Dhamma -
- People began to tolerate other religions
- Reduced rate of crimes and thefts almost came to an end
- People started living a moral life
- Public welfare resulted in people leading peaceful lives.
