India witnessed the birth and downfall of numerous empires on its land. Some were indigenous, while others were formed after the foreign invasion. The Mauryan Empire, formed after the death of Dhanananda, is one of these empires that remark the glorification of Indian empires. The Mauryan Empire was founded after the downfall of the Nanda Dynasty in 322 BCE. It made Patliputra, modern-day Patna, as it’s the capital city. It was formed during the iron age by Chandragupta Maurya and reached its peak under Ashoka The Great, where the extent of the Mauryan Empire was 5 million square kilometres.

Timeline of Empire:

  1. 321 BCE-300 BCE: Chandragupta Maurya
  2. 298 BCE-273 BCE: Bindusara
  3. 268 BCE-233 BCE: Ashoka
  4. 232 BCE-224 BCE: Dasharatha
  5. 224 BCE-215 BCE: Salisuka
  6. 215 BCE-202 BCE: Devavarm
  7. Devvarman-195 BCE: Satadhanvan
  8. 195 BCE-187 BCE: Brihadratha

History Of Mauryan Empire:

According to historical sources, such as inscriptions, texts, monuments, excavations etc., the history of the Mauryan Dynasty can be traced back up to the Nanda Dynasty. Their ruler, Dhanananda, has insulted Chanakya, who then swore to destroy his kingdom and trained a local boy, Chandragupta, in military and administrative skills. With support from neighbouring empires, he attacked Magadha and forced Dhanananda into exile. Thus, a new empire was formed under the guidance of Chanakya and the leadership of Chandragupta Maurya. He expanded the empire in Northern India and established peace with other rulers in the east and the west. Bindusara succeeded him in 298 BCE after he decided to adopt Jainism. Under Bindusara, the empire was extended to Southern India till what we now know as Karnataka. Ashoka replaced him in 268 BCE, and the empire reached its peak. During the conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka was shaken by war atrocities and adopted Buddhism.

Administration of Mauryan Dynasty:

  • The basis of the Mauryan Empire was based upon Chanakya’s Arth-Shastra, which included philosophies on economics and better administration for a thriving kingdom. 
  • The administration of the Mauryan empire exhibits the hierarchy of power at the district and village levels. 
  • According to sources, King acted on the advice of the council of ministers called Mantriparishad, which comprised Purohita, Mahamantri, Senapathi, and Yuvraj, due to a centralised form of administration. 
  • Civil servants called Amatyas were appointed for daily administration. The empire was divided into provinces managed by Rajukas on the district level, and Nagarka was the city’s superintendent.

Art and Architecture under Mauryan Empire:

  • Archaeological findings indicate that Persian Architecture highly influenced the architecture of the Mauryan Dynasty. Examples include the motifs and polished stones, inscribed declarations of Buddhist sayings etc.
  •  Wood was a common ingredient in architecture, and construction stupas were prominent. Ashoka erected many stupas like the Amaravati Stupa in South India and The Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, circular and cylindrical drums. These buildings carried Buddhist edicts and teachings as Buddhist missionary practices were widespread. 
  • Pillars were also notable features of Mauryan architecture, primarily constructed on the Gangetic plains of Uttar Pradesh with the inscription of Ashoka’s Dhamma. 
  • The Lion Capital at Sarnath, with the polished surface, is the most significant architecture built by Ashoka that symbolises pride and power. It is also now the National Emblem of India.
  • Another form of architecture called the Rock-cut was extensively used to construct shrines and caves, for example, the Lomas Rishi Cave and Rock-cut Elephant at Odisha.

Economy under Mauryan Dynasty:

  • Agriculture was the major source of revenue in the Mauryan period. Since the empire was built upon the fertile Gangetic plains, agriculture flourished, and certain taxes were levied. 
  • The tax depended upon the product, and it is alleged that a uniform system of taxes didn’t exist. 
  • Evidence revealed that the Mauryans traded with the Greeks and Central Asia to exchange diamonds, resources, textiles, horses, gold etc. 
  • The route of Taxila to Patliputra is considered a crucial trade path for the empire. 
  • Sea navigation was practised in Burma and some parts of the West.

The collapse of the Mauryan Empire:

  • The new policies of Ashoka led to Brahmanical reactions due to the ban on animal slaughters and the inclusion of women in religious rituals. Moreover, these reactions also led to the killing of Buddhists due to Buddhism’s favoured policies.
  • Other dynasties became tempted to conquer the kingdom, like the Sungas and the Kushanas.
  • Due to incompetency among the successive rulers to manage such a vast empire, they began partitioning the Mauryan empire and reducing the territories on the Mauryan Empire Map. 
  • Other reasons include the highly centred administration of the empire and the establishment of the Sunga dynasty.

Conclusion:

The Mauryan empire is truly one of the most significant and powerful dynasties that our country has witnessed. The tactics and strategies of Mauryan rulers are highly efficient, and some are even used in present times. The history of this empire is vast and deserves due attention from readers. All the works of art, architecture, economics, and administration are praiseworthy. This topic is a crucial part of our Indian history and should be preserved and spread through generations. The extent of the empire shows the mass of our rulers that made India a substantial figure in the past.