INDIAN HISTORY - MAURYAN EMPIRE:
The two literary works
Arthasastra and Indica are the main source material for Maurya period. Arthasastra was written by Chanakya or
Kautilya, the Prime Minister of Chandragupta Maurya. Indica was written by Megasthanes, the
ambassador of Selucus Nicator in the court of chandraupta Maurya. The prominent rulers of this dynasty were:
Chandragupta Maurya(321 B.C-297 B.C) ;Bindusara(297 B.C-273B.C);Ashoka (273
B.C-232B.C). Chandragupta Maurya was the
founder of this dynasty. He conspired
with Kautilya, the minister of Nandas to defeat nandas. He defeated Selucus Nicator in 305 B.C. He spent his last days at Sravanabelogola and
died by following Sallekhana. Bindusara
was the son of Chandragupta Maurya. Daimachos
was a ambassador of Antiochus I in the court of Bindusara. Ashoka was not only famous Mauryan king but
also greatest ruler of India. The war of Kalinga (260-261 B.C) was the most
important event of Ashoka`s reign. After
this war Chandashoka became Dharmashoka.
He maintained a direct contact with his people through edicts. The edicts were in Prakrit with Brahmi
script. Ashoka became a follower of
buddhism after Kalinga war and propogated Buddhism. He sent his son Mahendra to Ceylon to
propogate buddhism. The Mauryan empire was divided into provinces and the
provinces divided into districts.
Provinces during the Mauryan age were: Uttarapatha-Taxila;
dakshinapatha-Suvarnagiri; Prachya-pataliputra; Kalinga-Tosali;
Avantiratha-Ujjain; the Mauryan coins
were: Pana, Masika, Kakini. Tirthas,
Adhyakshya, mahamattas, Amatyas were highest ranking officials in the centra
administration. City administration was
run by a board of 30 members. Head of
the city administratiion was nagarika.
Nagarika was assisted by two subordinate officials namely Sthanika and
Gopa. Maski edict is the only edict
which mentions the name Ashoka. Ashokan
edicts were deciphered by James princep in 1837. Kandhar inscription is bilingual i.e. in Greek and Aramic. Ashokan edicts are in Prakrit. Ashoka expressed his faith in the Buddhism
through Bhabru edict.