Mauryan Empire (321-185 BCE): Rulers, Map, & Administration [Complete Notes for UPSC Exams]

Under the Nanda dynasty rule (343BC to 321BC), Magadha was a formidable power during Alexander’s invasion (326BC). But the Magadh reached its peak during the Mauryan empire. First time in the history of India, a large part of the Indian subcontinent, extending up to the far northwest, was under a single paramount power, the Mauryan empire.

Kings under the Mauryan empire

• Chandragupta Maurya(321BC-298BC) – Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire in 321BC after defeating the last Nanda, Dhanananda. It is believed Kautilya(Chanakya or Vishnugupta), who was his minister, played a significant role in his rise in this event.
  • He then started expanding his empire to the west. He defeated Seleucus Nikator, Alexander’s ambassador in the Indus valley, who had declared himself independent, establishing the Seleucid Empire.
  • Chandragupta extended control as far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, taking away a big territory from the Seleucid empire.
  • Later in his rule, he turned to Jainism and abdicated his throne. He went to Sravanbelagola in Mysore, Karnataka, with the famous Jaina Monk Bhadrabahu.

• Bindusara(298BC-273BC)- Greek historian Athenacus calls him Amitrochates(origin Sanskrit word Amitraghata meaning slayer of foes)
  • During his time, the Mauryan empire was marred by strong revolts. To suppress revolts in the west, Ashoka was made the governor of Taxila during his reign. After being successful there, he was made the governor of Ujjain.
  • It is believed that Bindusara had expanded and consolidated the Mauryan Empire in the South.
  • He was a great patron of the Ajivika sect.
  • After his death, a bloody war of succession broke out between his sons, in which Ashoka came out to be victorious.
• Ashoka(273BC-232BC) proclaimed himself king after four years of civil war(273BC-269BC).
  • He inherited a large part of the subcontinent as an empire.
  • In 260BC, in the 8^th year of his rule, he conquered Kalinga (present-day Odisha), which had remained out of Magadha’s control since the fall of Nandas. After a series of bloody battles, Ashoka came out victorious in 361BCE. It is deemed one of the bloodiest wars in Indian history, killing Lakhs of people.
  • The Kalinga war became a watershed moment in the Ashokan reign, after which he gave up the policy of aggression.

• He had two policies-
  • Berighosa (the drum of war) – means conquest by force or war. With this strategy, he conquered Kalinga.
  • Dhammaghosa (the drum of Dhamma) – It means conquest by the spread of dharma. After the Kalinga war, Asoka renounced Berighosa and followed Dhammaghosa.
  • According to Mahavamsa(a Sri Lankan chronicle), Ashoka was converted to Buddhism by Nigrodha. Whereas, according to the Buddhist text Ashokavadana, he was converted to Buddhism by a Buddhist monk Upagupta, after which he adopted the pacifist policy. However, none of the Ashokan Edicts mentions either Nigrodha or Upagupta.

Source

• The successors of Ashoka(232BC-184BC) – According to Puranas, the Mauryan empire lasted for 137 years since its establishment.
  • After the death of Ashoka, the empire soon got divided into parts.
  • The Western part – was ruled by Kunal (son of Ashoka) and then by his son Samprati.
  • The Eastern part – was ruled by Dasaratha (grandson of Ashoka).
  • The last ruler Brihadratha was assassinated by Pushyamitra Sunga in 184BC in Patliputra.

Mauryan Administration

An elaborate administration was required to govern such a vast empire. Arthashastra, Greek accounts and Ashokan inscriptions give an idea about its administration.

Arthshastra presents a Saptanga theory of State, where the State is organised into seven elements  –

1. Swami (the king)
2. Amatya (the ministers)
3. Janapada (the territory and its people, i.e., subjects)
4. Durga (a fortified capital)
5. Kosha (the treasury)
6. Danda (justice or force)
7. Mitra (ally)