Mauryan Empire
The Mauryan Empire: The Mauryan Empire was the first pan-Indian empire. It covered a large area of the present Indian region except for Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and some parts of northeastern India, though it was centered around Magadha. Its boundary reaches parts of modern-day Iran. The empire was characterized by a strong central government, an efficient administrative system, and a well-organized army. It also saw the development of a sophisticated legal system, a uniform system of weights and measures, and the spread of Buddhism.
The Mauryan Empire History
The Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the help of Kautilya. The mauryan empire was established in 321 B.C.E. and continued till 185 B.C.E. Alexander’s death in 323 B.C.E. left a large power vacuum, and Chandragupta took advantage, gathering an army and overthrowing the Nanda dynasty in Magadha, in present-day eastern India, marking the start of the Mauryan Empire. After crowning himself king, Chandragupta took additional lands through force and by forming alliances.
Chandragupta’s chief minister Kautilya, also called Chanakya, advised Chandragupta and contributed to the empire’s legacy. Kautilya is also known for writing the Arthashastra, which describes how a state should organize its economy and maintain power.
During Emperor Ashoka, the empire was expanded to it’s biggest on the Indian subcontinent, spanning more than five million square kilometres. It was surrounded on three sides by mountains: the Himalayas, the Ganges river to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Indus river, and the Arabian Sea to the west. Patliputra, which resembles modern day Patna in Bihar, was the capital of Mauryan empire.
Mauryan Empire Map
The territorial extent of mauryan empire can be seen in the given map:
It was spanning more than five million square kilometres. It was surrounded on three sides by mountains: the Himalayas, the Ganges river to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Indus river, and the Arabian Sea to the west as can be seen in the map.
Mauryan Empire Flag
The Mauryan empire flag can be seen below:
Rulers of the Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta founded the Mauryan empire. He was supported by Chanakya. Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards the end of his life and stepped down from the throne in favour if his son, Bindusara. According to Jain texts, Chandragupta Maurya adopted Jainism and went to the hills of Shravanabelagola (near Mysore) and committed Sallekhana (death by slow starvation).
Bindusara
Bindusara was the second king of the Dynasty and was the son of Chandragupta Maurya. He was also known as Amitraghata(killer of enemies). He explicitly ruled over much of the whole Indian land by uniting 16 nations under the Mauryan Empire. Bindusara conquered the land between the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal. Under his rule, almost the entire subcontinent was under the Mauryan empire.
Bindusara maintained friendly diplomatic relations with the Greeks. Deimachus was the ambassador of Seleucid emperor Antiochus I at Bindusara’s court.
Bindusara had several wives and is believed to have had at least 16 sons, including his most famous son, Ashoka. According to the Buddhist text, Ashokavadana, Ashoka was not Bindusara’s eldest son but he was appointed as the governor of Ujjain during his father’s reign. After Bindusara’s death, Ashoka succeeded him as the third Mauryan emperor.
Although relatively little is known about Bindusara’s personal life and accomplishments, his reign played an important role in the expansion and consolidation of the Mauryan Empire, laying the groundwork for his famous son Ashoka’s rule.
Ashoka
Ashoka was a the greatest king of the Mauryan empire. As king, he was forceful and ambitious,
reinforcing the Empire’s dominance in southern and western India. However, his victory over Kalinga (262-261 BCE) was set out to be a defining moment in his life. After Kalinga war, looking at the devastation and violence, he decided to abjure violence and follow the path of Ahimsa.
Ashoka put the tenets of Ahimsa into practice by repealing sports like hunting and putting an end to forced labour and indentured slavery. The Dhamma Vijay policy also placed a strong emphasis on non- violence, which was to be observed by denying war and conquests as well as by refusing the death of animals.
After Ashoka, a series of less powerful rulers served. Dasharatha Maurya, the grandson of Ashoka, succeeded him. His first child, Mahinda, was intent on making Buddhism popular everywhere. Due to his eye defect, Kunala Maurya was not good at taking the enthrone, and Tivala, the descendant of Kaurwaki, passed away even before the death of Ashoka. Jalauka, another son, has a relatively uneventful backstory of life.
Under Dasharatha, the Empire lost a great deal of land, which Kunala’s son Samprati eventually took to recover.
Brihadratha
Brihadratha was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, who reigned from around 187 BCE to 180 BCE. He was the grandson of Emperor Ashoka and the son of Ashoka’s son, Kunala.
Brihadratha’s reign was marked by political instability and internal strife, as many of his ministers and governors sought to increase their own power at the expense of the central government. According to tradition, Brihadratha was eventually assassinated by his own minister, Pushyamitra Shunga, who then established the Shunga dynasty and became the new ruler of India.
Brihadratha’s reign marked the end of the Mauryan Empire, which had once been the most powerful empire in India. Despite the decline and eventual fall of the Mauryan dynasty, the empire’s legacy continued to influence Indian culture and society for centuries to come. The period of Mauryan rule was marked by significant advancements in art, architecture, literature, science, and philosophy, as well as the spread of Buddhism throughout India and beyond.
Decline of the Mauryan Empire
Ashoka’s rule came to an end in 232 BCE, marking the start of the Mauryan empire’s decline. A number of events were responsible for the demise of huge empire. They include:
Economic crisis: The Mauryan empire maintained the very huge army, resulting in significant expenditures for paying the soldiers and officials, which burdened the mauryan economy. Ashoka opposed the killing of animals and pets. The Brahmanical society, which depended on the offerings made in the name of sacrifices, suffered due to Ashoka’s anti-sacrifice attitude. As a result, the Brahmanas formed some sort of animosity toward Ashoka.
Dissemination of new knowledge: This material knowledge acquired from the Magadha served as the foundation for the founding and expansion of other kingdoms like the Shungas, Kanvas, and Chetis.
Ignorance of North-West Frontier: Ashoka was involved with both domestic and international missionary endeavors. It left the north west frontier open to invasions. Also successive rulers were not capable enough to safeguard it’s boundaries.
Pushyamitra Shunga, finally brought an end to the Mauryan empire and established the Shunga dynasty.
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