Category 6 · Ancient History

Mauryan Empire

11 micro topics in Ancient History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Sources for the Study of the Mauryan Empire; Chandragupta Maurya and the Founding of the Mauryan Empire; and 9 more.

6.1

Sources for the Study of the Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire is reconstructed from the Arthashastra of Kautilya, Megasthenes’ Indica preserved in later Greek writers, Ashoka’s edicts, Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic works, the Sri Lankan chronicles Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, the play Mudrarakshasa, the Junagadh…
6.2

Chandragupta Maurya and the Founding of the Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya, of modest origin, overthrew the Nandas with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya) and founded the Mauryan dynasty at Pataliputra, around 321 BC. He freed the north-west from Seleucus, who yielded territory west of the…
6.3

Mauryan Administration (Arthashastra and Megasthenes’ Indica)

Mauryan administration was a centralised monarchy with a council of ministers, provinces under royal princes (kumaras), districts under sthanikas, villages under gramanis, a city board of six committees at Pataliputra, a huge army run by six…
6.4

Mauryan Economy and State Control

The Mauryan economy rested on agriculture, with the state opening new land with cultivators and shudra labour and taxing the produce at one-fourth to one-sixth, controlling mines, liquor and arms, appointing twenty-seven superintendents (adhyakshas), regulating weights,…
6.5

Bindusara and Early Life of Ashoka

Bindusara, Chandragupta’s son (about 297 to 273 BC), kept the empire intact, was called Amitrochates by the Greeks and maintained diplomatic links with Antiochus I through Deimachos. His son Ashoka served as viceroy of Taxila and…
6.6

Kalinga War and its Impact

In the eighth year of his reign Ashoka conquered Kalinga, his only recorded major war. The Thirteenth Major Rock Edict records 150,000 deported, 100,000 killed and many more dead, figures probably exaggerated. Remorse led Ashoka from…
6.7

Ashoka’s Dhamma and Internal Policy

Ashoka’s dhamma was a code of social conduct: paternal kingship, obedience to parents, respect for brahmanas and monks, mercy to slaves and animals, tolerance among sects and loyalty to the king. He appointed dhammamahamatras and rajukas,…
6.8

Ashokan Inscriptions

Ashoka’s inscriptions, the earliest royal records that speak directly to the people, are classed as Major Rock Edicts, Minor Rock Edicts, Separate (Kalinga) Rock Edicts, Major Pillar Edicts and Minor Pillar Edicts. Found in India, Nepal,…
6.9

Mauryan Art and Architecture

Mauryan art introduced stone masonry on a wide scale. Its landmarks are the polished monolithic sandstone pillars of Ashoka with animal capitals such as the Sarnath lion capital, the 84-pillared hall at Kumrahar in Pataliputra, rock-cut…
6.10

Causes of the Decline of the Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire began to break up after Ashoka’s exit in 232 BC and ended in 185 BC when the general Pushyamitra Shunga killed the last ruler Brihadratha. Causes cited include brahmanical reaction, a financial crisis,…
6.11

Shungas and Kanvas – Post-Mauryan Rule in the Ganga Valley

The Shungas, founded by the brahmana general Pushyamitra after killing Brihadratha in 185 BC, ruled Pataliputra and central India for about a century, performed Vedic sacrifices, faced Indo-Greek pressure and left the Bharhut and Sanchi stupa…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Mauryan Empire?

Mauryan Empire has 11 micro topics in Ancient History: Sources for the Study of the Mauryan Empire; Chandragupta Maurya and the Founding of the Mauryan Empire; Mauryan Administration (Arthashastra and Megasthenes’ Indica); Mauryan Economy and State Control; Bindusara and Early Life of Ashoka; Kalinga War and its Impact; Ashoka’s Dhamma and Internal Policy; Ashokan Inscriptions; Mauryan Art and Architecture; Causes of the Decline of the Mauryan Empire; Shungas and Kanvas – Post-Mauryan Rule in the Ganga Valley.

Is Mauryan Empire important for UPSC Prelims?

Mauryan Empire is a part of the UPSC Prelims Ancient History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 11 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.