Maurya and Post-Maurya Dynasties

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The Maurya Empire (c. 321–185 BCE) was India’s first great empire — founded by Chandragupta Maurya after overthrowing the Nanda dynasty. It reached its peak under Ashoka, whose reign transformed Buddhism from a regional sect into a world religion.

Key Facts for RPSC RAS:

• Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire (~321 BCE) — defeated the Nanda king Dhana Nanda with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya).
• Bindusara (Ashoka’s father) expanded the empire to the Deccan.
• Ashoka (c. 268–232 BCE) — the greatest Mauryan emperor; fought the Kalinga War (~261 BCE); after witnessing the devastation, he adopted Buddhism.
• Ashoka’s edicts — inscriptions on rocks and pillars across the empire; spread Buddhist principles.
• The empire ended with Brihadratha (~185 BCE) — assassinated by his commander Pushyamitra Shunga.
• Post-Maurya: Shunga, Kanva, Andhra (Satavahana) dynasties ruled after the Mauryas.

⚡ Exam tip: Ashoka’s edicts, the Kalinga War, Chanakya’s Arthashastra, and the causes of Maurya decline are high-yield topics.

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🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)

Standard content for students with a few days to months.

Chandragupta Maurya (~321–297 BCE)

Rise to Power

Chandragupta Maurya (c. 340–297 BCE):

• Born in Piprahwa (Uttar Pradesh) — or possibly Kaushambi
• According to the Mudrarakshasa (play by Vishakhadatta) and Mahavansha (Sri Lankan chronicle):
  • Raised by a shepherd (or in a forest)
  • Met Chanakya (Kautilya) — Brahmin teacher who saw his potential
  • Defeated Dhana Nanda (Nanda king) with Chanakya’s guidance
  • Became king of Magadha (~321 BCE)

Alliance with Seleucus

According to Greek sources (Strabo, Plutarch):

• Chandragupta defeated Seleucus Nicator (Alexander’s general who took over eastern territories) around 305 BCE
• Signed a treaty — Chandragupta gained territory in eastern Afghanistan
• Marriage alliance — Chandragupta married Seleucus’s daughter (or a Greek princess)
• Received 500 war elephants from Seleucus — used to consolidate power

Administration

Chandragupta established the first large centralised empire:

• Division of empire into provinces ( Janapadas) — 4 provinces initially
• Provincial governors (Mahamatras) — appointed by the king
• Espionage system — extensive spy network (as described in Arthashastra)
• Revenue system — land tax (1/6 of produce), tribute from subordinate chiefs
• Massive army — 9,000 war elephants, 30,000 cavalry, 600,000 infantry (as per Greek sources)

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Bindusara (~297–273 BCE)

Expansion

Bindusara (also called Susrutha in some sources):

• Extended the empire to the Deccan — conquered the region of Kalinga (Odisha) or at least demanded submission
• Southern expansion — sent his son Ashoka to govern Ujjain (，初步)
• Used forced labour for infrastructure (some sources suggest harsh rule)

Relations with Greeks

Bindusara maintained relations with Antiochus I (Seleucus’s son):

• Sent an envoy to his court
• Asked for “sweet wine and a philosopher” — Antiochus sent a philosopher (Zeno of Cyprus — a Stoic)

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Ashoka (c. 268–232 BCE) — The Great

The Kalinga War (~261 BCE)

Background:

• Kalinga (modern Odisha) was an independent kingdom
• Ashoka marched to conquer it

The War:

• Massive bloodshed — 100,000+ killed on both sides
• Ashoka’s own soldiers suffered heavy casualties
• The devastation was so immense that Ashoka was horrified and experienced remorse

Aftermath:

• Ashoka renounced violence — adopted Buddhism
• Sent Buddhist missions across India and beyond

Ashoka’s Dhamma

Ashoka did not make Buddhism the state religion — he promoted Dhamma — a code of conduct based on Buddhist principles:

Dhamma principles:

• Ahimsa (non-violence) — toward all living beings
• Religious tolerance — respect for all faiths
• Animal welfare — protected certain animals from slaughter
• Honouring parents, teachers, elders
• Honest conduct
• Consideration for servants and employees
• Generosity — especially toward Brahmins and ascetics

Ashoka’s Edicts

Ashoka spread his message through rock edicts and pillar edicts — found across the subcontinent:

Major Edict Types:

1. Rock Edict I — Prohibits animal slaughter (in certain months)
2. Rock Edict II — Mentions Greek and Kamboja peoples — indicates religious tolerance
3. Rock Edict IV — Emphasises dhamma as the common law
4. Rock Edict V — Instructions to Dhamma Mahamatras (officials to promote dhamma)
5. Rock Edict VI — King’s desire to know the welfare of his people
6. Rock Edict XIII — The famous account of the Kalinga War and Ashoka’s remorse
7. Pillar Edict II — All officials should work for the welfare of the people

Key Edicts Locations:

• Girnar (Junagadh, Gujarat)
• Dhauli (Odisha — near Kalinga)
• Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh)
• Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh — the famous lion capital)
• Taxila (Pakistan)

Ashoka’s Symbols:

• Lion Capital at Sarnath — now India’s national emblem — four lions back-to-back, with animal sculptures below
• Ashoka Chakra — the wheel on the Lion Capital — now in India’s national flag

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Maurya Administration — The Arthashastra

Chanakya (Kautilya)

Author of the Arthashastra — a treatise on statecraft, economics, and strategy:

• Written in Sanskrit — 15 books, 180 chapters
• Deals with: Kingship, administration, taxation, espionage, warfare, diplomacy
• Often compared to Machiavelli’s The Prince — but far more comprehensive

Key concepts from Arthashastra:

• Seven types of state (Saptanga theory): Swami (king), Amatya (ministers), Janapada (territory), Durg (fortress), Kosha (treasury), Danda (army), Mitra (allies)
• Four kinds of income: Danda (taxation), Bharana (tribute), Kara (regular tax), Bhaga (share of produce)
• Espionage: Seven types of spies — including secret agents and code systems
• Diplomacy: Six-fold foreign policy — sandhi (peace), vigraha (war), yana (marching), asana (neutrality), samsaya (double-dealing), panthas (alliance)

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Decline of the Maurya Empire

Causes

1. Weak successors after Ashoka — empire fragmented
2. Overcentralisation — empire was too large to manage without strong central authority
3. Economic strain — maintaining massive armies and bureaucracy was expensive
4. Brahmana reaction — the Buddhist king’s favouritism of Buddhism alienated Brahmins
5. Military weakness — the vast army was expensive and difficult to maintain
6. External pressure — Bactrian Greek invasions from the northwest

End of the Maurya Empire

Brihadratha (c. 187–185 BCE):

• The last Mauryan emperor
• Assassinated by his commander Pushyamitra Shunga (~185 BCE)
• Pushyamitra founded the Shunga dynasty

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Post-Maurya Dynasties

1. Shunga Dynasty (~185–73 BCE)

Founder: Pushyamitra Shunga (military commander) Capital: Pataliputra Significance:

• Restored Brahminical traditions — patronised Brahmin scholars
• Patanjali (Yoga Sutras) and Charaka (Ayurveda) associated with this period
• Sanchi Stupa — expanded and gifted with railings
• Buddhism declined in the Ganges heartland but continued in the south

2. Kanva Dynasty (~73–28 BCE)

• Founder: Vasudeva (after killing last Shunga king)
• Short-lived — ruled Magadha briefly
• Capital: Pataliputra

3. Satavahana Dynasty (~230 BCE–220 CE)

Also known as: Andhra dynasty Region: Deccan — Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh Notable rulers: Simuka, Gautamiputra Satakarni (greatest — defeated Shaka-Kushan powers)

Significance:

• First Indian dynasty to use ** Prakrit** as an official language (along with Sanskrit)
• Patronised Buddhism and Hinduism equally
• Trade: Major maritime trade with Rome — exported textiles, spices, gems
• Built ** stupas** — Amaravati Stupa (Andhra Pradesh)
• Andhra Pradesh — named after this dynasty

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🔴 Extended — Deep Study (3mo+)

Comprehensive coverage for students on a longer study timeline.

Maurya Society, Economy, and Culture

Society

• Caste system — existed but not as rigid as later periods
• Guilds ( Shreni) — organised artisans and merchants
• Position of women — relatively free during this period; Ashoka’s edicts mention women in religious contexts
• Slavery — existed but not widespread; prisoners of war were sometimes enslaved

Economy

• Agriculture — major economic base; land tax (1/6)
• Trade — internal and external (with Rome via the Silk Road and maritime routes)
• Urban centres — Pataliputra was one of the largest cities in the ancient world
• Coins — punch-marked coins (silver and copper) — earliest Indian coins
• Art and craft — terracotta, stone carving, jewellery

Art and Architecture

Mauryan Art:

• Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh) — originally built by Ashoka; expanded by Shungas
• Lion Capital at Sarnath — masterwork of Mauryan sculpture
• Didarganj Yakshi — stone statue; one of the finest Mauryan sculptures
• Pillars — polished stone pillars (of Ashoka) — most famous at Sarnath, Lauriya-Nandangarh

Mauryan polished stone style:

• Highly polished stone ( Mauryan polish)
• Smooth, rounded forms
• High quality of finish

The Bactrian Greek Invasions

After the fall of the Mauryas, Bactrian Greeks (Greek-speaking kingdom in Central Asia) invaded India:

Demetrius (c. 200–190 BCE):

• First Bactrian king to invade India
• Conquered large parts of northwestern India

Menander (Milinda):

• Most famous Bactrian king in India
• Ruled from Taxila to Pataliputra
• Became a Buddhist — his dialogues with the monk Nagasena are recorded in the Milinda Panha (Questions of Milinda)
• Returned to Greco-Buddhist tradition — influenced Gandharan art

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Practice Questions for RPSC RAS

1. Who was Chandragupta Maurya? How did he establish the Maurya Empire?
2. What was the Kalinga War? How did it change Ashoka?
3. What are Ashoka’s edicts? Name at least three and describe their content.
4. What is the Arthashastra? Who wrote it and what is its significance?
5. What caused the decline of the Maurya Empire?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Thinking Ashoka made Buddhism the state religion — he promoted Dhamma, a code of conduct, not a state religion.
• Confusing the Shunga dynasty with the Satavahana — Shunga ruled Magadha; Satavahana ruled the Deccan.
• Forgetting that the Lion Capital at Sarnath is India’s national emblem — this is a common question.

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