Ancient India: Maurya and Post-Maurya Rulers
Asoka, The Emperor
● The Mauryas were a dynasty, more than 2300 years ago, with three important
rulers — Chandragupta[founder], his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s son, Ashoka.
● Chandragupta was supported by a wise man named Chanakya or Kautilya. Many
of Chanakya’s ideas were written down in a book titled Arthashastra.
● Megasthenes was an ambassador who was sent to the court of Chandragupta by
the Greek ruler of West Asia named Seleucus Nicator.
● Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known to history and on his instructions
inscriptions were carved on pillars, as well as on rock surfaces.
● Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script.
● People in different parts of the empire spoke different languages.
RULING THE EMPIRE
● As the empire was so large, different parts were ruled differently.
● The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor. This
meant that officials were appointed to collect taxes.
● Spies were kept a watch on the officials.
● Other areas or provinces was ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or
Ujjain.
● Here Royal Princes were often send as governors, local customs and rules were
followed.
, ASHOKA’S DHAMMA
● After Kalinga[current coastal
Odisha] he gave up the war.
● He started to execute
Dhamma[prakrit term for Dharma]
● Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve
worship of a god, or performance of a
sacrifice. He felt its his duty to instruct his
subjects through teachings of Budhha.
● He appointed officials, known as
the dhamma mahamatta who went from
place to place teaching people about
dhamma.
● Besides, Ashoka got his messages
inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his
officials to read his message to those who
could not read it themselves.
● Also sent messengers to spread
ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as
Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
GREAT WALL OF CHINA
● Somewhat before the time of the Mauryan empire, about 2400 years ago, began to
built this wall.
● It was meant to protect the northern frontier of the empire from pastoral people.
● Additions to the wall were made over a period of 2000 years because the frontiers
of the empire kept shifting.
Vital Villages, Thriving Towns
● The use of iron began in the subcontinent around 3000 years ago.
● The kings and kingdoms could not have existed without the support of flourishing
villages.
● Some of the earliest works in Tamil, known as Sangam literature, were composed
around 2300 years ago. These texts were called Sangam because they were
Asoka, The Emperor
● The Mauryas were a dynasty, more than 2300 years ago, with three important
rulers — Chandragupta[founder], his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s son, Ashoka.
● Chandragupta was supported by a wise man named Chanakya or Kautilya. Many
of Chanakya’s ideas were written down in a book titled Arthashastra.
● Megasthenes was an ambassador who was sent to the court of Chandragupta by
the Greek ruler of West Asia named Seleucus Nicator.
● Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known to history and on his instructions
inscriptions were carved on pillars, as well as on rock surfaces.
● Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script.
● People in different parts of the empire spoke different languages.
RULING THE EMPIRE
● As the empire was so large, different parts were ruled differently.
● The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor. This
meant that officials were appointed to collect taxes.
● Spies were kept a watch on the officials.
● Other areas or provinces was ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or
Ujjain.
● Here Royal Princes were often send as governors, local customs and rules were
followed.
, ASHOKA’S DHAMMA
● After Kalinga[current coastal
Odisha] he gave up the war.
● He started to execute
Dhamma[prakrit term for Dharma]
● Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve
worship of a god, or performance of a
sacrifice. He felt its his duty to instruct his
subjects through teachings of Budhha.
● He appointed officials, known as
the dhamma mahamatta who went from
place to place teaching people about
dhamma.
● Besides, Ashoka got his messages
inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his
officials to read his message to those who
could not read it themselves.
● Also sent messengers to spread
ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as
Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
GREAT WALL OF CHINA
● Somewhat before the time of the Mauryan empire, about 2400 years ago, began to
built this wall.
● It was meant to protect the northern frontier of the empire from pastoral people.
● Additions to the wall were made over a period of 2000 years because the frontiers
of the empire kept shifting.
Vital Villages, Thriving Towns
● The use of iron began in the subcontinent around 3000 years ago.
● The kings and kingdoms could not have existed without the support of flourishing
villages.
● Some of the earliest works in Tamil, known as Sangam literature, were composed
around 2300 years ago. These texts were called Sangam because they were
