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Rise of Maurya Empire:
Maurya Empire was the first ever pan-India Empire which not only
covered most of the Indian region but also the most part of sub-continent. It
was established in and around 322 B.C.E. and ended in 185 B.C.E. it covered all
around the Northern and Central India while expanding towards the parts of
modern day Iran.
Maurya Empire originated from the kingdom of Magadha in the
Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain. Its capital City was Patliputra (present Patna)
which was also the economical and agricultural Capital. The Maurya Empire was
the first and the largest empire to be ever existed; it covered around 5
million square kilometers when the Great Ashoka was the King on the throne.
Chandragupta Maurya in 322 B.C.E. overthrew Nanda Dynasty with the
help of Chanakya and established the Maurya Empire. Later the disruption of
local power as well as the death of Alexander the Great helped him to take
advantage and expand towards the Western and Northern India.
He kept on defeating and conquering the remaining army of
Alexander and then met against Selucas-I who was a Macedonian Army General of
Alexander and defeated him to halt his invasion and occupied territory in the
west of the Indus River.
Expansion of Maurya Empire:
The Seleucid-Mauryan war ended with both sides making peace and
Selucas was given Babylon and he expanded in the eastern region but here in
Sub-continent Maurya Empire started expanding in the Southern India with the
help of the of his son Bindusara who was chosen as the successor to
Chandragupta Maurya.
Chandragupta ruled from 322 B.C.E. to 298 B.C.E. when he took the
voluntary retirement to give his son his throne. Bindusara ruled and expanded
the Empire in the Southern Region with the help of his advisor Chanakya. He
conquered around 16 states making most of the Indian region to be under the
Maurya Empire.
He left the friendly Dravidian states such as the Pandyas, the
Cheras. The only rebellion place which was left to be occupied was Kalinga
(modern day Odisha). He died in 272 B.C.E. and was succeeded by his son Ashoka
the Great.
Being the new blood and a new generation he came out brilliantly
with his administrative works in shutting down the rebellions of Ujjain and
Taxila. He was aggressive and commanding and his monarchial and optimistic
nature helped him make the Maurya Empire greatest ever and he again established
his powers in Southern and Western region.
Kalinga Conquest:
The optimistic and arrogant Ashoka the Great who always wanted to
conquer the only unconquered part Kalinga made huge stride and his blood
thirsty war mentality made it possible and finally in war against the Kalinga
Royal Soldiers and Civilian units they won; but in the war over
100,000 deaths including 10,000 of Ashoka’s own men.
After witnessing the scenes of devastation Ashoka started to feel
remorse; though Kaalinga was now a part of Maurya Empire but he took the
teaching of Buddhism. He went on to the path or Ahimsa and moving away
from violence.
He sent out saints to spread Buddhism throughout Asia and also
banned sports activity which was violent. He also set free all those indentured
and forced labors that were forced to do hard labour after the Kalinga War.
Ashoka started maintaining friendly relations with states across
Asia and Europe. He also sponsored the a massive public works building campaign
across the country where he built different Stupas which were Buddhist
Religious structures and famously constructed The Great Stupa which stands in
Sanchi.
Ashoka was the most successful and famous monarchs in the history
od India for the fact he made an unexpected expansion and yet managed the
biggest empire with peace, harmony and solidarity.
Administration and Economy:
Tosali in the east, Ujjain in the west, Suvarnagiri in the south,
and Taxila in the north these were the four provinces in which Maurya Empire
was divided. Each province had a Royal Prince or Kumara who used to rule the
province with the help of Mahamattas who were nothing but like the prime
ministers of the provinces.
Kumaras were under the Mantriparishad or Council of Ministers
who were the chosen ones by the Emperor of Maurya Empire. This complicated
bureaucratic system was there in which everything in the whole Empire was
governed and controlled.
A single Currency policy was established by Chandragupta Maurya
with the help of a network of regional administrations and civil services to
give justice and equality for the merchants, farmers etc. farmers paid a
nationally administrative taxes which was strict but fair but they were freed
of tax and crop collection from the regional kings.
Under continued Mauryan rule, political unity and military
security encouraged a common economic system, increased agricultural
productivity, and enhanced widespread trade and commerce for the first time in
West and South Asia.
Downfall of Maurya Empire:
After Ashoka’s death the empire shrank because of lack of good
rulers, invasions, defections by southern princes, and quarrels over ascension.
The last ruler, Brihadratha, was killed in 185 BCE by
his Brahman commander in chief, Pushyamitra, who then founded
the Shunga dynasty, which ruled in central India for about a century.
Written by: Gourav Chowdhury
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