7.4 The Mauryan Empire and Ashoka's Rule

The Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, marked a pivotal era in ancient Indian history. It expanded rapidly, covering most of the subcontinent and parts of modern Afghanistan. Chandragupta's advisor Kautilya shaped the empire's governance through his influential treatise, the Arthashastra.

Ashoka, Chandragupta's grandson, transformed the empire after the brutal Kalinga War. He embraced Buddhism, promoting non-violence and social welfare. Ashoka's reign saw the spread of Buddhism beyond India's borders and the construction of numerous public works, leaving a lasting impact on Indian culture and governance.

Rise of the Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya's Founding and Expansion

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• Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire in 322 BCE after overthrowing the Nanda dynasty in the Magadha region of ancient India
• Chandragupta expanded Mauryan control across northern India through a combination of military conquests and strategic alliances
  • Defeated the Greek Seleucid Empire under Seleucus I Nicator in 305 BCE, gaining control over the regions of Gandhara and Arachosia (modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan)
  • The Mauryan Empire stretched from modern-day Afghanistan in the west to Bangladesh in the east, covering a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent

Kautilya's Influence on Governance

• Chandragupta formed an alliance with Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, a Brahmin scholar and political strategist who served as his chief advisor
• Kautilya's treatise on statecraft, the Arthashastra, provided guidance on governance, economics, and military strategy that helped shape the Mauryan Empire's administration
  • The Arthashastra covered topics such as taxation, diplomacy, war, and espionage, offering a comprehensive manual for running an efficient and powerful state
  • Kautilya's ideas emphasized the importance of a strong, centralized government, a well-organized bureaucracy, and effective systems of revenue collection and law enforcement

Ashoka's Reign and Impact

Military Conquests and the Kalinga War

• Ashoka, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, ruled the Mauryan Empire from c. 268 to 232 BCE and is considered one of the greatest rulers in Indian history
• Ashoka's early reign was marked by military conquests, including the bloody Kalinga War in 261 BCE, which reportedly left over 100,000 soldiers and civilians dead
  • The Kalinga War was fought against the independent state of Kalinga (modern-day Odisha) on the east coast of India
  • The brutality and suffering witnessed during the war had a profound impact on Ashoka, leading to a transformation in his approach to governance

Governance Based on Buddhist Principles

• The Kalinga War led to Ashoka's embrace of Buddhism and a shift towards a policy of non-violence (ahimsa) and righteousness (dharma)
• Ashoka implemented a system of governance based on Buddhist principles, focusing on social welfare, moral conduct, and the promotion of harmony among his subjects
  • He established a system of dhamma-mahamatras, officials responsible for promoting moral and ethical conduct among the population
  • Ashoka's edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars throughout the empire, conveyed his policies, moral teachings, and commitment to the well-being of his subjects
• He undertook numerous public works projects, including the construction of roads, wells, rest houses, and hospitals for both humans and animals
  • These projects aimed to improve the lives of his subjects and facilitate trade and communication across the vast empire

Ashoka's Conversion to Buddhism

Embracing Buddhist Principles

• Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism was a gradual process, influenced by his remorse over the Kalinga War and his exposure to Buddhist teachings
• He embraced the Buddhist concept of dharma, which emphasized non-violence, compassion, and ethical conduct as a guiding principle for his personal life and rule
  • Ashoka adopted a vegetarian diet and banned animal sacrifices and hunting for sport within the empire
  • He encouraged his subjects to follow the Buddhist path and live according to the principles of dharma

Patronage and Spread of Buddhism

• Ashoka patronized the Buddhist sangha (monastic community) and sponsored the construction of numerous stupas and monasteries across the empire
  • The Great Stupa at Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the most famous examples of Ashokan architecture
  • He also commissioned the construction of 84,000 stupas to enshrine the relics of the Buddha across the Indian subcontinent
• He sent Buddhist missions, led by his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta, to spread the teachings of the Buddha to regions beyond the Mauryan Empire, including Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
  • These missions played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism to other parts of Asia, where it took root and flourished in the following centuries
• Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council in Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) around 250 BCE to resolve doctrinal differences and codify the Buddhist scriptures
  • The council aimed to purify the Buddhist sangha and establish a canonical version of the Buddha's teachings
  • The Pali Canon, the earliest surviving collection of Buddhist scriptures, is believed to have been finalized during this council

Decline of the Mauryan Empire

Challenges of Maintaining a Vast Empire

• The Mauryan Empire began to decline shortly after Ashoka's death in 232 BCE, with the empire gradually fragmenting over the next 50 years
• The vast size of the empire and its diverse population made it challenging to maintain centralized control, leading to the rise of regional powers and separatist movements
  • The Mauryan Empire encompassed a wide range of cultures, languages, and religions, making it difficult to maintain unity and loyalty to the central authority
  • As the power of the central government weakened, regional rulers and local dynasties began to assert their independence

Economic and Military Factors

• Ashoka's policy of non-violence and reduced military spending may have weakened the empire's ability to defend against external threats and internal rebellions
  • The emphasis on pacifism and the reduction of the army's size may have left the empire vulnerable to attacks from neighboring states and invading tribes
  • The lack of a strong military presence may have also encouraged provincial governors and local rulers to challenge the authority of the central government
• The Mauryan Empire's economic prosperity, built on agriculture, trade, and taxation, may have been undermined by factors such as overextension, corruption, and the cost of maintaining a large bureaucracy
  • The empire's vast size and the need to maintain a complex administrative system may have strained its resources and led to inefficiencies and corruption
  • The high cost of public works projects and the maintenance of a large standing army may have also contributed to economic strain

Weak Successors and the End of the Dynasty

• Successors to Ashoka, such as Dasharatha and Samprati, were unable to maintain the unity and stability of the empire, leading to its gradual disintegration
  • These later Mauryan rulers faced numerous challenges, including invasions from foreign powers, internal rebellions, and the growing influence of regional dynasties
  • The lack of strong, capable leadership after Ashoka's reign may have accelerated the empire's decline and fragmentation
• The final blow to the Mauryan Empire came with the assassination of the last emperor, Brihadratha, by his Brahmin commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE, marking the end of the dynasty and the rise of the Shunga Empire
  • Pushyamitra Shunga, a Brahmin general, seized power and established the Shunga dynasty, which ruled parts of northern India for about a century
  • The fall of the Mauryan Empire marked the end of the first great imperial power in ancient India and ushered in a period of political fragmentation and regional rule