The Mauryas are known in history for their centralized administration and elaborate taxation system. The Mauryan period belonged to the NBPW, or Northern Black Polished Ware, era.
This article mainly explains the sources of Mauryan history, the structure of administration, the army, economic regulation, taxation system, punch-marked coins, art and architecture, and the spread of material culture under the Mauryas.
Table of Contents
Sources of Mauryan History
Multiple literary, epigraphic, and historical sources provide rich insights into the history of the Mauryan Empire:
| Source | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arthashastra | Written by Chanakya |
| Indika / Indica | Written by Megasthenes |
| Mudrarakshas | Written by Vishakhadutta in the 9th century |
| Account of Pliny | Pliny was a Roman writer |
| Rock and Pillar Edicts | Inscriptions engraved on rocks and pillars |
| Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa | Sri Lankan Buddhist texts |
The Indika throws valuable light on the administration, society and economy of Mauryan times. The Arthashastra, written by Chanakya, is another important source for Mauryan administration.
Centralized Administration of the Mauryas
The Mauryas organized a very elaborate system of administration.
The empire was divided into a number of provinces. Each province was placed under a prince who belonged to the royal dynasty.
The provinces were further divided into smaller units. Separate arrangements were made for both:
- Rural administration
- Urban administration
This shows that the Mauryan administration was highly structured and centrally organized.
Important Cities of the Mauryan Empire
he primary administrative and commercial centers of the Mauryan Empire included:
- Patliputra
- Ujjain
- Taxila
- Suvarnagiri
Patliputra
Patliputra was the capital of the Mauryas.
Its administration was carried on by six committees. Each committee had five members.
These committees looked after:
- Sanitation
- Care of foreigners
- Registration of birth and death
- Regulation of weights and measures
- Other civic functions
Ujjain and Taxila
Taxila and Ujjayini were situated on important long-distance trade routes.
Because of this, they had administrative and commercial importance.
Suvarnagiri
Suvarnagiri literally means the golden mountain.
Suvarnagiri served as a crucial southern administrative hub, positioned strategically to tap into the gold mines of Karnataka.
Chandragupta Maurya’s Army
The most striking feature of Chandragupta’s administration was the maintenance of a huge army.
According to the account of Pliny, Chandragupta maintained:
| Army Unit | Number |
|---|---|
| Foot-soldiers | 600,000 |
| Cavalry | 30,000 |
| Elephants | 9,000 |
This large army helped the Mauryan state maintain control over a vast empire.
Military Administration According to Megasthenes
Megasthenes mentions a committee with six sub-committees for coordinating military activities.
| Sub-committee | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| 1 | Navy |
| 2 | Transport and provisions |
| 3 | Foot-soldiers |
| 4 | Horses |
| 5 | Chariots |
| 6 | Elephants |
The second sub-committee had varied functions. It arranged bullock carts to carry equipment, procured food for soldiers and fodder for animals, and recruited servants and artisans to look after soldiers.
Espionage System and Important Functionaries
The administrative mechanism was supported by an elaborate system of espionage.
Important functionaries were called Tirthas.
The highest functionaries were:
- Mantrin — Minister
- Purohit — High priest
- Senapati — Commander-in-chief
- Yuvraja — Crown prince
These high officials received as much as 48,000 panas.
A Pana was a silver coin equal to 3/4 of a tola.
Economic Regulations in the Mauryan Empire
The state appointed 27 superintendents, called Adhyakshas, mostly to regulate economic activities.
They controlled and regulated:
- Agriculture
- Trade and commerce
- Weights and measures
- Crafts such as weaving and spinning
- Mining
The state also provided irrigation facilities and regulated water supply for agriculture.
Agriculture and Labour
Slaves were employed in agricultural operations on a significant scale during the Mauryan period.
However, it also says that ancient Indian society was not a slave society.
The Shudras, who were employed as slaves in fields, were regarded as the collective property of the three higher varnas.
Roads and Transport
The capital Patliputra was connected with important towns through roads.
he famous Ashokan stone pillars were quarried and crafted at Chunar near Varanasi before being transported across north and south India.
This shows the scale of Mauryan transport, engineering and administrative control.
Taxation System of the Mauryas
The Mauryan period was a landmark in the taxation system of ancient India.
Taxes were collected from:
- Peasants
- Artisans
- Traders
The Mauryas attached greater importance to assessment than to storage and depositing.
Samaharta and Sannidhata
Two important officers were:
| Officer | Role |
|---|---|
| Samaharta | Highest officer in charge of assessment |
| Sannidhata | Chief custodian of the state treasury and storehouse |
An elaborate machinery for the assessment of land first appeared in the Mauryan period.
Taxes were collected in both:
- Kind
- Cash
Taxes in kind were useful for helping local people during famine, drought and crop failure.
Punch-Marked Coins
Punch-marked coins were made of:
- Silver
- Copper
They were among the earliest coins to be minted and used.
These silver and copper punch-marked coins routinely featured symbols such as,
- Peacock
- Hill
- Crescent
These coins were used for payment of officers in cash and helped in the collection of taxes.
Art and Architecture of the Mauryas
The Mauryas introduced stone masonry on a wide scale.
Mauryan artisans had high technical skill. This can be seen in the polished stone pillars.
The technological sophistication of Mauryan artisans is demonstrated by their ability to,
- Carrying huge rocks from quarries
- Polishing them
- Embellishing them
- Placing them erect
Mauryan Pillars
Each pillar was made of a single piece of buff-coloured sandstone.
Only the capitals were joined with the pillars at the top.
These capitals were beautiful sculptures in the form of:
- Lions
- Bulls
Barabar Caves
The Mauryan artisans also started the practice of hewing out caves from rocks for monks to live in.
The rock-cut sanctuaries in the Barabar Caves near Gaya represent the earliest examples of Mauryan cave architecture.
Spread of Material Culture and State System
The Mauryas not only created a well-organized state machinery but also established trade contacts with distant lands.
The spread of material culture happened through:
- Administrators
- Traders
- Jaina monks
- Buddhist monks
These contacts helped spread the material culture of the Gangetic basin to areas on the periphery of the empire.
Features of New Material Culture
The new material culture in the Gangetic basin was based on:
- Intensive use of iron
- Prevalence of writing
- Plenty of punch-marked coins
- Northern Black Polished Ware
- Burnt bricks
- Ring wells
- Rise of towns in north-eastern India
Ring Wells
Ring wells supplied water for domestic use.
Because of ring wells, it was no longer necessary to establish settlements only on river banks.
They also served as soak pits in congested settlements.
Northern Black Polished Ware
The NBPW culture is mentioned at:
- Bangarh in Dinajpur district
- Chandraketugarh in 24 Parganas
- Kalinga
- Andhra Pradesh
- Karnataka
At the same time, regional indigenous cultures in these areas continued to develop independently alongside Mauryan influence.
Spread of Mauryan Influence
The art of making steel may have spread through Mauryan contacts in some parts of the country.
According to Ashokan inscriptions, the following southern kingdoms and regions lived on the borders of the Mauryan Empire:
- Cholas
- Pandyas
- Cheras / Keralaputras
- Satyaputras
- People of Tamraparni
The existence of inscriptions, occasional NBPW potsherds and punch-marked coins in distant places shows that Mauryan material culture spread into those places.
New Settlements According to Kautilya
According to the instructions of Kautilya, new settlements should be founded with the help of:
- Cultivators, apparently Vaishyas
- Shudra labourers drafted from overpopulated areas
To bring virgin soil under cultivation, new peasants were given:
- Tax remission
- Cattle
- Seeds
- Money
Ashoka also maintained close contact with tribal people and encouraged them to observe Dharma.
Mauryans: Quick Revision Table
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Known for | Centralized administration and elaborate taxation |
| Cultural era | NBPW era |
| Main sources | Arthashastra, Indika, Mudrarakshas, Pliny, Edicts, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa |
| Capital | Patliputra |
| Important cities | Patliputra, Ujjain, Taxila, Suvarnagiri |
| Patliputra administration | Six committees of five members each |
| Army under Chandragupta | 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9,000 elephants |
| Military committees | Six sub-committees |
| Important functionaries | Mantrin, Purohit, Senapati, Yuvraja |
| High salary | 48,000 panas |
| Economic officers | 27 Adhyakshas |
| Assessment officer | Samaharta |
| Treasury officer | Sannidhata |
| Coins | Punch-marked coins |
| Coin material | Silver and copper |
| Art | Polished stone pillars, stone masonry |
| Cave example | Barabar Caves |
| Material culture | Iron, writing, NBPW, punch-marked coins, burnt bricks, ring wells |
| Settlement policy | Vaishya cultivators and Shudra labourers |
FAQs on Mauryans
What are the Mauryas known for?
The Mauryas are known for their centralized administration and elaborate taxation system.
Which era did the Mauryan period belong to?
The Mauryan period belonged to the NBPW, or Northern Black Polished Ware, era.
What are the main sources of Mauryan history?
The main sources are Arthashastra, Indika, Mudrarakshas, Pliny’s account, Rock and Pillar Edicts, Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa.
Who wrote Arthashastra?
Chanakya wrote the Arthashastra.
Who wrote Indika?
Megasthenes wrote Indika.
What was the capital of the Mauryas?
The capital of the Mauryas was Patliputra.
How was Patliputra administered?
Patliputra was administered by six committees, each consisting of five members.
Which cities were important under the Mauryas?
The important cities were Patliputra, Ujjain, Taxila and Suvarnagiri.
What does Suvarnagiri mean?
Suvarnagiri means golden mountain.
What was the size of Chandragupta Maurya’s army according to Pliny?
According to Pliny, Chandragupta maintained 600,000 foot-soldiers, 30,000 cavalry and 9,000 elephants.
What were Tirthas in Mauryan administration?
Important functionaries in Mauryan administration were called Tirthas.
Who were the highest Mauryan functionaries?
The highest functionaries were Mantrin, Purohit, Senapati and Yuvraja.
Who was Samaharta?
Samaharta was the highest officer in charge of assessment.
Who was Sannidhata?
Sannidhata was the chief custodian of the state treasury and storehouse.
What were punch-marked coins made of?
Punch-marked coins were made of silver and copper.
Which symbols were found on punch-marked coins?
The symbols of peacock, hill and crescent on punch-marked coins.
What is the main example of Mauryan rock-cut architecture?
Barabar Caves are the main example.
What was NBPW?
NBPW means Northern Black Polished Ware, an important material culture feature of the Mauryan period.
What were ring wells used for?
Ring wells supplied water for domestic use and also served as soak pits in congested settlements.
How did Mauryan material culture spread?
It spread through administrators, traders, Jaina monks and Buddhist monks, along with trade contacts and state machinery.
Last Moment Exam Cheat Sheet – Mauryans
- The Mauryas are known for centralized administration and elaborate taxation.
- The Mauryan period belonged to the Northern Black Polished Ware era.
- Arthashastra was written by Chanakya.
- Indika / Indica was written by Megasthenes.
- Mudrarakshas was written by Vishakhadutta in the 9th century.
- Pliny was a Roman writer.
- Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa are Sri Lankan Buddhist texts.
- The Mauryan empire was divided into provinces.
- Each province was placed under a prince from the royal dynasty.
- Important cities were Patliputra, Ujjain, Taxila and Suvarnagiri.
- Patliputra administration had six committees, each with five members.
- Committees handled sanitation, foreigners, birth-death registration, weights and measures.
- Taxila and Ujjayini were on important long-distance trade routes.
- Suvarnagiri means golden mountain.
- Chandragupta maintained a huge army.
- Pliny says Chandragupta had 600,000 foot-soldiers, 30,000 cavalry and 9,000 elephants.
- Megasthenes mentions six military sub-committees.
- The six military branches were navy, transport, infantry, horses, chariots and elephants.
- The administration was backed by espionage.
- Important functionaries were called Tirthas.
- Highest functionaries included Mantrin, Purohit, Senapati and Yuvraja.
- These high officials received 48,000 panas.
- A Pana was a silver coin equal to 3/4 of a tola.
- The state appointed 27 Adhyakshas.
- Adhyakshas regulated agriculture, trade, weights, measures, crafts and mining.
- The state provided irrigation facilities and regulated water supply.
- Patliputra was connected with important towns through roads.
- Ashokan stone pillars were made at Chunar near Varanasi.
- The Mauryan period was a landmark in ancient Indian taxation.
- Taxes were collected from peasants, artisans and traders.
- Samaharta was the highest officer in charge of assessment.
- Sannidhata was the chief custodian of treasury and storehouse.
- Taxes were collected in both kind and cash.
- Punch-marked coins were made of silver and copper.
- Punch-marked coins carried symbols of peacock, hill and crescent.
- Mauryas introduced stone masonry on a wide scale.
- Mauryan pillars were made of a single piece of buff-coloured sandstone.
- Pillar capitals were in the form of lions or bulls.
- Barabar Caves are an example of Mauryan rock-cut caves.
- Mauryan material culture included iron, writing, punch-marked coins, NBPW, burnt bricks and ring wells.
- Ring wells supplied domestic water and acted as soak pits.
- NBPW culture is found at Bangarh, Chandraketugarh, Kalinga, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
- Ashokan inscriptions mention Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras, Satyaputras and Tamraparni on the borders.
- Kautilya advised new settlements with Vaishya cultivators and Shudra labourers.
- New peasants were given tax remission, cattle, seeds and money.
- Ashoka maintained close contact with tribal people and asked them to observe Dharma.