Tamil Nadu History NCERT Chap-6 Class 11

Chapter 6

The Moryan empire

Source :

Literary:
Arthashastra  by Kautilya = Polity during Morya (Supports Divorce +Widow Remarriage)

Mudrarakshasa  by Vishakhadutta (During Gupta dynasty)= gives glimpses of Morya overthrowing Nanda

Indica  by Megasthanese (Greek ambessdon in Chandragupta Morya) =Military+civil life specially Patliputra

Other literary = Jatka + Purana

Archiological:
Ashoka,s edict =  total 14 = N.E India pali/Prakrit in Brahmi script + N.W India(Pak) in kharosti script pali language
[ Brahmi + Kharosti script = deciphered by James Prinsep , 1830]
Ashoka,s pillar + inscription

Political History

Chandragupta Morya(322-298 BCE):
--Came to power after overthrowing Dhanananda
--Kautilya = Chanakya = Vishnugupta assisted
--Exetended empire=== south à north of narmada---East greek occupation=got megasthanese after traty as ambesdor in his kingdom.
--Jainism= embraced à Went to Srawan belagola à starved himself to death

Bindusara(298-273 BCE):
--Bindusara AKA Amitragatha(By greek) meaning  Slayer of enemy.
--Extending empire to South India:
                                         --Tarnatha(Tibetan Monk)= conquered land between two sea
                                         --Sangam literature= invasion of Morya in south
--Supported Ajivika sect
--Made Ashoka  Governor of Ujjain.

Ashoka (273-232 BCE):
--cam to throne:
                     --Tarnatha(Tibetan Monk) = Ashoka killed his 6 brother
                     --Ceylonese chronicle(chronicle of Sri Lanka)= Deepvamsa & Mahavamsa = Ashoka killed his 99 brother for throne.
                     --Ashoka,s edict = His brother’s name as officer.
--Embraced Buddhism  after Kalinga war. à propagated Dhamma = universal principle of humanity.
--Son of Ashoka’s regime = Bacterian invesion in N.W India
--Grandson = killed by  Pushyamitra Sunga

Moryan Administration:

Central Gov:
--All republic + oligarchy collapsed
--Monarch was not absolute = Mantriparishad = Rajkumar+Mahamantri+Senapati+Purohit
--IAS = Amatya = appointment explained in Arthashastra by kautilya.
--Dhamma Mahamatras = propogated dhamma à also checked unscrupulous punishment.

Revenue Department:
--IRS = Samharta
--source = license fee from craftmen + custom+land(usually fixed 16.67% of produce) etc.

Army:
--Army chief= Senapati ========Paid in cash
--6 wings = each under adyksha(supretendent).

Department of commerce and industry:
--Whole sale + Retail price = controlled = by Adhyaksha(Supritendent)
--weight + duty = uniformity maintained
--Sohgaura= a copper plate inscription = in Brahmi script= in Sarnath(Not Rajgir) = by Ashoka = FAMINE relief plan= royal order to preserve food for famine relief.
Judiciary:
--Civil + criminal court
--CJI = Dharmathikarin
--Jail facility
--Dhamma mahamtra supervised wrong imprisonment separately

Census:
--Caste+population+cattle+occupation
--data was varfied by spies

Provincial and Local Administration:
--4 provinces = known from Ashoka's Inscription
--hard to govern from afganistan to karnatka === provinces stretegically choosen.
--4 provinces = Taxila(trade route to west) + Ujjain(Trade route to south) +Kalinga + Swarnanagri(Gold mine = Karnatka)
--Governor of provinces = Royal  family
--IAS in provinces (JPSC type)= Rajukas (Amatya in centre=UPSC)àadministered District
--Village administration = Gramini(10-15 villages) assisted by gopa (headmen)
--Municipality= Kautilya +Megasthanese = source
--Ministries/ Committee =1)Industry 2)foreign  3)trade  4)manufacture and sales of goods
5)collection of sales tax  6)Registration of birth and death

Architecture:
--Before ashoka =mostly wooden = perished
--during ashoka use of stone started
--Pillar = stone
--Stupa = made of bricks= later expanded == mostly destried by foreign invasion like huns
--Cave= barabar cave near bodh gaya (polished like mirror) AKA Lomash Rishi cave.

Decline of Morya:
--Buddhism = antagonized Brahmin
--Non violence= weakened army
--weak successor
--less institution to run vas empire