Ancient Indian History (Ashok Dynasty) PDF

# **Ancient Indian History** ## **Assignment** **Paper 1st** **Topic:** Pataliputra from 600 BC to 600 AD. **Para-graph** **Questions** 1. History * Haryanka Dynasty * Shishunaga Dynasty * Nanda Dynasty * Mauryan Dynasty * Chandragupta Maurya...

# **Ancient Indian History** ## **Assignment** **Paper 1st** **Topic:** Pataliputra from 600 BC to 600 AD. **Para-graph** **Questions** 1. History * Haryanka Dynasty * Shishunaga Dynasty * Nanda Dynasty * Mauryan Dynasty * Chandragupta Maurya * Bindusara * Ashoka * Shunga Dynasty * Kanva Dynasty * Kushana Dynasty * Gupta Period (3rd Century AD) * Chandragupta-I * Samudragupta * Chandragupta – II 2. Exam Questions * Paleolithic Age * Neolithic Age * Pataliputra from 600 BC to 600 AD ## **Notes** ### **The Stone Age** The story of human civilization started in the Stone Age. It represents man’s development through his usage of stone tools. The Stone Age mainly classifies the evolution of mankind based on the development and usage of stone tools. The stone age is also called the prehistoric era, a period before the advent of written records. There are three main phases of the Stone Age: **1. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)** Estimated to start around 500,000 to 10,000 years ago and covers most of the Stone Age, this period is characterized by the use of roughly chipped, or "knapped" stone tools, or hand axes. The Paleolithic people were nomadic, so they constantly moved from place to place in search of food, which they would hunt and gather. **2. Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)** This age spans 10,000 to 8,000 years, and people during this age were still nomadic, but they were developing more advanced hunting techniques. They also started to cultivate plants. **3. Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)** Estimated to have begun around 8,000 years ago, the Neolithic Age saw a huge shift in human society and culture. People were able to settle down in one place, and during this time, people started to domesticate animals like sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle for food. They developed farming techniques and tools for agriculture. The Neolithic Age also saw the development of pottery and textile-making. They also started to build permanent houses and villages. This is the age of agriculture. **The Stone Age in Uttar Pradesh** The Stone Age in Uttar Pradesh is represented by the presence of fossils of human skeletons as well as tools discovered in the following districts: Mirzapur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Banda, Hamirpur, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Itawah, and Mathura. ### **The Mauryan Dynasty** **Chandragupta Maurya** Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Dynasty in 324 BC. He is one of the most important figures in Indian history. He overthrew the Nanda Dynasty and established a vast empire that covered almost all of the Indian subcontinent. **Bindusara** Bindusara ruled the Mauryan Empire after his father, Chandragupta Maurya. He maintained the vast empire that his father had established and oversaw the economic and cultural prosperity of the dynasty. **Ashoka** Ashoka, Chandragupta's grandson, succeeded Bindusara in 260 BC. He was known for his conversion to Buddhism and for the spread of peace and nonviolence, which was a significant shift from the brutal military policy that was commonplace amongst his predecessors; Ashoka is best known for his reign based on the concept of “dhamma,” or righteous conduct. Although sometimes referred to as “Asoka the Great,” that is something of a misnomer as he was a strong ruler who brought peace to the subcontinent, but he did not build a “great” architectural empire in the sense of a great builder or engineer. Instead, he is known for his accomplishments in spreading his faith, his humanitarian efforts, and his devotion to the ideals of Buddhism. **Administrative System of the Mauryan Empire** **Central administration** The Mauryan Empire was organized into a centralized administration based on the “dharma,” or righteous conduct, with the king at the head of the empire. The kingdom was divided into four major divisions: * **Provinces:** These were the largest administrative divisions of the Mauryan Empire, and were essentially independent territories to be managed as self-governing regions; they served as states under the control of the central government, but were essentially independent. * **Districts:** These were smaller divisions of the Mauryan Empire, and each district was further divided into smaller units, with its own local administration. The district administration was responsible for conducting affairs, managing revenue, and maintaining law and order. * **Villages:** Villages were the smallest units of administration in the empire and served as the foundation of the Mauryan Empire. The village was a self-governing entity, and each village had a headman, elected by local villagers. * **Village:** Each village was administered by a headman called a “Gramani,” who functioned as the primary local administrator. **Courts** The Mauryan Dynasty had a complex system of courts to ensure justice was upheld, and they were arranged hierarchically. The “Gramani” served as the primary court at the village level. The lower court levels were situated in villages where the village council, known as “panchayats”, served as a judicial system. **Administration of Justice in the Mauryan Empire** The Mauryan Emperor was the supreme authority in the administration of justice, and he had the power to dispense justice according to the laws of the land. Justice was meted out fairly and impartially; the king's responsibility was to protect law and order for all citizens. The Mauryan Empire had a hierarchy of courts, in which, the king was the highest authority in the judicial system. **The Army** The Mauryan Empire was a powerful military force and had a large standing army that included both infantry and cavalry, as well as chariots and elephants. The army was responsible for guarding the kingdom's borders against invaders from the northwest. According to the writings of Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador to the Mauryan court, the army was composed of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 9,000 elephants. **Military Organisation** The king was the supreme commander of the army, and he appointed his generals, who were responsible for operations in the warfields, and this system included a clear chain of authority, so that the army could function more effectively in combat operations. **Police and Secret Service** The Mauryan Empire had a well-developed police system for maintaining law and order in the kingdom. The police force was commanded by a "Dandapala", who was assisted by his subordinates. The secret service was an integral part of the Mauryan administration. They kept watch over the citizens and ensured the security of the empire. It was led by a "Yukta" who reported directly to the king. **The Economy** The Mauryan Empire was a powerful and prosperous economy. It was based on agriculture, trade, and industry. The economy was sustained by agriculture, and the empire was responsible for the implementation of an efficient system for collecting tax revenue from citizens. The Maurya Empire was a champion of free trade, promoting inter-regional trade as well as international trade. **The Religion** The Mauryan Dynasty is believed to have adopted the policy of religious neutrality and tolerance. While Chandragupta Maurya belonged to the Hindu faith, his grandson Ashoka was a devout Buddhist, who adopted the faith following a pivotal battle in Kalinga, which caused him to abandon violence and embrace Buddhism. **Some important points of note:** * The Mauryan Dynasty was a powerful and prosperous empire that was one of the most influential and successful empires in ancient India. * It's important to note that the information about the Mauryan empire is mainly gleaned from ancient records, such as the texts of Megasthenes and the edicts of Ashoka. * Ashoka's famous edicts, carved on stone pillars and rocks, are considered to be a significant source of information about the Mauryan Empire. * The Mauryan period was instrumental in the growth of India as a force for peace and non-violence, and its influence is felt today. * The Mauryan Dynasty was also responsible for the development of a centralized administration, which laid the foundation for future empires in ancient India. * This is a brief history and description of the Mauryan Dynasty, and there is much more that can be said about this period, but we can see that it is essential for understanding the development of India and its vibrant and varied history.