First Empires
The Empire of Ashoka CHAPTER 11 (2250 years ago)
Takshashila Some years after Mahapadma Nanda a young man called Chandragupta Maurya became the king of Magadha. He started the Maurya dynasty (a family whose members become the rulers one after the other is called a dynasty). Chandragupta’s son Bindusara and grandson Ashoka ruled over the Magadha kingdom and extended it to include most of the Indian subcontinent. Look at the map 1 of India in to see the extent of the kingdom – it extends from the modern Afghanistan Pataliputra to Karnataka in the South and Bengal in the East. Mauryan Empire large cities, sea ports and other countries. Ujjayini Some regions were important for the The large kingdoms are called empires Tosali mining of precious metals like gold and and their kings are called Emperors. We Kalinga gem stones. can even say that Chandragupta Maurya was among the earliest Emperors of Indian From what sources do we learn subcontinent. In the beginnging the about Mauryan Empire? Magadha kingdom was confined to Identify the trade routes of Suvarnagiri Magadha and nearby areas. But later it Mauryan Empire. In what ways do included all the mahajanapadas of those you think the trade routes were times. It had the Hindukush Mountains in important for the emperors? the North West, the Great Indian Desert, What is the difference between Gujarat, the Indus and Ganges valley, the the mahajanapadas and the plateau of Malwa, the vast forests of empire? central India, the Krishna-Tungabhadra valley and also the Godavari valley. Can you The Mauryan emperors were able to get imagine the vastness of the empire and the resources and taxes from all these different different kinds of people who would have kinds of places and people. How did the lived in it! Some of these areas like the emperors rule such a vast empire? Suppose Ganges Valley, the Krishna river Valley, some villages on the Krishna River refused Malwa, Gujarat and Punjab were very to pay taxes, how would the Emperor sitting fertile and had densely settled villages and in Patna get to know of it, how would he Map 1: Map of India showing important cities and sites of Mauryan Empire towns. Some other areas were important give orders to his army to punish them and for the trade and crafts: through them how would the army go all the way to passed important routes which connected Krishna valley and find out those villages
Free Distribution by Govt. of A.P. First Empires 97
and punish them? How long would all this were sent as governors. They could take Why do you think the Mauryan Ashoka’s war in Kalinga take? decisions about their provinces and emperors need such diverse Kalinga is the ancient name of coastal probably had their own officials and army The Mauryans ruled different parts of resources from various regions? Odisha (see Map 11.1). Ashoka fought a war to help them. The emperor would also send the empire differently. The area around What do you think the farmers, to conquer Kalinga. However, he was so instructions to them through messengers. Pataliputra was under the direct control of craftsmen, traders, forest dwellers horrified when he saw the violence and The governors may also take the help of the emperor. He appointed officials to and herders got in return for the bloodshed that he decided not to fight any important families of the region who knew collect taxes from the people and punished taxes they paid? more wars. He is the only king in the history those who disobeyed royal orders. There the customs and rules followed in the In what way do you think cities like of the world who gave up conquest after were also spies who collected information province. Takshashila, Suvarnagiri were winning a war. on what was going on and how the officers Between these provinces there were vast important for the Mauryans? were working and reported to the emperor. areas which were forested or did not have Ashoka’s inscription describing The emperor issued orders which were many villages or cities. But these were What do you think is the reason for the Kalinga war the Emperors ruling the region carried by messengers to the officials. The important as they had the roads on which This is what Ashoka declared in around Pataliputra, the provinces emperor supervised them with the help of traders, armies and messengers had to one of his inscriptions: ministers and members of the royal family. travel. The Mauryans probably made and the forests differently? Could “Eight years after becoming king special arrangements to control them. they have made common rules or I conquered Kalinga. About a lakh and a Through these roads the Mauryans reached laws for all the three regions? What methods were used by the half people were captured. And more areas like Suvarnagiri in which were Emperor to control the area under than a lakh of people were killed. his direct control? situated gold mines, or Takshashila from Ashoka - A unique ruler where they could get goods from other This filled me with sorrow. Why? Why do you think the emperor The most famous Mauryan ruler was countries. They collected taxes and Whenever an independent land is needed spies within the empire? Ashoka. He was the first ruler who tried to tributes from these areas also probably in conquered, lakhs of people die, and take his message to the people through There were other areas or provinces the form of hides, wild animals, precious many are taken prisoners. Brahmins and inscriptions. Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions which were ruled from provincial capitals stones, gold etc. Probably, the forest tribes monks also die. People who are kind to were in Prakrit and were written in the like Takshashila, Ujjain or Suvarnagiri. were allowed to live without much their relatives and friends, to their Brahmi script. These were ruled by royal princes who interference. slaves and servants die, or lose their loved ones. How do we know? Arthasastra That is why I am sad, and have We come to know about this It is said that Chanakya or decided to observe dhamma, and to empire from several books written Kautilya who was the minister of teach others about it as well. I believe around this time. One important book Chandragupta wrote this very that winning people over through is Arthasastra written by a minister of important book on how to conquer dhamma is much better than conquering Chandragupta called Kautilya. and rule kingdoms. This book advises them through force. Another was written by kings on how to protect themselves I am inscribing this message for Magasthenese, an ambassador of a from conspiracies, how to tax the future, so that my son and grandson Greek King in the court of different kinds of professions, and after me should not think about war. Chandragupta. We also learn a lot what kinds of resources were available Instead, they should try to think about about these times from inscriptions in different parts of Indian how to spread dhamma.” engraved on the orders of Ashoka in subcontinent, etc. (‘Dhamma’ is the Prakrit word for various parts of his empire. the Sanskrit term ‘Dharma’). Fig: 11. 1 King Ashoka
98 Social Studies Free Distribution by Govt. of A.P. First Empires 99 Ashoka’s messages to his subjects: Soon after the Mauryan empire ended, How did the Kalinga war bring Locate the countries mentioned about a change in Ashoka’s attitude “People perform a variety of rituals above on a map and describe the many headmen of such clans emerged as towards war? when they fall ill, when their children route from Patna to these small kings. Among them were the Satavahanas or the Andhras who managed get married, when children are born, countries. Why do you think he inscribed on to build a large kingdom which extended or when they go on a journey. These rocks his feelings on Kalinga war? from the banks of the Narmada River to the rituals are not useful. If instead, people Kingdoms and Empires in the What would have been the impact Krishna-Godavari delta. The most observe other practices, this would be of stopping all wars on the people Deccan important Satavahana kings were more fruitful. What are these other living in the subcontinent? Around the time the Mauryans Gautamiputra Satakarni, Vashishtiputra practices? conquered the Deccan (from the Godavari Pulumavi and Yajnasri Satakarni. They ruled “These are: being gentle with slaves River to the Krishna-Tungabhadra River about 2000 years ago for about 200 years. What was Ashoka’s dhamma? and servants; respecting one’s elders; valleys) large parts of the region had Some of them also used Dhanyakataka near Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve treating all creatures with compassion; developed village settlements and also Amaravati on the banks of river Krishna as worship of a god, or performance of giving gifts to brahmins and monks. small towns in which iron tools and other their capital. The Satavahanas tried to bring sacrifice. He felt that just as a father tries “It is both wrong to praise one’s items were being made and sold. In some the various clan headmen and small kings to teach his children, he had a duty to own religion or criticising other’s areas they also mined gold and made under their control, but allowed them to instruct his subjects. He was also inspired religion. Each one should respect the ornaments. However most of the other function within their clan areas without any by the teachings of the Buddha. other’s religion. areas must have been under forest with interference. hunter - gatherers and herders living in There were a number of problems that “If one praises one’s own religion Many of these headmen, women of their small settlements. families, traders etc. contributed to the troubled him. People in the empire while criticising others, one is actually Probably each of these areas was Buddhist Monasteries and Stupas built in followed different religions, and this doing greater harm to one’s own sometimes led to conflict. Animals were inhabited mainly by a group of people Amaravati, Bhattiprolu, Vadlamanu etc. religion. sacrificed. Slaves and servants were ill closely related to each other through birth During this time trade with distant places treated. Besides, there were quarrels in “Therefore, one should try to and marriage. Such interrelated groups are like Bengal and even Rome became very families and amongst neighbours. Ashoka understand the main ideas of other’s also called clans. Some important persons important. We find a large number of coins felt it was his duty to solve these problems. religion, and respect it.” among these clans may have emerged as including Roman coins and also pots made So, he appointed officials, known as the What were the problems that powerful headmen who led them and settled in Roman style. Merchandise was probably dhamma mahamatra who went from place Ashoka wanted to solve by their internal disputes. They gradually grew transported in boats along the sea coast and to place teaching people about dhamma. introducing Dhamma? wealthy and powerful and ruled the clan over the Krishna River to the interior towns Besides, Ashoka got his messages inscribed area. like Amaravati. Why do you think slaves and on rocks and pillars, instructing his servants were being ill treated? Do A large number of these early officials to read them to those who were you think the edict of the emperor towns had strong fortifications. illiterate. would have improved their What threat would they have Ashoka also sent messengers to spread condition? Give reasons for your faced? Why do you think they ideas about dhamma to o t h e r lands, such answer. needed this? as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka. What did Ashoka do to spread the What are the similarities between He built roads, dug wells, and built rest dhamma among the common Indo-gangetic Valley and the houses. Besides, he arranged for medical people? Krishna-Tungabhadra Valley that treatment for both human beings and What did Ashoka promote in the led to the settlement of villages and animals. place of rituals? towns there? Fig: 11. 2 Gautamiputara Satakarni portrayed on coins
100 Social Studies Free Distribution by Govt. of A.P. First Empires 101
How did the headmen of some Sometime after the end of the Improve your learning clans become small kings? Satavahana kingdom a family who called themselves Ikshvakas assumed royal titles 1. In what way do you think donations to Buddhist monasteries helped the Satavahana Inscription from Myakadoni village in and established a kingdom with its capital and Ikshvaka kings? Bellary district in Vijayapuri which was probably located 2. Do you think performance of expensive yagnas and claiming to be the descendents near Nagarjunakonda on the bank of the of Rama would have helped the Ikshvakas to establish their claim to rule among all Read this short inscription found Krishna River. The important kings of this the clans? on a rock near this village probably dynasty are Chantamula and dating back to the Satavahana kings: 3. What did the Ikshvaka rulers do to get acceptance from the various clan headmen? Virapurushadatta. These kings tried to bring 4. Why do you think Ashoka was a unique ruler? In the 8 th year of the reign of the King together the various headmen and small 5. What enabled the establishment of kingdoms in the Deccan 2000 years ago? of Satavahanas Sri Pulumavi, in his chiefs by intermaryying with their families. mahasenapati Skandanaga’s At the same time they sought to show 6. Identify the three rivers and two territorial capitals in map 1? janapada located in Satavahana themselves as distinct from them by district, in the village Vepura headed performing very expensive yagnas like Project: by Kumaradatta, a gahapati named Ashvamedha, Vajapeya etc and made large Collect more inscriptions of Ashoka with the help of your teacher, and display Samva, who was a resident of this donations to Brahmins. They also claimed them in a local public place. village and from the Kaunta clan got to be the descendents of Rama of If you find any old inscription in your neighborhood find out more about it. this tank excavated. Ramayana. Very interestingly the women of the Ikshvaka family were devoted to 1. Which clan lived in Vepura village? Buddhist saints and made large donations 2. Who was its headman? to the famous Stupa and monasteries of 3. Who was incharge of the janapada Nagarjunakonda. A very large monastery in which the village was situated? and Stupa was built at this place. 4. Why do you think Gahapati Samva built the tank? Key words
Empire Arthasastra Dharmamahamatras Dhamma Spice Yagnas Monastery subcontinent
Fig: 11. 3 Vashishtiputra Sri Pulumavi portrayed on coins
102 Social Studies Free Distribution by Govt. of A.P. First Empires 103