The Mauryan

Empire
HISTORY

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The Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan era is regarded as significant in the early history of the Indian subcontinent.

The Mauryas ruled over the entirety of the Indian subcontinent, with the exception of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and
a few regions of south-eastern India.

Mauryan Dynasty- Important Rulers

Chandragupta Maurya (297 BCE–324/321 BCE)

• Chanakya/Kautilya helped Chandragupta Maurya establish the Mauryan dynasty.

• A Greek author named Justin claimed that Chandragupta Maurya ruled over all of India with an army of
600,000. He liberated northern India from Seleucus' rule, who ruled the region west of the Indus.

• Chandragupta seems to have prevailed against the Greek viceroy in their battle. In the end, there was
peace between them, and Seleucus gave him eastern Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and the territory west of
the Indus in return for 500 elephants. He played a key role in creating the Mauryan empire, initially
establishing himself in Punjab before relocating to the east to take over the Magadhan region.

• Chandragupta established a vast empire that comprised the Deccan, large portions of western and
northern India, Orissa, and Bengal. The Mauryans ruled the entire subcontinent, excepting Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, and parts of northeastern India.

• Chandragupta Maurya reportedly converted to Jainism, travelled to the Shravanabelagola Highlands (near
Mysore), and performed Sallekhana (death by slow starvation).

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Bindusara (297–273 BCE) (297–273 BCE)

• Additionally referred to as Amitrochates (enemy destroyer) or Amitraghata in the Mahabhasya by Greek
academics (enemy killer ). According to the Ajivika sect, a fortune teller foretold Ashoka, Bindusara's son,
will achieve glory in the future.

• Between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, Bindusara conquered the region. According to Taranatha,
a Tibetan monk who authored a history of Buddhism in the 17th century, one of Binduasara's kings,
Chanakya, killed the nobles and kings of 16 cities and established himself as the ruler of the entire territory
between the eastern and western seas.

• The Greek story claims that he had diplomatic relations with western powers. According to Strabo,
Deimachus was sent as an envoy to Bindusara's court by Antiochus (the Syrian king). Bindusara allegedly
became a member of the Ajivika sect.

Ashoka (BCE 268-232)

• After Bindusara passed away in 273 BCE, there was a four-year succession conflict. Susima, the son of
Bindusara, was to be his successor.

• Ashoka, the son of Bindusara, gained the throne with the help of a minister by the name of Radhagupta
and after killing 99 brothers. During the reign of Bindusara, Ashoka served as the viceroy of Taxila and
Ujjain (cities that primarily handled commerce business). One of history's greatest kings, Ashoka is
credited with being the first to maintain constant communication with his subjects through his
inscriptions. Additional titles given to the monarch in the Buddhist chronicles of Sri Lanka

• Buddhashakya (in the Maski edict), Dharmasoka (in the Sarnath inscription), Devanampiya (meaning
beloved of the gods), and Piyadassi are among the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa (meaning pleasing
appearance). He was wed to Mahadevi, a trader's daughter from Vidisha who was the mother of
Mahendra and Sanghamitra, two famous Ashoka descendants who helped spread Buddhism.

• The queens Asandhimitta, Padmavati, Tissarakhita (who attempted to cut down the Bodhi tree), and
Karuvaki are also mentioned in Buddhist writings. Karuvaki is the only queen to be specifically mentioned
in the queen's proclamation, where she is identified as the mother of prince Tivara, the only son of Ashoka
to be specifically mentioned in inscriptions.

• Except for a small area in the extreme south, which the Cholas and Pandyas under Rock Edict 13 and the
Keralaputras and Satyaputras under Rock Edict 14 inhabited, the Mauryan empire controlled over
Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and all of India during Ashoka's administration.

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• Ashoka was a strong advocate for Buddhism. Because of his conversion to Buddhism, Buddhism under his
rule extended beyond of India. Sanghamitra, his daughter, and Mahendra, his son, were sent to Sri Lanka
(Ceylon) to spread Buddhism.

• Dharma Mahamattas were chosen by Ashoka to spread the dharma throughout many socioeconomic
groups, including women (in the 14th year of his reign).

• He visited Lumbini, the location of Buddha's birth, during his second Dharmayatra voyage (which took
place in the 21st year of his rule). He built Dharamshala, hospitals, and sari factories all across his
dominion in addition to outlawing animal sacrifice and restricting the killing of animals for food.

Brihadratha
• Following Ashoka's leadership, the Mauryan empire was overthrown, and other kings established short-
lived dynasties.

• When Pushyamitra Sunga, Shi's military chief, killed the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha, the empire fell
and was destroyed (in 187 BCE).

Ashokan Inscriptions and Ashoka's Dharma

Based on his inscriptions, Ashoka's history has been pieced together. He was the first Indian king to use his
inscriptions to address the populace directly. These inscriptions provide details about Ashikaga's life, his
external and internal policies, and the scope of his empire. They also provide a glimpse of his Dhamma-related
opinions.

• Ashoka engaged in just one big conflict after assuming the throne, known as the Kalinga War. 100,000
people died in this war, while 1,50,000 were taken prisoner. Ashoka had a great deal of suffering and
remorse as a result of the struggle that caused the Buddhist monks and Brahmana priests to suffer so
greatly.

• He therefore renounced the strategy of physical occupation in favour of a campaign of cultural conquest,
leading to the substitution of dhammagosha for sbherighosha (as stated in the 13th Major Rock Edict). He
sought to conquer foreign dominions conceptually rather than via military invasion after the Kalinga War.

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• After capturing Kalinga, Ashoka kept it and incorporated it into his empire. The Kalinga War didn't make
Ashoka an extreme pacifist; instead, it pushed him to adopt a more practical strategy for expanding his
empire.

• He continually urged the tribal people to follow the dharma's doctrine and forbade them from flouting
"established principles of social order and morality" (dharma). He created a group of officials known as
rajukas, who were given the power to administer justice.

• As a result of the Kalinga battle, Ashoka became a Buddhist. He became a monk, gave the Buddhists
enormous donations, and embarked on dharma yatras, or pilgrimages, to Buddhist locations.

• Under the leadership of his brother, the Buddhist Council was founded, and missionaries were sent to
spread Buddhism in places like south India, Sri Lanka, Burma, and other nations.

• Dharma smahamatras were appointed by Ashoka to spread the dharma across diverse socioeconomic
strata, including women.

Ashokan Script and Language

Ashoka is recognised as a well-known missionary king both in the history of ancient India and beyond.

Here are some of his ground-breaking initiatives:

• Political unity of the nation: He united the whole nation under a single dhamma, a single language, and
essentially a single Brahmi alphabet, which is used in the majority of his inscriptions.

• He accepted and taught tolerance in the religious realm as well as in situations involving many scripts and
languages. He gave to non-Buddhist sects as well instead of trying to convert his people to his religion (for
example, granting Barbara Caves to the Ajivika sect). Other writing systems, like Kharoshti, Aramaic, and
Greek, were acknowledged in addition to Brahmi.

• Fostering of cultural relations: In addition to implementing revolutionary reforms during his tenure, he
promoted cultural ties between Indian states and between India and the rest of the globe. If Ashoka were
to be regarded as India's first international cultural ambassador, it would not be an exaggeration.

• Non-conquest and non-aggression policies: Ashoka is renowned for his non-conquest and non-aggression
policies.

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Mauryan Administration
The Mauryan period was characterised by inventive administration practises. The starting point was the King.
Of all rulers, it is asserted that Ashoka in particular claimed parental rule over his subjects rather than Asthan
divine control. The idea of Saptanga Rajya, which denotes that the sa state contains seven interconnected and
interlocked angas or prakritis, has been stated in Arthashastra.

King (Svamin)
• The monarch, according to Kautilya, was the Dharma Pravakta, or promulgator, of the social order since
she issued Rajasasana, or royal edicts, and protected Porana Pakiti, or traditional norms and practises.

• He was assisted by a council of ministers, but he ultimately decided on matters such as revenue, war, and
law and order by himself.

• Ashoka declared in one of his rock edicts that anyone, even the common person, could visit him at any
moment.

• To protect his life and position, the monarch had to exercise great caution. Different types of spies
gathered data and relayed it to the king. For instance, there were Sanstha, or "stationary spies," who were
permanently assigned to a specific location, and Sanchara, who roved the countryside gathering
information.

• The monarch's personal reporters Pativedakas and Pulisani brought him up to date on public opinion.

Amatya (all top officials, counsellors, and executive heads of

departments and ministries)
• The king established the Mantriparishad, a council of ministers, to assist him with daily administration
(Mantriparishad is a larger body than Mantra-Parishad). They had a big influence on who became judges,
viceroys, treasurers, and deputy governors, among other high-ranking officials. The Maha-Mantrins, or top
ministers, also attended the Mantriparishad gathering. The value of a pana, a silver coin, is three-fourths
of a tola. The Mantriparishad members received just 12,000 panas annually, compared to the 48,000
panas received by the Maha-Mantrins.

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• A handful of Nikayas (trained officials) managed the routine business in the Assyrian region. Tirthas was
the name given to powerful administrators. Minister Mantrin, High Priest Purohit, Commander in Chief
Senapati, and Crown Prince Yuvaraja were among the prominent figures.

• Amatyas, Mahamattas, and Adhyakshas were the officials in charge of other significant portfolios. They
filled the administrative and judicial roles. The government selected 27 Adyakshas (superintendents) to
manage the state's economic operations. They had oversight over and control over the mines, trade,
weights and measures, weaving, spinning, and other vocations.

• The taxation system in ancient India underwent a major change during the Maurya era. Kautilya
enumerates certain taxes that ought to be imposed on farmers, artisans, and companies. This evaluation,
collecting, and storage require equipment that is powerful and efficient. While the Samaharta was the top
official in charge of assessment, the Samadhata served as the state's primary treasury and storeroom
keeper.

Janapada (Territory and Population)

• The Mauryan empire, aside from Magadha, was divided into four provinces, each having a capital at
Pataliputra. A fifth province, Kalinga, was added during Ashoka's rule. The capital of Uttarapatha
(northwestern India) is Taxila. Suvarnagiri, in southern India, serves as the capital of Dakshinapatha; Tosali,
in eastern India.

• The Viceroy, who was in charge of maintaining law and order, served as the head of the provincial
government in Avantiratha (Ujjain) and Kalinga (Tasali/Dhauli). the facility's tax collection process. He
frequently had the support of Mahamattas and a council of ministers and was a prince from the ruling
dynasty (Kumara sor Aryaputra). Divisions headed by Pradeshikas were added to the division of the
provinces (who did not have an advisory council). District-level divisions were overseen by Rajukas. He had
Yukatas' assistance.

• Districts were divided into groups of 5 or 10 villages led by Sthanikas (tax collectors) who were assisted by
Gopas (accurate record-keeping and accounting).The village was the lowest level of administration, shown
by Gramini/Gramika on the advice of Grama sVriddhas (village elders).The government was therefore
organised in the manner of a pyramid, with the senate at the bottom and the king at the top.

• At Pataliputra, the capital city of the Mauryas, the municipal government was of a peculiar character.

• The city government was managed by six committees of five members each, according to the sources
Megasthenes and Arthashastra. Each committee was allocated distinct themes, including industry,
"foreigners," commerce, the market, etc.

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 Industry: This committee was in charge of overseeing the manufacturing of commodities,

monitoring the calibre of the raw materials utilised, determining the fair market value of the goods
produced, and stamping the finished goods.

 Foreigners: The purpose of this committee was to provide special attention to foreign nationals
and to send medical personnel to foreign nationals who were ill.

 Birth and death registration (vital statistics): This committee was tasked with keeping track of
every birth and death in order to not only collect taxes but also to make sure that both wealthy and
impoverished people's births and deaths are reported to the government.

 Trade, trade, and market laws: This committee made sure that the items were sold properly and
on time while keeping an eye on the weights and measurements. No one was allowed to trade with
more than one commodity, however they might if they paid twice or three times the stock, and
seasonal items had to be sold with public notice. The dues collected in the form of grains,
according to Kautilya, should be kept in reserve as "buffer stock" for use during famines.

 Made items: This board kept an eye on the recently produced items to make sure they weren't
combined or stacked with the previous stock.

 Tax collection: This board collected one-tenth of the prices of the items or products sold as tax.
Any dishonesty in paying this tax was punished with the death sentence.

Durga (fortified capital)

• The Mauryans maintained a powerful army. The defence of border forts was the responsibility of Anta-
Mahamattas (higher authorities).

• Kautilya gave explicit instructions on how to construct the main fort in the capital city. He suggested that
soldiers be stationed along the fort's approaches and that three moats filled with lotuses and crocodiles be
built around the fort's walls.

• Additionally, he suggests that the fort include numerous covert escape routes and be stocked with plenty
of food to withstand sieges. Kautilya is a big proponent of a state-maintained, fully equipped standing
army that would be drawn from all four varnas.

• According to Megasthenes, a "war office" of 30 individuals was in charge of overseeing various aspects of
the army. It was divided into six boards, each with five members:

i. The board of admiralty is in control of the navy (albeit Kautilya does not specifically mention the navy).

ii. The Board of Infantry, headed by Padadhyaksha.

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iii. The board of cavalry, headed by Asvadhyaksha

iv. The board of War Chariots, headed by Rathadhyaksha

v. The board of War Elephants, headed by Hastyadhyaksha

vi. The Board of Transport and Supervision of Equipment

• Also described are recurring levies of troops like the Maula (hereditary warriors), the Bhartiakas
(mercenaries), and the soldiers and allies of the forest tribes (sent by friends).

Kosha (Treasury)
• To fund all of the state's needs, including maintaining a sizable standing army, hiring a sizable number of
state employees, building roadways, etc., the state needed its taxes to be more adequate.

• As a result, in order to produce an increasing amount of resources, the Mauryan empire had to manage a
variety of economic activities. Both monetary and non-monetary taxes were levied. The main source of
income was land revenue. In addition to paying an additional tax in Baltimore and more resources, the
peasants had to pay one-sixth of their crop as homage to Bhaga. Both monetary and non-monetary taxes
were levied. The main source of income was land revenue.

• The peasants were required to pay an additional tax in Bali as well as one-sixth of their grain as homage to
Bhaga. Peasants were required to pay a variety of taxes, including Kara (imposed on fields of fruits and
flowers), Hiranya (paid only in cash), and Pindakara (charged on a group of villages).

• Megasthenes was an agranomoi, a type of official responsible for collecting land taxes. The Arthashastra
also states that the tax rate, which might range from one-fifth to one-third of the production, would
depend on how well the irrigation infrastructure was maintained. The seizing of the farmers' land in the
event of tax non payment is not mentioned in any literature, nevertheless.

• Additionally, Kautilya provides certain emergency levies (Pranaya) or additional taxes that the state may
impose if the Treasury runs out of funds.

• The support it gave to different trades was one of the important repercussions of the political unification
of India under the Mauryas and the supervision of a powerful central government. Crafts were a crucial
source of revenue for the government. Residents of the town had to undertake free labour for the king or
pay taxes in cash or kind (visthi, forced labor).

• The skaramakara, who were thought of as free employees and received a regular income, and the dasas,
who were slaves, are both mentioned. Traders and artisans were organised into business organisations
known as shrines, guilds, or pugas to preserve their rights, and Jesthaka headed these guilds.

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• Given that the Arthashastra lists several places in the country that were known for their textile
specialisation, guilds of textile merchants may have been important at the period. Varanasi, Mathura,
Bengal, Gandhara, and Ujjain were the major centres of the textile industry. The chariot workshops were
placed under a rathadhyaksha, while the state-run textile factories were placed under a sutradhyaksha.

• Other important economic sectors included mining and metallurgy; the mining officer's name was
Akaradhyaksha. Iron production was monopolised by the Mauryans despite the army, industry, and
agriculture having a significant demand for it. The in-charge official had the title Loha-adhyaksha.

• There was active internal trade in a variety of goods between the various regions. There were various
commercial routes connecting Pataliputra to every region of the subcontinent. The primary commercial
hub in the northwest, Taxila had access to markets in Central Asia.

• During the Mauryan era, trade routes either followed major thoroughfares or navigable rivers. Shulka (fees
on imported and exported goods) and excise taxes on regional manufacturers made up urban taxes.

• The use of money increased dramatically throughout the Mauryan era. The imperial coinage was made up
of punch-marked silver coins with the peacock, hill, and crescent symbols (referred to as panas). The state
official in charge of currency is referred to as "Rupadarshaka" by Kautilya. According to Megasthenes,
Indians did not engage in usury—lending money at excessive interest rates—nor did they know how to
borrow.

• As a result, the state participated heavily in the economy throughout the Mauryan era, and it exerted
strong regulation and control over it.

Danda/Bala (justice/force)
• The monarch served as the chief of justice and dealt harshly with any disputes involving the rule of law.
Kautilya describes two types of courts: Kantakasodhanas (for criminal trials) and Dharmasthiyass (for civil
matters) (for criminal cases).

• However, Ashokan inscriptions describe city Mahamattas, who were also given judicial powers. Judges
were known as Dharmasthas. The authorities in charge of putting down criminals were the Pradeshtris.

• The police holding facility known as Charka was distinct from the actual prison, Bhandhanagara. Extremely
severe punishments, including limb amputations, decapitations, slashes, etc., were meted out to anyone
found guilty by the court.

• The severity of the offence and the corresponding karmas of the offender and the complainant determine
the sort of punishment. Kautilya discusses about four legal authorities:

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1. Dharma (holy law) (sacred law)

2. Charitam (customs and precedents) (customs and precedents)

3. Vyavahara (usage) (usage)

4. Rajasasana (royal proclamations) (royal proclamations)

Mitra (ally)
Kautilya discusses interstate politics and takes into account all possible circumstances from the viewpoint of
the Vijigishu (the potential conqueror). He gives six guidelines (Shad-gunya) for the monarch to adhere to in
these situations.:

• Sandhi's (the peace treaty) principles: In the event that one is outmatched by the foe, Vigraha (hostility)
policy: If one is more powerful than the other, asana (quiet) rule: If one's strength is equivalent to that of
the opposition, one should keep quiet.

• Yana's (marching in a military expedition) guiding principle is: If one is much stronger than the "enemy,"

• The Samshraya policy (seeking refuge with another king or in a fort): If one is weak, one ought to adhere to
this rule.

• The Mauryas kept close diplomatic ties with numerous Hellenistic nations as well as South Asian powers in
accordance with Dvaidhibhava's dual policy (sandhi with one ruler and vigraha with another). It suggests
that they had an international affairs section. The exact diplomatic roles held by Nisriharthaduta,
Parimitarthaduta, and Sasanharaduta are mentioned in Arthashastra.

Mauryan art and sculpture

• The Mauryans introduced stone construction on a massive scale and made a significant contribution to art
and architecture.

• Court art and popular art were the two architectural and artistic movements that emerged throughout the
Mauryan era. Architectural creations (in the form of pillars, stupas, and palaces) commissioned by
Mauryan rulers for political and religious purposes are referred to as Mauryan court art.

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• Popular art, such as sculpture, cave art, ceramics, etc., was first created by ordinary people. The Mauryan
palaces were described as one of humanity's greatest achievements by Megasthenes, and the Chinese
traveller Fa Hien referred to them as god-given structures.

• The Mauryan kingdom placed a high emphasis on Ashokan pillars, which were typically made of Chunar
sandstone. The main goal of these pillars was to spread Buddhism and Assyrian legal principles throughout
the entire Mauryan kingdom.

• Round and solid pillars characterise each one. The four-lion capital of the Ashokan pillar at Sarnath in
Benaras served as the inspiration for our national emblem. Due to similarities in shape and style between
Ashoka's pillar inscriptions and those of the Persian king Darius, it is believed that Mauryan art was
influenced by Persian (Achaemenian) art.

Some of the parallels with Persian pillars

Polished stone was used in both Mauryan and Achaemenid pillar construction, and some sculptural elements,
such lotuses, were shared. Persian pillars are the source of the Mauryan idea of carving declarations on them.

• The inscriptions of both empires start in the third person and move to the first.

• There are differences between the Mauryan and Persian pillars, though.

• Which are:The Persian lotus differs from the Mauryan lotus (typical bulge) in both form and design
(nonbulge).

• In contrast to the flat surfaces of the Mauryan pillars, the majority of Persian pillars have fluted or ridged
surfaces.

• Persian shafts are built of separate sandstone segments, as opposed to Mauryan shafts, which are made of
monoliths (stacked one on top of the other).

• Mauryan pillars lack a foundation, whereas Persian pillars stand on bases. The Ashokan dynasty saw the
height of the art of the stupa. They were actually burial mounds used to store artefacts and the remains of
the deceased.

• An estimated 84,000 stupas were built during Ashoka's reign, according to estimates. In stupas like the
Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh and the Piprahwa Stupa in Uttar Pradesh, the medhi and toran were
adorned with wooden sculptures, while the outside was constructed of burned brick that had been
plastered over. The stupa's core was composed of unburnt brick.

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Cave architecture
• Caves were widely used by Jain and Buddhist monks as viharas or housing.

• The interior walls and decorative gates of the caverns built during the Mauryan era had a highly polished
surface.

• For instance, the Ajivika sect was founded in the seven caves of Satgharwa (Jehanabad district, Bihar) by
the emperor Ashoka. Four caves make up the Barabara Caverns, which are close to Gaya: the Karna
Chaupar, Sudama, Lomash Rishi, and Vishva Zopri caves. Three caverns in Bihar are called Nagaragunja
Caves.

• The Dhauli caverns in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which have an elephant head carved out of rock.

Sculptures
• One of the many stone and terracotta sculptures from this time period is the Didarganj Yakshini, a polished
stone sculpture of a woman who is thought to as a demi-god or ghost. The female counterparts of the
Yakshas, who were the gods of water, trees, the forest, wilderness, and fertility, Yakshinis are typically
thought of as fertility deities.

• Another magnificent polished Chunar sandstone sculpture was found near Lohanipur, Patna: the torso of a
naked man. The stone portrait of Ashoka found in Kanaganahalli is comparable to this work of art (close to
Sannati, Karnataka).

• Inscribed ring and disc stones with evident religious and ceremonial importance have been found in
abundance in northern India, including Delhi, Taxila, Mathura, Vaishali, and Kaushambi.

• They have remarkable carvings that are arranged in two or more concentric circles and feature a variety of
motifs and geometric patterns.

Pottery
• "Northern Black Polished Ware" is a frequent name for the pottery produced during the Mauryan era
(NBPW). Black paint and a shining polish set Mauryan pottery apart and made it a valuable luxury item.
The NBPW ceramics industry was centred at Kosambi and Pataliputra.

• The Gangetic Plains' material culture expanded quickly throughout the Mauryan era as well.

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• The extensive use of iron and iron tools (such as socketed axes, ploughshares, and spoked wheels), the
prevalence of writing, the use of "spun-marked" coins, NBPW pottery artefacts, and the introduction of
burnt bricks and wood in the construction of "sand ring wells" were the foundations of the Gangetic
basin's new material culture.

• Inscriptions, sporadic NBPW potsherds, and punch-marked coins have all been found in sections of
Bangladesh (Bogra district), Odisha (Sisupalgarh), Andhra (Amravati), and Karnataka, suggesting that
material culture has also expanded in these peripheral areas.

The Decline of the Mauryas

With Ashoka's demise in 232 BCE, the Mauryan empire began to crumble. The succession of feeble rulers was
one of the factors that led to the downfall. Ashish's Brahmin general Pushyamitra Shunga killed Brihadratha,
the final Mauryan emperor.

• After the first three Maurya rulers, who had long reigns, there were several weak emperors with short
reigns. Dasharatha is the only later Mauryan known to have produced inscriptions. Only stories from the
Puranic, Buddhist, and Jaina religions include details about the others.

• A Bactrian Greek invasion left the empire in utter ruin. Both Ashoka and the fall of the empire have been
debunked.

• The Brahmanas who made their living by doing sacrifices might have been offended by Ashoka's
prohibition. The appointment of dhamma-mahamatas might have harmed the Brahmanas' standing as
guardians of social norms.

• In fact, Ashoka regularly implored his followers in his inscriptions to respect shramanas and Brahmanas. It
is obvious that there was no insurrection of any kind that caused the Maurya dynasty to fall.

• The peaceful policies of Ashoka have also been blamed for the fall of the Mauryan kingdom. But as has
already been mentioned, Ashoka's pragmatism can be seen in the fact that he did not do away with the
death sentence or disband the army and that he was very capable of providing stern warnings to tribal
populations.

• The army's readiness, however, may have been negatively impacted by a lengthy reign punctuated by only
one military campaign in the early years, which may have contributed to the Greek invasion's success.

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• The Maurya empire's downfall could be attributed to a weak central figure as long as it was thought of as a
centralised political organisation. But if the empire was not as tightly centralised as first believed, then this
issue is irrelevant.

• Although neither of these allegations is supported by evidence, there has also been speculation that the
Maurya polity or the empire as a whole underwent a financial crisis of some kind.

• Some of the explanations given for the collapse of the Mauryan empire focus on aspects that we shouldn't
generally expect to find in prehistoric kingdoms, making them archaic. These include the lack of
nationalism, the idea that allegiance should be to the state rather than a particular king, and the absence
of institutions for the representation of the interests of the people.

• It is absolutely important to remember that the Maurya kingdom was enormous, diverse, and difficult to
preserve, let alone unite. But to attribute the Mauryas' failure to their incapacity to restructure the
economies of the core and periphery regions is to highlight the absence of the strategies and interventions
that set modern nation-states apart.

• Given the nature of the evidence, the causes of the Mauryan empire's decline must be fairly extensive. All
empires are built on the integration and administration of resources, people, and territory. Physical force,
institutional structures, and ideologies are some of these tools. All three must have been working quite
hard considering the magnitude of the Maurya Empire. It was only a matter of time before the isolated
provinces separated from the centre.

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