6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES 6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
Period of formation of new regional states in India = sixth century BC. The period when new knowledge flourished in North India = sixth century BC. Those who gave rise to the flowering of new knowledge in India = Buddha, Mahavira.
The role of iron in social change
The role of iron in social change is significant. Agricultural production increased due to the fertile soil of the Gangetic plains and the use of iron-clad steel. Helped increase production of handicrafts = iron. Trade and exchange centers emerged due to high agricultural production, high production of handicrafts. Thus towns and cities were formed. Thus, knowledge in the use of iron gave Magadha an advantage over other Mahajanapadas. Thus the Magadha could establish an empire of its own.
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What are Gana – sanghas
The word “Gana” means = people of equal social status. The word “Sanga” means = assembly. The Ganasangas were ruled by a group of upper castes in small tracts of land. Tradition followed by the Ganasangas = egalitarian tradition.
What is Monarchy
A monarchy is a state in which a kingdom is ruled by a king or queen. In this system when a family rules for a long time it becomes a royal dynasty. Tradition followed by monarchical state = Orthodox Vedic tradition.
Gana – sanghas and Kingdoms
There were two types of states in North India in the sixth century BC
Gana – sanghas = non monarchical states. Kingdoms = monarchies.
Janapadas
Early places where people settled in groups are called Janapadas. Later Janapadas became republics or smaller kingdoms.
Mahajanapadas
Widespread use of iron in the Gangetic plains led to large settlements. Thus the Janapadas were transformed into Mahajanapadas. Mahajanapatas means = great kingdoms.
16 Mahajanapadas
In the sixth century BC there were 16 Mahajanapadas in the Gangetic plains. They are,
Kuru Panchala Anga Magadha Vajji Malla Kasi Kosala Avanti Chedi Vatsa Machcha Surasena Assaka Gandhara Kamboja
Major Mahajanapadas
Four important Mahajanapadas,
Magadha = Bihar. Avanti = Ujjain. Kosala = Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Vatsa = Kausambi, Allahabad.
Out of these four kingdoms, “Maghad” emerged as the empire. The most powerful empire of the four Mahajanapadas = Magadha.
The four dynasties that ruled Magadha
Four royal dynasties ruled Magadha. They are,
The Haryanka Dynasty. The Shishunaga dynasty. The Nanda dynasty. The Mauryan dynasty.
Haryanka dynasty
Gradual development of Magadha started during whose reign = Bimbisara of Haryanka dynasty. By which methods Bimbisara extended his rule = invasion, matrimonial alliances. Son of Bimbisara = Ajatasatru. Contemporary of Buddha = Ajatasatru. Place of First Buddhist Conference = Rajagiruga. Convener of First Buddhist Council = Ajatasatru. Son of Ajatasatru = Udayin. Founder of new capital at Pataliputra = Udayin. Pataliputra = present day Patna.
6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES Shishunaga dynasty
The person who moved the capital of Magadha from Rajagriha to Pataliputra = Shishunaga king Kalasoka. Venue of Second Buddhist Council = Vaisali. Convener of First Buddhist Council = Shisunaga king Kalasoka.
Nanda dynasty
Nandas were the first empire builders in India. The first empire building dynasty in India = Nanda dynasty. Founder of Nanda dynasty = Mahapadma Nanda. His eight sons ruled after him. Mahapadma Nanda and his eight sons collectively called “Nava Nandas” (nine Nandas). The last king of the Nanda dynasty = Dhana Nanda. Chandragupta Maurya overthrowned Dhana Nanda, the last king of the Nanda dynasty.
Evidences relating to the Mauryan Empire
Archaeo-logical sources Punch Marked Coins.
Inscriptions Edicts of Ashoka, Junagath Inscription
Secular Literature Kautilya’s Arthasastra, Visakadatta’s Mudrarakshasa, Mamulanar’s poem in Agananuru
Religious Literature Jain, Buddhist texts and Puranas
Foreign Notices Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa and Indica
India’s First Empire
First Empire of India = Mauryan Empire. Capital of Mauryas = Pataliputra (present day Patna). Mauryan system of government = Monarchy. Period of Maurya Empire = 322 to 187 BC. Major Kings of Mauryan Empire = Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara, Ashoka. Rajagriha was the early capital of Magha.
Chandragupta Maurya
First largest empire of India = Mauryan Empire. Founder of India’s first largest empire = Chandragupta Maurya. India’s first great empire = Magadha. Jain monk who brought Chandragupta Maurya to South India = Bhadrabahu. The Jain monk who convert Chandragupta Maurya to Jainism = Bhadrabahu. Chandragupta performed “Sallekhana” in = Sravanbelgola (Karnataka). What is Sallekhana = Jaina rituals in which a person fasts unto his death.
Bindusara
Son of Chandragupta Maurya = Bindusara. Birth name of Bindusara = Simhasena. How the Greeks called Bindusara = “Amitragatha”. Amitragatha means = slayer of enemies / destroyer of enemies. Son of Bindushara = Ashoka. Bindusara appointed his son Ashoka as a governor of Ujjain. Where was Ashoka first appointed as governor = Ujjain.
Ashoka
The most famous of the Maurya kings = Ashoka. Which King called as “Devanam Piya” = Ashoka. “Devanam Piya” means = Beloved of the Gods. Ashoka fought the Kalinga war in 261 BC (BCE). He won the war and captured Kalinga. In which rock inscription did Ashoka mention the horrors of the Kalinga war = 13th Rock Edict.
Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star
Who said “Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day” = Historian H. G. Wells.
Chandasoka to Dhammasoka
Chanda Ashoka means = Wicked Ashoka. Dhamma Ashoka means = Righteous Ashoka. After which war Ashoka converted to Buddhism = Kalinga War. How Ashoka’s journeys to propagate Dhamma were called = Dharmayatras (Dharmayatras). In which pillar inscription of Ashoka there is a reference to the subject of Dhamma = in the second pillar inscription. Son of Ashoka = Mahinda. Daughter of Ashoka = Sangamitra. He sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism. Officials appointed by Ashoka to propagate Buddhism = Dhamma-Mahamattas. Place where Third Buddhist Council was held = Pataliputra. Who headed the Third Buddhist Council = Ashoka.
Edicts of Ashoka
How many inscriptions are created by Ashoka = 33. Ashoka’s edicts describe his concern for people and his honesty. What is an Edict = an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority or a king.
13 th Rock Inscription
In which inscription Ashoka refers the names of Pandyas, Cholas, the Keralaputras and the Sathyaputras = The Rock Edicts II and XIII of Ashoka.
Scripts in Asoka Inscriptions
Scripts used in Sanchi Inscription = Brahmi. Script used in Kandahar inscription = Greek and Aramaic. Script used in North Western Regions = Kharosthi.
Junagarh / Girnar Inscription
Who inscribed the Junagarh Inscription = Rudradaman. Who inscribed the Girnar Inscription = Rudradaman. The Junagarh / Girnar Inscription of Rudradaman records the construction of water reservoir known as “Sudarshana Lake”. Sudarshana lake works started during Chandragupta Maurya era. The work on Sudarshana Lake was completed during Ashoka’s time.
Mauryan administration
Mauryan administration = centralized administration. Powerful person of Maurya Empire = King. Cabinet that assisted the king in the Mauryan Empire = Mantriparishad. Members in the Mantriparishad = a priest, a Senapathi, a Maha Mantri and a prince.
Revenue system of the Mauryan government
Which inscription referring mention the two taxes “Bali” and “Bagha” = Ashoka’s inscription at Lumbini. Ashoka’s inscription at Lumbini mentions which two taxes = Bagha, Bali. Bagha is a type of land tax. It is levied as tax of 1/6th of the total produce. Salt and water irrigation were also taxed. Most of the government revenue was paid to employees and soldiers.
Judicial System of Mauryan Administration
Chief Justice = King. The Court of Appeal is also the King. The king appointed several sub-judges below him. Punishments were severe.
Military Administration of the Maurya Government
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces = King. A group of thirty members was divided into six groups of five members each. Total number of members in a group = five. Each group administered the Navy, Armoury, Infantry, Cavalry, Chariots and War Elephants.
Municipal Administration of the Maurya Government
Six groups of five members were formed (Board of 30 members). Officer controlling city administration = “Nagarika”. Officials who assisted for the officer “Nagarika” was = Sthanika, Gopa.
Coinage of the Maurya Empire 6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
The wages of Government employees were paid in cash. Mauryan Punch marked Silver coins called as “Panas”. Images engraved on Mauryan punch marked silver coins = peacock, hill. Mauryan crescent shaped copper coins = Massakas.
Trade and Urbanization
Large trade was done with Greece (Hellenic), Malaya, Sri Lanka, Burma. The Arthasastra refers to the regions producing specialized textiles – Kasi (Benares), Vanga(Bengal), Kamarupa (Assam) and Madurai in Tamilnadu.
Mauryan exports and imports
Main Exports Main Imports
Spices, Pearls, Diamonds, Cotton textiles, Ivory Works, Conch Shells Horses, Gold, Glassware, Linen
Mauryan Art and Architecture 6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
Art of the Mauryan period can be divided into two categories. They are,
Indigenous or Local art Royal art
Indigenous or Local art Royal art
Statues of Yakshas and Yakshis Palaces and Public buildings, Monolithic Pillars, Rock cut Architecture, Stupas
Yakshas = Yakshas were deities connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest and wilderness. Yakshis = Yakshis were their female counterpart.
What is a stupa 6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
A hemispherical dome like structure built of brick or stone. The remains of Buddha’s relics are kept in the center of the stupa. Where is Sanchi Stupi located = Near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Sarnath monolithic pillar 6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
There is a Dharmachakra at the apex (head) of the Sarnath monolithic pillar. The crowning element in this pillar is Dharma chakra.
Lion Capital of Ashoka 6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
The Emblem of the Indian Republic has been adopted from the Lion Capital of one of Ashokas pillars located at Sarnath. The wheel from the circular base, the Ashoka Chakra is a part of the National Flag.
Beginning of Rock cut Architecture
The origin of rock cut cavest in India dates back to the Mauryan Empire. Barabar Hills = hree caves in Barabar hills have dedicative inscription of Ashoka Nagarjuna Hills = Inscriptions of “Dasaratha Maurya” are located in three caves at Nagarjuna Konda. Ashoka’s grandson = Dasharatha Maurya.
Reasons for the Fall of the Mauryan Empire
The kings who came after Ashoka were weak. Revolts continued in many parts of the empire. Invasion of Bactrian Greeks. The last king of the Maurya empire = Brihadratha. Commander of Brihadratha = Pushyamitra Sungha. The last king of the Mauryan Empire, Brihadratha was killed by his army commander, Pushyamitra Sungha. Founder of Sungha dynasty = Pushyamitra Sungha. First King of Sungha Dynasty = Pushyamitra Sungha.
Grandeur of Pataliputra
The great capital city in the Mauryan Empire, which had 64 gates to the city with 570 watch towers.
Nalanda University
Nalanda University is a Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. During the Gupta period it became a very famous educational institution. Nalanda is a “Sanskrit” word. Na + Alam + daa = “Nalanda”. Meaning of “Nalanda” means = no stopping of the gift of knowledge.
6TH HISTORY FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES Ancient name and Its Modern name
Rajagriha Rajgir
Pataliputra Patna
Kalinga Odisha
Megasthenes’ “Indica”
Ambassador of Greek ruler Seleucus Nicator = Megasthenese. Number of Years Megasthenese stayed in India = 14 years. Author of “Indica” = Megasthenese. Text that helps us to know about Maurya Empire = Indica.
The Great Wall of China
It is an ancient series of fortification. During third century BC (BCE) emperor Qin-Shi Huang linked these walls on Northern border to protect his empire.
Temple of Zeus at Olympia
An ancient temple in Olympia, Greece, dedicated to the god Zeus, constructed during fifth century BC (BCE), It is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
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