Historically.
The Mauryan Empire in now at its peak of power, with the largest economy and powerful standing army in the world. Now ruled by Asoka Maurya, 56, a skilled military tactician and wise statecraft-er under whom the empire has flourished to its greatness.
Asoka has adopted Buddhism and now follows an economic policy rather than a military subjugation or conquest after the end of the gruesome Kalinga war. Yet Mauryan empire's military spending was high as usual and mighty enough to suppress unrest in any corner off the empire and also defend against any invasion. Before around 3 years from now (250bc) Asoka has sent Buddhist missions to the Hellenistic states.
The Mauryan Empire included almost the whole of India except the extreme South. (Present day Kerala and Tamil nadu states) Asoka’s inscriptions refer to the Cheras as Keralaputras. The Mauryans traded with the Southern Kingdoms and had a strong relationship with the dominant Pandya kingdom.
Government.
Mauryan empire followed a very large hierarchy with the Saamraat (The Emperor) on top and considered the absolute authority of the state. Several royal family members, relations, subjugated kings, chieftains, recruited generals and governors handled the affairs of a province and reported to the higher hierarchy above them. Taxes were regularly collected from land lords and merchants. The empire was ruled by the guidance of 'Artha-sasthra' (Manual of State-craft), which was a must read for any King within the Mauryan empire. All of them ruled with the help of their personal council of ministers. There were separate military and social tree of hierarchy below the Emperor. The 'Sena-pathi' (Supreme commander) being head of the military, 'Mukhya-manthri' (Prime minister) being the head of Social/Internal affairs and personal advisor to the Emperor. Spies monitored the actions outside and within the empire, they monitored all classes of people including those even close to the Kings and reported to their superiors who in turn is responsible for compiling and report it to the Kings and emperor. So the king would always get news about the mood and attitudes of the people. Women were also appointed as spies.
The central government was under the direct control of the Emperor. Though he was an absolute ruler, he was accessible to his subjects. He was the supreme head of the army. He was chief justice of the country. He was assisted by the Yuvaraja (Prince), the crown prince and the 'mantrins' or a council of ministers. There were officials like the Mahamatras. They looked after the day today work of the administration.
The Empire was divided into provinces, districts and villages. A prince or any other member of the royal family looked after the provinces. Officials called pradeshikas or Sthanikas were in charge of districts. The Gramanis acted as heads of the villages. Pataliputra was the Capital of the Mauryan Empire. Six boards or departments looked after the Municipal administration of the city of Pataliputra. Every board had five members. These boards looked after’ the subjects like Industries, Census, Trade, Manufactures and their sale, Collection of taxes and Welfare of foreigners living in the city. Similar form of government existed in other major cities of Tosali, Suvamagiri, Ujjain,Taxila and Mathura.
The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected. The revenue was spent for the welfare of the people. The officers of the Government received their salaries in cash. The coins were made of silver. They were called punch coins because tiny symbols or designs were stamped or punched on them. These coins were also called Karshapanas. Most parts of the Mauryan Empire were linked by roads. There was one route to Nepal via Visali. Another road linked Pataliputra with Kalinga in Orissa. Traders, travelers, spies and soldiers used these roads. Men and goods were transported by river boats also. The king’s court at Pataliputra was the highest court of Justice. Judicial courts were set up in all parts of the country. Petty cases were decided by the village panchayats. Punishments were severe. The judicial officers were known as rajukas.
State of Diplomacy.
Mauryans and Pandyans had a strong relationship, several Tamil poets (from the Pandya kingdom) wrote about the valour and prowess of the Mauryan army (especially about Mauryan Chariots). Pandyans were skilled elephant trainers and fielders and passed on their training to the Mauryan army. Smooth trade was ensured between both the factions. The subjugates of Pandya, the Chera and Pallava factions earlier opposed to overpowering growth of the Mauryans but later accepted their superiority and paid tributes to Mauryans and Pandyans. Relationship with the various south Indian kingdoms were warm at-least until the death of Asoka and the emergence of the Sathavahana tribe.
Mauryans under Asoka maintained a good relationship with the Bactrian/Indo-greek kingdom. They passed on the wisdom of Buddhism and trade flourished between both. But any Bactrian king will take any chance to take the rich Indian lands in case of any weakening of power in the Mauryan empire. Which happened during the Sunga period were the Indo-greeks established their rule in north western provinces of India.
The events of the war between Seleucus and Chandragupta are obscure. Seleucus crossed the Indus, and may have advanced towards the Ganges. If there were any major battles Chandragupta must have won them, and when the war ended (possibly in 303 BC) the peace was greatly to his advantage. Seleucus abandoned any claims east of the Indus and also transferred the satrapies of the Parapanisadai (around Kabul), Aria (around Heart) and Arachosia (around Kandahar) and possible eastern Gedrosia to Chandragupta. In return he was given 500 war elephants. The treaty was to be ratified by a marriage alliance between the two men. In addition to this treaty, Seleucus dispatched an ambassador, Megasthenes, to Chandragupta, and later Deimakos to his son Bindusara, at the Mauryan court at Pataliputra. Their relationship in this time line is not known, but either factions will try making use of the others weakening positions along their borders.
Sathavahana declared freedom after Asoka's death by around 230bc, They were a confederate unconquered subjugated tribes under the Mauryan empire from the Andhras before Asoka's death. They were buddhistic brahmins, and a fierce warrior tribes feared across the Dakhinapatha and Kalinga. After Asoka's death the declared their freedom and declared war against the Mauryan empire as they have grow very powerful under the peaceful era of Asoka. This also crippled the Mauryan empires relations with the southern's kingdoms due to disturbance in trade and other diplomatic activities. The continued pressing the Mauryan empire and later the Sungas until they emerged successful after the fall of both Mauryan, Sunga and later the Kanvas.
Yuezhi and Saka were commonly known to the Indian people as a fierce Saka clan. They surely have an eye for the rich Indus and Gangatic plains and Mauryans always on the watch to keep any clans subdued even before any threat would arise. They're currently in peace but war is inevitable.
Caste System.
Indian society was caste dominant and people were divided into castes based on their profession. In most cases people belonging to a caste inherited their profession for generations, A change in Caste would apply in case of change in profession over a couple of generations or in-case of inter-caste marriages. There were four major castes
Major castes
•
Brahmana - priests, healers, poets, writers, teachers, artists, ministers belong to this caste (Usually tend to dominate the rest of the society).
•
Ksatriya - emperor, professional warriors, generals, kings, governors, ministers belong to this caste (A caste that puts the safety of the state and its people above all and are hereditary warriors).
•
Vaisya - merchants, traders, farmers, land lords, farmers and even spies belong to this caste (They are the highly taxed caste).
•
Sudhra - peasants, labours, farmers belong to this caste (Considered the lower most caste).
Minor castes
•
Mleccha - Foreign settlers (usually 'yavanas' (Greeks) and saka).
•
Zabara - Barbarian, nomad, tribe
•
Yaakanaka - Beggars, untouchables
Mahabharata provides evidence of societies where caste was just a matter of personal choice. At MHB 8:45 is the following passage:
"Among the Bahlikas one at first becomes a Brahmana and then he becomes a Kshatriya. Indeed, a Vahika would, after that, become a Vaishya, and then a Shudra, and then a barber. Having become a barber, he would then again become a brahmana. Returning to the status of a brahmana, he would again become a slave. One person in a family becomes a brahmana: all the others act as they like."
There have been kings from all major castes, Pushyamitra sunga was a Brahmana, Chandragupta a born Sudhra and several minor Vaisya kings.
This means any governor would have a trait based on his caste.
Family
Royal Mauriya Family
Asoka Mauriya, 56 - faction leader
Priyadarsin, 49
Kunala Mauriya, 35 - died (historically blinded)
Dasaratha Mauriya, 23 - faction heir
Jalauka, 22
Tivara, 21
Samprati Maurya, 18 - next faction heir
Salisuka Maurya, 2
Theevala (f), 20
Charumathi (f), 19
Bandhupalitha (f), 8
Other family members
Karhavela, 16
A Sunga member and Nanda dynasty remnants.
Cities and provinces
Preview 1: Maurya Saamraajya
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks