The Mauryan Empire provided political stability and a unified central
government, which encouraged economic prosperity throughout the
empire.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES [ edit ]
Describe the significance of the political stability offered by the Maurya Empire
Discuss the role of the Maurya Empire relative to its contemporaries
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
The Maurya Empire was divided into four provinces, each governed by the Kumara, who served
as the king's representative.
Ashoka maintained a massive standing army to protect the Maurya Empire and instill stability and
peace across West and South Asia.
Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across India, a network of regional governors
and administrators, and a civil service to provide justice and security for merchants, farmers and
traders.
The Mauryan international network of trade extended to the Greek states and Hellenic kingdoms
in West Asia and into Southeast Asia.
With the Mauryan endorsement of Hinduism, Buddhism, andJainism, society began embracing
the philosophy of ahimsa, and combined with the increased prosperity and improved law
enforcement, crime and internal conflicts reduced dramatically.
TERMS [ edit ]
standing army
a permanent army composed of full­time soldiers and it is not disbanded during times of peace
Kumara
A royal prince who was head of a Mauryan province
ahimsa
A belief that all human beings have a piece of divine energy in them, and to harm another is to
harm yourself.
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Administration and Organization
The Maurya Empire was divided into four provinces, with the imperial capital at Pataliputra.
From the Edicts of Ashoka, we know that the names of the four provincial capitals are Tosali
(in the east), Ujjain (in the west), Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north). The
head of the provincial administration was the Kumara (royal prince), who governed the
provinces as king's representative. The Kumara was assisted by Mahamatyas and council of
ministers.
Maurya Empire at its maximum extent (Dark Orange), including its vassals (Light Orange) in 265 BCe.
The Maurya Empire provided political stability with a unified central government, which in turn
encouraged economic prosperity.
This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with the Emperor and his
Mantriparishad (Council of Ministers). The empire provided a sophisticated bureaucracy to
govern everything from municipal hygiene to international trade. The largest standing
army of its time, the Mauryan army supported the expansion and defense of the empire.
According to scholars of the time, the empire wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000
cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants, while a vast espionage system collected intelligence for
both internal and external security purposes. Although king Ashoka renounced offensive
warfare and expansionism, he maintained this large army to protect the Empire and instill
stability and peace across West and South Asia.
Trade and Commerce
For the first time in South Asia, political unity and military security encouraged a common
economic system, increased agricultural productivity, and enhanced trade and commerce.
Before the Maurya Empire, the Indian subcontinent was fragmented into hundreds of
kingdoms, many small armies, powerful regional chieftains, who engaged in internecine
warfare.
Under the disciplined central authority of the Maurya Empire, farmers were freed of tax and
crop collection burdens from regional kings, paying instead to a nationally administered and
strict­but­fair system of taxation.Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across
India, a network of regional governors and administrators, and a civil service to provide
justice and security for merchants, farmers and traders. The Mauryan army eliminated
bandits, regional private armies, and powerful chieftains who sought to impose their own
supremacy in small areas. Although regimental in revenue collection, Maurya also sponsored
many public works and waterways to enhance productivity. During the Maurya Empire,
political unity and internal peace encouraged the expansion of trade in India.
Coins during the Maurya empire
Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across India. Silver punch mark coin of the Maurya
empire, with symbols of wheel and elephant. 3rd century BCE.
Under the Indo­Greek friendship treaty during Ashoka's reign, the Mauryan international
network of trade expanded. The Khyber Pass, on the modern boundary of Pakistan and
Afghanistan, became a strategically important port of trade and intercourse with the outside
world. Greek states andHellenic kingdoms in West Asia became trade partners. Trade also
extended through the Malay peninsula into Southeast Asia. India's exports included silk,
textiles, spices ,and exotic foods. The external world came across new scientific knowledge
and technology with expanding trade with the Mauryan Empire. Like his father and
grandfather, Ashoka also sponsored the construction of thousands of roads, waterways,
canals, hospitals, rest­houses and other public works.
Religion
Hinduism was the major religion at the beginning of the Maurya Empire in 322 BCE. Hindu
priests and ministers, such as the advisor Chanakya, were an important part of the emperor's
court. Even after embracing Buddhism, Ashoka retained the membership of Hindu
Brahmana priests and ministers in his court. Despite this, after Ashoka converted to
Buddhism, many people also converted and it became a prominent religion in India.
Mauryan society also began embracing the philosophy of ahimsa, an idea integral to all the
major Indian religions at the time. Ashoka eventually discouraged the caste system­­which
had been an aspect of Hinduism­­and orthodox discrimination, supporting the ideals and
values of Jain and Buddhist teachings along with traditional Vedic Hindu teachings. When
Chandragupta Maurya renounced his throne, he also renounced his material possessions and
embraced Jainism.
Buddhist proselytism at the time of king Ashoka (260–218 BCE).
Under the patronage of king Ashoka, Buddism spread throughout the Maurya Empire.