UPSC History The Mourya Empire Short Notes - The Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C.)

Short Notes - The Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C.)

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The Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C.)

Founder- Chandragupta Maurya
He defeated the king Dhanananda with the help of Chanakya.
Its capital was Pataliputra.
Greek and Latin name of Chandragupta was Sandracottos" or "Andracottus.
Megasthene [Greek Ambassador] came to his court.
Chandragupta Maurya embraced Jainism.
He died at Sravanbelagola of Chandragiri hill.
Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara.
Greeksources referto him as Amitrochates or in Sanskrit amitraghata ["destroyer of foes").
The palace of Chandragupta was made of wood.
Bindusara was followed by his son, Ashoka [273-232 B.C.).
The war of Kalinga [BC 261) was the turning point ofAshoka's life. The mass death of the war changed his mind and he became a follower of Buddhism.
Ashok Stambh of Sarnath was adopted as national emblem of India.
Sanchi Stupa was built by Ashoka.
Constructions carried out by Ashoka: Dhamek Stupa [Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh), Bharhut stupa [Madhya Pradesh), Mahabodhi Temple [Bihar).
Ashoka's Dhamma was a code of conduct [a set of principles like respect to elders) mercy to slaves & emphasis on truth, non-violence & tolerance.
Last Mauryan King: Brihadratha [Killed by his general Pushyamitra).
Pushyamitra founded Sunga Dynasty.
Important Sources of History of Mauryan Empire- Arthshastra [Kautilya), Indica [Megasi:henes), Rajtarangini [Kalhan), Mahalihasya [Patanjali)
Other Sources: Puranas, Buddhist Texts, Asoka's Inscriptions, Rocks & Pillar Edicts of Mauryas.

Categories of Ashoka's Inscription

Sunga Dynasty (185 to 23 B.C.)

Pushyamitra Sunga was the senapati of lastking of Mauryan empire Briliadratha. He killed Brihadratha and founded the Sunga dynasty in 187 B.C.
It was a Magadha dynasty and its capital was Pataliputra but later Vidhisha was the capital of Sunga rulers.

Sunga Rulers

Pushyamitra Sunga

Agnimitra

Vasujyeshtha

Vasumitra

Andhraka Pulindaka

Ghosha

Vajramitra

Bhagabhadra

Devabhuti

Patanjali [grammarian of Sanskrit) was patronized by Pushyamitra Sunga.

Kanva Dynasty (73-28 B.C.)

Satvahana Dynasty

It ruled in the Deccan and Central India after Mauryans.
Founder- Simuka
Andhra dynasty was situated between the region of Krishna and Godavari River.
Most powerful Satavahana king - Gautamiputra Satakarni [A.D. 106-130)
He defeated the Sakas, Yavanas [Greeks) and Pahlavas [Parithans)

Other Dynasties

Kharavela was the greatest king of Chedi Dynasty.
Source of information: Hatigumpha Pillar inscription (Created by Kharavela)
He opposed Demetrius of Bactria and defeated them.
The Indo-Greeks were the first to issue gold coins in India, Which increased in number under the Kushans.
The Sakas were a group of nomadic tribes of Iranian origin or Scythian tribes, who lived in Central Asia.
The most famous Saka ruler in India was Rudradaman-I (A.D. 130-150).
The Saka kingdom in north-western India was followed by that of the Parthians (Saka-Pahlavas in Sanskrit text).
The most famous Parthian king was Gondophernes.
They were defeated by the Kushans in the second half of the 1st century AD.
The Parthians were succeeded by the Kushans who established a powerful empire in north India.
The greatest of the Kushana rulers was kanishka and is known for his military prowess.
Capital of Kushans: Purushpura (Peshawar).
Kanishka is considered to have conflicted with the Pataliputra and had taken Asvaghosa, the Buddhist Monk to Purushpura.
He was a patron of Buddhism and convened the 4th Buddhist Council in the Kundalvana of Kashmir [or may be in Jalandhar) in 78 AD.
Scholars in the Court of Kanishid were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathara.
Sushruta who wrote Sushruta Samhita has also been connected to Kanishka.
Founder of Pallava Simhavishnu, Capital - Kanchi.
Nrasimhavarman was the greates- king of Pallava Dynasty.