VisionIAS - Video Classroom Lecture

Ancient and Mediaeval History Class 02

INTRODUCTION (09:15 AM)

A Brief Review of The Previous Class.

ADMINISTRATION UNDER MAURYAN EMPIRE (09:31 AM)

Central Administration:

1. King: All powers vested in him
2. Parisha/Parishad: An advisory body which took decisions after a great deal of debates and discussions but its decisions were not binding upon the king.
3. Tirthas: The highest officials of the state paid in cash (Panas). Their number is said to be 18.
4. Adhyakshas: The superintendent of various departments mainly associated with economic activities.
5. Amatya: A general term for royal officials.

Provincial Administration:

1. Provinces were known as Aharas.
2. Their number is said to be 4/5.
3. The head of provincial administration was ‘Kumaramatya’ who was generally a person of royal blood.
4. Ashoka had served as Kumaramatya at both Ujjain and Taxila.
5. At Ujjain, he is known for falling in love with Karuvaki (daughter of a grain merchant) who later on became his chief queen.
6. At Taxila, he suppressed a popular revolt against the empire mainly caused by the discontent against the exploitation of local officials.

Local Administration:

It was managed by the following official whose role is not exactly determined.
1. Pradeshikas.
2. Pradeshtris
3. Mahamatras
4. Mahamattas
5. Rajjukas (seem to be associated with judicial administration).

IMPRTANTDEPARTMENTS (09:42 AM)

(a) Revenue Departments:

The Mauryas are known for an elaborate taxation system characterized by the presence of numerous taxes and officials never seen before them and even afterwards.
Their approach was very rigid and they tried to tax almost all possible activities including practices like prostitution and gambling.
Some important terms referring to the prevailing taxes are mentioned below:
1. Bhaga: part of agricultural produce.
2. Bhoga: Provisions supplied to the royal official.
3. Kara: A general term on trade and commerce.
4. Hiranya: Collected in cash.
5. Pranya: not much is known about its nature.
Among important officials associated with the revenue department were ‘Samaharta’ and ‘ sannidhata’, the former being responsible for the assessment and collection of land revenue and the latter perhaps acting as the royal treasurer.

(b) Judicial System

In the Mauryan age, we notice some traces of the division of jurisprudence into civil and criminal for the first time.
The civil matters were adjudicated by the courts known as ‘Dharmasthiya’. whereas criminal matters were handled by the courts known as ‘Kantakshodhan’.
Some royal officials at the local level like Rajjukas are also supposed to be associated with judicial administration.

(c) Urban Administration

This is supposed to be the earliest instance of any separate system of urban administration in Indian history.
The system of urban administration indicates that the state has started responding to the challenges thrown up by the ongoing process of urbanisation.
As mentioned by Megasthnese the city of Patliputra was governed by six committees each consisting of five members managing different aspects of its administration.
Their work included the registration of births and deaths and even taking care of foreigners.

(d) Military Administration

The Mauryas had a huge army. The famous Greek author Justin mentions the number of the troops of Chandragupta was around six hundred thousand.
We also find references to different branches like infantry, chariot, elephant, horse, royal fleet (boats) and commissariat managed by six different committees each consisting of five members.

(e) Espionage system

This served as a very effective instrument of control. The king was always available to his spies. The system was possibly used also for eliminating political adversaries.
We find references to the following types of spies:
1. Samstha: Stationary spies.
2. Sanchara: Moving spies
3. Gudh/Gand Purusha: Special spies: Apart from the above-mentioned ones. At times, even prostitutes were also deployed as spies.
4. Pativedakas( Ashokan edict)
5. Pulisani (Ashokan edict)

ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE (10:10 AM)

The Mauryan state is at times remembered as an economic state due to its activities related to both production and distribution in almost all the sectors of economic life.
This is evident from the following observations:
Cultivation on state land Sita Bhumi under the supervision of state officials Sitaadhyaksha.
Shunya Nivesha involves the transfer of the surplus population of an area to hitherto uncultivated areas.
This was done with expressed intentions to expand the economic base of the system.
Association of Shudras with agriculture or mention of Shudras as agriculturalists.
Extension of irrigation facilities by the state.
Participation of the state in mining and metallurgical activities on the mining of precious metals and stones and manufacturing of weapons and liquor. 10 34
Royal workshops employed wage labourers including women mostly the aged widows etc.
The state-manufactured goods called Panya or Rajpanya were sold in the open market.
under the supervision of state officials Panyaadhyaksha.
Discussion on trade routes going in different directions.
According to Arthashastra trade routes going towards the south were more advantageous.
A discussion on the trade routes of different types.
According to Arthashashtra water routes were more economical.
But it also raises some concerns related to their safety.
The state offers protection to the trade routes.

MEGASTHANESE (10:49 AM)

Megasthenese is said to have served as ambassador of the famous Greek ruler Selucus in the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
His book known as Indica is supposed to be the first major work in the category of foreign accounts related to Indian culture or civilisation.
The work is now not extant in its original form but has been reconstructed based on its references found in the works of later Greek-Roman authors like Arrian, Strabo Pliny, Diodorus etc.
It is noticeable that neither Indica nor Megasthenese finds any mention in the Indian sources.

Indica is known for the following reasons:

Throws light on India's increasing contact with the outside world.
Throws light on rowing cultural contacts between north India and south India as Megasthenese is the first to mention the Pandyas of the south.
According to him, the Pandyan territory was being ruled by a woman ruler namely Pandaiyya (Possibly the earliest reference to a woman ruler) with her capital at Madura.
She was the daughter of Lord Krishna. ( mentioned as Eraklos).
Even the lord Shiva is mentioned as Dionysus.
Megasthenese also talks about a rich port city Korkai which was famous for pearl fishery.
He throws light on the architecture of a Maurya Capital Patliputra which was surrounded by a Moat (a trench filled with water) followed by a wooden wall (palisade) with bastions at regular intervals.
Arthashastra talks about fortification and emergency provisions (Fire, famine and financial emergency).
Also varna system was accepted by Kautilya.
The status of women, wage earners artisans spies royal bodyguards etc were also mentioned.
Most of the houses in the city were made of timber including the Mauryan palace.
This was also mentioned by Fa-hian.
Details related to the administration of the city which is the earliest reference to any separate system of urban administration in India.
According to him, the city was administered by 6 committees each consisting of 5 members managing different aspects of administration like law and order control and regulation of markets including the regulation of units of weight and measurement,
Taking care of foreigners, registration of deaths and births etc.
Some other observations:
Indian society is divided into 7 classes with philosophers at the top.
Indians do not know the art of writing.
No slavery in India.
No famine in India.

(TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: REST OF THE TOPICS OF THE 'MAURYAN EMPIRE')