Mauryan Empire Notes for SSC Exams

The Mauryan Empire was the first large empire of India. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya in about 321 BCE and reached its peak under Ashoka. It is a high-scoring chapter of ancient history in SSC exams, with questions on rulers, Chanakya, Ashoka's edicts, the Kalinga war and the administration. These Mauryan Empire notes for SSC explain the chapter in simple language with tables and practice questions.

Sources of Mauryan History

Major Mauryan Rulers

Ashoka and the Kalinga War

• The Kalinga war (261 BCE) caused huge loss of life, and Ashoka felt deep sorrow after it.
• He gave up violence and followed the path of Dhamma, which stressed tolerance, kindness and respect for elders.
• He appointed Dhamma Mahamatras to spread Dhamma among the people.
• He sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka for spreading Buddhism.
• He held the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra.
• The lion capital of Sarnath became the national emblem of India.

Edicts of Ashoka

Administration of the Mauryas

• The king was the head of the government, with a council of ministers (Mantriparishad).
• The empire was divided into provinces called Chakras, ruled by princes (Kumaras).
• Pataliputra was the capital, and the main provinces were Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali and Suvarnagiri.
• The army was large, with a separate board for the infantry, cavalry, elephants, chariots and navy.
• A strong spy system was kept, and the spies were called Gudhapurushas.
• Land revenue was one-fourth to one-sixth of the produce, and was called Bhaga.

Art and Architecture

• Polished stone pillars with animal figures on top, such as the lion, the bull and the elephant.
• Stupas, such as the Great Stupa at Sanchi, which was first built by Ashoka.
• Rock-cut caves, such as the Barabar caves in Bihar, given to the Ajivika sect.
• The Mauryan polish is a shiny finish on stone.

Decline of the Mauryas

After Ashoka, weak rulers, big army expenses, the division of the empire and revolts in the provinces made the empire weak. Pushyamitra Shunga ended the dynasty in about 185 BCE.

Quick Tips

• Learn the rulers in order: Chandragupta, Bindusara and Ashoka, with one fact each.
• Write the sources, such as Arthashastra and Indica, with their writers as a separate table.
• Link Ashoka with Kalinga, Dhamma and the Rock Edict XIII.
• Remember the use of Brahmi, Kharosthi, Greek and Aramaic scripts for the edicts.

Quick Revision Points

• Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire in about 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya.
• Megasthenes wrote Indica, and Kautilya wrote the Arthashastra.
• Ashoka fought the Kalinga war in 261 BCE.
• The lion capital of Sarnath is the national emblem of India.
• Pushyamitra Shunga killed the last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
   Answer: Chandragupta Maurya
2. Who was the advisor of Chandragupta Maurya?
   Answer: Chanakya (Kautilya)
3. Who wrote Indica?
   Answer: Megasthenes
4. Who wrote the Arthashastra?
   Answer: Kautilya
5. In which year was the Kalinga war fought?
   Answer: 261 BCE
6. Who deciphered the Brahmi script of Ashoka's edicts?
   Answer: James Prinsep
7. Who was called Amitraghata?
   Answer: Bindusara
8. What is the capital of the Mauryan Empire?
   Answer: Pataliputra
9. Who was the last Mauryan ruler?
   Answer: Brihadratha
10. Which Ashokan monument became the national emblem of India?
    Answer: Lion capital of Sarnath

How to Practise This Chapter

Learn the rulers and the sources first, and then read Ashoka's edicts and the administration. Test yourself with ten questions daily from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. Before this chapter, read Indus Valley Civilization, and after it, read the Gupta Empire notes. The Indian History notes page has the complete list of chapters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded the Mauryan Empire?

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire in about 321 BCE after defeating the Nanda dynasty, with the help of Chanakya.

Who was Chanakya?

Chanakya, also called Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was the teacher and minister of Chandragupta Maurya and the writer of the Arthashastra.

What is the Arthashastra?

The Arthashastra is an ancient book on politics, economy and administration, written by Kautilya.

What is Indica?

Indica is a book by the Greek ambassador Megasthenes, who lived in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. It describes Mauryan society and administration.

What was the Kalinga war?

The Kalinga war was fought by Ashoka in about 261 BCE against Kalinga (modern Odisha). The huge loss of life changed Ashoka and made him follow Buddhism.

What is Dhamma of Ashoka?

Dhamma was Ashoka's code of conduct based on non-violence, tolerance, kindness and respect for elders and teachers. It was not a new religion.

Which scripts were used in Ashoka's edicts?

Most edicts used the Brahmi script, while Kharosthi, Greek and Aramaic were used in the north-west.

Who deciphered the Brahmi script?

James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837, which helped in reading Ashoka's edicts.

Where is the lion capital of Ashoka kept?

The Sarnath lion capital is kept in the Sarnath Museum near Varanasi, and its image is the national emblem of India.

Who ended the Mauryan Empire?

Pushyamitra Shunga ended the Mauryan Empire in about 185 BCE after killing the last ruler, Brihadratha.

How can I remember the Mauryan chapter easily?

Learn the three main rulers, the sources with their writers, and the Kalinga war. Then revise one table every day.

How many questions come from the Mauryan Empire in SSC exams?

Usually one or two questions come from the Mauryan period in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.