Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
The Mauryan Empire
- About 2300 years ago, the Mauryan empire was one of the largest in the subcontinent.
- It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya.
- The most famous Mauryan emperor was his grandson, Ashoka.
How the Empire Was Ruled
- Capital: Pataliputra.
- Divided into provinces, with important centres like Taxila (north-west) and Ujjain (central).
- Ruled with the help of officials:
- Rajukas — judged cases and managed land.
- Mahamattas — senior officials who collected taxes and kept order.
The Kalinga War
- Ashoka attacked Kalinga (modern Odisha) about 260 BCE.
- The war caused enormous death and suffering.
- Seeing this, Ashoka was deeply shaken and filled with sorrow.
What Changed After Kalinga
- Ashoka gave up war.
- He became a follower of the Buddha.
- He decided to rule through dhamma (moral conduct) instead of force.
This is why he is remembered as "Ashoka, the Emperor Who Gave Up War."
What Was Dhamma?
Ashoka's dhamma was not a religion — it was a moral code for everyone:
| Dhamma rule | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Respect | Elders, teachers and parents |
| Kindness | To slaves, servants and the poor |
| Ahimsa | Avoid killing animals; no animal sacrifice |
| Tolerance | Respect all religions |
| Welfare | Build roads, rest houses, plant trees, dig wells |
How Ashoka Spread His Message
- Rock edicts and pillar edicts — his teachings carved on stone, written in Prakrit (using Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts).
- Dhamma mahamattas — officials appointed to teach dhamma to the people.
- He sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.
The famous Lion Capital (from Sarnath) is an Ashokan pillar capital — it is now India's national emblem.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mauryan empire | The empire founded by Chandragupta Maurya |
| Pataliputra | The Mauryan capital |
| Kalinga | The kingdom Ashoka attacked (modern Odisha) |
| Dhamma | Ashoka's moral code of conduct |
| Rock/Pillar edicts | Stone inscriptions carrying Ashoka's message |
| Dhamma mahamatta | An official who taught dhamma |
| Brahmi / Kharoshthi | Scripts used in Ashoka's inscriptions |
| Lion Capital | Ashokan pillar capital; India's national emblem |
Exam Tips
- Ashoka gave up war after the Kalinga war (~260 BCE) — the turning point of his life.
- Dhamma was a moral code, not a religion: respect, kindness, ahimsa, tolerance, welfare — learn the list.
- Ashoka spread his message via rock/pillar edicts (Prakrit, Brahmi/Kharoshthi), dhamma mahamattas, and his children Mahendra & Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka.
- The empire was ruled from Pataliputra with provinces (Taxila, Ujjain) and officials (rajuks, mahamattas).
- The Lion Capital (Sarnath) is India's national emblem — a 1-mark fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ashoka was the greatest Mauryan emperor. After the bloody Kalinga war he was filled with sorrow, gave up war, became a Buddhist and spread his policy of dhamma, or moral conduct, throughout his empire.