It describes the sources of information for this study and asokas early life. The importance of the mauryan rule in indian history rests not only on its long duration, but for a number of political achievements that the mauryan period witnessed in a relatively brief span of a hundred and forty years. A little is known about the age old history of the mauryan empire while a lot is still shrouded in mystery. This is probably because buildings were not made of stone in this period. The compilation is based on the ncert textbook an introduction to indian art part 1. The following are the sources of history which gave us information about the mauryan period. The maurya empire was a geographically extensive iron age historical power based in magadha and founded by chandragupta maurya which dominated the indian subcontinent between 322 and 185 bce. Archaeologically, the period of mauryan rule in south asia falls into the era of northern black polished ware nbpw. It helps us to understand those processes that enabled the early humans to successfully conquer their environment and develop the present day civilizations. This culminated into the establishment of the mauryan empire in about 325 bc. The starting of mauryan empire is from accession of chandragupta maurya to the throne of magadha in 321 bc. Fertility goddess west bengal first century post mauryan or pregupta period adutkarsh classes yakshi under a flowering asoka tree. For this, the edicts of ashoka are known as an early document that promoted religious tolerance.
See more ideas about ancient india, iron age, ancient. C, the mauryan dynasty was established under chandragupta maurya. The religion evolved as it spread from the northeastern region of the indian subcontinent. It was a period when politics, art, trade and commerce elevated india to a glorious height. Pdf candragupta maurya and his importance for indian history. Samacheer kalvi 9th social science history solutions chapter.
The mauryan political history is largely some observations that do not stand scrutiny. Of the religious sources the buddhist and jain traditions the early dharmashastra are of great importance. Most of the information here is presented in a bulletpoint format. It is said to be a period when chronology becomes definite. The maurya empire boundless world history lumen learning. The population of the empire has been estimated to be about 5060 million, making the mauryan empire one of the most populous empires of antiquity. Indian history before the seventh century was not dated. No significant architectural remains have been found corresponding to the period between the harappans and the mauryas. It is not just a study of battles and kings as is normally understood by some. Mauryan period maurya period from 322 bce to 187 bce.
Golden age a golden age is a period of great peace, prosperity, and happiness in a particular area. The history of buddhism spans from the 6th century bce to the present. Buddhism arose in the eastern part of ancient india, in and around the ancient kingdom of magadha now in bihar, india, and is based on the teachings of siddhartha gautama. An overview mauryan art encompasses the arts produced during the period of the mauryan empire 4th to 2nd century bce represented an important transition in indian art from use of wood to stone 2 the lion capital of ashoka from sarnath that is now the national emblem. History topics covering post mauryan period bactrian satvahana pushpamitra sunga satvahana dynasty gautamiputra satkarni bactrian invasions kushana dynasty kanishka india since independence, ncert history, india since gandhi, indian independence struggle by bipan chandra, rajiv ahir, spectrum, tata mcgraw hill of importance for government exams and general knowledge. Samacheer kalvi 9th social science history solutions.
Period period period period period period historical periods technological and. Sanskrit had emerged as a rich indian language by that time. History 1 module 1 ancient india understanding indian history 1 notes history is the study of past events. The religion evolved as it spread from the northeastern region of the indian subcontinent through. Iron age was the start of this great empire and covered the almost whole indian subcontinent geographically. Andhras were originally a part of the mauryan realm under asoka, and began to get independent soon after the dissolution of the mauryan empire. The guilds, coming from the days of the mauryan period, became a more important factor in the urban life both in being instrumental to increase in production and moulding public opinion. Ashoka and the mauryan empire asia education foundation.
As these scripts were inscribed on rocks and pillars they are known as rock edicts or pillar edicts. Jun 20, 2014 postmauryan period 20bc 300ad economy and society. Jun 6, 2016 the maurya empire, also known as the mauryan empire, was a geographically extensive iron age historical power in ancient india, ruled by the maurya dynasty from 322185 bce. In the deccan, the satvahanas declare themselves as independent after the fall of the mauryan empire and emerge as a powerful force.
The period of the mauryan empire, scripts a whole new epoch in the history of india. Ancient history of india post mauryan period unacademy. He ruled form 268 bce to 232 bce and became a model of kingship in the buddhist tradition. The ashokan rock edicts were deciphered by james princep in 1837. What are the main sources of history of the mauryas. How justified are we in characterizing the post mauryan five centuries as the dark period of indian history. The period of the mauryan empire marks a new epoch in the history of india. Society witnessed structural reorientation as significant groups of foreigners penetrated into india and chose to be identified with the rest of the community. In this post, we bring you the important aspects of the arts of the mauryan period. They are exquisite in aesthetic quality and brilliant in their design and execution. This period is particularly memorable for the compilation of the amarakosha by amarasimha, who was a luminary in the court of chandragupta ii. There was a time when only written records were acknowledged as authentic source of history. Alexanders invasion brought europe, for the first time, in close contact with india, as routes, by sea and by land, were opened between india and the west.
Thus a natural frontier for india was secured by its first historical ruler. The mauryan empire was a pan indian empire founded by chandragupta maurya. Throughout history, theres a common trend of great architecture coming from great rulers. In the political history of early india the maurya dynasty has a. Buddhism jainism 16 mahajanapadas rise of magadha haryankadynasty sisunaga dynasty nandas alexander invasions on india mauryan empire sungas kanvas indogreeks guptas harshavardhana satavahanas sangam age kushanskanishka. The literal meaning of the itihasa is thus it was and it is translated as history.
Pamela price this piece is designed as a lecture, not a scholarly article. Understand the history and significance of the maurya empire. Mauryan empire chakravarti major reference works wiley. Why is the mauryan period important in indian history. The indian natural history in mauryan period saw the protection of animals to become a serious issue, for the first time. The mauryan period represents the third major period in the indian cultural history after the prehistoric times and indus valley period. The mauryan period is an important period in the history of indian art and. This makes it one of the oldest religions practiced today. The main sources for this lecture are romila thapars booklet, the mauryas revisited calcutta. Fertility goddess west bengal first century postmauryan or pregupta period adutkarsh classes yakshi under a flowering asoka tree. A buddhist scholar from bengal, chandragomia, composed a book on grammar, named chandravyakaranam. Their span according to these scholars thus seems to be from the late third century bce. The founder of this great dynasty is chandragupta maurya along with the help of his guru chanakya. The period from sixth to late fourth century bc witnessed the rise of territorial polities mahajanapadas in north india.
Mauryan rule marks an important phase in our cultural history. Apr 11, 2018 emperor ashoka the great sometimes spelt asoka lived from 304 to 232 bce and was the third ruler of the indian mauryan empire, the largest ever in the indian subcontinent and one of the worlds largest empires at its time. Pillars, rockcut architecture, stupas and other details. The of the mauryan period, the text is lost and known maurya dynasty had a. History and culture through the ages though the contact between the macedonians and ancient indians was for a brief period, its impact was fairly wide in range. The mauryan empire began to disintegrate almost immediately, showing that dhamma was insufficient to hold together so vast a territory. Inscriptions and literature are a valuable source to know about the history of mauryan empire. An overview mauryan art encompasses the arts produced during the period of the mauryan empire 4th to 2nd century bce represented an important transition in indian art from use of wood to stone 2 the lion capital of ashoka from sarnath that is now the national emblem of india mauryan. The mauryan empire saw the first real political unification of the indian subcontinent south asia. Documents epic of gilgamesh and the code of hammurabi mesopotamia book of the deadegypt hebrew. India was divided into small kingdoms and states until the rise of the great mauryan empire, which ruled most of the subcontinent the most famous mauryan emperor was ashoka the grea. Pdf on jan 1, 2011, johannes bronkhorst and others published candragupta. Sources which gives an insight into the history of mauryas are as follwos.
The period constitutes a very significant phase in the early history of india. In upsc mains, history is part of general studies paper i syllabus. The gupta period also saw the development of sanskrit grammar based on panini and patanjali. Chapter 6 post mauryan period 200bc to 300ad civilsdaily. The different wings of the mauryan army were wellequipped with latest weapons.
This volume is about the history of the decline of the mauryan dynasty in ancient india and the reign of asoka maurya. From the military point of view, it is important to know why magadh. India was divided into small kingdoms and states until the rise of the great mauryan empire, which ruled most of the subcontinent. Maurya empire was the great empire to flourish in india. Ashoka and the mauryan empire the mauryan dynasty was founded by chandragupta maurya in 320 bc after defeating the incumbent nanda dynasty. Arts of the mauryan period indian culture series ncert. Puranas like vishnupurana, bhagawat purana, markandeya purana 2.
Many changes, apart from the political integration, took place during this period of the indian iron age. Buddhism arose, in and around the ancient kingdom of nepal and is based on the teachings of siddhartha gautama. Mauryan period inscriptions of asoka, the first lithic records in indian history. Indus valley civilization early vedic civilization later vedic civilization buddhism jainism 16 mahajanapadas rise of magadha haryankadynasty sisunaga dynasty nandas alexander invasions on india mauryan empire sungas kanvas indogreeks guptas harshavardhana satavahanas sangam age kushanskanishka badami chalukyas kalyani chalukyas pallavas. Ncert notes of ancient history for upsc exams 2020 preparation.
There were pillars, sculptures, rockcut architecture, buildings like stupas, viharas and chaityas that served many purposes. He helped to spread one of the worlds most popular religions and established reforms that still have great meaning for modernday indians. Which of the following are the sources of mauryan period. The first imperial art presentation by group 8 1 2. A period of unification of the territories which lay as fragmented kingdoms. Mauryan period seems to mark the beginning of buddhist construction in permanent materials. This course covers all important topics from the post mauryan period till early medieval period of. How justified are we in characterizing the postmauryan. Ashoka is considered the most significant ruler of the empire. Some incidents, said to have increased the number of epigraphic documents. The art of the sunga empire yakshi under a flowering asoka tree, shunga, india.
The mauryan dynasty a the mauryan empire was one of the largest empires to rule india. He established the first territorial empire in ancient india, covering most of the indian subcontinent. The lack of written records and other material certainly breaks the continuity at several points yet the practices of the ancient and the vedic periods exists till today as traditions. The history of india is so vivid that it will be unfair to omit such small yet very important details about the developments that occurred before the establishment of the greatest empires in india, the mauryan empire.
This course covers all important topics from the post mauryan period till. Aug 15, 2017 in the south, the sangam period starts circa 300bc 300ad. Ashoka was the first king in the indian history who has left his records. Literary sources of mauryan empire, history of mauryans. Megasthenese was the ambassador of greek ruler selucus. Understanding indian history obvious that harshas biographer bana bhatt who wrote harshacharita deliberately did not mention the defeat of his patron.
Therefore it does not contain citations for the work upon which it is based. This course covers all important topics from the post mauryan period till early medieval period of indian history. Period significant length of time peace free from war and violence prosperity overall economic wellbeing for a society in general. He was assisted by his political adviser, kautalya, who also set out the rules for the. Comprising the majority of south asia, the maurya empire was centralized by the conquest of the indogangetic plain, and its capital city was located at pataliputra modern patna. The primary guilds of the day were those of the potters, metal workers and carpenters. The maurya dynasty ruled india during the fourth and third centuries b. However, there are no direct questions on ancient history unless they can be linked to art and culture.
The postmauryan five centuries pertains to the period between 200 b. Administration, economy, art, architecture, religion, literature, in every field, the mauryan empire distinguished itself from its predecessors. The sources for the history of the mauryan period are as follows. You will get somewhere around pages over 400 days till mains 2020. The ashokavadana and divyavadana are two buddhist texts containing information about bindusara, ashokas expeditions to taxila to suppress a. The indian leader asoka ashoka ruled the mauryan empire over 2,000 years ago. In the south, the sangam period starts circa 300bc 300ad.