Mauryan & Gupta
Indian History · मौर्य और गुप्त
📋Quick Overview
The Mauryan Empire (322–185 BCE) was India's first large unified empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the guidance of Chanakya. The Gupta Empire (320–550 CE) is called the 'Golden Age of India' for its achievements in science, art, and culture. Both are among the most asked topics in government exams.
📖Mauryan Dynasty — Kings
| King | Period | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | 322–298 BCE | Founded empire with Chanakya. Defeated Seleucus Nicator (Greek). Got Megasthenes as ambassador. Became Jain, died at Shravanabelagola by Santhara. |
| Bindusara | 298–273 BCE | Called 'Amitraghata' (slayer of enemies). Extended empire to South. Greek ambassador Deimachus visited. |
| Ashoka | 273–232 BCE | GREATEST Mauryan king. Kalinga War (261 BCE) changed him → adopted Buddhism. Sent son Mahendra & daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka. |
| Brihadratha | Last Mauryan king | Killed by his general Pushyamitra Shunga (185 BCE) who founded the Shunga dynasty. |
📝Ashoka — Key Details
- •Ashoka's edicts were deciphered by James Prinsep (1837) — written in Brahmi script
- •Kalinga War (261 BCE) = bloodiest war, 1 lakh killed → Ashoka gave up violence
- •Ashoka called himself 'Devanampriya Priyadarshi' (Beloved of Gods)
- •Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath = India's National Emblem (4 lions). 'Ashoka Chakra' on Indian flag.
- •Ashoka's policy of Dhamma = non-violence, tolerance, respect for elders, kindness to animals
- •Ashoka was the FIRST king to ban animal sacrifice
| Ashoka's Edicts | Details |
|---|---|
| 14 Major Rock Edicts | Carved on large rocks across the empire. 13th Rock Edict describes the horrors of the Kalinga War and Ashoka's remorse — MOST IMPORTANT edict for exams. |
| 7 Pillar Edicts | Inscribed on tall stone pillars. Found at Topra, Meerut, Lauriya-Nandangarh, etc. |
| Minor Rock Edicts | Smaller inscriptions found at various sites. Personal edicts about Ashoka's faith in Buddhism. |
Scripts of Ashoka's Edicts: Most edicts in BRAHMI script (left to right). Edicts in northwest India (Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra) in KHAROSHTHI script (right to left). Edicts in Afghanistan in GREEK and ARAMAIC scripts. James Prinsep deciphered Brahmi in 1837.
📖Mauryan Administration & Important Books
| Book/Source | Author | About |
|---|---|---|
| Arthashastra | Kautilya/Chanakya | Treatise on statecraft, economics, military strategy. Written in Sanskrit. |
| Indica | Megasthenes (Greek ambassador) | Description of Mauryan society, Patliputra. Called India 'a land of gold'. |
| Mudrarakshasa | Vishakhadatta | Play about Chandragupta's rise to power with Chanakya's help |
Chanakya (also called Kautilya or Vishnugupta) was a professor at Taxila University. His Arthashastra is compared to Machiavelli's 'The Prince'.
📖Gupta Empire — Kings
| King | Title | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Gupta | — | Founded the dynasty (~240 CE) |
| Chandragupta I | Maharajadhiraja | First great Gupta king. Married Licchavi princess Kumaradevi. Started Gupta Era (319-320 CE). |
| Samudragupta | Indian Napoleon | Greatest military conqueror. Allahabad Pillar Inscription (by Harisena) describes his conquests. Played Veena. Ashvamedha coins. |
| Chandragupta II | Vikramaditya | Golden Age peak. Defeated Shakas. Fa-Hien (Chinese traveler) visited. Court of 9 Gems (Navaratnas) including Kalidasa. |
| Skandagupta | — | Last great Gupta king. Defeated Huns (Hunas). After him, empire declined. |
📝Gupta Period — Golden Age Achievements
| Person | Field | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Aryabhatta | Astronomy/Math | Wrote Aryabhatiyam. Discovered Earth rotates on axis. Gave value of Pi. Invented zero concept. |
| Varahamihira | Astronomy | Wrote Pancha Siddhantika and Brihat Samhita |
| Kalidasa | Literature | Wrote Abhijnana Shakuntalam, Meghadutam, Raghuvansham. Called 'Shakespeare of India'. |
| Dhanvantari | Medicine | Father of Ayurveda. Gupta court physician. |
| Nalanda University | Education | Founded during Gupta period. World's first residential university. |
| Iron Pillar (Delhi) | Metallurgy | Built during Gupta period. Has NOT rusted for 1600+ years — proof of advanced metallurgy. |
The decimal system and the concept of zero were Indian contributions during the Gupta period. Arabs took it to Europe — that's why they're called 'Arabic numerals' but they're actually Indian!