The most valuable source regarding Mauryan government is indeed the Arthasastra of Kautilya according to which,. The Mauryans are credited with establishing the first great empire of India. Pataliputra was its capital. Our country in this period witnessed tremendous developments in almost all areas of human life. The government during Mauryan Empire was a highly centralized and hierarchical one having a large staff, which regulated tax collection, trade, and commerce, industrial arts, mining, vital statistics, the welfare of foreigners, maintenance of public places including markets and temples.
A large standing army was maintained. The king was the ultimate authority as the empire followed hereditary kingship. He took decisions on all military and civil matters. He was the chief justice of the country. Role of King in Mauryan A E-magazine Subscribe to E-Magazine on Reference. Contact Us Site Map. Follow Us :. All rights reserved including the right to reproduce the contents in whole or in part in any form or medium without the express written permission of Jupiter Infomedia Ltd.
Bureaucracy in Mauryan administration has been dealt by Kautilya in Adhyaksha Prachdra. The bureaucracy had an over all control over the state. Bureaucracy in Mauryan administration is analogous to a modern administration manual.
An all pervading bureaucracy keeping in touch with all phases of economic and social life was witnessed in the Mauryan administration. It commands a collection of accurate and detailed information on human and material resources of the country. Mauryan Empire was aided by models set by the empire of the Achaemenid.
Mauryan administration was subject to constant change under new situations and problems. King Ashoka introduced changes into the system. The central machinery of administration envisaged in the Arthashastra represents the condition towards the close of Chandragupta's reign.
The collector general or Samaharta supervised the business of collecting revenue from the whole kingdom. He had to pay attention to all fortified towns, provinces, mines, gardens, forests, quadrupeds and trade-routes which were the chief sources of income. Tolls, fines, fees for assaying weights and measures, police, currency, pass-ports, liquor, slaughter-houses, the manufacture of yarn, oil, ghee and sugar, goldsmiths, warehouses, prostitutes, gambling, buildings, guilds of carpenters and artisans, temples, and dues collected at the entrance from troupes of performers constituted the chief source of revenue.
As far as provinces are concerned the sources of income were land and agriculture, trade, ferries, traffic in rivers and roads, pastures and so on. The collector controlled the expenditure as well. The chief items of expenditure were religious worship and gifts ; the royal family and the royal kitchen ; embassies, warehouses, armouries, factories and free labour, infantry, cavalry and elephant corps of the army ; cattle-farms and menageries, and storage of fodder and fire-wood. The duties of Sannidhata included charge of the construction of treasuries and warehouses of suitable strength and proportions wherever they were required.
He was the custodian of realised revenue in cash and kind. He cut forged coins and received only good quality articles. He was responsible for the construction of royal trading-houses, armoury, jails, courts of justice and offices of ministers and secretaries.
These buildings were to be equipped with wells, privies, bathrooms, fire-fighting appliances and other accessories. The accounts branch of the government had an elaborate organization. The account year ran from July-August. Greek states and Hellenic kingdoms in West Asia became trading partners. Trade also extended through the Malay Peninsula into Southeast Asia. The outside world gained new scientific knowledge and technology through expanded trade with the Mauryan Empire.
Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Search for:. Centralization in the Maurya Empire Learning Objective Describe the significance of the political stability offered by the Mauryan Empire. Emperor Ashoka maintained a massive standing army to protect the Mauryan Empire and instill stability and peace across West and South Asia. Khyber Pass A strategically important trade stop on the modern boundary of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Kumara A royal prince who oversaw the Mauryan provinces on behalf of the emperor. Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously.
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