ICSE Class 9 · Chapter 7

The Mauryan Empire ICSE Class 9: Sources, Administration and Dhamma

Updated 15 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya around 321 B.C., was the first empire to unite most of the Indian subcontinent. ICSE Class 9 tests its sources (Arthashastra, Indika, Ashokan Edicts, Sanchi Stupa), the kings in order, the central, provincial and city administration, and the principles and impact of Ashoka's Dhamma.

What The Mauryan Empire is about

In the 4th century B.C. the kingdom of Magadha, with its capital at Pataliputra (near modern Patna), was the strongest power in north India. Around 321 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya, guided by the scholar Kautilya, overthrew the Nanda king and founded the Mauryan dynasty. Under him, his son Bindusara and his grandson Ashoka, the empire came to cover most of the subcontinent except the far south.

The CISCE syllabus asks for the sources (Arthashastra, Indika, Ashokan Edicts, Sanchi Stupa), the names of the kings in chronological order, the administration, and Ashoka's Dhamma: its principles and its impact.

The Mauryas are unusually well documented for ancient India: a treatise on government, a foreign visitor's account and the king's own words carved in stone. A good answer names the source behind each fact: the city committees come from Megasthenes, the officials and spies from the Arthashastra, and Ashoka's change of heart after Kalinga from his own Rock Edict XIII.

Weightage: CISCE publishes no chapter weightage and no question-paper layout for ICSE Class 9 History and Civics. Class IX is examined by your school: one 80-mark paper of 2 hours plus 20 marks of internal assessment. The Mauryan Empire is History topic 4 of the 2028 syllabus.Source: CISCE ICSE 2028 History and Civics syllabus, Class IX

Key concepts

Literary sources: Arthashastra and Indika

Arthashastra: a treatise on statecraft and economy attributed to Kautilya (also called Chanakya or Vishnugupta), the adviser of Chandragupta Maurya. It discusses the duties of the king, the council of ministers, taxation, the army, law and punishment, foreign policy and a network of spies. It tells us how a powerful, centralised state was meant to be run. Scholars think the text as we have it was compiled and revised over time, so it is used together with other sources.

Indika: written by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus Nicator to Chandragupta's court at Pataliputra. The original is lost; parts survive as quotations in later Greek writers. It describes Pataliputra, its wooden walls, the king's palace, the administration of the city by committees, the army and Indian society (Megasthenes described seven classes). As an outsider, he sometimes misunderstood what he saw, so his account is checked against Indian sources.

Worked example

(3 marks) Who wrote the Indika? What does it tell us about the Mauryan period, and why must it be used with care?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Megasthenes, Greek ambassador of Seleucus Nicator at Chandragupta's court - 1 mark.
It describes Pataliputra, the city's administration by committees, the army and society - 1 mark.
The original is lost (survives in quotations) and Megasthenes, a foreigner, sometimes misunderstood Indian society - 1 mark.

Answer: The Indika was written by Megasthenes, Seleucus Nicator's ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya. It describes Pataliputra, the city's committees, the army and Indian society. It must be used carefully because it survives only in quotations by later writers and contains some misunderstandings by a foreign observer.

Archaeological sources: Ashokan Edicts and Sanchi Stupa

Ashokan Edicts: Ashoka's messages to his people, inscribed on rocks and polished stone pillars across his empire. Most are in Prakrit in the Brahmi script; in the north-west some use Kharosthi, and in Afghanistan Greek and Aramaic. In them Ashoka calls himself Devanampiya Piyadasi ('Beloved of the gods, of gracious appearance'). They tell us the extent of the empire (from where they are found), the Kalinga war and Ashoka's remorse (Rock Edict XIII), and the principles of his Dhamma. The Brahmi script was deciphered by James Prinsep in the 1830s.

Sanchi Stupa: a large hemispherical Buddhist monument near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Its core was built under Ashoka; it was enlarged and given four richly carved stone gateways (toranas) in later centuries. It shows Ashoka's support of Buddhism and the development of Buddhist art; the gateway carvings depict scenes from the Buddha's life and the Jatakas.

Worked example

(3 marks) Why are the Ashokan Edicts considered an important source of Mauryan history? Give three reasons.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

They are the king's own words, recording his policies and the principles of Dhamma - 1 mark.
Their locations show the extent of the empire - 1 mark.
They record events such as the Kalinga war and Ashoka's change of heart (Rock Edict XIII) - 1 mark.

Answer: The Edicts record Ashoka's own words on his policies and Dhamma; the places where they are found show how far his empire stretched; and they describe events such as the Kalinga war and his remorse after it, which no other source gives so directly.

Kings in chronological order

1. Chandragupta Maurya (about 321-297 B.C.): overthrew the Nanda king of Magadha with Kautilya's help; defeated Seleucus Nicator, who ceded territories in the north-west; Megasthenes came to his court. Jain tradition says he ended his life as a Jain ascetic at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.
2. Bindusara (about 297-273 B.C.): son of Chandragupta; kept the empire intact and is said to have extended it in the south.
3. Ashoka (about 268-232 B.C.): son of Bindusara; conquered Kalinga (Odisha) around 261 B.C., then turned to Buddhism and the policy of Dhamma.
After Ashoka the empire was ruled by weaker kings and broke up. The last Mauryan king, Brihadratha, was killed by his commander Pushyamitra Shunga around 185 B.C.

Dates are approximate; learn the order and the main achievement of each king.

Worked example

(2 marks) Name the first three Mauryan kings in chronological order, with one achievement of the first.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara, Ashoka - 1 mark.
Chandragupta overthrew the Nandas / defeated Seleucus Nicator - 1 mark.

Answer: Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Ashoka. Chandragupta founded the empire by overthrowing the Nanda king of Magadha, and defeated Seleucus Nicator.

Mauryan administration: centre and provinces

Central: the king was the supreme head of the government, army and justice. He was advised by a council of ministers (mantriparishad). High officials included the samaharta (chief collector of revenue) and the sannidhata (treasurer). Many departments, each under a superintendent (adhyaksha), looked after trade, agriculture, mines, weights and measures and so on.

Provinces: the empire was divided into provinces, usually governed by princes (kumaras). Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali and Suvarnagiri were provincial capitals, and Pataliputra controlled the central region. Provinces were divided into districts under officials such as the rajuka (land and justice) and pradeshika, and the village under the gramika (village headman).

Revenue: land tax was the main source, generally one-sixth of the produce (it could be higher), plus taxes on trade, crafts and sales.

Army and spies: the Mauryas maintained a large standing army of infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots. A network of spies (gudhapurushas) kept the king informed about officials and people.

Worked example

(4 marks) Describe the central and provincial administration of the Mauryas.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

King supreme, assisted by a council of ministers (mantriparishad) - 1 mark.
Officials: samaharta (revenue), sannidhata (treasury), superintendents of departments - 1 mark.
Provinces under princes; capitals Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali, Suvarnagiri - 1 mark.
Districts under rajukas and villages under gramikas; spies kept watch - 1 mark.

Answer: At the centre, the king held supreme power, advised by a mantriparishad, with officials like the samaharta for revenue and the sannidhata for the treasury, and superintendents for each department. The empire was divided into provinces under princes, with capitals at Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali and Suvarnagiri; districts were under rajukas and villages under gramikas, and a spy network kept the king informed.

City administration and the army (Megasthenes)

According to Megasthenes, Pataliputra was governed by thirty officials divided into six committees of five members each:
1. Industrial arts and crafts: looked after artisans and their wages.
2. Foreigners: looked after their stay, safety and medical care.
3. Births and deaths: registered them, for taxation and records.
4. Trade and commerce: supervised markets, weights and measures.
5. Manufactured goods: supervised their sale, separating new from old.
6. Tax on sales: collected a tax of one-tenth of the value of goods sold.

The army, he says, was managed in a similar way by thirty officers in six boards: navy, transport and supplies, infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants.

Worked example

(3 marks) How was Pataliputra administered according to Megasthenes? Name three of the committees.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Thirty officials in six committees of five members each - 1 mark.
Any two committees, e.g. industrial arts, foreigners - 1 mark.
A third, e.g. births and deaths / trade / manufactured goods / sales tax - 1 mark.

Answer: Pataliputra was run by thirty officials in six committees of five. Three committees: one for industrial arts and crafts, one for foreigners, and one for registering births and deaths (others: trade and commerce, manufactured goods, and the one-tenth tax on sales).

Ashoka's Dhamma: principles and impact

Background: about eight years after becoming king, Ashoka conquered Kalinga. In Rock Edict XIII he records that about 1,50,000 people were deported, 1,00,000 killed and many more died, and expresses deep remorse. He gave up conquest by war in favour of conquest by Dhamma.

Dhamma (Prakrit for dharma) was a code of moral conduct, not a new religion. Its principles:

obedience to parents, respect for elders and teachers;
kindness to slaves and servants;
generosity to friends, relatives, Brahmanas and shramanas (ascetics);
non-violence: avoiding the killing of animals; Ashoka reduced killing in the royal kitchen;
tolerance and respect for all sects; restraint in speech about others' beliefs;
truthfulness, purity and moderation in spending and saving.

Spreading it: inscriptions on rocks and pillars; officers called Dhamma Mahamattas; tours (dhamma yatras) in place of royal hunting trips; welfare works such as wells, shade trees, rest houses and medical care for people and animals; missions abroad, including to Sri Lanka, where Ashoka's son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra are said to have gone.

Impact: Buddhism spread across India and abroad; a paternal ideal of kingship ('all men are my children'); welfare of subjects and animals; religious tolerance; unity of a diverse empire through a common moral code; growth of art (stupas, pillars). Some historians argue that the stress on non-violence weakened the army and contributed to the empire's decline; others reject this. Present it as a debate.

Worked example

(4 marks) State four principles of Ashoka's Dhamma.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Respect for parents, elders and teachers - 1 mark.
Kindness to slaves and servants - 1 mark.
Non-violence towards living beings - 1 mark.
Tolerance of all sects / truthfulness / generosity to Brahmanas and shramanas - 1 mark.

Answer: (1) Obedience to parents and respect for elders and teachers. (2) Kindness to slaves and servants. (3) Non-violence, avoiding the killing of animals. (4) Tolerance and respect for all sects (also generosity to Brahmanas and shramanas, truthfulness, moderation).

The Mauryan Empire in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Registering births and deaths

Suppose your municipality requires every birth and death to be registered within a few weeks.

Which Mauryan institution did something similar, and why would a government need such records?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Megasthenes describes a committee at Pataliputra that registered births and deaths.
Records help the government know the population.
This helps in taxation, planning and keeping order.

Answer: One of Pataliputra's six committees registered births and deaths. Such records help a government count its people, collect taxes and plan services, just as civic registration does today.

Memory hook: Counting people is the first step in governing them.

Tolerance in Dhamma

Imagine a school assembly where students of different faiths are asked to speak respectfully about one another's festivals and never mock them.

Which principle of Ashoka's Dhamma does this reflect, and why was it important in his empire?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Ashoka asked people to respect all sects and to be restrained in speaking of others' beliefs.
His empire included people of many faiths and regions.
Tolerance helped keep peace and unity among them.

Answer: It reflects Ashoka's principle of tolerance for all sects and restraint in speech. In a vast empire of many faiths, this helped maintain harmony and unity.

Memory hook: Honour your faith by honouring others'.

Sales tax

Suppose a weaver sells cloth worth 50 panas in the Pataliputra market.

Using Megasthenes' account, how much tax is due, and which committee collects it?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Megasthenes says a tax of one-tenth of the sale value was collected.
One-tenth of 50 panas is 5 panas.
The sixth committee collected the tax on sales.

Answer: 5 panas (one-tenth of 50), collected by the committee in charge of the tax on sales.

Memory hook: Sixth committee, one-tenth tax.

Topics in this chapter

Mauryan Administration and Ashoka's Dhamma

The Mauryan Empire: key facts

Chandragupta Maurya: About 321-297 B.C.; Founder; overthrew the Nandas; Kautilya; Megasthenes at court.
Bindusara: About 297-273 B.C.; Son of Chandragupta.
Ashoka: About 268-232 B.C.; Kalinga war about 261 B.C.; Dhamma.
End of the dynasty: About 185 B.C.; Brihadratha killed by Pushyamitra Shunga.
City administration: 30 officials = 6 committees × 5; Megasthenes, Indika.
Sources: Arthashastra (Kautilya), Indika (Megasthenes), Edicts (Ashoka), Sanchi Stupa; Edicts mostly Prakrit, Brahmi script.

How the school exam asks The Mauryan Empire

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Question type	How it is asked	Method
Source identification (1-3 marks)	Who wrote the Arthashastra / Indika? What does Rock Edict XIII describe?	Author, content, and one limitation or significance.
Chronology (1-2 marks)	Arrange the Mauryan kings in order.	Chandragupta → Bindusara → Ashoka.
Administration (4 marks)	Describe the central, provincial or city administration.	Use the right officials' names and the six-committee scheme.
Dhamma (3-4 marks)	Principles of Dhamma; measures to spread it; its impact.	Separate principles (what) from measures (how) and impact (result).

Tricks to remember The Mauryan Empire

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

C-B-A, backwards alphabet
Chandragupta, Bindusara, Ashoka: C, B, A.
Use it when: Order of the kings.
6 × 5 = 30
Six committees of five members each: thirty officials for the city (and thirty for the army).
Use it when: City administration.
Kautilya at home, Megasthenes abroad
Arthashastra = Indian adviser's manual; Indika = Greek visitor's report.
Use it when: Literary sources.

The Mauryan Empire: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Example 1: Author of the Indika · 1 mark · MCQExam level

Megasthenes was the ambassador of:
(a) Alexander
(b) Seleucus Nicator
(c) Darius
(d) Ptolemy

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Megasthenes came to Chandragupta's court.
He was sent by Seleucus Nicator.

Answer: (b) Seleucus Nicator.

Example 2: Assertion and reason: Dhamma · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder exam level

Assertion (A): Ashoka's Dhamma was not a new religion.
Reason (R): It was a code of moral conduct that could be followed by people of all faiths.
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Dhamma had no gods, rituals or priests of its own.
It set out ethical rules acceptable to all sects; R explains A.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Example 3: Measures to spread Dhamma · 3 marks · Short answerExam level

Describe three measures taken by Ashoka to spread Dhamma.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Inscribed edicts on rocks and pillars in the people's language.
Appointed Dhamma Mahamattas to spread Dhamma and look after people's welfare.
Undertook dhamma yatras and sent missions abroad, e.g. to Sri Lanka.

Answer: (1) Edicts on rocks and pillars carried his message in Prakrit across the empire. (2) Dhamma Mahamattas were appointed to teach Dhamma and look after welfare. (3) He went on dhamma yatras and sent missions abroad, including to Sri Lanka (Mahendra and Sanghamitra).

Example 4: Edict XIII as evidence · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

Rock Edict XIII records the numbers killed and deported in the Kalinga war. Why is it unusual for a king to record such facts, and what does it tell us about Ashoka?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Kings usually record victories with pride, not the suffering they caused.
Ashoka records the deaths and his remorse publicly.
It shows his change of heart and his decision to replace conquest by war with conquest by Dhamma.

Answer: Rulers normally boast of victories; Ashoka instead publicly recorded the deaths and deportations and his sorrow. It shows a genuine change of heart and explains his turn to Dhamma, which he presented as the true conquest.

Example 5: Spies and control · 2 marks · Short answerHarder exam level

Why did the Mauryan kings need a network of spies? Give two reasons from the nature of the empire.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The empire was vast; the king could not personally watch distant provinces and officials.
Spies reported on corruption among officials and on unrest or enemies, helping to keep control.

Answer: Because the empire was huge and the king could not watch distant officials himself, spies reported on their honesty; they also gave early warning of unrest or plots, helping the centre keep control.

Example 6: Impact of Dhamma · 4 marks · Long answerHarder exam level

Explain four effects of Ashoka's policy of Dhamma.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Spread of Buddhism within India and abroad (Sri Lanka and beyond).
Paternal kingship and public welfare: wells, rest houses, medical care.
Religious tolerance and social harmony in a diverse empire.
Growth of art and architecture: stupas, pillars, inscriptions.

Answer: (1) Buddhism spread across India and to Sri Lanka and other lands. (2) The king saw his subjects as his children and undertook welfare works. (3) Tolerance of all sects promoted harmony in a diverse empire. (4) Stupas, polished pillars and inscriptions encouraged art and architecture.

Example 7: Did Dhamma weaken the empire? · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

'Ashoka's policy of non-violence led to the decline of the Mauryan Empire.' Give one argument for and two against this view.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

For: giving up wars may have weakened the army's readiness and the empire's prestige.
Against 1: Ashoka did not disband the army; he warned forest tribes that he still had power.
Against 2: the empire broke up decades after his death, under weak successors, with other causes such as a vast area that was hard to control and financial strain.

Answer: For: abandoning wars may have reduced military vigour. Against: Ashoka kept his army and even warned forest tribes of his power; and the break-up came decades later under weak successors, for reasons such as the difficulty of controlling a vast empire and the cost of administration. Historians remain divided.

Case-study practice (Section B style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In a school exam set on the board pattern this is a 10-mark question split into 3 + 3 + 4 marks.

A pillar speaks

Study the description and answer the questions.

A tall, polished sandstone pillar stands in a field. Its inscription, in an old script, begins: 'Thus speaks the Beloved of the gods...' and tells officers to treat the people as the king's own children, to be fair in judgement and to look after the welfare of animals.

(i) · 3 marks
Who had this pillar inscribed? Name the script and the language most such inscriptions use.
Answer
Answer: Ashoka (Devanampiya Piyadasi). Script: Brahmi; language: Prakrit.
1 mark each.
(ii) · 3 marks
Which officials did he appoint to carry out such instructions? State two of their duties.
Answer
Answer: The Dhamma Mahamattas. Duties: spreading Dhamma among people of all sects; looking after the welfare of the people, including prisoners and the poor.
1 mark for the officials; 1 each for two duties.
(iii) · 4 marks
What event led the king to adopt this policy? State two principles of the policy.
Answer
Answer: The Kalinga war, whose suffering filled Ashoka with remorse. Principles: non-violence towards living beings; tolerance of all sects (also respect for elders, kindness to servants).
2 marks for the event with remorse; 1 each for two principles.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Name two sources of Mauryan history and state what each tells us. (2 marks) (2 marks)

Step	Marks
Arthashastra: statecraft, officials, taxation.	1
Indika: Pataliputra, committees, society.	1

Describe three measures taken by Ashoka to spread Dhamma. (3 marks) (3 marks)

Step	Marks
Edicts on rocks and pillars.	1
Dhamma Mahamattas.	1
Dhamma yatras / missions abroad / welfare works.	1

State four principles of Ashoka's Dhamma. (4 marks) (4 marks)

Step	Marks
Respect for parents, elders, teachers.	1
Kindness to slaves and servants.	1
Non-violence.	1
Tolerance of all sects.	1

Where students lose marks in The Mauryan Empire

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Writing that Ashoka's Dhamma was Buddhism
Ashoka was a Buddhist, so students merge the two.
Wrong working
Dhamma means Ashoka made everyone follow Buddhism.
Right working
Dhamma was a moral code for people of all sects; Ashoka personally followed Buddhism.
Do this: Dhamma = moral conduct, not conversion.
Usually costs: 1-2 marks.
Mistake: Attributing the six committees to the Arthashastra
Students mix the two literary sources.
Do this: Committees come from Megasthenes' Indika; officials like samaharta from the Arthashastra.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Mixing up principles of Dhamma with methods of spreading it
Both appear in the same section of notes.
Do this: Principles = what people should do; measures = how Ashoka spread it (edicts, Mahamattas, yatras).
Usually costs: Up to 2 marks.
Mistake: Wrong order of kings
Ashoka is most famous, so students put him first.
Do this: C-B-A: Chandragupta, Bindusara, Ashoka.
Usually costs: 1 mark.

Practice questions on The Mauryan Empire

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level
The Arthashastra was written by:
(a) Megasthenes
(b) Kautilya
(c) Kalidasa
(d) Banabhatta
Hint
Chandragupta's adviser.
Answer
(b) Kautilya.
Q2 · 1 mark · MCQHarder exam level
Which officer was the chief collector of revenue in the Mauryan administration?
(a) Sannidhata
(b) Samaharta
(c) Rajuka
(d) Gramika
Hint
Not the treasurer.
Answer
(b) Samaharta.
Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level
Name the Mauryan king who succeeded Chandragupta.
Hint
Ashoka's father.
Answer
Bindusara.
Q4 · 2 marks · Very short answerExam level
Mention two features of the Sanchi Stupa.
Hint
Dome and gateways.
Answer
(1) A large hemispherical dome built over relics, begun under Ashoka near Bhopal. (2) Four carved stone gateways (toranas), added later, showing scenes from the Buddha's life and the Jatakas.
Q5 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level
Why did Ashoka replace royal hunting trips with dhamma yatras?
Hint
Non-violence and contact.
Answer
Hunting involved killing animals, against non-violence; dhamma yatras let him meet people, give gifts and explain Dhamma personally.
Q6 · 2 marks · Very short answerHOTS / competency
How do the places where Ashokan inscriptions are found help historians?
Hint
Map of the empire.
Answer
Since edicts were set up within his dominions, their find-spots, from Afghanistan to Karnataka and Odisha, show the extent of Ashoka's empire.
Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerExam level
State the functions of any three committees that administered Pataliputra.
Hint
Crafts, foreigners, births and deaths.
Answer
(1) Industrial arts: supervised artisans and fixed wages. (2) Foreigners: looked after their lodging, safety and treatment. (3) Births and deaths: registered them for records and taxation. (Others: trade, manufactured goods, sales tax.)
Q8 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level
What were the duties of the rajukas and gramikas?
Hint
District and village.
Answer
Rajukas were district officials responsible for land measurement, revenue and justice; gramikas were village headmen who managed village affairs and collected taxes.
Q9 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Compare the Arthashastra and the Indika as sources on Mauryan government. Give one strength and one weakness of each.
Hint
Insider manual vs outsider report.
Answer
Arthashastra: strength - a detailed Indian treatise on statecraft, officials and taxation; weakness - it describes how the state should be run, and was revised over time, so it may not show actual practice. Indika: strength - an eyewitness account of Pataliputra and its administration; weakness - survives only in later quotations and contains a foreigner's misunderstandings.
Q10 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder exam level
Explain the provincial administration of the Mauryas.
Hint
Princes and capitals.
Answer
The empire was divided into provinces, usually governed by royal princes (kumaras), with capitals such as Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali and Suvarnagiri. Provinces were divided into districts under rajukas and pradeshikas, and villages were managed by gramikas, all under the king's control.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Who founded the Mauryan Empire?Show answer
Chandragupta Maurya.
2.Capital of the Mauryas?Show answer
Pataliputra.
3.Which Rock Edict describes the Kalinga war?Show answer
Rock Edict XIII.
4.Who deciphered the Brahmi script?Show answer
James Prinsep.
5.How many committees ran Pataliputra?Show answer
Six, of five members each.
6.Who killed the last Mauryan king?Show answer
Pushyamitra Shunga.

Best order to study it

Learn the four sources with author or location and content.
Fix the kings in order with one achievement each.
Learn central and provincial administration with officials' names.
Learn Megasthenes' six committees.
Learn Dhamma: background, principles, measures, impact and the decline debate.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

Arthashastra: Kautilya; statecraft, officials, taxes, spies.
Indika: Megasthenes (ambassador of Seleucus Nicator); Pataliputra, committees.
Edicts: Prakrit, Brahmi; Devanampiya Piyadasi; Rock Edict XIII on Kalinga.
Sanchi Stupa: begun under Ashoka; later gateways.
Kings: Chandragupta → Bindusara → Ashoka; last king Brihadratha (about 185 B.C.).
Administration: king, mantriparishad, samaharta, sannidhata; provinces under princes; rajuka, gramika; spies.
Dhamma: respect, kindness, non-violence, tolerance; Mahamattas, edicts, yatras, missions; spread of Buddhism, welfare.

The Mauryan Empire: frequently asked questions

Is the Lion Capital at Sarnath in the syllabus?

The syllabus names the Ashokan Edicts and the Sanchi Stupa as sources. The Lion Capital, on an Ashokan pillar at Sarnath and now India's national emblem, is useful background.

Why are Mauryan dates given as 'about'?

Ancient chronology is worked out from several sources that do not always agree, so historians give approximate dates. The order of events is more important than the exact year.

What does 'Devanampiya Piyadasi' mean?

'Beloved of the gods, of gracious appearance', the title Ashoka uses in his inscriptions.

Based on: CISCE ICSE 2028 History, Civics and Geography (50): History and Civics syllabus (Classes IX and X); CISCE Regulations for ICSE Examination Year 2028