Explain about the Maurayan empire and also explain the Administration, spy system, what were the welfare measures taken by them
Answers
The Mauryan administration took care of sustaining the king’s authority and maintaining order and a wide range of activities relating to justice, army, revenue, espionage and promotion of handicrafts to better the live hood of the people. All the levels of administrative apparatus from the centre to the village in succession had their own administrative set-up.
But all the levels of administration were under the control of the central authority. Though the Mauryan state was characterized by a centralized monarchical system, Arthasastra indicates that there existed certain tribal republics such as the Kambojas, Lichchavis, Vajjis and Panchalas were allowed to enjoy their privileges as long as they did not disrupt the Mauryan Empire.
The central administration of the Mauryas can be studied under the following headings:
(i) The king,
(ii) The council of ministers,
(iii) City administration,
(iv) Army,
(v) Espionage network,
(vi) Law and justice, and
(vii) Public welfare.
In the Mauryan administrative structure, the king was the supreme head and all basic policy matters were to be decided by the king alone. Kautilya in his Arthasastra holds the view that the king is the primary limb of the state and as such should carry out a wide range of activities pertaining to material and spiritual welfare besides protecting the people from internal and external aggression.
Arthasastra also mentions that if even on any issue, the Sastras diverge from the king’s law; the king’s law should prevail. However, Arthasastra thus gives supreme power and authority to the king; it also holds the opinion that a monarch functioning through an organized and efficient bureaucracy is the ideal of the government. Just as a single wheel cannot move, so also the king should employ ‘mantrins’ or should have a council of ministers (Mantriparishad).
The Saptangas or seven limbs of the state according to Arthasastra are the king, the Amatya, Janapada, Durga, Kosa, Danda and Mitras. Romila Thapar points out – “the constituents of the Saptanga theory are noticeably absent in the earlier society, though the elements of Raja, Janapada and Rastra are referred to in earlier periods and the notion of concentration of power in the office of the Raja and notion of a defined territory are vague”. These concepts took concrete shape by 3rd century BC.
Explanation:
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