Throw light on the City Administration under Mauryan Emperors.
Answers
Answer:
The Mauryan administrative apparatus included in its range various levels of administration
They are:
(i) The core area, i.e., Magadha,
(ii) Regional centres,
(iii) Peripheral areas,
(iv) Cities, and
(v) Villages.
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.