Throw some light on the Mauryan Administration.
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Introduction:
Chandragupta Maurya along with Chanakya defeated Dhana Nanda in the year 321 BC. Chanakya’s Arthashastra throws a light on administration during Mauryan empire along with the work of Megasthenes known as ‘Indica’. Bindusura succeeded Chandragupta and was later succeeded by Ashoka.
Content:
Mauryan administration was highly centralized. The governance was divided into two levels namely central and local administration.
1) Central administration: The king was the supreme authority. Council of ministers(mantri) assisted the king and was called as Mantri-Parishad.
Adhyakshas were formed into a secretariat and divided into different departments. Ex: Lohadyaksha- Superintendent of Iron, Sulkaadyaksha- Superintendent of tolls, Navadhyaksha- Superintendent of ships and so on.
2) Local administration: Village was the smallest unit and was headed by Gramika. Pradeshika was provincial governor. There were other officials like Sthanika, Durgapala, Antapala etc
Revenue: Samharta was the head. Revenue was collected on land, irrigation, shops, customs, mines and pastures. Land revenue was one-sixth of the produce.
Police: Main centres had police headquarters. Bandhangara was the jail and Charaka was the lock-up.
Conclusion:
Thus there was a clear hierarchy in different aspects of administration. Even today most of the governments have been inspired by such an administration because Arthashastra still works like a guide for better governance. Foreign invasions, weak rulers after Ashoka were the main reasons for the decline of the empire.
Chandragupta Maurya along with Chanakya defeated Dhana Nanda in the year 321 BC. Chanakya’s Arthashastra throws a light on administration during Mauryan empire along with the work of Megasthenes known as ‘Indica’. Bindusura succeeded Chandragupta and was later succeeded by Ashoka.
Content:
Mauryan administration was highly centralized. The governance was divided into two levels namely central and local administration.
1) Central administration: The king was the supreme authority. Council of ministers(mantri) assisted the king and was called as Mantri-Parishad.
Adhyakshas were formed into a secretariat and divided into different departments. Ex: Lohadyaksha- Superintendent of Iron, Sulkaadyaksha- Superintendent of tolls, Navadhyaksha- Superintendent of ships and so on.
2) Local administration: Village was the smallest unit and was headed by Gramika. Pradeshika was provincial governor. There were other officials like Sthanika, Durgapala, Antapala etc
Revenue: Samharta was the head. Revenue was collected on land, irrigation, shops, customs, mines and pastures. Land revenue was one-sixth of the produce.
Police: Main centres had police headquarters. Bandhangara was the jail and Charaka was the lock-up.
Conclusion:
Thus there was a clear hierarchy in different aspects of administration. Even today most of the governments have been inspired by such an administration because Arthashastra still works like a guide for better governance. Foreign invasions, weak rulers after Ashoka were the main reasons for the decline of the empire.
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