Question

WHAT WAS THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MAURYAS TO INDIAN HISTORY?

Answer 1

In the Mauryan period, stone culture dramatically emerged as the principal medium of the Indian artists. Some evidence is put forward by John Irwin that Ashokan columns may be the culmination of the ancient pre-Buddhist religious tradition in India of a cult of one cosmic pillar of axis mundi. With the Mauryan Empire, came a change in the art forms as well. 
Earlier, wood was the chief material for most of the art forms, but it was changed to stone during the Maurya Empire. Even the present day National Emblem of India, the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath belongs to the Maurya Empire.It Stupas as are Buddhist religious monuments  and were originally only a simple mound of mud or clay to cover the supposed relics of the Buddha basically funeral mounds- which were low and circular mounds ringed by the boulders. 
Stupa construction was a Buddhist art, however even the Jainas also seemed to have built Stupas. After the passing away of the Buddha, his remains were cremated and the ashes divided and buried under eight Stupas with two further Stupas encasing the urn and the embers.
A railing surrounded this (called as Vedika). These railings were constructed of stone but resembled the look of the wooden railings of the past in design. The Buddha’s relics were placed in a casket chamber in the center of the dome.
 At the base of dome, is a high circular terrace probably meant for parikrama or circumambulation and an encircling the Balustrade. At the ground level is a stone-paved procession path and another stone balustrade and two flights of steps leading to the circular terrace.
Access to the same is through four exquisitely carved gateways or Toranas in the North, South, East or West. The diameter of the stupa is 36.60 m and its height is 16.46 m.
It is built of large burnt bricks and mud mortar. It is presumed that the elaborately carved Toranas were built by the ivory or metal workers in the 1st century BC during the reign of King Satankarni of the Satavahana dynasty.
The last addition to the Stupa was made during the early AD 4th century in the Gupta period when four images of Buddha sitting in the dhyana Mudra or meditation were installed at the four entrances

Answer 2

 Achievements and Contributions of Indian Culture Mauryan and Gupta Empires 

2 Mauryan Empire Bureaucratic government Religious toleration 

3 Gupta Empire Rose from the Mauryan Empire Patriarchal society Traded with Mediterranean Sea Cultural Achievements 

4 Chandragupta Maurya Unified much of India 

5 Asoka Leader of Mauryan Golden Age Toleration Good Government Roads 

6 Religion Buddhism and Hinduism flourished Caste System developed 

7 Literature and Arts Poetry Academics Drama (plays) 

8 Astronomy Calendar based on solar cycle Proved earth was round –solar eclipse 

9 Mathematics Modern numerals Concept of zero- decimal system Concept of 

10 Medicine Medical guides compiled 1,000 diseases 500 medical plants 

11 Trade Traded with Africa, Middle East, and China –Spices –Diamonds –Sapphires –Gold.