NCERT HISTORY CLASS-VI
CHAPTER-VII PART-I
AN EMPIRE
An Empire was totally different and much larger than the Kingdom. It needs to be protected by big armies so, it needs more resources than that kingdom. Also, there was a large number of officials to collect the taxes. Here we are going to see the greatest emperor Ashoka, his instructions were inscribed on pillars as well as on the stones. The chakra present in our national flag is named after him, Ashoka Chakra. The lions present on coins and notes were carved in stones, massive pillars at Sarnath.
Around 2300 years ago, Chandragupta Maurya (grandfather of Ashoka) founded this Empire who was supported by a wise man called Chanakya (Kautilya) whose ideas were written down in a book called Arthashastra. The main cities include
- Pataliputra - The capital city.
- Taxila - A gateway to northwest and central Asia.
- Ujjain - laid on the from north to south India.
In this Empire, Merchants, officials, craft persons were lived in cities, Farmers, and Herders in villages, and hunters and gatherers in forest collecting first produced goods and hunted animals. They all spoke different languages and even diversity is among their kind of food and the clothes they wore.
DYNASTY
When the members of the same family become the Rulers one after another, that family is often called a Dynasty. This Maurya dynasty had three well-known rulers who were the greatest of all time,
1. Chandragupta Maurya.
2. Bindusara (Chandragupta's son).
3. Ashoka (Bindusara's son).
RULING AND CONTROLLING
An Empire is always different and large having more resources, Armies, officials than the kingdom. The different parts of the Empire were ruled differently due to its vast surrounding. The Ruler took direct charge of the capital city - Pataliputra. The officials were appointed to collect the taxes from craft people, farmers, Merchants, Traders, herders. They also punished those who disobeyed the orders of the ruler. These officials were controlled by the Ruler through the messengers, spies, and the members of the Royal family.
The other local areas/provinces were ruled by a provincial capital like Taxila or Ujjain. The Mauryans took control of the roadways and the rivers through which important trades were taking place from which Taxes and Tributes (collected on a regular basis, when it is possible from people who gave a variety of things, more or less willingly.) were collected.
Example: The Arthashastra tells us the North-west is famous for Blanket, and the south for its gold and precious stones. These resources were collected as tributes. The people who live in the forest are expected to provide Timber, Honey, Elephants.