historyy

• Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known to history
• Ashoka's empire was founded by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, over 2300 years ago
• The Mauryas were a dynasty with three important rulers: Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara's son, Ashoka
• Emperors need more resources than kings because empires are larger and need to be protected by big armies
• Emperors need a larger number of officials who collect taxes
• Different parts of the Mauryan empire were ruled differently
• The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor
• Officials were appointed to collect taxes from farmers, herders, craftspersons, and traders in the area
• Many officials were given salaries
• Tribute was collected as and when possible from people who gave a variety of things
• People living in forested regions were expected to provide elephants, timber, honey, and wax to Mauryan officials
• Megasthenes described the grand royal processions of the emperor and the city of Pataliputra
• Ashoka was the first ruler to take his message to the people through inscriptions
• Ashoka's inscriptions were in Prakrit and written in the Brahmi script
• Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga but decided not to fight any more wars after witnessing the violence and bloodshed
• Ashoka's inscription about the Kalinga war expressed his sorrow and decision to observe dhamma and spread it instead of conquering through force
• Ashoka's dhamma was about spreading kindness and winning people over through moral principles
• Ashoka's dhamma did not involve worship of a god or performance of a sacrifice
• Ashoka felt a duty to instruct his subjects, inspired by the teachings of the Buddha
• Ashoka appointed officials known as the dhamma mahamatta to teach people about dhamma
• Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves
• Ashoka sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka
• Ashoka built roads, dug wells, and built rest houses
• Ashoka arranged for medical treatment for both human beings and animals
• Ashoka's message to his subjects included:

  • Being gentle with slaves and servants
  • Respecting one's elders
  • Treating all creatures with compassion
  • Giving gifts to brahmins and monks
• Ashoka emphasized the importance of respecting other religions and understanding their main ideas
• Ashoka wanted to solve problems such as conflicts due to different religions, animal sacrifices, ill-treatment of slaves and servants, family quarrels, and disputes among neighbors
• Ashoka spread the message of dhamma through appointing officials, inscribing messages on rocks and pillars, sending messengers to other lands, and providing medical treatment
• Slaves and servants were ill-treated possibly due to societal norms and lack of empathy; Ashoka's orders may have improved their condition by promoting compassion and respect
• Samudragupta was a famous ruler of the Gupta dynasty
• Information about Samudragupta is found in a long inscription on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad
• The inscription was composed by Harishena, a poet and minister at the court of Samudragupta
• The inscription is a prashasti, meaning 'in praise of'
• Prashastis were composed for rulers such as Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni, but became more important from the time of the Guptas
• Samudragupta was praised in glowing terms in the prashasti as a warrior, a king who won victories in battle, learned, the best of poets, and equal to the gods
• Samudragupta's body was described as charming, covered with scars from battle-axes, arrows, spears, swords, and other weapons
• The prashasti describes four different kinds of rulers and Samudragupta's policies towards them
• Rulers of Aryavarta were uprooted and their kingdoms made a part of Samudragupta's empire
• Rulers of Dakshinapatha surrendered to Samudragupta after being defeated and were allowed to rule again
• Inner circle of neighbouring states brought tribute, followed his orders, and attended his court