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32 THEMES IN INDIAN H ISTORY 3. An Early Empire Languages and scripts The growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, who Most Asokan inscriptions were ifounded the empire (c. 321BCE), extended control as the Prakrit language while those in the northwest of far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and the subcontinet were in Aramaichis grandson Asoka, arguably the most famous ruler and Greek. Most Prakrit of early India, conquered Kalinga (present-day inscriptions were written in theoastal Orissa). Brahmi script; however, some, i3.1 Finding out about the Mauryas the northwest, were written in Historians have used a variety of sources to Kharosthi. The Aramaic and reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire. Greek scripts were used for inscriptions in Afghanistan. These include archaeological finds, especially sculpture. Also valuable are contemporary works, such as the account of Megasthenes (a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya), which survives in fragments. Another source that is often used is the Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya, traditionally believed to be the minister of Chandragupta. Besides, the Mauryas are mentioned in later Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic literature, as well as in Sanskrit literary works. While these are useful, the inscriptions of Asoka (c. 272/268-231 BCE) on rocks and pillars are often regarded as amongst the most valuable sources. Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his subjects and officials on stone surfaces – natural rocks as well as polished pillars. He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to be dhamma. This included respect towards elders, generosity towards Brahmanas and those who renounced worldly life, treating slaves and servants kindly, and respect for religions and traditions other than one’s own. 3.2 Administering the empire There were five major political centres in the empire – the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centres of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri, all mentioned in Asokan inscriptions. If we examine the content of these inscriptions, we find virtually the same message engraved everywhere Fig. 2.3 – from the present-day North West Frontier The lion capital Provinces of Pakistan, to Andhra Pradesh, Orissa ➲ Why is the lion capital and Uttarakhand in India. Could this vast empire considered important today? have had a uniform administrative system? Historians have increasingly come to realise that Reprint 2026-27