Maharashtra Board Class 6 History Chapter 7 India during the Maurya Period PDF Download

India During The Maurya Period

7.1 The Greek Emperor Alexander's Invasion

In the 6th century BCE, a king named Cyrus had established a vast empire in Iran. This empire extended from Northwest India to Rome and to Egypt in Africa. Around 518 BCE, an Iranian Emperor named Daryush had conquered the region to the northwest of India up to Punjab. Daryush had recruited some soldiers from this area into his army. We learn about this from the writings of Greek historians. Political relations between India and Iran were established during the reign of Emperor Daryush. This led to greater exchanges in the fields of trade and art. Emperor Daryush had introduced a uniform currency called 'Darik' in all parts of his empire. This made trading easier. The capital city of Persepolis was built during his reign. Persepolis is in Iran.

Alexander, the Greek emperor, invaded India's northwestern frontier in 326 BCE. Crossing the Indus (Sindhu) river, he reached Takshashila. On the way, he met with forceful opposition from the local Indian kings. He defeated them all and successfully reached the Punjab. However, in this invasion, his army had to suffer severe hardships. The soldiers were eager to go back home. They rebelled against Alexander and he was forced to turn back. He, therefore, appointed Greek officers to administer the conquered territories. They were called satraps. He started his return journey but died on the way back in 323 BCE at Babylon. Today, Babylon is in Iraq.

Alexander's campaign led to an increase in the trade between India and the western world. The historians who accompanied Alexander introduced India to the western world through their writings. Greek sculpture influenced Indian art, giving rise to the Gandhara school of art. The Greek kings minted characteristic coins. On one side, the coin had a picture of the king who had minted the coin and on the other side, a picture of a Greek god. The name of the king was also written on the coin. Alexander's coins were of the same type.

Later, Indian kings also started minting similar coins.

Teacher's Note

Alexander came to India many years ago. He was a very strong king from Greece. But even he had to go back because his army did not want to fight anymore. This shows that soldiers need rest just like any person.

Exam Trick

Remember: Alexander died in 323 BCE at Babylon. Write this date carefully in exams. Also remember that satraps were Greek officers left to rule Indian lands after Alexander left.

Points to Remember

Alexander invaded India in 326 BCE from the northwest.
He had to turn back because his army rebelled against him.
His officers called satraps ruled the conquered lands.
Alexander's campaign increased trade between India and the western world.
Greek coins had the king's picture on one side and a god's picture on the other side.

7.2 The Maurya Empire

Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire. People were tired of the tyrannical rule of the Nanda king of Magadha, Dhanananda. Chandragupta Maurya brought it to an end and established his own rule in Magadha around 325 BCE. He won Avanti and Saurashtra and began to extend the boundaries of his empire. After Alexander's death, a struggle for power began among the satraps he had appointed. Seleucus Nicator was Alexander's General. He became the King of Babylon after Alexander's death. He invaded the northwest frontier region of India and the Punjab. Chandragupta Maurya successfully resisted his aggression. The defeat of Seleucus Nicator led to the inclusion of the northwest region of Kabul, Kandahar and Herat in the Maurya Empire.

Vishakhadatta, the Sanskrit playwright, wrote a play called 'Mudrarakshasa'. It relates how Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhanananda and established an independent power. The plot gives special importance to the contribution of Arya Chanakya, also known as Kautilya.

Megasthenes, Seleucus Nicator's ambassador stayed back at Chandragupta Maurya's court. His book 'Indica' is an important source for the study of India during the Maurya period.

There is an inscription stating that Emperor Chandragupta Maurya had built a dam called 'Sudarshan' near Junagadh in Gujarat State.

Teacher's Note

Chandragupta Maurya was a strong king who ruled Magadha. He defeated many enemies and made a big empire. He was helped by a wise man named Chanakya who gave him good advice. This is like a student getting help from a good teacher.

Exam Trick

Remember: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 325 BCE. He defeated Seleucus Nicator. Write these names carefully in your exams because they are Greek names and spell them correctly.

Points to Remember

Chandragupta Maurya ended the rule of the Nanda king Dhanananda.
He extended his empire by winning Avanti and Saurashtra.
He defeated Seleucus Nicator and added northwest lands to his empire.
Chanakya helped Chandragupta Maurya become a strong king.
Megasthenes wrote a book called 'Indica' about this period.

Emperor Ashoka

After Chandragupta renounced the throne, he was succeeded by his son Bindusara. After Bindusara's death, his son, Ashoka succeeded to the throne in 273 BCE. Ashoka had been appointed the Governor of Takshashila and Ujjain before he came to the throne. As the Governor, he had successfully crushed the revolt at Takshashila. After becoming the Emperor of Magadha, he launched a campaign against the State of Kalinga. Kalinga occupied the region of today's Odisha State. Emperor Ashoka conquered Kalinga.

Ashoka's empire extended from Afghanistan in the northwest and Nepal in the north to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the south, and from Bengal in the east to Saurashtra in the west.

The Kalinga War

Ashoka was deeply moved by the bloodshed of the Kalinga war. He decided never to wage a war again. He came to believe that truth, non-violence, compassion and forgiveness were the important values. Ashoka wanted to spread these teachings among the common people and therefore, he had pillar edicts and stone inscriptions engraved throughout his kingdom. These writings are in the Brahmi script. In these inscriptions, he is referred to as 'Devanampiyo Piyadasi' (Beloved-of the Gods and He who Looks on with Affection). Another inscription states that eight years after he ascended the throne, he made the conquest of Kalinga and had a change of heart on seeing the devastation it caused.

An inscription of Emperor Ashoka at Delhi-Topda shows that he had put strict restrictions on the hunting of bats, monkeys, rhinoceroses and on setting fire to forests.

Teacher's Note

Emperor Ashoka was a powerful king, but when he saw how many people died in the Kalinga War, he became sad. He decided to stop fighting and to help people instead. This is like when we make a mistake and then try to be good.

Exam Trick

Remember: Ashoka became emperor in 273 BCE. The Kalinga War changed his heart and he gave up fighting. Always write his name as A-S-H-O-K-A. Remember he spread non-violence and compassion after the Kalinga War.

Points to Remember

Ashoka became emperor in 273 BCE after his father Bindusara.
He conquered the kingdom of Kalinga which is in today's Odisha.
The Kalinga War made Ashoka sad and he decided never to wage war again.
He believed in truth, non-violence, compassion and forgiveness.
He sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.

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