NCERT Textbook: From a Kingdom to an Empire | Old & New NCERTs for IAS Preparation (Must Read) - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


The lions that we see on our notes and coins 
have a long history. They were carved in stone, 
and placed on top of a massive stone pillar at 
Sarnath (about which you read in Chapter 6). 
Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known 
to history and on his instructions inscriptions 
were inscribed on pillars, as well as on rock 
surfaces. Before we find out what was written in 
these inscriptions, let us see why his kingdom 
was called an empire.  
The empire that Ashoka ruled was founded 
by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, 
more than 2300 years ago. Chandragupta was 
supported by a wise man named Chanakya 
or Kautilya. Many of Chanakya’s ideas were 
written down in a book called the Arthashastra. 
CHAPTER 7 
FROM A KINGDOM TO AN EMPIRE
Dynasty
When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the 
family is often called a dynasty. The Mauryas were a dynasty with three 
important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s 
son, Ashoka.
The lion capital
Roshan’s rupees
Roshan clutched the crisp notes that her grandfather 
had given her on her birthday. While she badly wanted 
to buy a new CD, she also wanted to just see and feel 
the brand new notes. It was then that she noticed that 
all of them had a smiling face of Gandhiji printed on the 
right, and a tiny set of lions on the left. What were the 
lions there for, she wondered.
Chapter 7-8.indd   62 22 April 2022   02:36:26
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 2


The lions that we see on our notes and coins 
have a long history. They were carved in stone, 
and placed on top of a massive stone pillar at 
Sarnath (about which you read in Chapter 6). 
Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known 
to history and on his instructions inscriptions 
were inscribed on pillars, as well as on rock 
surfaces. Before we find out what was written in 
these inscriptions, let us see why his kingdom 
was called an empire.  
The empire that Ashoka ruled was founded 
by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, 
more than 2300 years ago. Chandragupta was 
supported by a wise man named Chanakya 
or Kautilya. Many of Chanakya’s ideas were 
written down in a book called the Arthashastra. 
CHAPTER 7 
FROM A KINGDOM TO AN EMPIRE
Dynasty
When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the 
family is often called a dynasty. The Mauryas were a dynasty with three 
important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s 
son, Ashoka.
The lion capital
Roshan’s rupees
Roshan clutched the crisp notes that her grandfather 
had given her on her birthday. While she badly wanted 
to buy a new CD, she also wanted to just see and feel 
the brand new notes. It was then that she noticed that 
all of them had a smiling face of Gandhiji printed on the 
right, and a tiny set of lions on the left. What were the 
lions there for, she wondered.
Chapter 7-8.indd   62 22 April 2022   02:36:26
Rationalised 2023-24
63 ?
from a kingdom to an 
empire The places where 
inscriptions of Ashoka 
have been found are 
marked with red dots. 
These were included 
within the empire.  
Name the countries where 
Ashokan inscriptions have 
been found. Which Indian 
states were outside the 
empire? 
There were several cities in the empire (marked 
with black dots on the map). These included the 
capital Pataliputra, Taxila, and Ujjain. Taxila was 
a gateway to the northwest, including Central 
Asia, while Ujjain lay on the route from north to 
south India. Merchants, officials and craftspersons 
probably lived in these cities.  
In other areas there were villages of farmers and 
herders. In some areas such as central India, there 
were forests where people gathered forest produce 
and hunted animals for food. People in different 
parts of the empire spoke different languages. 
Map : 5
The Mauryan Empire: showing the principal 
cities and some of the places where 
inscriptions were found.
Inscriptions were found
Chapter 7-8.indd   63 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 3


The lions that we see on our notes and coins 
have a long history. They were carved in stone, 
and placed on top of a massive stone pillar at 
Sarnath (about which you read in Chapter 6). 
Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known 
to history and on his instructions inscriptions 
were inscribed on pillars, as well as on rock 
surfaces. Before we find out what was written in 
these inscriptions, let us see why his kingdom 
was called an empire.  
The empire that Ashoka ruled was founded 
by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, 
more than 2300 years ago. Chandragupta was 
supported by a wise man named Chanakya 
or Kautilya. Many of Chanakya’s ideas were 
written down in a book called the Arthashastra. 
CHAPTER 7 
FROM A KINGDOM TO AN EMPIRE
Dynasty
When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the 
family is often called a dynasty. The Mauryas were a dynasty with three 
important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s 
son, Ashoka.
The lion capital
Roshan’s rupees
Roshan clutched the crisp notes that her grandfather 
had given her on her birthday. While she badly wanted 
to buy a new CD, she also wanted to just see and feel 
the brand new notes. It was then that she noticed that 
all of them had a smiling face of Gandhiji printed on the 
right, and a tiny set of lions on the left. What were the 
lions there for, she wondered.
Chapter 7-8.indd   62 22 April 2022   02:36:26
Rationalised 2023-24
63 ?
from a kingdom to an 
empire The places where 
inscriptions of Ashoka 
have been found are 
marked with red dots. 
These were included 
within the empire.  
Name the countries where 
Ashokan inscriptions have 
been found. Which Indian 
states were outside the 
empire? 
There were several cities in the empire (marked 
with black dots on the map). These included the 
capital Pataliputra, Taxila, and Ujjain. Taxila was 
a gateway to the northwest, including Central 
Asia, while Ujjain lay on the route from north to 
south India. Merchants, officials and craftspersons 
probably lived in these cities.  
In other areas there were villages of farmers and 
herders. In some areas such as central India, there 
were forests where people gathered forest produce 
and hunted animals for food. People in different 
parts of the empire spoke different languages. 
Map : 5
The Mauryan Empire: showing the principal 
cities and some of the places where 
inscriptions were found.
Inscriptions were found
Chapter 7-8.indd   63 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
? 64
our pasts –i They probably ate different kinds of food, and wore 
different kinds of clothes as well. 
How are empires different from kingdoms?
• Emperors need more resources than kings because 
empires are larger than kingdoms, and need to be 
protected by big armies.  
• So also they need a larger number of officials who 
collect taxes. 
Ruling the empire
As the empire was so large, different parts were 
ruled differently. The area around Pataliputra was 
under the direct control of the emperor. This meant 
that officials were appointed to collect taxes from 
farmers, herders, craftspersons and traders, who 
lived in villages and towns in the area. Officials 
also punished those who disobeyed the ruler’s 
orders. Many of these officials were given salaries. 
Messengers went to and fro, and spies kept a 
watch on the officials. And of course the emperor 
supervised them all, with the help of members of 
the royal family, and senior ministers.
There were other areas or provinces. Each of 
these was ruled from a provincial capital such as 
Taxila or Ujjain. Although there was some amount 
of control from Pataliputra, and royal princes were 
often sent as governors, local customs and rules 
were probably followed.
Besides, there were vast areas between these 
centres. Here the Mauryas tried to control roads 
and rivers, which were important for transport, and 
to collect whatever resources were available as tax 
and tribute. For example, the Arthashastra tells us 
that the north-west was important for blankets, 
and south India for its gold and precious stones. 
It is possible that these resources were collected 
as tribute. 
Chapter 7-8.indd   64 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 4


The lions that we see on our notes and coins 
have a long history. They were carved in stone, 
and placed on top of a massive stone pillar at 
Sarnath (about which you read in Chapter 6). 
Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known 
to history and on his instructions inscriptions 
were inscribed on pillars, as well as on rock 
surfaces. Before we find out what was written in 
these inscriptions, let us see why his kingdom 
was called an empire.  
The empire that Ashoka ruled was founded 
by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, 
more than 2300 years ago. Chandragupta was 
supported by a wise man named Chanakya 
or Kautilya. Many of Chanakya’s ideas were 
written down in a book called the Arthashastra. 
CHAPTER 7 
FROM A KINGDOM TO AN EMPIRE
Dynasty
When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the 
family is often called a dynasty. The Mauryas were a dynasty with three 
important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s 
son, Ashoka.
The lion capital
Roshan’s rupees
Roshan clutched the crisp notes that her grandfather 
had given her on her birthday. While she badly wanted 
to buy a new CD, she also wanted to just see and feel 
the brand new notes. It was then that she noticed that 
all of them had a smiling face of Gandhiji printed on the 
right, and a tiny set of lions on the left. What were the 
lions there for, she wondered.
Chapter 7-8.indd   62 22 April 2022   02:36:26
Rationalised 2023-24
63 ?
from a kingdom to an 
empire The places where 
inscriptions of Ashoka 
have been found are 
marked with red dots. 
These were included 
within the empire.  
Name the countries where 
Ashokan inscriptions have 
been found. Which Indian 
states were outside the 
empire? 
There were several cities in the empire (marked 
with black dots on the map). These included the 
capital Pataliputra, Taxila, and Ujjain. Taxila was 
a gateway to the northwest, including Central 
Asia, while Ujjain lay on the route from north to 
south India. Merchants, officials and craftspersons 
probably lived in these cities.  
In other areas there were villages of farmers and 
herders. In some areas such as central India, there 
were forests where people gathered forest produce 
and hunted animals for food. People in different 
parts of the empire spoke different languages. 
Map : 5
The Mauryan Empire: showing the principal 
cities and some of the places where 
inscriptions were found.
Inscriptions were found
Chapter 7-8.indd   63 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
? 64
our pasts –i They probably ate different kinds of food, and wore 
different kinds of clothes as well. 
How are empires different from kingdoms?
• Emperors need more resources than kings because 
empires are larger than kingdoms, and need to be 
protected by big armies.  
• So also they need a larger number of officials who 
collect taxes. 
Ruling the empire
As the empire was so large, different parts were 
ruled differently. The area around Pataliputra was 
under the direct control of the emperor. This meant 
that officials were appointed to collect taxes from 
farmers, herders, craftspersons and traders, who 
lived in villages and towns in the area. Officials 
also punished those who disobeyed the ruler’s 
orders. Many of these officials were given salaries. 
Messengers went to and fro, and spies kept a 
watch on the officials. And of course the emperor 
supervised them all, with the help of members of 
the royal family, and senior ministers.
There were other areas or provinces. Each of 
these was ruled from a provincial capital such as 
Taxila or Ujjain. Although there was some amount 
of control from Pataliputra, and royal princes were 
often sent as governors, local customs and rules 
were probably followed.
Besides, there were vast areas between these 
centres. Here the Mauryas tried to control roads 
and rivers, which were important for transport, and 
to collect whatever resources were available as tax 
and tribute. For example, the Arthashastra tells us 
that the north-west was important for blankets, 
and south India for its gold and precious stones. 
It is possible that these resources were collected 
as tribute. 
Chapter 7-8.indd   64 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
65 ?
from a kingdom to an 
empire T ribute
Unlike taxes, which were collected on a regular 
basis, tribute was collected as and when it was 
possible from people who gave a variety of things, 
more or less willingly.
There were also the forested regions. People 
living in these areas were more or less independent, 
but may have been expected to provide elephants, 
timber, honey and wax to Mauryan officials. 
The emperor and the capital city 
Megasthenes was an ambassador who was sent to 
the court of Chandragupta by the Greek ruler of 
West Asia named Seleucus Nicator. 
Megasthenes wrote an account about what he 
saw. Here is a part of his description:  
 “The occasions on which the emperor appears in 
public are celebrated with grand royal processions. 
He is carried in a golden palanquin. His guards ride 
elephants decorated with gold and silver. Some of 
the guards carry trees on which live birds, including 
a flock of trained parrots, circle about the head of 
the emperor. The king is normally surrounded by 
armed women. He is afraid that someone may try 
to kill him. He has special servants to taste the food 
before he eats. He never sleeps in the same bedroom 
for two nights.”
And about Pataliputra (modern Patna), he wrote:
“This is a large and beautiful city. It is surrounded 
by a massive wall. It has 570 towers and 64 gates. 
The houses, of two and three storeys, are built 
of wood and mud brick. The king’s palace is also 
of wood, and decorated with stone carvings. It 
is surrounded with gardens and enclosures for 
keeping birds.”
Why do you think the king had special servants 
to taste the food he ate?
In what ways was Pataliputra different from 
Mohenjodaro? (hint: see Chapter 3)
Chapter 7-8.indd   65 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
Page 5


The lions that we see on our notes and coins 
have a long history. They were carved in stone, 
and placed on top of a massive stone pillar at 
Sarnath (about which you read in Chapter 6). 
Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers known 
to history and on his instructions inscriptions 
were inscribed on pillars, as well as on rock 
surfaces. Before we find out what was written in 
these inscriptions, let us see why his kingdom 
was called an empire.  
The empire that Ashoka ruled was founded 
by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, 
more than 2300 years ago. Chandragupta was 
supported by a wise man named Chanakya 
or Kautilya. Many of Chanakya’s ideas were 
written down in a book called the Arthashastra. 
CHAPTER 7 
FROM A KINGDOM TO AN EMPIRE
Dynasty
When members of the same family become rulers one after another, the 
family is often called a dynasty. The Mauryas were a dynasty with three 
important rulers — Chandragupta, his son Bindusara, and Bindusara’s 
son, Ashoka.
The lion capital
Roshan’s rupees
Roshan clutched the crisp notes that her grandfather 
had given her on her birthday. While she badly wanted 
to buy a new CD, she also wanted to just see and feel 
the brand new notes. It was then that she noticed that 
all of them had a smiling face of Gandhiji printed on the 
right, and a tiny set of lions on the left. What were the 
lions there for, she wondered.
Chapter 7-8.indd   62 22 April 2022   02:36:26
Rationalised 2023-24
63 ?
from a kingdom to an 
empire The places where 
inscriptions of Ashoka 
have been found are 
marked with red dots. 
These were included 
within the empire.  
Name the countries where 
Ashokan inscriptions have 
been found. Which Indian 
states were outside the 
empire? 
There were several cities in the empire (marked 
with black dots on the map). These included the 
capital Pataliputra, Taxila, and Ujjain. Taxila was 
a gateway to the northwest, including Central 
Asia, while Ujjain lay on the route from north to 
south India. Merchants, officials and craftspersons 
probably lived in these cities.  
In other areas there were villages of farmers and 
herders. In some areas such as central India, there 
were forests where people gathered forest produce 
and hunted animals for food. People in different 
parts of the empire spoke different languages. 
Map : 5
The Mauryan Empire: showing the principal 
cities and some of the places where 
inscriptions were found.
Inscriptions were found
Chapter 7-8.indd   63 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
? 64
our pasts –i They probably ate different kinds of food, and wore 
different kinds of clothes as well. 
How are empires different from kingdoms?
• Emperors need more resources than kings because 
empires are larger than kingdoms, and need to be 
protected by big armies.  
• So also they need a larger number of officials who 
collect taxes. 
Ruling the empire
As the empire was so large, different parts were 
ruled differently. The area around Pataliputra was 
under the direct control of the emperor. This meant 
that officials were appointed to collect taxes from 
farmers, herders, craftspersons and traders, who 
lived in villages and towns in the area. Officials 
also punished those who disobeyed the ruler’s 
orders. Many of these officials were given salaries. 
Messengers went to and fro, and spies kept a 
watch on the officials. And of course the emperor 
supervised them all, with the help of members of 
the royal family, and senior ministers.
There were other areas or provinces. Each of 
these was ruled from a provincial capital such as 
Taxila or Ujjain. Although there was some amount 
of control from Pataliputra, and royal princes were 
often sent as governors, local customs and rules 
were probably followed.
Besides, there were vast areas between these 
centres. Here the Mauryas tried to control roads 
and rivers, which were important for transport, and 
to collect whatever resources were available as tax 
and tribute. For example, the Arthashastra tells us 
that the north-west was important for blankets, 
and south India for its gold and precious stones. 
It is possible that these resources were collected 
as tribute. 
Chapter 7-8.indd   64 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
65 ?
from a kingdom to an 
empire T ribute
Unlike taxes, which were collected on a regular 
basis, tribute was collected as and when it was 
possible from people who gave a variety of things, 
more or less willingly.
There were also the forested regions. People 
living in these areas were more or less independent, 
but may have been expected to provide elephants, 
timber, honey and wax to Mauryan officials. 
The emperor and the capital city 
Megasthenes was an ambassador who was sent to 
the court of Chandragupta by the Greek ruler of 
West Asia named Seleucus Nicator. 
Megasthenes wrote an account about what he 
saw. Here is a part of his description:  
 “The occasions on which the emperor appears in 
public are celebrated with grand royal processions. 
He is carried in a golden palanquin. His guards ride 
elephants decorated with gold and silver. Some of 
the guards carry trees on which live birds, including 
a flock of trained parrots, circle about the head of 
the emperor. The king is normally surrounded by 
armed women. He is afraid that someone may try 
to kill him. He has special servants to taste the food 
before he eats. He never sleeps in the same bedroom 
for two nights.”
And about Pataliputra (modern Patna), he wrote:
“This is a large and beautiful city. It is surrounded 
by a massive wall. It has 570 towers and 64 gates. 
The houses, of two and three storeys, are built 
of wood and mud brick. The king’s palace is also 
of wood, and decorated with stone carvings. It 
is surrounded with gardens and enclosures for 
keeping birds.”
Why do you think the king had special servants 
to taste the food he ate?
In what ways was Pataliputra different from 
Mohenjodaro? (hint: see Chapter 3)
Chapter 7-8.indd   65 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24
? 66
our pasts –i Ashoka, a unique ruler
The most famous Mauryan ruler was Ashoka. He 
was the first ruler who tried to take his message to 
the people through inscriptions. Most of Ashoka’s 
inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in 
the Brahmi script.
Ashoka’s war in Kalinga
Kalinga is the ancient name of coastal Orissa (see 
Map 5, page 63). Ashoka fought a war to conquer 
Kalinga. However, he was so horrified when he saw 
the violence and bloodshed that he decided not 
to fight any more wars. He is the only king in the 
history of the world who gave up conquest after 
winning a war. 
Ashoka’s inscription describing the Kalinga war
This is what Ashoka declared in one of his inscriptions: 
“Eight years after becoming king I conquered Kalinga. 
About a lakh and a half people were captured. And more than a lakh 
of people were killed. 
This filled me with sorrow. Why?
Whenever an independent land is conquered, lakhs of people die, and 
many are taken prisoner. Brahmins and monks also die.
People who are kind to their relatives and friends, to their slaves and 
servants die, or lose their loved ones.
That is why I am sad, and have decided to observe dhamma, and to 
teach others about it as well.
I believe that winning people over through dhamma is much better than 
conquering them through force.
I am inscribing this message for the future, so that my son and grandson 
after me should not think about war.
Instead, they should try to think about how to spread dhamma.”
How did the Kalinga war bring about a change in Ashoka’s attitude 
towards war?
(‘Dhamma’ is the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit term ‘Dharma’).
Chapter 7-8.indd   66 22 April 2022   02:36:28
Rationalised 2023-24