Consider the following statements with reference to the Mauryan Empire...
Statement 1: A uniform method of administration existed throughout the whole of the Mauryan Empire.
The statement is not correct.
Explanation: The Mauryan Empire, under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya and later Ashoka, had a well-organized administration. However, it is important to note that the administrative system was not entirely uniform throughout the empire. The empire was divided into provinces, each headed by a governor. These governors had considerable autonomy in managing their respective provinces. They had the power to collect taxes, maintain law and order, and administer justice. This indicates that there were variations in administration at the provincial level, and a completely uniform method of administration did not exist throughout the empire.
Statement 2: They had a vast espionage system for both internal and external security purposes.
The statement is correct.
Explanation: The Mauryan Empire had an extensive espionage system to ensure both internal and external security. Ashoka, in particular, was known for his emphasis on intelligence gathering. He had a network of spies and informants who provided him with valuable information about potential threats and rebellions within the empire. This helped him maintain control and stability in the empire. Additionally, Ashoka sent emissaries and envoys to neighboring kingdoms to gather intelligence about their intentions and activities. This espionage system played a crucial role in ensuring the security of the Mauryan Empire.
Statement 3: The head of the provincial administration was the Kumara.
The statement is not correct.
Explanation: The head of the provincial administration in the Mauryan Empire was the governor, not the Kumara. The Kumara was a title given to the crown prince, who was next in line for the throne. The governor was appointed by the emperor and was responsible for the overall administration of the province. They had the authority to collect taxes, maintain law and order, and implement the emperor's policies. The appointment of governors indicates a decentralized administrative structure, with power and authority vested in regional administrators rather than a central figure like the Kumara.
In conclusion, statement 1 is incorrect as a uniform method of administration did not exist throughout the Mauryan Empire. Statement 2 is correct as the Mauryan Empire had a vast espionage system. Statement 3 is incorrect as the head of the provincial administration was the governor, not the Kumara. Therefore, the correct answer is option B: 2 and 3 only.
Consider the following statements with reference to the Mauryan Empire...
- Mauryan Empire consisted of various political formations and ecological zones like forest peoples and nomads, chieftaincies and oligarchies like the gana–sangha confederacies of chiefs. It contained smaller kingdoms with a range of administrative structures not necessarily similar to that in Magadha. Different parts of the Empire, like the core, the metropolis and the peripheries, were administered differently. Thus, there was no uniform method of administration in the whole of the Mauryan Empire. So, Statement 1 is not correct.
- The organization of the Mauryan empire was in line with the extensive bureaucracy described by Kautilya in the Arthashastra: a sophisticated civil service governed everything from municipal hygiene to international trade. The expansion and defense of the Empire were made possible by what appears to have been the largest standing army of its time. According to Megasthenes, the possessed wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants. A vast espionage system collected intelligence for both internal and external security purposes. Having renounced offensive warfare and expansionism, Ashoka maintained this large army to protect the Empire and instill stability and peace across West and South Asia. So, Statement 2 is correct.
- The Empire was divided into four provinces, with the royal capital at Pataliputra. From Ashokan edicts, the names of the four provincial capitals are Tosali (in the East), Ujjain (in the west), Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north). The head of the provincial administration was the Kumara (royal prince), who governed the provinces as the king’s representative. Mahamatyas and the council of ministers assisted the Kumara. So, Statement 3 is correct.
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