Hinglish

Life in Mauryan Times and the Fragile Nature of Empires

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 5: The Rise of Empires · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 5.6

Learn

Cities like Pāṭaliputra had palaces, public buildings and well-planned streets with signage; houses were of wood, up to two storeys, with water pots along streets for fires. Couriers carried messages. Megasthenes wrote that most people farmed, two crops grew each year with rain in summer and winter, granaries were well stocked, and farmers were protected even when wars raged nearby. The Sohgaura copper plate records a granary set up against famine. Artisans, smiths, potters and jewellers lived in the cities; people wore cotton garments and decorated leather shoes.

Mauryan art shows great skill: highly polished stone pillars, the Sanchi stūpa (its dome, the aṇḍa, represents the universe; worshippers walk around it in pradakṣhiṇā), the Dhauli elephant, terracotta figures and punch-marked coins. After Aśhoka, his successors could not hold the empire together; regions broke away, and by about 185 BCE it had ended.

Empires are a paradox. They can bring unity, reduce wars between small kingdoms and create prosperity. But they are usually built and held by force, so they are fragile: regions break away when demands for tribute grow, when a strong emperor is followed by a weak one, when territories are too far to control, or when droughts and floods cause economic crises. The Roman, Persian and British empires all ended too.

Explore: place events on the timeline.

  1. Chandragupta founded the Maurya Empire around 320 BCE. Put the marker there.
  2. The Maurya Empire ended around 185 BCE. Put the marker there.

Remember

  • Mauryan cities were planned, farming was secure, and art flourished.
  • Empires bring unity but rest on force, so they are fragile; the Mauryas ended around 185 BCE.

Quick check

Why are empires called fragile?

  1. they rest on force, and distant or burdened regions break away
  2. they have no rulers
  3. they never collect taxes
  4. they are too small
Answer

they rest on force, and distant or burdened regions break away. Weak successors and crises speed up the break-up.

Think about it

Which do you think matters more for people's lives: a big empire or a fair ruler? Why?

One answer

A fair ruler, because justice, safety and welfare touch everyday life directly; size alone can bring wars and heavy demands, though a well-run large empire can also bring peace and trade.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.