(i) The empire that Ashoka ruled was founded by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, more than 2300years ago.
(ii) He was the first ruler who tried to spread his message to the people through inscriptions. Most of Ashoka's inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in Brahmi script.
(iii)He is the only king in the history of the world who gave up conquest after winning a war.

There were several cities in the Mauryan Empire. These included the capital Pataliputra, Taxila and Ujjain. Taxila was the gateway to the North- West, including Central Asia, while Ujjain was on the route from North to South India. Merchants, officials and craftspersons probably lived in these cities.

The lions are part of the Lion Capital in Sarnath. These lions are shown on our currency notes in honour of one of the greatest kings of India, Ashoka, who built the capital. We can see the lions on stamp paper also.

(i) Ashoka conquered Kalinga, eight years after becoming the king.
(ii) About a lakh and a half people were captured and more than a lakh were killed in the Kalinga war. This filled Ashoka with sorrow.
(iii)He got the message inscribed for his son and grandson to give up fighting and think of methods of spreading the Dhamma.
(iv) Ashoka gave up fighting after the Kalinga war.

(i) According to Megasthenes,
(a) The King's appearance in public was celebrated with grand royal processions.
(b) He was carried in a golden palanquin surrounded with guards, elephants, and birds.
(ii) The following precautions were taken regarding the King's safety :
(a) The King was normally surrounded by armed women.
(b) He never slept in the same bedroom for two nights.

(i) Administration: During Ashoka's time, the king was the head of the state and was assisted by 'rnantriparishad' -the council of ministers. His empire was divided into provinces and the provinces were divided into districts. Villages were the smallest units. City was the basic trade centre.
(ii) Pataliputra: The capital city was administrated by the Chief-Nagarika with the City Council of 30 members, who, in turn, had 6 boards, each board incharge of various functions. All the cities were administered like Pataliputra.
(iii) Education: It was fairly widespread and teaching was mainly the job of the Brahmins. Buddhist monasteries were the educational institutions. Famous educational centers were established in Taxila, Ujjain, and Varanasi.
(iv) Revenue: The income for the empire came through taxes which were both in cash and kind, levied on land holding and trade. Tax collection was hardly very strict.
(v) Army: The army was very huge and functioned under Senapati who directly reported to the king. The Soldiers were well equipped with swords, bows and arrows and spears and were looked after very well. Army was divided into six branches. They were: Cavalry, Infantry, Chariots, Elephants, Transport and Navy.
(vi) Economy: The administrators helped villagers by clearing forest area and starting new settlements. They also helped people start agriculture and animal husbandry.

As the empire was very large, different parts were ruled differently by various Mauryans.
(i) The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor. The 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.
(ii) There were other areas or provinces. Each of them was ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain and there was some amount of control from Pataliputra. Royal princes were often sent as Governors.
(iii)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.
(iv) There were also the forested regions. People living in these areas were more or less independent but were expected to provide elephants, timber, honey, and wax to the Mauryan officials.

(i)Rampurwa bull is shown in the picture.
(ii)The picture belongs to the Mauryan dynasty.
(iii) Mauryan Pillar has been found in Rampurwa, Bihar

Megasthenes described the emperor's appearance in public as:
• The occasions on which the emperor appeared in public were celebrated with grand royal processions.
• He was carried in a golden palanquin. His guards rode elephants decorated with gold and silver.
• Some of the guards carried trees on which live birds, including a flock of trained parrots, circle about the head of the emperor. The king was normally surrounded by armed women.
• He was afraid that someone might try to kill him.

The emperors run the empire as:
• The ruling pattern was varying in empires due to the largeness of the empire.
• The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor meant that officials were appointed to collect taxes from farmers, herders, craftspersons and traders, who lived in villages and towns in the area.
• Many of these officials were given salaries and these officials punished those who disobeyed the ruler's orders.
• 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.
• The other areas or provinces were ruled from a provincial capital such as Taxila or Ujjain although there was some amount of control from Pataliputra.
• The royal princes were often sent as governors, local customs and rules were probably followed.