The Mauryan period is typically regarded as a turning point in the study of early Indian history. The remarkable Mauryan Economy is responsible for the Mauryas' nearly pan-Indian empire, which spanned from Afghanistan in the north to Karnataka in the south and from Kathiawad in the west to maybe north Bengal in the east.

As Mauryan Empire is one of the most important topics in the UGC NET History syllabus, in this article, we will study all various aspects of the Mauryan economy for UGC NET History in detail.

Agrarian Economy of Mauryan Empire

The Arthsastra recognised the permanent settlements as a strategy for boosting the agrarian economy. These settlements provided the State with a solid and stable resource base, as the majority of revenue came from land tax. The extent of how this was accomplished is unclear, but this settlement procedure was known as janapadanivesa.

• Mauryan economy was primarily supported by agriculture and income from the agrarian sector. Some lands were clearly sita or crown lands. 
• The rights of possession, cultivation, mortgage and sale in these lands naturally belonged to the King and the State. 
• In fact, the Arthasastra mentions the sitadhyaksa, or supervisor of agriculture, who likely oversaw the agricultural effort in this location. These regions were likely fertile and well-suited for high productivity.
• In addition to the state's agricultural efforts, private landowners and farmers also farmed their land or had it farmed and paid a variety of taxes to the government.
• Megasthenes made a comment on the lack of slavery, yet domestic slaves were a common sight in wealthy homes. 
• Dasa-karmakara was a composite word that meant both slaves and hired labour. Both individuals' conditions were unpleasant.
• The history of the Sudarshan reservoir as revealed by the Junagarh Prasasti (AD 150) of the Saka ruler Rudradaman makes abundantly plain the state's effort in irrigation during the era of Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. 
• By clearing the countryside of wild animals, hunters and shepherds assisted the government in extending the area under cultivation and supporting Mauryan Economy.
• According to Megasthenes, the population class with the most people is those who cultivate the soil. 
• The farmers are listed as the second class by Megasthenes in his description of Indian society and its separation into seven classes, just after the philosophers who are mentioned as the first class and before the soldiers who are mentioned as the third class.

Check the NCERT Notes: Mauryan Administration here.

Non-Agrarian Sector of Mauryan Economy

The Arthasastra's recommendations and the findings of the classical authors imply that trade, the extraction of minerals and metals, working with metals, and the existence of various enterprises significantly supplemented the income from the agricultural sector. 

• Due to the accessibility of iron, gold, and diamond, areas of the southern Deccan that may not have been on the same cultural level as Magadha and Gandhara were very significant economically. 
• Ashokan Inscriptions have been discovered in the Deccan. This suggests that the Mauryas were aware of and intrigued by the region's abundant mineral resources. In the operation of mines and the commerce of mineral products, the state held a monopoly.
• The Arthasastra goes into great depth about mining and metallurgy methods. 
• It is noteworthy to note that the famed Kolar gold fields were not far from Suvarnagiri, the Mauryas' southernmost administrative centre. 
• The state had a near-unrestricted monopoly on the trade of salt and alcohol.
• Government-built ships were leased to merchants and seafarers.
• Coin production was a state responsibility under the Arthasastra. Sources mention a "rupadarshaka" official, who was in charge of overseeing currency manufacture and circulation.
• The merchants were similarly organised along guild lines like the craftspeople. The distribution of commodities was facilitated by the connections between specific artisan groups and specific types of merchants. 
• Certain crafts were gradually transformed into a certain type of small-scale industry. The State accomplished this by directly employing some craftspeople, including armourers, shipbuilders, stonemasons, etc. 
  • Because they performed State-mandated labour service, they were free from paying taxes and helped in the growth of the Mauryan Economy.
• In areas where the State manufactured goods, various sorts of officials were in charge of the relevant departments. These items were referred to as rajapanya. 
• Since private traders had a more extensive and organised distribution network, state products may occasionally be offered alongside them. 
• The guilds continued to fulfil the crucial role of effectively organising and, regulating small-scale producers and the Mauryan Economy.

Extraction of Revenue

For the Mauryas, taxation was a crucial method of resource extraction to fuel the Mauryan Economy.

• The samaharta was the top officer in charge of the assessment of land revenue, which the Mauryas actually gave a considerable deal of importance to the State's treasury under the supervision of the sannidhata. As the money was also received in kind, it was the latter's responsibility to provide storage capacity.
• Several new and recurring taxes were imposed. The royal share (bhaga), which was equal to 1/6th or 1/4 of the peasants' produce, was the main tax. In addition to the standard bhaga, two additional taxes—bali and udakabhaga—were levied.
• Another method the State used to gather agricultural resources was sharecropping.
  • The sharecroppers were initially given seeds, oxen, etc., as well as arable land for farming. In a circumstance like this, the peasants likely donated half of their harvest to the government.
• The Ashoka inscription on the Rummindei Pillar provides abundant support for the Mauryan state's imposition of both bhaga (a part of the produce) and bali (a required payment). 
• The pindakara, which was a lump sum assessment placed on groups of villages, was due from the peasantry. 
• The irrigation cess was assessed based on the method used to obtain water rather than at a set rate.
• Customs and ferry fees were a significant additional source of income.
• The capital's guilds of artisans were likewise subject to taxation.
• Other taxes, such as pranaya, could only be imposed once and represented 1/3 or 1/4 of the yield, depending on the kind of soil, in order to refill the depleted coffers.
• According to the Mahabhashya of Patanjali, "pictures were formed by the Mauryas pining for gold," suggesting that the Mauryan government was steadfastly committed to seeking financial gain from any available source.
• Resources were also required for the overall development of the Maurya economy, even though this development was uneven in all the different regions.

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Trade and Economic Life of Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan growth of trade and the facilitation of contacts between remote locations stimulated interchange, especially in small commodities like beads made of agate, carnelian, lapis lazuli, glass, clay, and shell. 

• Brroach, also known as Bhrigukaccha, was involved in the production of ivory and shell goods. 
• The main exports included spices, pearls, diamonds, ivory products, and other goods. Major imports were horses, glass, linen, and other things.
• The Kautilya Arthasastra firmly supports government regulation and control of commerce. 
• The panyadhyaksha, or Director of Commerce, is responsible for overseeing everything and formulating the government's commercial policies.
• Megasthenes tells us that Mauryas had a state-run shipbuilding monopoly. 
• The Arthasastra advises the state to oversee shipping through the officer navadhyaksha (Director of shipping).
• So, it may be assumed that trade contributed to the Maurya economy together with agriculture. 
• When Megasthenes mentions the mandatory payment of one-tenth of the selling earnings, which was punishable by death if unpaid, this becomes more apparent.
• The upkeep of markets and harbours was also shared by the astynomoi (city officials). Megasthenes also makes reference to another group of Mauryan officers known as agoranomoi. 
• Maintaining roads in excellent condition and erecting direction-giving and distance-marking signals (like mile markers) on highways after a certain distance were among their duties. They served as the backbone of the Mauryan Economy.
• Two additional officers, the samsthadhyaksha (officer in charge of the marketplace) and the sulkadhyaksha (officer in charge of the collection of tolls and customs) were given some official oversight and invigilation of trade in the Arthasastra. 
• The Arthasastra expressly acknowledges the possibility for traders to generate cash by establishing the office for toll and customs collection.

Conclusion

Recent research shows that the Mauryas did not exercise similar amounts of direct economic control throughout India. Their rationale for developing business ties with various sections of the empire essentially varied. The level of control was undoubtedly stronger and more direct in the empire's major territories.

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