Chapter 7 – Ashoka, the Emperor who gave up war

These NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7 notes explain the life and rule of Ashoka, the greatest ruler of the Mauryan Empire. The chapter focuses on the Kalinga War, Ashoka’s dhamma, inscriptions, and administration, making it very important for school exams and BPSC foundation preparation.

1. Meaning of an Empire

• An empire is a very large kingdom.
• It includes different regions and different people.
• An empire is controlled by one ruler.
• The ruler governs with the help of officials.
• Just like today a central government controls many states, an empire worked in a similar way.

2. Foundation of the Mauryan empire

• The Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya.
• He became king around c. 321 BCE.
• Chandragupta Maurya was supported by Chanakya.
• Chanakya is also known as Kautilya.
• He wrote the Arthashastra, a book on administration.

3. Ashoka – The great emperor

• Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.
• He ruled between c. 272/268 BCE and 231 BCE.
• Under Ashoka, the empire expanded greatly.
• The capital of the empire was Pataliputra.
• Pataliputra is present-day Patna in Bihar.

4. The Kalinga war (Turning point)

• Kalinga was located in present-day Odisha.
• Ashoka fought a major war against Kalinga.
• The war caused large-scale destruction.
• Thousands of people were killed in the war.
• After witnessing suffering, Ashoka decided not to fight wars again.

5. Ashoka’s Dhamma

• Dhamma refers to moral values and good conduct.
• Ashoka’s Dhamma stressed respect for elders.
• It promoted kindness towards servants and slaves.
• Non-violence was an important principle.
• It also taught respect for all religions and proper behaviour.

6. How did Ashoka spread Dhamma?

• Ashoka spread dhamma through inscriptions.
• His messages were written on rocks and pillars.
• These are known as Ashokan inscriptions.
• Inscriptions were written in Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts.
• In the north-west, Greek and Aramaic scripts were also used.

7. Dhamma Mahamatras

• Dhamma Mahamatras were special officials appointed by Ashoka.
• Their duty was to spread dhamma.
• They helped people in daily life.
• They looked after the welfare of women and children.
• They played an important role in administration.

8. Ashoka’s administration

• The empire was divided into provinces.
• Each province was governed by a governor.
• Governors were often royal princes.
• Officials collected taxes.
• They also maintained law and order.

9. Lion capital of Ashoka

• The Lion Capital was found at Sarnath.
• It has four lions carved on a pillar.
• The Lion Capital is the National Emblem of India.
• The lions on Indian currency are taken from this symbol.
• It represents power and authority.

10. Important places associated with Ashoka

• Pataliputra was the capital of the empire.
• Kalinga was the site of the famous war.
• Sarnath is where the Lion Capital was found.
• Kandahar in Afghanistan has Greek inscriptions of Ashoka.
• These places are important for understanding his rule.

11. Important keywords

• Empire means a large kingdom.
• Dhamma refers to moral conduct.
• Inscription means writing on stone or pillars.
• Mahamatra was an important official.
• Arthashastra is a book on administration.

12. Important dates (NCERT focus)

• Chandragupta Maurya became king around c. 321 BCE.
• Ashoka ruled between c. 272/268 BCE and 231 BCE.
• The Kalinga War took place around 260 BCE.
• These dates mark major events of the Mauryan Empire.
• They help in understanding ancient Indian history.

13. Why this chapter is important

• This chapter explains Mauryan administration.
• It describes India’s first large empire.
• It shows the moral transformation of Ashoka.
• It is important for understanding ethical governance.
• It explains the origin of important national symbols.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Ashoka called a great emperor?
He gave up war after the Kalinga War and ruled through moral principles called dhamma.

Q2. Why is Chapter 7 important for competitive exams?
It covers the Mauryan Empire, governance, ethics, and national symbols like the Lion Capital.