136-667: Indian Empire may refer to: The Maurya Empire (322 BCE – 185 BCE) The Shunga Empire (187 BCE – 75 BCE) The Gupta Empire ( c. 240– c. 550) The Pala Empire (750–1161) The Chola Empire (848–1279) The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526) The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646) The Mughal Empire (1526–1857) The Sur Empire (1538/1540–1555) The British Raj (1858–1947) See also [ edit ] Imperialism in Asia (disambiguation) Emperor of India British India List of Indian monarchs Topics referred to by
272-405: A Tower of Silence . Indore is the commercial capital of Malwa region and Madhya Pradesh as state. Malwa is one of the world's major opium producers. This crop resulted in development of close connections between the economies of Malwa, the western Indian ports and China , bringing international capital to the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. Malwa opium was a challenge to the monopoly of
408-506: A subah (province) of his empire. The Malwa Subah existed from 1568 to 1743. Mandu was abandoned by the 17th century. During the 17th century much of Western Malwa was held by the Rathors of the Ratanawat branch. The Ratanawats later broke into several states which later became Ratlam State , Sitamau State and Sailana State . Some of the lesser states were Multhan and Kachi-Baroda . As
544-513: A campaign at the frontier of the Nanda empire, gradually conquering various territories on their way to the Nanda capital. He then refined his strategy by establishing garrisons in the conquered territories, and finally besieged the Nanda capital Pataliputra. There Dhana Nanda accepted defeat. The conquest was fictionalised in Mudrarakshasa play, it contains narratives not found in other versions of
680-622: A city called Moriya-nagara ("Peacock-city"), which was so called, because it was built with the "bricks coloured like peacocks' necks". The dynasty's connection to the peacocks, as mentioned in the Buddhist and Jain traditions, seems to be corroborated by archaeological evidence. For example, peacock figures are found on the Ashoka pillar at Nandangarh and several sculptures on the Great Stupa of Sanchi . Based on this evidence, modern scholars theorize that
816-556: A city of considerable size. Ujjain was the capital city of the Avanti kingdom, one of the prominent mahajanapadas of ancient India. In the post- Mahabharata period—around 500 BC— Avanti was an important kingdom in western India; it was ruled by the Haihayas , a people who were responsible for the destruction of Naga power in western India . The region was conquered by the Nanda Empire in
952-960: A disciplined central authority. Farmers were freed of tax and crop collection burdens from regional kings, paying instead to a centrally administered and strict-but-fair system of taxation as advised by the principles in the Arthashastra . Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across India, and a network of regional governors and administrators and a civil service provided justice and security for merchants, farmers and traders. The Mauryan army wiped out many gangs of bandits, regional private armies, and powerful chieftains who sought to impose their own supremacy in small areas. Although regimental in revenue collection, Mauryas also sponsored many public works and waterways to enhance productivity, while internal trade in India expanded greatly due to new-found political unity and internal peace. Malwa Plateau Malwa
1088-524: A feature of Indian society that continues to influence the Indian politics till today. Historians theorise that the organisation of the Empire was in line with the extensive bureaucracy described by Chanakya in the Arthashastra : a sophisticated civil service governed everything from municipal hygiene to international trade. The expansion and defense of the empire was made possible by what appears to have been one of
1224-415: A fortification there and securing it as a possession. Although Ashoka's army succeeded in overwhelming Kalinga forces of royal soldiers and citizen militias, an estimated 100,000 soldiers and civilians were killed in the furious warfare, including over 10,000 of Imperial Mauryan soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of people were adversely affected by the destruction and fallout of war. When he personally witnessed
1360-519: A golden age in the history of Malwa, when Ujjain served as the empire's western capital. The astronomer Varahamihira was based in Ujjain, which emerged as a major centre of learning, especially in astronomy and mathematics . Around 500, Malwa re-emerged from the dissolving Gupta Empire as a separate kingdom; in 528, Yasodharman of Malwa defeated the Hunas , who had invaded India from the north-west. During
1496-504: A large and powerful army, to keep the peace and maintain authority, Ashoka expanded friendly relations with states across Asia and Europe, and he sponsored Buddhist missions. He undertook a massive public works building campaign across the country. Over 40 years of peace, harmony and prosperity made Ashoka one of the most successful and famous monarchs in Indian history. He remains an idealized figure of inspiration in modern India. The Edicts of Ashoka , set in stone, are found throughout
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#17328376019631632-457: A large empire that consisted of what is now, Northern, Central and Eastern parts of India along with parts of Afghanistan and Baluchistan . Bindusara extended this empire to the southern part of India, as far as what is now known as Karnataka . He brought sixteen states under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost all of the Indian peninsula (he is said to have conquered the 'land between
1768-723: A large part of Gwalior , parts of Indore and Tonk , and about 35 small estates and holdings. Political power was exercised from Neemuch . Upon Indian independence in 1947, the Holkars and other princely rulers acceded to India, and most of Malwa became part of the new state of Madhya Bharat , which was merged into Madhya Pradesh in 1956. The Malwa region occupies a plateau in western Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern Rajasthan (between 21°10′N 73°45′E / 21.167°N 73.750°E / 21.167; 73.750 and 25°10′N 79°14′E / 25.167°N 79.233°E / 25.167; 79.233 ), with Gujarat in
1904-639: A large-scale factory that produces diesel engines. Pithampur , an industrial town 25 km from Indore, is known as the Detroit of India for its heavy concentration of automotive industry. Indore is recognised as the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, and is the main centre for trade in textiles and agro-based products. It has one of the six Indian Institutes of Management and one of sixteen Indian Institute of Technology . The culture of Malwa has been significantly influenced by Gujarati and Rajasthani culture, because of their geographic proximity. Marathi influence
2040-544: A later stage converted to Jainism ), Bindusara believed in the Ajivika religion. Bindusara's guru Pingalavatsa (Janasana) was a Brahmin of the Ajivika religion. Bindusara's wife, Empress Subhadrangi was a Brahmin also of the Ajivika religion from Champa (present Bhagalpur district ). Bindusara is credited with giving several grants to Brahmin monasteries ( Brahmana-bhatto ). Historical evidence suggests that Bindusara died in
2176-506: A major astronomical observatory, attracting scholars from all over India including Bhāskara II . His successors ruled until about 1305, when Malwa was conquered by the Delhi Sultanate . Malwa was several times invaded by the south Indian Western Chalukya Empire . Dilawar Khan , previously Malwa's governor under the rule of the Delhi sultanate, declared himself sultan of Malwa in 1401 after
2312-473: A model that also applies to the Maurya Empire. Kulke and Rothermunf agree with her approach, noting that Ashoka's inscriptions reveal a regional pattern, demarcating the five parts of the empire, whereas the major rock edicts have only been found in the frontier provinces, but are absent in the centre. Inscriptions and rock edicts are entirely absent in large parts of the territories supposedly under control of
2448-543: A salient role in Buddhism becoming a world religion, and himself a figure of world history. As Ashoka's edicts forbade both the killing of wild animals and the destruction of forests, he is seen by some modern environmental historians as an early embodiment of that ethos. Archaeologically, the period of Mauryan rule in South Asia falls into the era of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath
2584-578: A solid colour patch, and architecture painted in vibrant colours. The biggest festival of Malwa is the Simhastha mela , held every 12 years, in which more than 40 million pilgrims take a holy dip in river Shipra . The festival of Gana-gour is celebrated in honour of Shiva and Parvati . The history of the festival goes back to Rano Bai , whose parental home was in Malwa, but who was married in Rajasthan. Rano Bai
2720-411: A young prince, Ashoka ( r. 272–232 BCE) was a brilliant commander who crushed revolts in Ujjain and Taxila. As emperor he was ambitious and aggressive, re-asserting the Empire's superiority in southern and western India. But it was his conquest of Kalinga (262–261 BCE) which proved to be the pivotal event of his life. Ashoka used Kalinga to project power over a large region by building
2856-397: Is kadhi made with tamarind instead of yogurt. Sweet cakes, made of a variety of wheat called tapu , are prepared during religious festivities. Sweet cereal called thulli is also typically eaten with milk or yoghurt. Traditional desserts include mawa-bati (milk-based sweet similar to Gulab jamun ), khoprapak (coconut-based sweet), shreekhand (yogurt based) and malpua . Lavani
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#17328376019632992-587: Is a historical region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic upland north of the Vindhya Range . Politically and administratively, it is also synonymous with the former state of Madhya Bharat which was later merged with Madhya Pradesh . At present the historical Malwa region includes districts of western Madhya Pradesh and parts of south-eastern Rajasthan . Sometimes
3128-569: Is a widely practised form of folk music in southern Malwa, which was brought to the region by the Marathas . The Nirguni Lavani (philosophical) and the Shringari Lavani (erotic) are two of the main genres. The Bhils have their own folk songs, which are always accompanied by dance. The folk musical modes of Malwa are of four or five notes, and in rare cases six. The devotional music of the Nirguni cult
3264-822: Is also visible, because of recent rule by the Marathas . The main language of Malwa is Malvi , although Hindi is widely spoken in the cities. This Indo-European language is subclassified as Indo-Aryan. The language is sometimes referred to as Malavi or Ujjaini. Malvi is part of the Rajasthani branch of languages; Nimadi is spoken in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh and in Rajasthan. The dialects of Malvi are, in alphabetical order, Bachadi, Pawari/Bhoyari in Betul, Chhindwara, Pandhurna and Wardha districts. Dholewari, Hoshangabadi, Jamral, Katiyai, Malvi Proper, Patvi, Rangari, Rangri and Sondwari. A survey in 2001 found only five dialects: Ujjaini (in
3400-531: Is another nomadic tribe from Rajasthan that regularly visits the region. Religion in Malwa (2011) Malwa has a significant number of Dawoodi Bohras , a subsect of Shia Muslims from Gujarat, who are mostly businessmen by profession. Besides speaking the local languages, the Bohras have their own language, Lisan al-Dawat . The Patidars , who Migrated from Gujarat settle in the Malwa-nimar. The Whole Malwa-Nimar belt
3536-557: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Maurya Empire The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in South Asia based in Magadha . Founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, it existed in loose-knit fashion until 185 BCE. The primary sources for the written records of the Mauryan times are
3672-524: Is disputed: other scholars—such as epigraphist D. C. Sircar —read the phrase as mukhiya-kala ("the principal art"). According to the Buddhist tradition, the ancestors of the Maurya kings had settled in a region where peacocks ( mora in Pali ) were abundant. Therefore, they came to be known as "Moriyas", literally meaning, "belonging to the place of peacocks". According to another Buddhist account, these ancestors built
3808-405: Is dominated by Patidar's who are large landowner's. The most spoken language in Malwa region is Malvi which is the regional language and Hindi is spoken in cities. Also, Marathi is spoken considerably in the region of Indore , Dhar , Dewas and Ujjain . A significant number of Marathas , Jats , Rajputs and Banias also live in the region. The Sindhis , who settled in the region after
3944-469: Is headed by Mufti e Azam Malwa or Grand Mufti of Malwa, who follows Aala Hazrat Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (an important leader of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat ). He is considered as the supreme fatwa issuing authority of the region. Mufti Rizwanur-Rahman Faruqi was succeeded by his son in law Mufti Habeeb yar Khan. The current incumbent is Mufti Noorul Haq. The main tourist destinations in Malwa are places of historical or religious significance. The river Shipra and
4080-539: Is known about another son, Jalauka . The empire lost many territories under Dasharatha, which were later reconquered by Samprati , Kunala's son. Post Samprati, the Mauryas slowly lost many territories. In 180 BCE, Brihadratha Maurya , was killed by his general , Pushyamitra Shunga in a military parade without any heir. Hence, the great Maurya Empire finally ended, giving rise to the Shunga Empire . Reasons advanced for
4216-747: Is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion , Narmada valley dry deciduous forests , and Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests . Vegetation : The natural vegetation is tropical dry forest , with scattered teak (Tectona grandis) forests. The main trees are Butea , Bombax , Anogeissus , Acacia , Buchanania and Boswellia . The shrubs or small trees include species of Grewia , Ziziphus mauritiana , Casearia , Prosopis , Capparis , Woodfordia , Phyllanthus , and Carissa . Wildlife : Sambhar (Cervus unicolor) , Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) , and Chinkara (Gazella bennettii) are some common ungulates . During
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4352-447: Is popular throughout Malwa. Legends of Raja Bhoj and Bijori , the Kanjar girl, and the tale of Balabau are popular themes for folk songs. Insertions known as stobha are commonly used in Malwa music; this can occur in four ways: the matra stobha (syllable insertion), varna stobha (letter insertion), shabda stobha (word insertion) and vakya stobha (sentence insertion). Malwa was
4488-531: Is said to be derived from the Sanskrit term Malav , which means "part of the abode of Lakshmi ". The location of the Malwa or Moholo , mentioned by the 7th-century Chinese traveller Xuanzang , is plausibly identified with present-day Gujarat. The region is cited as Malibah in Arabic records, such as Kamilu-t Tawarikh by Ibn Asir. The Malwa Culture was a Chalcolithic archaeological culture which existed in
4624-503: Is said to have lived as an ascetic at Shravanabelagola for several years before fasting to death, as per the Jain practice of sallekhana . Bindusara was born to Chandragupta , the founder of the Mauryan Empire. This is attested by several sources, including the various Puranas and the Mahāvaṃsa . He is attested by the Buddhist texts such as Dīpavaṃsa and Mahāvaṃsa ("Bindusaro");
4760-487: Is said to have met the Nanda king, angered him, and made a narrow escape. Historically reliable details of Chandragupta's campaign against Nanda Empire are unavailable and legends written centuries later are inconsistent. Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu texts claim Magadha was ruled by the Nanda dynasty , which, with Chanakya 's counsel, Chandragupta conquered Nanda Empire. The army of Chandragupta and Chanakya first conquered
4896-636: Is the State Emblem of the Republic of India , and the 24-pointed Buddhist Wheel of Dharma on the capital's drum-shaped abacus , is the central feature of India's national flag. The name "Maurya" does not occur in Ashoka's inscriptions , or the contemporary Greek accounts such as Megasthenes 's Indica , but it is attested by the following sources: According to some scholars, Kharavela's Hathigumpha inscription (2nd-1st century BC) mentions era of Maurya Empire as Muriya Kala (Mauryan era), but this reading
5032-512: Is the bhutta ri kees (made with grated corn roasted in ghee and later cooked in milk with spices). Chakki ri shaak is made of wheat dough, which is washed under running water, steamed and then used in a gravy of curd. The traditional bread of Malwa is called baati/bafla , which is essentially a small, round ball of wheat flour, roasted over dung cakes, in the traditional way. Baati is typically eaten with dal (pulses), while baflas are dripping with ghee and soaked with dal. The amli ri kadhi
5168-435: Is the longest of the three seasons, extending for about five months (mid-Ashvin to Phalgun , i.e., October to mid-March). The average daily minimum temperature ranges from 6 °C to 9 °C, though on some nights it can fall as low as 3 °C. Some cultivators believe that an occasional winter shower during the months of Pausha and Maagha —known as Mawta—is helpful to the early summer wheat and germ crops. The region
5304-512: The Arthashastra , a work first discovered in the early 20th century, and previously attributed to Kautilya , but now thought to be composed by multiple authors in the first centuries of the common era ; partial records of the lost history of Megasthenes in Roman texts of several centuries later; and the Edicts of Ashoka , which were first read in the modern era by James Prinsep after he had deciphered
5440-560: The Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts in 1838. Through military conquests and diplomatic treaties, Chandragupta extended his suzerainty as far westward as Afghanistan below the Hindu Kush and as far south as the northern Deccan ; however, beyond the core Magadha area, the prevailing levels of technology and infrastructure limited how deeply his rule could penetrate society. During the rule of Chandragupta's grandson, Ashoka (ca. 268–232 BCE),
5576-629: The British East India Company , which was supplying Bengal opium to China. This led the British company to impose many restrictions on the production and trade of the drug; eventually, opium trading was pushed underground (see Opium Trading in Mumbai for more information). When smuggling became rife, the British eased the restrictions. Today, the region is one of the largest producers of legal opium in
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5712-525: The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom . Some historians, such as Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri , have argued that Ashoka's pacifism undermined the "military backbone" of the Maurya empire. Others, such as Romila Thapar , have suggested that the extent and impact of his pacifism have been "grossly exaggerated". Buddhist records such as the Ashokavadana write that the assassination of Brihadratha and the rise of
5848-525: The Marathas . Malwa continued to be an administrative division until 1947, when the Malwa Agency of British India was merged into Madhya Bharat (also known as Malwa Union) state of independent India. Although its political borders have fluctuated throughout history, the region has developed its own distinct culture, influenced by the Rajasthani, Marathi and Gujarati cultures. Several prominent people in
5984-599: The Mughal conqueror Timur attacked Delhi , causing the break-up of the sultanate into smaller states. Khan started the Malwa Sultanate and established a capital at Mandu , high in the Vindhya Range overlooking the Narmada River valley. His son and successor, Hoshang Shah (1405–35), developed Mandu as an important city. Hoshang Shah's son, Ghazni Khan, ruled for only a year and was succeeded by Mahmud Khalji (1436–69),
6120-695: The Rashtrakuta dynasty appointed the Paramara rulers as governors of Malwa. From the mid-tenth century, Kingdom of Malwa was ruled by the Paramaras , who established a capital at Dhar . King Bhoja , who ruled from about 1010 to 1060, was known as the great polymath philosopher-king of medieval India; his extensive writings cover philosophy, poetry, medicine, architecture, construction, town planning , veterinary science , phonetics , yoga , and archery . Malwa became an intellectual centre of India, and became home to
6256-731: The Third Anglo-Maratha War , and the Holkars of Indore became a princely state of the British Raj . After 1818 the British organised the numerous princely states of central India into the Central India Agency ; the Malwa Agency was a division of Central India , with an area of 23,100 km (8,900 sq mi) and a population of 1,054,753 in 1901. It comprised the states of Dewas State ( senior and junior branch ), Jaora , Ratlam , Sitamau and Sailana , together with
6392-463: The Viceroy of Avantirastra during his father's reign, which highlights the importance of the province. Bindusara's life has not been documented as well as that of his father Chandragupta or of his son Ashoka. Chanakya continued to serve as prime minister during his reign. According to the medieval Tibetan scholar Taranatha who visited India, Chanakya helped Bindusara "to destroy the nobles and kings of
6528-464: The Yaudheyas that had resisted Alexander's Empire. Ancient Greek historians Nearchus , Onesictrius , and Aristobolus have provided a valuable source of information about Chandragupta and the Mauryan empire. Chandragupta Maurya's ancestry is shrouded in mystery and controversy. On one hand, a number of ancient Indian accounts, such as the drama Mudrarakshasa ( Signet ring of Rakshasa – Rakshasa
6664-414: The partition of India , are an important part of the business community. Like southern Rajasthan, the region has a significant number of Jains , who are mostly traders and business people. The region is home to smaller numbers of Goan Catholics , Anglo-Indians , Punjabis and Parsis or Zoroastrians. The Parsis are closely connected to the growth and evolution of Mhow , which has a Parsi fire temple and
6800-517: The 19th century for their criminal activities, but have since been denotified. A nomadic tribe from the Marwar region of Rajasthan, the Gadia Lohars —who work as lohars (blacksmiths)—visit the region at the start of the agricultural season to repair and sell agricultural tools and implements, stopping temporarily on the outskirts of villages and towns and residing in their ornate metal carts. The Kalbelia
6936-558: The 270s BCE. According to Upinder Singh, Bindusara died around 273 BCE. Alain Daniélou believes that he died around 274 BCE. Sailendra Nath Sen believes that he died around 273–272 BCE, and that his death was followed by a four-year struggle of succession, after which his son Ashoka became the emperor in 269–268 BCE. According to the Mahāvaṃsa , Bindusara reigned for 28 years. The Vayu Purana , which names Chandragupta's successor as "Bhadrasara", states that he ruled for 25 years. As
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#17328376019637072-517: The Chanakya-Chandragupta legend. Because of this difference, Thomas Trautmann suggests that most of it is fictional or legendary, without any historical basis. Radha Kumud Mukherjee similarly considers Mudrakshasa play without historical basis. These legends state that the Nanda emperor was defeated, deposed and exiled by some accounts, while Buddhist accounts claim he was killed. With the defeat of Dhana Nanda, Chandragupta Maurya founded
7208-612: The Empire and instil stability and peace across West and South Asia. .Even though large parts were under the control of Mauryan empire the spread of information and imperial messages was limited since many parts were inaccessible and were situated far away from capital of empire. For the first time in South Asia , political unity and military security allowed for a common economic system and enhanced trade and commerce, with increased agricultural productivity. The previous situation involving hundreds of kingdoms, many small armies, powerful regional chieftains, and internecine warfare, gave way to
7344-619: The Great was leading his Indian campaigns and ventured into Punjab. His army mutinied at the Beas River and refused to advance farther eastward when confronted by another army. Alexander returned to Babylon and re-deployed most of his troops west of the Indus River . Soon after Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BCE, his empire fragmented into independent kingdoms ruled by his generals. "India, after
7480-669: The Greek rulers in the West as far as the Mediterranean. The edicts precisely name each of the rulers of the Hellenistic world at the time such as Amtiyoko ( Antiochus II Theos ), Tulamaya ( Ptolemy II ), Amtikini ( Antigonos II ), Maka ( Magas ) and Alikasudaro ( Alexander II of Epirus ) as recipients of Ashoka's proselytism. The Edicts also accurately locate their territory "600 yojanas away" (1 yojana being about 7 miles), corresponding to
7616-606: The Hellenic world. Deimachus was the ambassador of Seleucid king Antiochus I at Bindusara's court. Diodorus states that the king of Palibothra ( Pataliputra , the Mauryan capital) welcomed a Greek author, Iambulus . This king is usually identified as Bindusara. Pliny states that the Ptolemaic king Philadelphus sent an envoy named Dionysius to India. According to Sailendra Nath Sen, this appears to have happened during Bindusara's reign. Unlike his father Chandragupta (who at
7752-516: The Jain texts such as Parishishta-Parvan ; as well as the Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana ("Vindusara"). According to the 12th century Jain writer Hemachandra 's Parishishta-Parvan , the name of Bindusara's mother was Durdhara . Some Greek sources also mention him by the name "Amitrochates" or its variations. Historian Upinder Singh estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE. Bindusara, just 22 years old, inherited
7888-565: The Madhya Pradesh state. Traditional Malwa food has elements of Rajasthani , Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisine. Traditionally, jowar was the staple cereal, but after the Green Revolution in India , wheat has replaced jowar as the most important food crop; many are vegetarians . Since the climate is mostly dry throughout the year, most people rely on stored foods such as pulses, and green vegetables are rare. A typical snack of Malwa
8024-480: The Malwa region, as well as nearby parts of Maharashtra to the south, during the 2nd millennium BCE. Ujjain , also known historically as Ujjaiyini and Avanti , emerged as the first major centre in the Malwa region during India's second wave of urbanisation in the 7th century BC (the first wave was the Indus Valley Civilization ). Around 600 BC an earthen rampart was built around Ujjain, enclosing
8160-492: The Malwa was conquered by Rana Sanga of Mewar who appointed one of his close allies Medini Rai as ruler of Malwa under his lordship. Chanderi was capital of his kingdom. After the defeat of Rajput confederation in Battle of Khanwa near Agra against Babur which was fought for Supremacy of Northern India between Rajputs and Mughals . Babur then siege Chanderi offering Shamsabad to Medini rai instead of Chanderi as it
8296-462: The Maurya Empire. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, Chandragupta led a series of campaigns to take satrapies in the Indus Valley and northwest India. When Alexander's remaining forces were routed, returning westwards, Seleucus I Nicator fought to defend these territories. Not many details of the campaigns are known from ancient sources. Seleucus was defeated and retreated into
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#17328376019638432-414: The Mughal state weakened after 1700, the Marathas held sway over Malwa under leadership of Chimnaji Appa , Nemaji Shinde and Chimnaji Damodar were the first Maratha generals to cross the boundary of Maharashtra and to invade in Malwa in 1698. Subsequently, Malhar Rao Holkar (1694–1766) became leader of Maratha armies in Malwa in 1724, and in 1733 the Maratha Peshwa granted him control of most of
8568-421: The Nanda Empire. He had to flee in order to save his life and went to Taxila , a notable center of learning, to work as a teacher. On one of his travels, Chanakya witnessed some young men playing a rural game practicing a pitched battle. One of the boys was none other than Chandragupta. Chanakya was impressed by the young Chandragupta and saw imperial qualities in him as someone fit to rule. Meanwhile, Alexander
8704-442: The Nanda outer territories, and finally besieged the Nanda capital Pataliputra . In contrast to the easy victory in Buddhist sources, the Hindu and Jain texts state that the campaign was bitterly fought because the Nanda dynasty had a powerful and well-trained army. The Buddhist Mahavamsa Tika and Jain Parishishtaparvan records Chandragupta's army unsuccessfully attacking the Nanda capital. Chandragupta and Chanakya then began
8840-439: The Rajasthani school of miniature painting, known as Malwa painting , was centred largely in Malwa and Bundelkhand. The school preserved the style of the earliest examples, such as the Rasikapriya series dated 1636 (after a poem analysing the love sentiment) and the Amaru Sataka (a 17th-century Sanskrit poem). The paintings from this school are flat compositions on black and chocolate-brown backgrounds, with figures shown against
8976-415: The Shunga empire led to a wave of religious persecution for Buddhists , and a resurgence of Hinduism . According to Sir John Marshall , Pushyamitra may have been the main author of the persecutions, although later Shunga kings seem to have been more supportive of Buddhism. Other historians, such as Etienne Lamotte and Romila Thapar , among others, have argued that archaeological evidence in favour of
9112-447: The Subcontinent. Ranging from as far west as Afghanistan and as far south as Andhra ( Nellore District ), Ashoka's edicts state his policies and accomplishments. Although predominantly written in Prakrit, two of them were written in Greek , and one in both Greek and Aramaic . Ashoka's edicts refer to the Greeks, Kambojas , and Gandharas as peoples forming a frontier region of his empire. They also attest to Ashoka's having sent envoys to
9248-466: The allegations of persecution of Buddhists are lacking, and that the extent and magnitude of the atrocities have been exaggerated. The fall of the Mauryas left the Khyber Pass unguarded, and a wave of foreign invasion followed. The Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius capitalized on the breakup, and he conquered southern Afghanistan and parts of northwestern India around 180 BCE, forming the Indo-Greek Kingdom . The Indo-Greeks would maintain holdings on
9384-420: The base material consisting of a mixture of red clay and cow dung. Peacocks, cats, lions, goojari, bawari, the swastika and chowk are some motifs of this style. Sanjhya is a ritual wall painting done by young girls during the annual period when Hindus remember and offer ritual oblation to their ancestors. Malwa miniature paintings are well known for their intricate brushwork. In the 17th century, an offshoot of
9520-403: The centre of Sanskrit literature during and after the Gupta period. The region's most famous playwright, Kalidasa , is considered to be the greatest Indian writer ever. His first surviving play is Malavikagnimitra (Malavika and Agnimitra). Kalidasa's second play, his masterpiece, is the Abhijñānaśākuntalam , which tells the story of king Dushyanta, who falls in love with a girl of lowly birth,
9656-489: The city of Ujjain have been regarded as sacred for thousands of years. The Mahakal Temple of Ujjain is one of the 12 jyotirlingas , literally meaning “pillars of light" . Ujjain has over 100 other ancient temples, including Harsidhhi , Chintaman Ganesh , Gadh Kalika , Kaal Bhairava and Mangalnath . The Kalideh Palace, on the outskirts of the city, is a fine example of ancient Indian architecture. The Bhartrihari caves are associated with interesting legends. Since
9792-692: The city seems to have had many similarities with Persian cities of the period. Chandragupta's son Bindusara extended the rule of the Mauryan empire towards southern India. The famous Tamil poet Mamulanar of the Sangam literature described how areas south of the Deccan Plateau which comprised Tamilakam was invaded by the Mauryan Army using troops from Karnataka. Mamulanar states that Vadugar (people who resided in Andhra-Karnataka regions immediately to
9928-589: The consolidation of caste in the Gangetic plain , and the declining rights of women in the mainstream Indo-Aryan speaking regions of India. After the Kalinga War in which Ashoka's troops visited much violence on the region, he embraced Buddhism and promoted its tenets in edicts scattered around South Asia, most commonly in clusters along the well-traveled road networks. He sponsored Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka , northwest India, and Central Asia, which played
10064-584: The death of Alexander, had shaken off the yoke of servitude from its neck and put his governors to death. The author of this liberation was Sandrocottus." Justin The Maurya Empire was established in the Magadha region under the leadership of Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya. Chandragupta was taken to Taxila by Chanakya and was tutored about statecraft and governing. Requiring an army Chandragupta recruited and annexed local military republics such as
10200-401: The decline include the succession of weak emperors after Ashoka Maurya, the partition of the empire into two, the growing independence of some areas within the empire, such as that ruled by Sophagasenus , a top-heavy administration where authority was entirely in the hands of a few persons, an absence of any national consciousness, the pure scale of the empire making it unwieldy, and invasion by
10336-771: The definition of Malwa is extended to include the Nimar region south of the Vindhyas . The Malwa region had been a separate political unit from the time of the ancient Malava Kingdom . It has been ruled by several kingdoms and dynasties, including the Avanti Kingdom , The Mauryans , the Malavas , the Guptas , the Paramaras , The Rajputs , the Delhi Sultanate , the Malwa sultans , the Mughals and
10472-619: The designers of the Taj Mahal centuries later. Baz Bahadur built a huge palace in Mandu in the 16th century. Other notable historical monuments are Rewa Kund , Rupmati 's Pavilion, Nilkanth Mahal, Hathi Mahal, Darya Khan's Tomb, Dai ka Mahal, Malik Mughit is Mosque and Jali Mahal. Close to Mandu is Maheshwar, a town on the northern bank of Narmada River that served as the capital of the Indore state under Ahilyabai Holkar . The Maratha rajwada (fort)
10608-441: The devastation, Ashoka began feeling remorse. Although the annexation of Kalinga was completed, Ashoka embraced the teachings of Buddhism, and renounced war and violence. He sent out missionaries to travel around Asia and spread Buddhism to other countries. He also propagated his own dhamma . Ashoka implemented principles of ahimsa by banning hunting and violent sports activity and abolishing slave trade . While he maintained
10744-474: The distance between the center of India and Greece (roughly 4,000 miles). Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker emperors. He was succeeded by Dasharatha Maurya , who was Ashoka's grandson. None of Ashoka's sons could ascend to the throne after him. Mahinda , his firstborn, became a Buddhist monk. Kunala Maurya was blinded and hence couldn't ascend to the throne; and Tivala , son of Karuvaki , died even earlier than Ashoka. Little
10880-452: The districts of Ujjain , Indore , Dewas , Dhar , Agar Malwa and Sehore ), Rajawari ( Ratlam , Mandsaur and Neemuch ), Umathwari ( Rajgarh ) and Sondhwari ( Jhalawar ) and Bhoyari / Pawari (in the districts of Betul , Chhindwara , Pandhurna and Wardha ). About 55% of the population of Malwa can converse in and about 40% of the population is literate in Hindi, the official language of
11016-446: The eastern parts of Gedrosia , and possibly also Arachosia and Aria as far as Herat." Seleucus I received the 500 war elephants that were to have a decisive role in his victory against western Hellenistic kings at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BCE. Diplomatic relations were established and several Greeks, such as the historian Megasthenes , Deimachus and Dionysius resided at the Mauryan court. Megasthenes in particular
11152-443: The emperor to whom tribute was paid by the laboring class. In return the emperor supplied the laborers with agricultural products, animals, seeds, tools, public infrastructure, and stored food in reserve for times of crisis. The economy of the empire has also been described as "a socialized monarchy", "a sort of state socialism", and the world's first welfare state . Arthashastra and Megasthenes accounts of Pataliputra describe
11288-468: The empire briefly controlled the major urban hubs and arteries of the subcontinent excepting the deep south. The Mauryan capital (what is today Patna ) was located in Magadha; the other core regions were Taxila in the northwest; Ujjain in the Malwa Plateau ; Kalinga on the Bay of Bengal coast; and the precious metal -rich lower Deccan plateau " Outside the core regions, the empire's geographical extent
11424-409: The empire, which means that "large parts of present Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as well as Kerala and Tamil Nadu were not actually included in the Maurya empire." Controlling the main trade routes was essential for the empire, as they were threatened by undefeated tribes inhabiting large parts of the interior. Under the Mauryan system there was no private ownership of land as all land was owned by
11560-576: The evenings, carrying earthen pots with holes for the light from oil lamps inside to escape. In front of every house, the girls recite songs connected with the Ghadlya and receive food or money in return. The Gordhan festival is celebrated on the 16th day in the month of Kartika. The Bhils of the region sing Heeda , anecdotal songs to the cattle, while the women sing the Chandrawali song, associated with Krishna 's romance. The most popular fairs are held in
11696-466: The first centuries of the common era ; partial records of the lost history of Megasthenes in Roman texts of several centuries later; and the Edicts of Ashoka , which were first read in the modern era by James Prinsep after he had deciphered the Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts in 1838. Prior to the Maurya Empire, the Nanda Empire ruled the Ganges basin and some adjacent territories. The Nanda Empire
11832-415: The first millennium BC. Since women did not participate in the dance-drama form, men enacted their roles. Swang incorporates suitable theatrics and mimicry, accompanied alternately by song and dialogue. The genre is dialogue-oriented rather than movement-oriented. Mandana (literally painting) wall and floor paintings are the best-known painting traditions of Malwa. White drawings stand out in contrast to
11968-669: The first of the Khalji sultans of Malwa, who expanded the state to include parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the Deccan . The Muslim sultans invited the Rajputs to settle in the country. In the early 16th century, the sultan sought the aid of the sultans of Gujarat to counter the growing power of the Rajputs, while the Rajputs sought the support of the Sesodia Rajput kings of Mewar .During that time Much of
12104-510: The fourth century BC, Ujjain has enjoyed the reputation of being India's Greenwich , as the Prime Meridian of the Hindu geographers. The observatory built by Jai Singh II is one of the four such observatories in India and features ancient astronomical devices. The Simhastha mela , celebrated every 12 years, starts on the full moon day in Chaitra (April) and continues into Vaishakha (May) until
12240-587: The great learning of the people, viz., Malwa and Magadha . The people there esteemed virtue, were of an intelligent mind and exceedingly studious. In 756 AD Gurjara-Pratiharas advanced into Malwa. In 786 the region was captured by the Rashtrakuta kings of the Deccan, and was disputed between the Rashtrakutas and the Gurjara Pratihara kings of Kannauj until the early part of the tenth century. The Emperors of
12376-429: The high iron content of the basalt from which it formed. The soil requires less irrigation because of its high capacity for moisture retention. The other two soil types are lighter and have a higher proportion of sand. The average elevation of the plateau is 500 m. Some of the peaks over 800 m high are at Sigar (881 m), Janapav (854 m) and Ghajari (810 m). The plateau generally slopes towards
12512-419: The history of India have lived in Malwa, including the poet and dramatist Kalidasa , the author Bhartrihari , the mathematicians and astronomers Varahamihira and Brahmagupta , and the polymath king Bhoja . Ujjain had been the political, economic, and cultural capital of the region in ancient times, and Indore is now the largest city and commercial center. Overall, agriculture is the main occupation of
12648-421: The imperial capital at Pataliputra , and several former mahajanapadas next to it formed the center, which was directly ruled by the emperor's administration. The other territories were divided into four provinces, ruled by princes who served as governors. 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
12784-806: The intricate municipal system formed by Maurya empire to govern its cities. A city counsel made up of thirty commissioners was divided into six committees or boards which governed the city. The first board fixed wages and looked after provided goods, second board made arrangement for foreign dignitaries, tourists and businessmen, third board made records and registrations, fourth looked after manufactured goods and sale of commodities, fifth board regulated trade, issued licenses and checked weights and measurements, sixth board collected sales taxes. Some cities such as Taxila had autonomy to issue their own coins. The city counsel had officers who looked after public welfare such as maintenance of roads, public buildings, markets, hospitals, educational institutions etc. The official head of
12920-494: The largest armies in the world during the Iron Age . According to Megasthenes, the empire wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots and 9,000 war elephants besides followers and attendants. A vast espionage system collected intelligence for both internal and external security purposes. Having renounced offensive warfare and expansionism, Ashoka nevertheless continued to maintain this large army, to protect
13056-425: The last century, deforestation has happened at a fast rate, leading to environmental problems such as acute water scarcity and the danger that the region is being desertified. The population of the Malwa region was 22,773,993 in 2011, with a population density of a moderate 270/km . The annual birth rate in the region was 31.6 per 1000, and the death rate 10.3. The infant mortality rate was 93.8, slightly higher than
13192-430: The lovely Shakuntala. The last of Kalidasa's surviving plays is Vikramuurvashiiya ("Urvashi conquered by valour"). Kalidasa also wrote the epic poems Raghuvamsha ("Dynasty of Raghu"), Ritusamhāra and Kumarasambhava ("Birth of the war god"), as well as the lyric Meghaduuta ("The cloud messenger"). Swang is a popular dance form in Malwa; its roots go back to the origins of the Indian theatre tradition in
13328-509: The main crops are jowar, rice, wheat, coarse millet, peanuts and pulses, soya bean, cotton, linseed, sesame and sugarcane. Sugar mills are located in numerous small towns. The black, volcanic soil is ideal for the cultivation of cotton, and textile manufacture is an important industry. Large centres of textile production include Indore, Ujjain and Nagda. Maheshwar is known for its fine Maheshwari saris, and Mandsaur for its coarse woollen blankets. Handicrafts are an important source of income for
13464-609: The mid-4th century BC, and subsequently became part of the Maurya Empire . Ashoka , who was later a Mauryan emperor, was governor of Ujjain in his youth. After the death of Ashoka in 232 BC, the Maurya Empire began to collapse. Although evidence is sparse, Malwa was probably ruled by the Kushanas , the Shakas and the Satavahana dynasty during the 1st and 2nd century CE. Ownership of the region
13600-426: The middle of Ashvin (September). Most of the rain falls during the southwest monsoon spell, and ranges from about 80 cm in the west to about 10.5 cm in the east. Indore and the immediately surrounding areas receive an average of 90 cm of rainfall a year. The growing period lasts from 90 to 150 days, during which the average daily temperature is below 30 °C, but seldom falls below 20 °C. Winter
13736-533: The months of Phalguna , Chaitra , Bhadra , Ashvin and Kartik . The Chaitra fair, held at Biaora, and the Gal yatras , held at more than two dozen villages in Malwa are remarkable. Many fairs are held in the tenth day of the month of Bhadra to mark the birth of Tejaji . The Triveni mela is held at Ratlam, and other fairs take place in Kartika at Ujjain, Mandhata (Nimad), among others. Muslim community of Malwa
13872-464: The mountainous region of Afghanistan. The two rulers concluded a peace treaty in 303 BCE, including a marital alliance. According to Grant, under its terms, Seleucus Nicator ceded the Hindu Kush, Punjab and parts of Afghanistan to Chandragupta Maurya. According to Kosmin, "Seleucus transferred to Chandragupta's kingdom the easternmost satrapies of his empire, certainly Gandhara , Parapamisadae , and
14008-603: The next full moon day. Mandu was originally the fort capital of the Parmar rulers. Towards the end of the 13th century, it came under the sway of the Sultans of Malwa, the first of whom named it Shadiabad (city of joy). It remained as the capital, and in it the sultans built exquisite palaces like the Jahaz Mahal and Hindola Mahal, ornamental canals, baths and pavilions. The massive Jami Masjid and Hoshang Shah's tomb provided inspiration to
14144-642: The north of Tamil Nadu) formed the vanguard of the Mauryan Army. He also had a Greek ambassador at his court, named Deimachus . According to Plutarch , Chandragupta Maurya subdued all of India, and Justin also observed that Chandragupta Maurya was "in possession of India". These accounts are corroborated by Tamil Sangam literature which mentions about Mauryan invasion with their south Indian allies and defeat of their rivals at Podiyil hill in Tirunelveli district in present-day Tamil Nadu . Chandragupta renounced his throne and followed Jain teacher Bhadrabahu . He
14280-713: The north. The western part of the region is drained by the Mahi River , while the Chambal River drains the central part, and the Betwa River and the headwaters of the Dhasan and Ken rivers drain the east. The Shipra River is of historical importance because of the Simhasth mela , held every 12 years. Other notable rivers are Parbati , Gambhir and Choti Kali Sindh . Due to its altitude of about 550 to 600 meters above mean sea level,
14416-830: The northwest). The head of the provincial administration was the Kumar (prince), who governed the provinces as emperor's representative. The kumara was assisted by mahamatyas (great ministers) and council of ministers. This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with the Emperor and his Mantriparishad (Council of Ministers). . The Mauryans established a well developed coin minting system. Coins were mostly made of silver and copper. Certain gold coins were in circulation as well. The coins were widely used for trade and commerce Monica Smith notes that historiography has tended to view ancient states as vast territories, whereas they are better understood as networks of centers of power,
14552-667: The overall rate for the Madhya Pradesh state. There are numerous tribes in the region, such as the Bhils —and their allied groups, the Meos the Bhilalas , Barelas and Patelias —and the Meenas , who all differ to a remarkable degree from the regional population in their dialects and social life. They encompass a variety of languages and cultures. Some tribes of the region, notably the Kanjars , were notified in
14688-603: The peacock may have been the dynasty's emblem. Some later authors, such as Dhundhi-raja (an 18th-century commentator on the Mudrarakshasa and an annotator of the Vishnu Purana ), state that the word "Maurya" is derived from Mura and the mother of the first Maurya emperor. However, the Puranas themselves make no mention of Mura and do not talk of any relation between the Nanda and the Maurya dynasties. Dhundiraja's derivation of
14824-448: The people of Malwa. The region has been one of the important producers of opium in the world. Wheat and soybeans are other important cash crops, and textiles are a major industry. Malwi is a demonym given to people from the Malwa region. Several early Stone Age or Lower Paleolithic habitations have been excavated in eastern Malwa. The name Malwa is derived from the name of the ancient Indian tribe of Malavas . The name Malava
14960-529: The region has comparatively cool evenings against the hot days during the summer season. Even if the day temperature reaches 42 to 43 degrees Celsius, the night temperatures are always in range of 20 to 22 degrees making the climate much cooler than the other areas of the region. The cool morning wind, the karaman , and an evening breeze, the Shab-e-Malwa , make the summers less harsh. The term Shab-e-Malwa , meaning dusk in Malwa (from shab , Urdu for night),
15096-430: The region is particularly suitable for the cultivation of such unalu (early summer) crops as wheat, gram ( Cicer arietinum ) and til ( Sesamum indicum ). Relatively poor soil is used for the cultivation of such syalu (early winter) crops as millet ( Andropogon sorghum ), maize ( Zea mays ), mung bean ( Vigna radiata ), urad ( Vigna mungo ), batla ( Pisum sativum ) and peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea ). Overall,
15232-522: The region, which was formally ceded by the Mughals in 1738. Ranoji Scindia , noted Maratha commander, established his headquarters at Ujjain in 1721. . This capital was later moved to Gwalior State by Daulatrao Scindia . Another Maratha general, Anand Rao Pawar , established himself as the Raja of Dhar in 1742, and the two Pawar brothers became Rajas of Dewas State . At the end of the 18th century, Malwa became
15368-423: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Indian Empire . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_Empire&oldid=1259789786 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
15504-626: The seventh century, the region became part of Harsha 's empire, who disputed the region with the Chalukya king Pulakesin II of Badami in the Deccan . During his reign the Buddhist pilgrim monk Xuanzang had visited India and mentions seeing a hundred Buddhist monasteries along with a same number of Deva temples of different kinds with the adherents of Pashupata Shaivism making a majority. He also states that there were two places in India that were remarkable for
15640-466: The sixteen kingdoms and thus to become absolute master of the territory between the eastern and western oceans". During his rule, the citizens of Taxila revolted twice. The reason for the first revolt was the maladministration of Susima , his eldest son. The reason for the second revolt is unknown, but Bindusara could not suppress it in his lifetime. It was crushed by Ashoka after Bindusara's death. Bindusara maintained friendly diplomatic relations with
15776-768: The subcontinent right up to the birth of Christ. Although the extent of their successes against indigenous powers such as the Shungas , Satavahanas , and Kalinga are unclear, what is clear is that Scythian tribes, named Indo-Scythians , brought about the demise of the Indo-Greeks from around 70 BCE and retained lands in the trans-Indus, the region of Mathura , and Gujarat. Megasthenes mentions military command consisting of six boards of five members each, (i) Navy (ii) Military transport (iii) Infantry (iv) Cavalry and Catapults (v) Chariot divisions and (vi) Elephants . Ashoka's empire consisted of five parts. Magadha, with
15912-477: The time of year when the water levels in the intersecting rivers were low and they could be easily forded . Other roads connected the Ganges basin to Arabian Sea coast in the west, and precious metal -rich mines in the south. The population of South Asia during the Mauryan period has been estimated to be between 15 and 30 million. The empire's period of dominion was marked by exceptional creativity in art, architecture, inscriptions and produced texts, but also by
16048-416: The trans-Indus region, and make forays into central India, for about a century. Under them, Buddhism flourished, and one of their kings, Menander , became a famous figure of Buddhism; he was to establish a new capital of Sagala, the modern city of Sialkot . However, the extent of their domains and the lengths of their rule are subject to much debate. Numismatic evidence indicates that they retained holdings in
16184-620: The tribal population. Coloured lacquerware from Ratlam, rag dolls from Indore , and papier-mâché articles from Indore, Ujjain and several other centres are well known. Mandsaur district is the sole producer in India of white- and red-coloured slate , used in the district's 110 slate pencil factories. There is a cement factory in Neemuch. Apart from this, the region lacks mineral resources. The region's industries mainly produce consumer goods—but there are now many centres of large- and medium-scale industries, including Indore, Nagda and Ujjain. Indore has
16320-566: The two seas' – the peninsular region between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea ). Bindusara did not conquer the friendly Tamil kingdoms of the Cholas , ruled by King Ilamcetcenni , the Pandyas , and Cheras . Apart from these southern states, Kalinga (modern Odisha) was the only kingdom in India that did not form part of Bindusara's empire. It was later conquered by his son Ashoka , who served as
16456-581: The use of writing, which might have boosted more intricate business dealings. Despite profitable settled agriculture in the fertile eastern Gangetic plain, these factors helped maritime and river-borne trade, which were essential for acquiring goods for consumption as well as metals of high economic value. To promote movement and trade, the Maurya dynasty built roads, most prominently a chiefly winter-time road—the Uttarapath—;which connected eastern Afghanistan to their capital Patliputra during
16592-561: The venue of fighting between the rival Maratha powers and the headquarters of the Pindaris , who were irregular plunderers. The Pindaris were rooted out in a campaign by the British general Lord Hastings , and further order was established under Sir John Malcolm . The Holkar dynasty ruled Malwa from Indore and Maheshwar on the Narmada until 1818, when the Marathas were defeated by the British in
16728-477: The village was Gramika and in towns and cities was Nagarika . The city counsel also had some magisterial powers. The taking of census was regular process in the Mauryan administration. The village heads ( Gramika ) and mayors ( Nagarika ) were responsible enumerating different classes of people in the Mauryan empire such as traders, agriculturists, smiths, potters, carpenters etc. and also cattle, mostly for taxation purposes. These vocations consolidated as castes,
16864-692: The west by the Vagad region and Gujarat . To the south and east is the Vindhya Range and to the north is the Bundelkhand upland. The plateau is an extension of the Deccan Traps , formed between 60 and 68 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period . In this region the main classes of soil are black , brown and bhatori (stony) soil. The volcanic, clay-like soil of the region owes its black colour to
17000-498: The west. The region includes the Madhya Pradesh districts of Agar , Dewas , Dhar , Indore , Jhabua , Mandsaur , Neemuch , Rajgarh , Ratlam , Shajapur , Ujjain , and parts of Guna and Sehore , and the Rajasthan districts of Jhalawar and parts of Kota , Banswara and Pratapgarh . Malwa is bounded in the north-east by the Hadoti region, in the north-west by the Mewar region, in
17136-403: The word seems to be his own invention: according to the Sanskrit rules, the derivative of the feminine name Mura ( IAST : Murā) would be "Maureya"; the term "Maurya" can only be derived from the masculine "Mura". The primary sources for the written records of the Mauryan times are the Arthashastra , a work previously attributed to Kautilya , but now thought to be composed by multiple authors in
17272-465: The world. There is a central, government-owned opium and alkaloid factory in the city of Neemuch. Nevertheless, there is a still a significant amount of illicit opium production, which is channelled into the black market. The headquarters of India's Central Bureau of Narcotics is in Gwalior . The Rajputana-Malwa Railway was opened in 1876. The region is predominantly agricultural. The brown soil in parts of
17408-573: Was a large, militaristic, and economically powerful empire due to conquering the mahajanapadas . According to several legends, Chanakya travelled to Pataliputra , Magadha , the capital of the Nanda Empire where Chanakya worked for the Nandas as a minister . However, Chanakya was insulted by the King Dhana Nanda when he informed them of Alexander's invasion. Chanakya swore revenge and vowed to destroy
17544-489: Was a notable Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. His book Indika is a major literary source for information about the Mauryan Empire. According to Arrian , ambassador Megasthenes (c. 350 – c. 290 BCE) lived in Arachosia and travelled to Pataliputra . Megasthenes' description of Mauryan society as freedom-loving gave Seleucus a means to avoid invasion, however, underlying Seleucus' decision
17680-489: Was capital of his kingdom and was of great importance but Rai refused Babur offer and choose to die. He was defeated by Babur in January 1528 at Battle of Chanderi and Babur conquer the fort. Gujarat stormed Mandu in 1518. In 1531, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat , captured Mandu, executed Mahmud II (1511–31), and shortly after that, the Malwa sultanate collapsed. The Mughal emperor Akbar captured Malwa in 1562 and made it
17816-411: Was dependent on the loyalty of military commanders who controlled the armed cities scattered within it. The Mauryan economy was helped by the earlier rise of Buddhism and Jainism —creeds that promoted nonviolence, proscribed ostentation, or superfluous sacrifices and rituals, and reduced the costs of economic transactions; by coinage that increased economic accommodation in the region; and by
17952-414: Was introduced by the Mughals . The year is popularly divided into three seasons: summer, the rains, and winter. Summer extends over the months of Chaitra to Jyestha (mid-March to mid-May). The average maximum temperature during the summer months is 37 °C, which typically rises to around 40 °C on a few days. The rainy season starts with the first showers of Aashaadha (mid-June) and extends to
18088-435: Was strongly attached to Malwa, and did not want to stay in Rajasthan. After marriage, she was allowed to visit Malwa only once a year; Gana-gour symbolises these annual return visits. The festival is observed by women in the region once in the month of Chaitra (mid-March) and Bhadra (mid-August). The Ghadlya (earthen pot) festival is celebrated by the girls of the region, who gather to visit every house in their village in
18224-556: Was the improbability of success. In later years, Seleucus' successors maintained diplomatic relations with the Empire based on similar accounts from returning travellers. Chandragupta established a strong centralised state with an administration at Pataliputra, which, according to Megasthenes, was "surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570 towers". Aelian , although not expressly quoting Megasthenes nor mentioning Pataliputra, described Indian palaces as superior in splendor to Persia 's Susa or Ecbatana . The architecture of
18360-438: Was the prime minister of Magadha) by Vishakhadatta , describe his royal ancestry and even link him with the Nanda family. A kshatriya clan known as the Mauryas are referred to in the earliest Buddhist texts , Mahāparinibbāna Sutta . However, any conclusions are hard to make without further historical evidence. Chandragupta first emerges in Greek accounts as "Sandrokottos". As a young man he is said to have met Alexander. Chanakya
18496-574: Was the subject of dispute between the Western Kshatrapas and the Satavahanas during the first three centuries AD. Ujjain emerged a major trading centre during the 1st century AD. Malwa became part of the Gupta Empire during the reign of Chandragupta II (375–413), also known as Vikramaditya , who conquered the region, driving out the Western Kshatrapas . The Gupta period is widely regarded as
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