The Rise of Empires

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the rise of empires in ancient India, focusing on the Nanda and Maurya dynasties, key figures, and governance concepts.

Empire

A collection of smaller kingdoms or territories over which a powerful ruler or group of rulers exert power often after waging war against the smaller kingdoms.

Imperium

A Latin word meaning 'supreme power', from which the word 'empire' is derived.

Samraj

A Sanskrit word for 'emperor', meaning 'the lord of all' or 'supreme ruler'.

Adhiraja

A word commonly used for 'emperor' in ancient Sanskrit texts, meaning 'overlord'.

Rajadhiraja

A Sanskrit term for 'emperor', meaning 'king of kings'.

Tributary

A ruler or a state that has submitted to an emperor and pays tribute (money, grain, livestock, etc.) as a sign of submission, loyalty, or respect.

Vassal

A synonym for 'tributary', used to describe kingdoms that accepted an emperor's overlordship.

Posterity

The generations to come.

Guilds (Shrenis)

Powerful associations of traders, craftsmen, moneylenders, or agriculturists that possessed the autonomy to create their own internal rules.

Magadha

A kingdom in modern-day south Bihar that rose in importance between the $6^{th}$ and $4^{th}$ century $BCE$ to set the stage for India's first empire.

Mahapadma Nanda

The ruler who rose to prominence in Magadha around the $5^{th}$ century $BCE$ and founded the Nanda dynasty.

Dhana Nanda

The last emperor of the Nanda dynasty who was very rich but highly unpopular because he oppressed and exploited his people.

Panini

A famed Sanskrit grammarian who lived around the $5^{th}$ century $BCE$ and composed the Ashtadhyayi.

Sūtras

Concise, carefully crafted phrases that capture knowledge and important ideas in a way that is easy to remember and pass on.

Alexander

A young and powerful Greek king from Macedonia who conquered the Persian Empire and campaigned in India between $327$ and $325$ $BCE$.

Satraps

Governors of provinces in Persian and Greek empires left behind by the overlord to manage far-off territories.

Gymnosophists

A group of Indian sages, meaning 'naked philosophers,' who were renowned for their wisdom and challenged by Alexander with riddles.

Chandragupta Maurya

The founder of the Maurya Empire who overthrew the Nandas around $321$ $BCE$ with the help of his mentor Kautilya.

Kautilya

A teacher at Takshashila university, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta, who served as a mentor to Chandragupta Maurya.

Indika

The book written by the Greek historian and diplomat Megasthenes detailing his travels in India during the Mauryan period.

Arthashastra

A famous work by Kautilya, literally meaning 'the science of governance and economics'.

Saptanga

A concept from Kautilya listing the seven elements of a kingdom: swami, amatya, janapada, durga, kosha, danda, and mitra.

Ashoka

The grandson of Chandragupta Maurya who ruled from $268$ to $232$ $BCE$ and adopted the path of peace after the Kalinga war.

Edict

An official declaration issued by authorities, such as the messages Ashoka engraved on rocks or pillars.

Prakrit

The popular language in many parts of India in which most of Ashoka's edicts were inscribed.

Brahmi

The script used to write most Ashokan edicts, considered the mother of all regional scripts of India.

Devanampiya Piyadasi

The titles Ashoka used in his edicts, meaning 'Beloved of the Gods' and 'one who regards others with kindness'.

Dharma (Dhamma)

A concept representing moral law, ethical duties, and living in harmony with the cosmic order (ritam).

Sohgaura copper plate

One of India's earliest known administrative records, dating to the $4^{th}$-$3^{rd}$ century $BCE$, mentioning a granary for famine protection.

Anda

The big, round hemispherical structure in the centre of a stupa that represents the universe.

Pradakshina

The act of walking around the anda of a stupa in a circle as a form of worship.

Dharmachakra

The wheel of dharma found on the Sarnath pillar, which symbolises the Buddha's teachings.

Satyameva Jayate

The Sanskrit motto added to India's national emblem meaning 'truth alone triumphs'.