Major settlements of post-Mauryan age by Harsh Kumar
Background
Mauryan age was a golden period in Indian history in many senses because this period saw the development which were not occurred in earlier ages. But after flourishing for more than 140 years this great empire was started to disintegrate and ended in c. 187 BC when the last Mauryan king, Brahadratha was killed was Pushyamitra Shunga. After the end of Mauryan empire, various new kingdoms started to emerged, this age came to known as post-Mauryan age (c. 200 BC to c. 300 AD). This period saw huge development in the material culture of society.
Also Read: Post-Mauryan Age – Political History of West, South and Deccan India
Post-Mauryan Period – Resources and Political History of North India
Socio-Cultural life of Mauryan Age
Pre-Historic Studies – Megalithic Culture
Magadha Empire – Urban Administration
Villages and Cities
Jatakas speak of Gamas ranging from 30 to 1000 Kulas. There are references of Gamas associated with particular occupational groups such as reed workers and Salk makers. There is also mention of the villages of potters, carpenters, smiths, forest folks, hunter, fowler and fishermen. Some villages seem to be situated near the cities. Tamil-Brahmi inscription gave brief glimpses of village life in Tamilakam. Alagamalai refers to a Koluvnikan (traders in ploughshares). Kolu is hard iron up fixed to a wooden ploughshare.
Cities of North-West India
Pushkalavati was an important city which identifies as Charsada, an Indo-Greek period city. The excavation of this city indicates the occupation of the region from mid-2nd century BC to mid-3rd century and they discovered drains, refuse pits and cesspools of wide streets. Early houses were made of stone diaper masonry.
During the time of Shaka-Parthians, new cities laid down in Taxila, Sirkap to the north-east of Bhir mound. This period marked by grid planning, chess board pattern and mud fortified walls. Main streets were divided into two parts. During the 1st century AD, Kushanas established new city at Taxila.
The Indo-Gangetic Divide and Upper Ganga Valley
Remains belonging to c. 200 BC to c. 300 AD have been found at many sites in Indo-Gangetic divide and upper Ganga valley. Sunet in Punjab gave evidence of occupation as burnt brick houses, courtyard in middle of two rooms, kitchen, bathroom and stored grain room. At Hastinapur, pottery, iron objects, stone rotary quern, carved ivory handle etc. found.
Purana Qila reflects urban prosperity, house initially made of quartzite rubble set in mud mortar and later houses were made of mud bricks and burnt bricks. Mathura was important centre of craft and trade and also a religious centre with Buddhism, Jainism and early Hinduism because it was the capital of Kushanas. At Ayodhya, terracotta figures of Jains and it was an important trade centre.
At Sringaverapura (Allahabad), the settlement reached to its maximum extent in post-Mauryan age. Koshambi was the largest site of Upper Ganga Valley in Post-Mauryan period.
Middle and Lower Ganga Valley and Eastern India
The excavation of Saheth-Maheth (Shravasti) revealed stupas, monasteries, shrines back to Mauryan period. The other elements like pieces of bones, gold leaf and silver punched marked coins were also discovered. Rajghat, Khairadih, Lauriya-Nandangarh, Champa, Mahasthangarh, Bangarh, Tamluk, Chandraketugarh, Birhampur, Jaugada etc. were important cities of middle and lower Ganga Valley and Eastern India during the post-Mauryan period. The remains of mud walls, terracotta figurines etc. also discovered.
Central and Western India
Besnagar, Ujjain etc. were important sites in Madhya Pradesh and some also discovered from Rajasthan. Different type of objects was discovered during excavation such as pillars, inscriptions, terracotta bangles, glass, shell etc.
Cities and Towns in Deccan
From this region, Roman coins, stupas, viharas, mud fortification etc. were discovered. Bhokardan in Maharashtra, Sanchi and Bharhut in Madhya Pradesh are major sites. The punched marked coins, terracotta figurines, ploughshare, axe, sickle, knife, ring etc. were discovered from these sites. Nagarjunakonda, Amravati (Dhanyakata) were the important sites in lower Deccan.
Cities of Far South
Puhar, Madurai, Tanjore, Vanji, Karur, Muziris etc. were the important port cities in far south during the post-Mauryan age. Muziris, Korkai, Kanchi, Uraiyur etc. were the important trade centres in post-Mauryan age. There are number of Megalithic sites have been discovered. Few inscriptions of Prakrit and Brahmi script have been discovered.
Thus, post- Mauryan period saw huge development as the emergence of new and big urban centres. Many of them were important trade and commerce centres.
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