Indian Epigraphy c16.s4.6

c16.s4.6

As regards the provinces, districts and subdivisions of a kingdom, it may be pointed out at the outset that it is sometimes difficult to use these terms for the words found in inscriptions. Their sizes may have varied considerably with reference to an empire like that of the Mauryas and a small kingdom, sometimes smaller than a District of today. The same territorial unit may have been a kingdom in one age and only a district of an empire in another. It is usually difficult to form an idea about the extent of a district, which may have varied in different ages. Such territorial units were very often named after their chief cities. Sometimes the districts and provinces in the Tamil-speaking area were named after royal personages.