Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c9.s1.t2.2

c9.s1.t2.2

Greek observers of the fourth century B. C. and the epitomisers of a later age allude to a system of provincial government under officials styled nomarchs and hyparchs. A nomarch is a local ruler or governor of a nome or district. The word hyparch is sometimes used to denote a satrap. But the functionary in question is at times spoken of as a subordinate of a satrap. Though the officials are mentioned chiefly in connection with the Punjab in the days of Alexander and the Magadhan empire in the Maurya period, it is permissible to conjecture that the provincial system under the Nandas, specially in the districts under their undisputed sway, was not very different. In the third century B. C. we hear of administrative charges called āhāra, vishaya, janapada etc. under functionaries styled mahāmātras rājūkas, prādeśikas and rāshṭriyas who seem to answer to the nomarchs and hyparchs mentioned by the Greeks.