The Mauryan Polity c10.s1.1

c10.s1.1

It has been already shown (Ch. II) that the empire of Candragupta extended from Afghanistan to Mysore and that of Aśoka was far greater in extent including all the Dekhan and South India upto the frontiers of the Tamil kingdoms. The vastness of the empire under Aśoka can be easily gauged from the distribution of the Pillars, Edicts and the Topes¹ which are usually associated with his name. A significant fact is that Aśoka has invariably caused the Minor Rock Edicts to be located on the borders of the empire. A study of the sites wherein all Aśoka’s dumb monuments were located is in itself an interesting one. The chief places where the Major Rock Edicts are found are the following²:—