Social History of Mauryas
Megasthenes and the Seven Classes of Mauryan Society
Megasthenes, in his work 'Indica', described the Mauryan society as being divided into seven distinct occupational classes.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class 12 - Themes in Indian History Part I
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2017
Evidence Source
Link ↗The division of Mauryan society into seven classes is particularly mentioned in:
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Foreign observers often interpreted Indian social structures through their own frameworks, leading to unique classifications distinct from the Sanskrit texts.
Authentic Source Evidence
Megasthenes in his book 'Indica' famously claimed that the Indian population was divided into seven classes: Philosophers, Farmers, Herdsmen, Artisans, Soldiers, Overseers, and Councilors.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"Who were the 'Overseers' mentioned by Megasthenes?"
They were the royal spies or secret agents (Episkopoi) responsible for reporting the conduct of people and officials to the King.
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"The 'Seven Classes' theory highlights how an outsider misinterpreted the functional occupational groups of India as a rigid social hierarchy."
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