Social and Cultural condition under the Mauryan period?

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Mauryan Society and Culture

 In the Mauryan period, the social organization based on Varna and Ashrama w hich had begun in the Vedic age, reached a definite stage. In this period the Brahmanas regained their lost position i n the society. Megathese divides the Mauryan society into seven divisions - philosophers, farmers, herdsman, artisans, soldiers, magistrate and councillors. They have been interpreted as castes because no one was allowed to marry outside his own division or change his profession. The philosophers consisted of Brahmanas and Shramanas . The Shramanas included ascetics, monks and the followers of various sects. T he philosophers did not pay tax. T he farmers included the land owners , the Shudra cultivators and the labourers working on the land. The herdsmen were probably the pastoralists who comprised a significant section in the Mauryan population. The status of the artisans depended on his particular craft. For instance, metal workers were given a higher status than the weavers and potte...
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Discuss major causes for raise New Religious Movements in 6th century ?

 The primary cause for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism was the religious unrest in India in the 6th Century BCE. Several social, economic, religious factors were also responsible for the emergence of heterodox religions like Buddhism and Jainism, In the Post-Vedic period the society was divided into four varnas viz, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras. The Brahmanas who occupied the top most place in the society became the custodians of religion and learning. The Kshatriyas reacted very sharply against the ritualistic domination and the enviable social status enjoyed by the Brahmanas. Gautama, the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and Vardhamana Mahavira, the promoter of Jainism were Kshatriyas. Both of them questioned the authority of the Brahmanas. In the Bramanical society, the Vaisyas were ranked third. During this period, due to the emergence of agrarian economy, expansion of trade and commerce, and finally the formation of guilds made the Vaisya community economically po...
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Impact of Central Asian Conquests

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