Economic Policies of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This research examines the economic policies and administrative frameworks of the Mauryan (322-185 BCE) and Gupta (320-550 CE) empires, two of ancient India's most influential polities. Through analysis of primary sources including the Arthashastra, inscriptions, numismatic evidence, and archaeological findings, this study highlights the distinct approaches to economic management that characterized each empire. The Mauryan state exhibited a highly centralized economic structure with extensive state control over production, trade, and resource extraction, while the Gupta period demonstrated a more decentralized approach with greater emphasis on guild autonomy and private enterprise. This comparative analysis reveals how these differing economic frameworks influenced agricultural productivity, trade networks, taxation systems, and monetary policies. The research concludes that despite their contrasting administrative approaches, both empires successfully established sophisticated economic systems that facilitated unprecedented prosperity and cultural florescence in their respective eras, with legacies that influenced subsequent economic administration in the Indian subcontinent for centuries.