Brahmi Inscription

The earliest known Brahmi inscriptions are from the edicts of Ashoka, the third Mauryan emperor of Magadha who ruled most of the sub-continent between 268 and 232 BCE.

Brahmi Inscription
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About Brahmi Inscription:

  • The Brahmi script is the earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script.
  • It is one of the most influential writing systems; all modern Indian scripts and several hundred scripts found in Southeast and East Asia are derived from Brahmi.
  • Most examples of Brahmi found in North and Central India represent the Prakrit language.
  • The earliest known Brahmi inscriptions are from the edicts of Ashoka, the third Mauryan emperor of Magadha who ruled most of the sub-continent between 268 and 232 BCE. 
  • Traces of the script have been discovered not just in the Gangetic plains but also in excavated sites in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka, mostly on pottery shards.
  • Among the many descendant scripts of Brahmi are those of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, such as Devanagari and the Bengali and Gujarati scripts; those of the Deccan region, including the scripts for Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.

Q1: What is an Inscription?

Inscriptions refer to any form of writing or markings on a surface, typically made for the purpose of recording information, transmitting messages, or providing instructions.

Source: Brahmi inscription found in Dharanikota

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