Maurya Empire

The Maurya Empire is the first large empire of India. The empire was founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya.

Mauryan Empire
322 BCE–185 BCE
Flag
Maurya Empire at its maximum extent
Capital	Pataliputra (Present-day Patna)
Common languages	Old Indic Languages (e.g. Magadhi Prakrit, Other Prakrits)
Religion	Brahmanism Buddhism Jainism Ājīvika
Government	Absolute monarchy as described in the Arthashastra
Emperor
• 320–298 BCE	Chandragupta
• 298–272 BCE	Bindusara
• 268–232 BCE	Ashoka
• 232–224 BCE	Dasharatha
• 224–215 BCE	Samprati
• 215–202 BCE	Shalishuka
• 202–195 BCE	Devavarman
• 195–187 BCE	Shatadhanvan
• 187–185 BCE	Brihadratha
Historical era	Antiquity
• Established	322 BCE
• Disestablished	185 BCE
Area
5,000,000 km2 (1,900,000 sq mi)
Currency	Panas
Preceded by Succeeded by Nanda Empire Mahajanapada Mahameghavahana dynasty Shunga Empire Satavahana dynasty Indo-Scythians
Today part of	Afghanistan Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan

Chandragupta Maurya's rule

Chandragupta Maurya established the Maurya empire by overthrowing the Nanda dynasty and expanded the empire with the help of Chanakya. By 316 BC , the Maurya empire fully occupied North-Western parts of India, defeating and conquering the governors left by Alexander the Great. Chandragupta Maurya defeated Seleucus I Nicator and gained the territories beyond Indus River.

After Chandragupta Maurya, his son Bindusara started to rule from 298 BC. He was called as "Amitraghata", the sanskrit word telling that Bindusara is the "slayer of enemies". He conquered the southern parts of India. After his death, only Kalinga (modern Orissa) and parts of Tamil Nadu were left unconquered.

Silver punch mark coin of the Maurya empire, with symbols of wheel and elephant. 3rd century BCE.

Golden age of the empire

King Ashoka, son of Bindusara, became the emperor of Mauryan Empire in 268 BC. He is one of the greatest emperor of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka conquered Kalinga in the violent and bloody war, which is known as the Kalinga War. This is the only war fought by King Ashoka. The casualities are more than 200,000. The region of Kalinga was destroyed and looked bloodshed. This changed the mind of Ashoka. He devoted the rest of his life to 'ahinsa' and 'dharma-vijaya'. He became a Buddhist after this war. King Ashoka made many Rock edicts and Stupas in his empire. The present emblem of India was taken from one of his rock pillars. He was commonly called as Ashoka the Great.

Decline

After his death in 232 BC, the empire started to decline. The empire lasted just fifty years after his death. Brihadratha Maurya, the last Mauryan emperor was killed by his general Pushyamitra Sunga, who founded the Sunga Empire in 185 BC.