Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
Mauryan Empire
c. 321–185 BCE
Map layer: Empires & Kingdoms
The first empire to span most of the subcontinent, under Chandragupta, Bindusara and Ashoka.
Who ruled when
Move along the chart to see which powers existed in any year; click a bar for its page, or empty space to open the map.
Main polities of this period
| Name | Type | Span | Region | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauryan Empire ★ | Empire | c. 321–185 BCE | Pan-Indian | Pataliputra |
| Seleucid Empire (Indian satrapies) | Foreign / northwestern kingdom | c. 312–303 BCE | Northwest | |
| Greco-Bactrian Kingdom | Foreign / northwestern kingdom | c. 256–125 BCE | Northwest | Bactra |
Also existing during this period
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Satavahana Empire
Deccan · c. 200 BCE – c. 225 CE
Magadha
East · c. 700–321 BCE
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Mahameghavahana (Chedi) of Kalinga
East · c. 200 BCE – c. 50 CE
Shunga Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 185–73 BCE
Indo-Greek Kingdoms
Northwest · c. 200 BCE – c. 10 CE
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE
Early Cholas (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Early Cheras (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Anuradhapura Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Events
| Year | Event | Polity |
|---|---|---|
| c. 321 BCE | Chandragupta Maurya overthrows the Nandas The Nanda dynasty ended and the Mauryan Empire was founded. |
Mauryan Empire |
| c. 317 BCE | Chandragupta takes the northwest from Alexander's satraps Greek garrisons east of the Indus were removed. |
Mauryan Empire |
| c. 303 BCE | Seleucid-Mauryan treaty Seleucus ceded the lands west of the Indus in return for 500 war elephants. |
Mauryan Empire |
| c. 302 BCE | Megasthenes at Pataliputra writes the Indica | Mauryan Empire |
| c. 297 BCE | Chandragupta Maurya retires to Shravanabelagola | Mauryan Empire |
| c. 268 BCE | Ashoka's accession | Mauryan Empire |
| c. 261 BCE | Kalinga War Kalinga was annexed and Ashoka renounced war for Dhamma. |
Mauryan Empire |
| c. 257 BCE | Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts inscribed | Mauryan Empire |
| c. 250 BCE | Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra | Mauryan Empire |
| c. 249 BCE | Ashoka visits Lumbini Lumbini's taxes were reduced to one-eighth. |
Mauryan Empire |
| c. 247 BCE | Mahinda brings Buddhism to Sri Lanka | Anuradhapura Kingdom |
| c. 232 BCE | Death of Ashoka | Mauryan Empire |
| c. 185 BCE | Pushyamitra Shunga assassinates Brihadratha The Mauryan dynasty ended and the Shunga dynasty began. |
Shunga Dynasty |
📚 Recommended reading for this era
Reference
A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India
The most complete modern textbook on ancient India, rich in sources, maps and archaeology.
Reference
Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300
An authoritative, interpretive history of early Indian society and states.
Reference
The Wonder That Was India
A timeless, beautifully written survey of ancient Indian civilisation.
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