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Polities › Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Empire

Empire Level 2 ★ Major power
c. 321–185 BCE

The largest empire of ancient India, founded by Chandragupta Maurya.

🗺 See on map in 260 BCE
Capital
Pataliputra
Region
Pan-Indian
Duration
136 years
Main period
Mauryan Empire

Changing extent

  • c. 321 BCE — ~650 km radius: Conquest of the Nanda realm
  • c. 303 BCE — ~1000 km radius: Northwest ceded by Seleucus
  • c. 261 BCE — ~1150 km radius: Kalinga annexed — peak under Ashoka
  • c. 220 BCE — ~700 km radius: Later Mauryas, contraction

Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).

Rulers

Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.

Key events

YearEventPlace
c. 321 BCE Chandragupta Maurya overthrows the Nandas
Foundation of the Mauryan Empire with Chanakya's guidance.
The Nanda dynasty ended and the Mauryan Empire was founded.
 Pataliputra
c. 317 BCE Chandragupta takes the northwest from Alexander's satraps
Greek garrisons east of the Indus were removed.
 Punjab
c. 303 BCE Seleucid-Mauryan treaty
Seleucus cedes Arachosia and Gandhara; Megasthenes sent to Pataliputra.
Seleucus ceded the lands west of the Indus in return for 500 war elephants.
 Northwest
c. 302 BCE Megasthenes at Pataliputra writes the Indica Pataliputra
c. 297 BCE Chandragupta Maurya retires to Shravanabelagola
Jain tradition.
 Shravanabelagola
c. 268 BCE Ashoka's accession Pataliputra
c. 261 BCE Kalinga War
Ashoka's conquest of Kalinga and turn to Dhamma.
Kalinga was annexed and Ashoka renounced war for Dhamma.
 Dhauli, Kalinga
c. 257 BCE Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts inscribed
Edicts in Prakrit (Brahmi and Kharosthi) across the empire.
 Girnar
c. 250 BCE Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra Pataliputra
c. 249 BCE Ashoka visits Lumbini
His pillar inscription records the visit.
Lumbini's taxes were reduced to one-eighth.
 Lumbini
c. 232 BCE Death of Ashoka Pataliputra

Sites & monuments

Dhauli Rock Edicts
Inscription / edict · c. 260 BCE
Kalinga edicts of Ashoka.
Girnar Rock Edicts
Inscription / edict · c. 257 BCE
Edicts of Ashoka, later Rudradaman's inscription.
Kalsi Rock Edict
Inscription / edict · c. 257 BCE
Sanchi Stupa
Religious monument · c. 250 BCE
Stupa commissioned by Ashoka; gateways from the Satavahana period.
Sarnath
Religious monument · c. 250 BCE
Site of the Buddha's first sermon; Lion Capital.
Lumbini (Ashoka pillar)
Religious monument · c. 249 BCE
Birthplace of the Buddha; Ashoka's pillar inscription.

Personalities

Chanakya (Kautilya)
active c. 320 BCE
Author of the Arthashastra and adviser to Chandragupta Maurya
 Megasthenes
active c. 300 BCE
Greek envoy to Pataliputra who wrote the Indica

📚 Recommended reading on the Mauryan Empire

Textbook

India's Ancient Past

R. S. Sharma · Oxford University Press

The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.

UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains SSC State PSC
Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗
Reference

A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India

Upinder Singh · Pearson

The most complete modern textbook on ancient India, rich in sources, maps and archaeology.

UPSC Mains General reading
Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗
Reference

Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300

Romila Thapar · Penguin

An authoritative, interpretive history of early Indian society and states.

UPSC Mains General reading
Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗
Reference

The Wonder That Was India

A. L. Basham · Picador

A timeless, beautifully written survey of ancient Indian civilisation.

General reading
Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

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Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Mauryan Empire for a significant part of its history.

Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
 Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
 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
 Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Northwest · c. 256–125 BCE