Maurya Empire

Mauryan Empire
322 BCE–185 BCE
Territories controlled by Maurya Empire at its maximum extent.
Capital	Pataliputra (Present-day Patna)
Common languages	Magadhi Prakrit and Other Prakrits)
Religion	Buddhism Brahmanism Jainism
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

The Mauryan Empire was a empire in South Asia, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE and lasting until 185 BCE. It was centralized through the conquest of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, with its capital in Pataliputra (modern Patna). The empire covered regions that are now part of Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.^[1]

Chandragupta Maurya, assisted by Chanakya, overthrew the Nanda empire around 322 BCE. Expanding westward, he conquered territories left by Alexander the Great in modern-day Pakistan. By 317 BCE, the empire fully occupied the northwestern subcontinent. The Mauryan Empire also defeated Seleucus I, acquiring land west of the Indus River (modern-day Pakistan), during the Seleucid–Mauryan war.^[2][3]

1. ↑ Dyson, Tim (2018). A Population History of India: From the First Modern People to the Present Day. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-882905-8.
2. ↑ Mookerji, Radhakumud (1966). Chandragupta Maurya and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0405-0.
3. ↑ Kosmin, Paul J. (2014-06-23). The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in the Seleucid Empire. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-72882-0.