Maurya

The Maurya, or Maurya Empire, was a major ancient Indian empire that existed from about 322 to 185 BCE. It is named after its founder, Chandragupta Maurya, who, with the guidance of his adviser Kautilya (Chanakya), toppled the Nanda dynasty in Magadha and established a centralized state.

The dynasty originated in the Magadha region (present-day Bihar) and expanded to unify large parts of the Indian subcontinent. At its height, the Maurya Empire controlled extensive territories in northern, eastern, and central India and reached into parts of present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. The capital was Pataliputra (modern Patna).

Key rulers include Chandragupta Maurya, his son Bindusara, and especially Ashoka the Great. Ashoka expanded the empire to its greatest territorial extent, then adopted Buddhism after the Kalinga War and promoted Buddhist missions, ethics, and public welfare. His edicts, inscribed on pillars and rocks across the realm, remain a major source on Mauryan governance and policy.

Administration was highly centralized, with a bureaucratic structure, provincial governors, standardized coinage, and a vast road network. The political theory associated with Kautilya in the Arthashastra is often linked with Mauryan statecraft, though its exact influence is debated.

Religiously, the Mauryas supported multiple traditions, including Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism; Ashoka’s reign notably advanced Buddhist patronage and diplomacy. After Ashoka, the empire weakened and fragmented, with the last Mauryan ruler Brihadrata dying around 185 BCE, after which the Sunga dynasty emerged.

Legacy of the Maurya includes a lasting impact on Indian political organization, law, trade networks, and Buddhist expansion, as well as enduring artistic achievements such as the early Mauryan pillars and symbols.