Mauryan

The Mauryan Empire, or Maurya Empire, was a major ancient Indian state that existed from about 322 to 185 BCE. It was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, who, with the adviser Kautilya (Chanakya), overthrew the Nanda Empire and united much of the Indian subcontinent north of the Deccan. The empire reached its greatest extent under Ashoka, with earlier expansion under Bindusara. The capital was at Pataliputra (present-day Patna). The empire stretched from parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan in the west to Bengal in the east, and included parts of the south-central Indian peninsula.

Administration and economy: The Mauryan state maintained a centralized bureaucracy. Provincial governors administered extensive territories; royal officers reported to the emperor. The Arthashastra, attributed to Kautilya, provided a framework for governance and revenue. Trade and agriculture were supported by road networks and standardized measures; coinage expanded and became more regularized in this period. The empire left behind monumental architecture and urban planning, including the city of Pataliputra and the rock edicts and pillars associated with Ashoka.

Religious policy: Ashoka's reign marked a turning point, with rock edicts promoting dharma, welfare, and religious tolerance. After the Kalinga War, he embraced Buddhism and sent missionaries beyond India, though Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions persisted. Mauryan art and inscriptions contributed to the spread of political and religious ideas across the region; the Great Stupa at Sanchi is associated with this era.

Decline: After Ashoka's death around 232 BCE, the empire gradually weakened due to succession disputes and regionalization; by the mid-2nd century BCE the Mauryan state had largely dissolved, giving way to successor dynasties such as the Shungas.