Maurya Empire

Maurya Empire was an empire in Gangetic plain and Nepal (South Asia) that lasted from 322 to 185 BCE, about 137 years. Its people spoke Indo-Aryan languages (Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala).

Chandragupta Maurya, advised by Chanakya, united nearly all of South Asia. His grandson Ashoka turned to Buddhism after the Kalinga war and carved edicts across the subcontinent; the last emperor was killed by his general Pushyamitra.

See Maurya Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

322 to 185 BCE

Duration

137 years

Type

Empire

Region

Gangetic plain and Nepal, South Asia

Language family

Indo-Aryan

Capital

Pataliputra

Came from

• Nanda Empire c. 345 to 322 BCE

Became

• Shunga Empire 185 to 73 BCE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 261 BCE Ashoka's Kalinga war
• 247 BCE Buddhism reaches Sri Lanka

Neighbours in South Asia

• Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
• Indo-Greek Kingdom c. 200 BCE to 10 CE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom c. 256 to 120 BCE
• Shunga Empire 185 to 73 BCE
• Nanda Empire c. 345 to 322 BCE
• Early Cholas c. 300 BCE to 300 CE
• Early Cheras c. 300 BCE to 300 CE
• Yaudheya confederacy c. 200 BCE to 350 CE
• Early Pandyas c. 300 BCE to 250 CE
• Kuninda Kingdom c. 200 BCE to 300 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia
• Ptolemaic Kingdom 305 to 30 BCE, North and West Africa
• Western Han 202 BCE to 9 CE, East Asia
• Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe
• Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE, Middle East
• Qin dynasty 221 to 206 BCE, East Asia

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