Nanda Empire

Nanda Empire was an empire in Gangetic plain and Nepal (South Asia) that lasted from c. 345 to 322 BCE, about 23 years. Its people spoke Indo-Aryan languages (Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala).

Mahapadma Nanda, said to be of low birth, built the first empire of the Ganges plain. Reports of its huge army helped push Alexander's troops to mutiny at the Beas, and Chandragupta Maurya overthrew it around 322 BCE.

See Nanda Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 345 to 322 BCE

Duration

23 years

Type

Empire

Region

Gangetic plain and Nepal, South Asia

Language family

Indo-Aryan

Capital

Pataliputra

Came from

• Shishunaga dynasty c. 413 to 345 BCE

Became

• Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 326 BCE Alexander at the Hydaspes

Neighbours in South Asia

• Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE
• Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
• Achaemenid eastern satrapies c. 535 to 330 BCE
• Shishunaga dynasty c. 413 to 345 BCE

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
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
• Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe
• Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE, Middle East
• Empire of Alexander the Great 336 to 323 BCE, Europe

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