MAURYAN DYNASTY

The Mauryan Empire or Maurya Dynasty was in the period of 323 BC - 185 BC. The Kingdom has a great military which was the largest in the world at the time.

Chandragupta Maurya 323 BC -298 BC
Chandra Gupta Maurya was the founder of the Dynasty originated from the kingdom of Magadha with the capital Pataliputhra.

Now the kingdom is in Eastern UttarPradesh and Bihar. In 305 he defeated the General of Alexander, Seleucus. He overthrown the Nanda Dynasty and extended his power to the central and western part of India.The Chandragupta Empire has well administration and military organisation. At the period of Maurayan Empire it was the largest empire of the time. The Empire extended from Bengal to Hindu Kush and from Himalayas to Narmada. It is believed that som of the portion of Karnataka was under the rule of Maurya.

Kautilya or Chanakya

He was a brahmin teacher of Takshasila. Chandragupta Maurya was built his empire with the help of Chankya. He had an authority in political science and he wrote the book arthasasthra which explains the administration and politics. 

Bindusara ( 298 BC - 273 BC )

Chandragupta rules for 24 years and his son Bindusara become the ruler of the Mauryan Empire. He maintained friendly contact with his neighboring rulers. His Empire has extended to whole north India and a part of Afghanistan and South India. The orginal of the empire was Simhasena. He had a friendly approach to Dravidian , Pandyan and Cheras. In the northern side Kalinga(now in Odisha) was the only part which was not under the Empire . His reign ended in 273 BC.

Ashoka (273 BC - 232 BC)

Ashoka was the successor and son of Bindusara. Ha was the most famous ruler in the empire and to the world. He is also known as Ashoka the Great. All spread of India, Afganistan and Baluchisthan were under his rule except small part of south India. The valleys of Nepal and Kashmir were also included in the in his empire. He was a great warrior and ruler.

  Kalinga, now in Odisha was not in his empire. He started fighting against the the Kalinga for expanding the empire. Kalinga has a brave and well established army and they never surrender to the Mauryan Empire. The Kalinga war is considered as the most biggest war in the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka defeated Kalinga in 261 BC. Nearly 100,000 peoples died in the war including soldiers and civilians. This was the turning point in the life of the great ruler Ashoka the Great. The sight of the massive war were affected to the great emperor. Then he decided to never fought a war. Then he converted to Buddhism by Upagupta. He decided to started spreading Buddhism in his Empire. He built Ashoka pillar. Later the Dharma Chakra in Ashoka pillar was placed in Indian National flag. The capitol in the Pillar was considered as the national emblem. Ashoka died in 232 BC.

The Sungas (185 BC- 173 BC)

After Ashoka Mauryan Empire has both internal and external problems. In 185 BC The commander in chief Pushyamithra, Killed last Mauryan King Brihadratha and becomes the King of Magadha. He was the Founder of Sunga Dynasty. They are known for Idol worship and they were orthodox Hindu. They built Garuda Pillar at Bensagar. They were over throne by Vasudeva. Vasudeva Founded Kanva Dynasty.

After the Mauryan and their successor Empire a number of foreign immigrants are invaded. They established a well system and administration in their ruling time.