Mauryan Empire

• The Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE) was founded by Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BCE).
• The Empire ruled over most of the Indian Subcontinent and had its capital at Pataliputra.

History

• Chandragupta created the Mauryan Empire by occupying the former Greek Satraps left behind after the Invasion of India by Alexander the Great in 326 BCE.

Ashoka

• Ashoka (304-232 BCE) was the grandson of Chandragupta and became Emperor of the Mauryan Empire between 268-232 BCE.
• He is the best known Mauryan Emperor whose Empire included most of India, with the exception of modern Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Grand Trunk Road

• Chandragupta’s successors built the Grand Trunk Road, which linked from the Ganges in Bangladesh to Kabul in Afghanistan.
• It was built during the 3rd century BCE, and is still in use today and is known by the same name.

North Indian Empires

• The Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE)
• The Shunga Empire (185-73 BCE)
• The Kushan Empire (30-375 CE)

Southern Indian Empires

• The Satavahana Empire (228 BCE-224 CE)
• Tamilakam Kingdoms (300 BCE-c. 300 CE)
  • Chola Dynasty (c. 300 BCE-1279 CE)
  • Pallava Dynasty (275 BCE-897 CE)
  • Pandyan Dynasty (400 BCE-618 CE)
  • Chera Dynasty (300 BCE-1100 CE)

Pataliputra