Mauryan empire image

Mauryan Empire Timeline

By AlimTYS
  • 326 BCE

    Kautilya (Chanakya) dismissed by Dhana Nanda

    After Alexander’s advance into Punjab, Kautilya, a brahman priest who would one day write the Arthashastra and be known as one of the greatest advisors in history, came to advise Dhana Nanda, king of the the Nandan Empire, but was dismissed.
  • 323 BCE

    Alexander the Great dies

    Alexander the Great expanded his empire up to the Nanda Empire (aka. Magadha Kingdom) but was fearful of continuing his advance and battling the large and military powerful Nanda Empire. Because of this, he decided to return to Greece but died in Babylon, the previous capital of the Persian Empire. With his empire splitting up into smaller kingdoms each being governed by different generals, king Seleucus I gained the part of the empire found around Persia founding the Seleucid Empire.
  • 320 BCE

    Chandragupta Maurya conquers Nanda Empire: beginning of the Mauryan Empire

    With the help of Kautilya, Chandragupta Maurya conquered the Nanda Empire at the age of 21 with the help of spies and traitors within the Nanda Empire, deposing the final leader, Dhana Nanda. He then converted his new founded empire to the Mauryan Empire with its capital at Pataliputra.
  • Period: 320 BCE to 305 BCE

    Mauryan Empire: The Rise

    Chandragupta starts of by conquering the many small indigenous kingdoms left behind in Northern India after Alexander the Great died. This allowed for the Empire to grow at a very fast rate, which allowed for Chandragupta to incorporate all of Northern India under his rule in the first 10 years of his reign.
  • Period: 320 BCE to 185 BCE

    The Spies of The Mauryan Empire

    The Samrat (Emperor) of the Mauryan Empire employed spies to keep control of his vast Empire and be the eyes and ears for the Emperor. They were extremely pivotal in keeping a lookout on the Emperor's enemies across India. These spies were very loyal and resourceful towards the Emperor. Kautilya writes about the whole organization and network of the Mauryan spy system in the Arthashastra, as he was the mastermind behind the whole idea.
  • 310 BCE

    Kautilya (Chanakya) writes The Arthashastra

    Kautilya, Chandragupta Maurya’s closest advisor, writes the Arthashastra. The Arthashastra is a book about how to run a country will staying in power. It discusses subjects such as diplomacy, governing, war, taxation, negotiation, trade along with much more. Future leaders are believed to have taken inspiration from it as it was spread through trade with Greeks, Romans along with South Asian kingdoms. The work is often considered similar to Machiavelli's "The Prince" and Chinese Legalism.
  • 305 BCE

    Chandragupta wins war against Selucid Empire

    Chandragupta has a war with the Seleucid Empire which is in disarray after Alexander’s death. He does this to retake some of the land that Alexander had conquered as well as marry Seleucus I daughter, whom he fell in love with at first sight. The result was a indo-greek peace treaty with a border established between the two empires at the Hindu Kush. Chandragupta Maurya gained lots of Seleucus's land around the Indus River Valley along with marrying the king's daughter for 500 war elephants.
  • Period: 304 BCE to 223 BCE

    Mauryan Trade with the Hellenistic World

    The khyber pass was a trade route along the silk road, key for the Mauryan Empire, especially during the peace treaty from 304-223 with the Seleucid Empire. Greek Hellenic art and culture was embraced by the Mauryan Empire in Pakistan and Northwestern India. This can be seen from this object excavated from Pakistan showcased at the ROM with greek elements. Goods were also exchanged such as textiles, spices, and exotic foods allowing for the upkeep of such a large Mauryan army.
  • 298 BCE

    The end of Chandragupta Maurya's reign, founder of the Mauryan Empire

    After Chandragupta’s successful creation of the Mauryan Empire and expansion Northwest, he voluntary abdicated the throne and gave it up to his son, Bindusara. Chandragupta decided to then worship Jainism and become Ascetic, joining a wandering group of monks and giving up all his material possessions. He embraced the Jail ritual of Santhara in which you fast onto death as a form of self purification and liberation of the soul.
  • Period: 298 BCE to 273 BCE

    Reign of Bindusara

    Bindusara, Chandragupta’s favourite son became emperor. Although he reined 25 years, little is known about his reign. He expanded the borders of the Mauryan Empire towards the south and maintained control over the Indian Subcontinent earning the title “Amitrochates” (destroyer of foes) in Greek accounts. He is also believed to have distanced himself from both Jain and Buddhist rituals, preserving Hindu traditions.
  • Period: 273 BCE to 262 BCE

    Beginning of the reign of Emperor Ashoka the Great

    Ashoka takes over as the third emperor of the Mauryan Empire, ruling from (273-232 BCE). As a youth, Ashoka was a ruthless and brutal, following in the military footsteps of his grandfather Chandragupta. Buddhist texts say he had to kill at least six of his brothers to become emperor. Ashoka was an ambitious, aggressive, and authoritative ruler and commander, killing many hundreds of thousands of people along his way to ruling the Indian subcontinent.
  • 262 BCE

    The conquering of the State of Kalinga

    Ashoka continued his military campaigns across India, setting his eyes on the State of Kalinga. In a short war against the state he conquered them ruthlessly, (150,000 taken captive, 100,000 slain, with many times that number who died), overwhelming them on the battlefield. Afterwards, Ashoka was left in a deep state of remorse and regret after conquering Kalinga, and appeared to have a change of heart, renouncing war and embracing peace leaving the southernmost part of India unconquered.
  • 261 BCE

    Aftermath of Kalinga

    Ashoka seems to have gained a deep affection for the philosophical teachings of Buddhism, the concept of Dharma, and the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Ashoka now aims to become a man of selflessness, piety, duty, good conduct and decency, very regretful of his previous actions. He establishes strict centralized laws, including banning slavery and the killing of many animals as well as making all religious and cultural beliefs tolerated and all classes treated with equal respect.
  • Period: 261 BCE to 232 BCE

    Golden Age: Flourishing under Ashoka

    Ashoka brought 40 years of peace to the Mauryan people, during which he does many wonderful things. He constructed beautiful structures, planting trees and nature across his empire, building many roads, waterways, and rest-houses for travellers, along with free healthcare and established medical facilities for everyones use across his Empire. Ashoka realized that “happiness and contentment of the people was more important than conquering neighbouring lands.” (Quote from one of Ashoka's pillars)
  • Period: 258 BCE to 232 BCE

    Ashoka: Spread of Buddhism

    Although the state had no control over citizens religious beliefs, Ashoka encouraged the spread and practice of Buddhism and belief in the concept of Dharma. He did this through establishing Buddhist pilgrimage sites and stupas (shrines) across his empire, helping to organize the third buddhist council, and getting missionaries and family to spread the religion to Greece, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Syria. His son, Mahinda, converted the king of Sri Lanka to Buddhism, making it the state religion.
  • 245 BCE

    Ashoka's Pillars

    Ashoka put up pillars across all of his empire as a public address system for his edicts and laws, many of which could've been written by him. These pillars with edicts inscribed on them stood in city centres and were written in the local dialect for where they were located, with 2 written in Greek. The most famous and significant of Ashoka's pillars have 4 lions on top, symbolising importance along with power and authority. This proved to be a very effective way of governing his vast empire.
  • Period: 230 BCE to 185

    Fall of The Mauryan Empire: Period of Chaos

    After Ashoka died, there was no clear ruler for the Mauryan Empire with many sons fighting to be emperor, creating a period of chaos. There were 6 emperors appointed over the last 40 years, each unable to hold power and not living up to expectations. The Greco-Bactrian king, Demetrius, capitalized on the break-up, forming an Indo-Greek Kingdom and pushing the empire back all the way to Patliputra. As well, many local rulers declared independence due to being upset with current rulers.
  • 185 BCE

    The founding of the Sunga Empire

    In 185 BCE, Pushyamitra Sunga proclaimed himself king and converted the Mauryan Empire to the Sunga Empire. Pushyamitra is most known for persecuting Buddhists and almost eradicating the whole Buddhist religion in favour of Hinduism, ending Ashoka's revival of the religion swiftly but not outside of India's borders.
  • 185 BCE

    Sunga Coup: End of the Mauryan Empire

    Brihadratha, the final emperor of the Mauryan Empire, was assassinated and overthrown by Pushyamitra Sunga, his general. Brihadratha would be in power for less than three years. This was a planned and organized coup due to the citizens suffering under the destabilization and decentralization of an empire which allowed for Pushyamitra Sunga to assert his force quickly and be successful.
  • Period: 185 BCE to 322 BCE

    Mauryan Empire Timespan

    322-185 BCE