Maurya Empire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maurya Empire
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| 322 BCE–185 BCE | |||||||||||||||||
Maurya Empire at its maximum extent
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| Capital | Pataliputra (Present-day Patna) | ||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Old Indic Languages (e.g. Magadhi Prakrit, Other Prakrits) | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Brahmanism Buddhism Jainism Ājīvika |
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| Government | Absolute monarchy as described in the Arthashastra | ||||||||||||||||
| Emperor | |||||||||||||||||
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• 320–298 BCE
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Chandragupta | ||||||||||||||||
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• 298–272 BCE
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Bindusara | ||||||||||||||||
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• 268–232 BCE
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Ashoka | ||||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Antiquity | ||||||||||||||||
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• Established
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322 BCE | ||||||||||||||||
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• Disestablished
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185 BCE | ||||||||||||||||
| Area | |||||||||||||||||
| 5,000,000 km2 (1,900,000 sq mi) | |||||||||||||||||
| Currency | Panas | ||||||||||||||||
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| Today part of |  Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Iran Nepal Pakistan |
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Maurya Empire is the first large empire of India. The empire was founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya.
Chandragupta Maurya's rule
Chandragupta Maurya established the Maurya empire by overthrowing the Nanda dynasty and expanded the empire with the help of Chanakya. By 316 BC , the Maurya empire fully occupied North-Western parts of India, defeating and conquering the governors left by Alexander the Great. Chandragupta Maurya defeated Seleucus I Nicator and gained the territories beyond Indus River.
After Chandragupta Maurya, his son Bindusara started to rule from 298 BC. He was called as "Amitraghata", the sanskrit word telling that Bindusara is the "slayer of enemies". He conquered the southern parts of India. After his death only Kalinga (modern Orissa) and parts of Tamil Nadu were left unconquered.
Golden age of the empire
King Ashoka, son of Bindusara became the emperor of Mauryan Empire in 268 BC. He is one of the greatest emperor of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka conquered Kalinga in the violent and bloody war, which is known as the Kalinga War. This is the only war fought by King Ashoka. The casualities are more than 200,000. The region of Kalinga was destroyed and looked bloodshed. This changed the mind of Ashoka. He devoted the rest of his life to ahimsa and dharma-vijaya. He became a Buddhist after this war.King Ashoka made many Rock edicts and Stupas in his empire. The present emblem of India was taken from his rock pillars. He was renowned now as Ashoka the Great.
Decline
After his death in 232 BC, the empire started to decline. The empire lasted just fifty years after his death. Brihadratha Maurya, the last Mauryan emperor was killed by his general Pushyamitra Shunga, who founded the Shunga Empire in 185 BC.
Images for kids
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Pataliputra, capital of the Mauryas. Ruins of pillared hall at Kumrahar site.
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The Pataliputra capital, discovered at the Bulandi Bagh site of Pataliputra, 4th–3rd c. BCE.
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A silver coin of 1 karshapana of the Maurya empire, period of Bindusara Maurya about 297–272 BC, workshop of Pataliputra. Obv: Symbols with a sun. Rev: Symbol. Dimensions: 14 × 11 mm. Weight: 3.4 g.
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Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. c. 250 BCE.
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Ashoka pillar at Vaishali.
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Fragment of the 6th Pillar Edict of Ashoka (238 BCE), in Brahmi, sandstone, British Museum.
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Statuettes of the Mauryan era
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Maurya statuette, 2nd century BCE.
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Bhadrabahu Cave, Shravanabelagola where Chandragupta is said to have died
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The stupa, which contained the relics of Buddha, at the center of the Sanchi complex was originally built by the Maurya Empire, but the balustrade around it is Sunga, and the decorative gateways are from the later Satavahana period.
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Mauryan architecture in the Barabar Caves. Lomas Rishi Cave. 3rd century BCE.
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An early stupa, 6 meters in diameter, with fallen umbrella on side. Chakpat, near Chakdara. Probably Maurya, 3rd century BCE.
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Mauryan ringstone, with standing goddess. Northwest Pakistan. 3rd Century BCE
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A map showing the north western border of Maurya Empire, including its various neighboring states.
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Figure of a foreigner, found in Sarnath, 3rd century BCE. This is a probable member of the West Asian Pahlava or Saka elite in the Gangetic plains during the Mauryan period.
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Hoard of mostly Mauryan coins.
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Mauryan coin with arched hill symbol on reverse.
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Mauryan Empire coin. Circa late 4th-2nd century BCE.
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Mauryan Empire, Emperor Salisuka or later. Circa 207-194 BCE.
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Remains of the Ashokan Pillar in polished stone (right of the Southern Gateway).
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Remains of the shaft of the pillar of Ashoka, under a shed near the Southern Gateway.
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Pillar and its inscription (the "Schism Edict") upon discovery.
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The capital nowadays.
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The distribution of the Edicts of Ashoka.
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Map of the Buddhist missions during the reign of Ashoka.
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Territories "conquered by the Dharma" according to Major Rock Edict No. 13 of Ashoka (260–218 BCE).
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See also
In Spanish: Imperio Maurya para niños
