Maurya Empire Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Maurya Empire

322 BCE–185 BCE

Maurya Empire at its maximum extent

Capital

Pataliputra (Present-day Patna)

Common languages

Old Indic Languages (e.g. Magadhi Prakrit, Other Prakrits)

Religion

Brahmanism
Buddhism
Jainism
Ājīvika

Government

Absolute monarchy as described in the Arthashastra

Emperor

• 320–298 BCE

Chandragupta

• 298–272 BCE

Bindusara

• 268–232 BCE

Ashoka

Historical era

Antiquity

• Established

322 BCE

• Disestablished

185 BCE

Area

5,000,000 km² (1,900,000 sq mi)

Currency

Panas

Preceded by

Succeeded by

	Nanda Empire
	Mahajanapada

Mahameghavahana dynasty
Shunga Empire
Satavahana dynasty
Indo-Scythians

Today part of

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Iran

Nepal

Pakistan

The Maurya Empire was the first really big empire in ancient India. It was started in 322 BCE by a powerful leader named Chandragupta Maurya. This empire was important because it united many different kingdoms across a huge area.

The Maurya Empire: A Great Ancient Kingdom
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See also

The Maurya Empire: A Great Ancient Kingdom

The Maurya Empire was one of the largest empires in the world during its time. It stretched across most of the Indian subcontinent. This empire lasted for about 137 years, from 322 BCE to 185 BCE.

Chandragupta Maurya: The Founder

Chandragupta Maurya was the brave leader who founded the Maurya Empire. He took over the Nanda dynasty with the help of his advisor, Chanakya. Chanakya was a very smart thinker and strategist.

By 316 BCE, Chandragupta had taken control of the northwestern parts of India. He defeated the governors who were left behind by Alexander the Great. Chandragupta also defeated Seleucus I Nicator, a Greek general. This victory helped him gain even more land beyond the Indus River.

Bindusara: The Slayer of Enemies

After Chandragupta Maurya, his son Bindusara became the emperor in 298 BCE. Bindusara was known as "Amitraghata," which is a sanskrit word meaning "slayer of enemies." He continued to expand the empire.

Bindusara conquered many southern parts of India. By the time he died, almost all of India was part of the Maurya Empire. Only a small region called Kalinga (which is now Odisha) and some parts of Tamil Nadu remained unconquered.

A silver coin from the Maurya Empire, showing symbols of a wheel and an elephant. This coin is from the 3rd century BCE.

King Ashoka: A Change of Heart

King Ashoka, Bindusara's son, became emperor in 268 BCE. He is known as one of the greatest emperors in the history of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka wanted to conquer Kalinga, the last unconquered region.

He fought a very violent and bloody war known as the Kalinga War. More than 200,000 people were killed or hurt in this war. The region of Kalinga was completely destroyed. Seeing all this bloodshed deeply changed Ashoka.

After the Kalinga War, Ashoka felt terrible about the violence. He decided to change his life and follow the path of peace. He became a Buddhist and spent the rest of his life promoting ahimsa (non-violence) and dharma-vijaya (victory through righteousness).

King Ashoka built many Rock Edicts and Stupas across his empire. These were pillars and monuments with messages about peace and good behavior. The national emblem of India today comes from one of his famous pillars. Because of his wisdom and peaceful rule, he became known as Ashoka the Great.

Decline of the Empire

After King Ashoka died in 232 BCE, the Maurya Empire began to weaken. The empire only lasted about fifty more years after his death. The last Mauryan emperor was Brihadratha Maurya.

In 185 BCE, Brihadratha Maurya was killed by his own general, Pushyamitra Shunga. Pushyamitra Shunga then started a new kingdom called the Shunga Empire. This marked the end of the great Maurya Empire.

Images for kids

Pataliputra, the capital city of the Mauryas. These are the ruins of a pillared hall at the Kumrahar site.
The Pataliputra capital, found at the Bulandi Bagh site of Pataliputra, from the 4th–3rd century BCE.
A silver coin (1 karshapana) from the Maurya Empire, during the time of Bindusara Maurya (about 297–272 BCE). It was made in Pataliputra.
The famous Lion Capital of Ashoka found at Sarnath, from around 250 BCE.
An Ashoka pillar located in Vaishali.
A piece of the 6th Pillar Edict of Ashoka (238 BCE), written in Brahmi on sandstone, now in the British Museum.
Small statues from the Mauryan era.
A Maurya statuette, from the 2nd century BCE.
Bhadrabahu Cave, Shravanabelagola, where Chandragupta is believed to have died.
The stupa at Sanchi was first built by the Maurya Empire. It held relics of Buddha.
The Dharmarajika stupa in Taxila, Pakistan, is also thought to have been built by Emperor Asoka.
Mauryan architecture inside the Barabar Caves. This is the Lomas Rishi Cave from the 3rd century BCE.
An early stupa, 6 meters wide, with a fallen umbrella on its side. Found in Chakpat, near Chakdara. Likely Maurya, 3rd century BCE.
A Mauryan ringstone with a standing goddess. From Northwest Pakistan, 3rd Century BCE.
A map showing the northwestern border of the Maurya Empire and its neighboring states in 281 BCE.
A figure of a foreigner, found in Sarnath, from the 3rd century BCE.
The Kandahar Edict of Ashoka, a bilingual edict (in Greek and Aramaic) by King Ashoka, from Kandahar.
A collection of mostly Mauryan coins.
A Mauryan coin with an arched hill symbol on its back.
A coin from the Mauryan Empire, dating from the late 4th to 2nd century BCE.
A coin from the Mauryan Empire, from the time of Emperor Salisuka or later (around 207-194 BCE).
Parts of the Ashokan Pillar made of polished stone (to the right of the Southern Gateway).
Remains of the shaft of Ashoka's pillar, under a small shelter near the Southern Gateway.
The pillar and its inscription (the "Schism Edict") when it was first found.
The capital of the pillar as it looks today.
A map showing where the Edicts of Ashoka were found.
A map showing the Buddhist missions during the reign of Ashoka.
Territories "conquered by the Dharma" according to Major Rock Edict No. 13 of Ashoka (260–218 BCE).