Mauryan Empire

In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire. Pataliputra is the capital of Maurya Empire. He ruled from BC 321 to BC 297. Chandragupta Maurya Era is mentioned in the famous work of Megasthenes, “Indica”. Megasthenes is a greek ambassador in Maurya’s court. Chandragupta's rule brought relief to the people who were struggling with foreign invasions. Kautilya is the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya. The administration of Maurya was based on Arthashastra. Arthashastra written by Kautilya is translated into English by Syama Sastri. Chandragupta Maurya spent his last days in Shravana Belgola in Karnataka. Chandragupta's son Bindusara came to power after Chandragupta. He led the country to a better economic situation. Bindusara was succeeded by his son Ashoka. Devanampriya and Priyadasi Raja were the titles of Ashoka. The meaning of Ashoka is “Man with not Shoka”. Ashoka’s war against Kalinga (modern Orissa) is happened in BC 261. Upon advice from a Buddhist monk Upagupta, Ashoka followed Buddhism. Kalinga is now situated in Orissa. The third Buddhist Council is happened during the rule of Ashoka. Ashoka died in BC 232. After Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire came to the verge of collapse. Ashoka's non-violence and Buddhist principles as a political policy led to the decline of the Mauryan military power and the rise of disintegration in the country. In 185 BC, the last Mauryan king, Brihadratha, was killed by his general Pushyamitra. Then, Pushyamitra, a Brahmin, founded the Sunga dynasty.