The Maurya dynasty is one of the largest empires in ancient India. Chandragupta Maurya was thethe founder of the largest empire in ancient India. Chandragupta Maurya spread across much of South Asia, including modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The back story to finding this dynasty is Chanakya.
Chanakya's Oath
Once upon a time, Chankaya was the court poet in Nanda's dynasty. Nanda insulted Chanakya and sent him out of the kingdom. Chankya became so humiliated and swore to take revenge on Nanda. While leaving the kingdom, he was a child who was so energetic. Chanakya reached out to the child's mother and asked her to give the child to him. He will make the child a king. The boy's mother accepted Chanakya's words.
The name of the boy was Chandragupta Maurya. He ruled the Mauryan dynasty from 321 BC to 297 BC. Chandragupta Maurya defeated Nanda and occupied the kingdom. Later Nanda gave his daughter to Chandragupta Maurya as a treaty. Chandragupta Maurya made Pataliputra (now Patna) his capital.
Reign of Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya led the foundation stone to the largest empire in ancient India. He ruled the kingdom from 321 BC to 297 BC. He expanded his kingdom across much of South Asia. This also includes present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Later Chandragupta Maurya has a son named Bindusara. He didn't rule the kingdom for much longer. Bindusara has a son named Ashoka, the greatest ruler in India.
Also read: Story of Hari Hara I or Hari Hara Veera Mallu
The largest empire in ancient India
After the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka is the most successful king in the Mauryan dynasty. Under Emperor Ashoka's rule, the Mauryan dynasty reached its peak stage. The largest empire in ancient India extended to Greece and Egypt.
The kingdom began as a small kingdom with a few garrisons and its capital at Taxila near modern-day Islamabad. They grew in strength as they gained more territory through alliances and conquests. They then built a new capital named Patliputra and became the largest empire in ancient India.
Raise of the Maurya Dynasty
During the late Vedic period, powerful Aryan tribes came down into north-central India, conquering and assimilating much of the Indian population. During this period, Indian society was predominately divided up into three classes (the varṇāśrama, meaning occupation) - priests, warriors, and farmers. As time went on, these noble tribes gradually consolidated power and founded kingdoms in North-Central India.
These tribes became known as Māurya (meaning brave), and by 327 BCE one Māurya king had emerged from central northern India to conquer most of North and Central India. He used a centralized government to form his empire which marked the largest empire in ancient India.
Ashoka's Reign
The Maurya dynasty was the largest empire in ancient India. This is worth noting because we have a lot to learn from this dynasty, not only about its vast territory and wealth but also about its ability to unite diverse people.
After all, it's not every day that one single government rules over a territory that spanned from modern-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh and Pakistan to Sri Lanka.
Ashoka's empire was so large that more than two thousand years later historians are still trying to figure out how it managed to function successfully with so many diverse people living together. A little under 100 years after Ashoka became king, the very first major rebellion against his rule took place. And he handled it perfectly.
Ashoka's Greatness
Ashoka fought many wars to expand his kingdom. But one great this about him is his forgiveness. Ashoka didn't kill any king who he fought against. In response to this uprising, Ashoka didn't just kill his enemies; he converted them into loyal citizens of his kingdom.
Ashoka did this by opening their eyes to Buddhism and appointing them to high positions in his court as officers and advisors. Not only did these rebels become loyal servants of the crown, but they had an opportunity for personal growth as well.
When you consider that India had been plagued by bloody civil war for generations before Emperor Ashoka ascended to power, it becomes clear just what kind of profound effect his reign had on the lives of those who lived under him for 40 glorious years.
The later years of the Maurya dynasty
In its later years, the Maurya dynasty was beset with problems. Bribery and corruption were rampant. The decline of Buddhism as a popular religion, the loss of trade routes to South East Asia, the weakening central control over local rulers, and constant wars led to a decline in economic power.
Chandragupta II abandoned Taxila due to attacks from nomadic tribes and moved his capital from Pataliputra (now Patna) to Mathura. This move lead to further deterioration because Mathura lacked major river ports or an international seaport that would have given it an advantage over other Indian trade centres.
Chandragupta II and his successors can be given credit for maintaining control over a large part of India, however, their empire was relatively short-lived.
After Ashoka died in 232 BCE, the Mauryan dynasty witnessed a rapid succession of weak rulers. Bribery and corruption were rampant. Buddhism declined as a popular religion in India. This made the loss of trade routes to South East Asia. It weakened central control over local rulers.
This made constant wars lead to a decline in economic power. This is the main reason for the largest empire in ancient India to collapse. This effectively marked an end to large empires that had dominated Indian history till then.
Conclusion
With unifying forces and well-planned leadership, Chandragupta Maurya took a fractured empire and made it whole again. With strategic alliances, the largest empire in ancient India emerged. King Bindusara expanded his father's territory to include an additional 17 states utilizing war and diplomacy.
Though we cannot say with certainty what would have happened had Chandragupta not gone on to establish an ancient Indian empire that ruled for 300 years until annexed by outside forces. There is much evidence suggesting that Mauryan India would not have been as powerful or peaceful if these actions were not taken.
