Page 57 - SST Class 06

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The First Empire

and Ashoka

The Maurya Empire was a geographically exten- In its time, the Maurya Empire was one of the
sive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, largest empires of the world. At its greatest extent,
ruled by the Maurya dynasty from 322–185 the empire stretched to the north along the
BCE. Originating from the kingdom of Magadha natural boundaries of the Himalayas, to the east
in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (modern Bihar, into Assam, to the west into Balochistan (south-
eastern Uttar Pradesh) in the eastern side of the west Pakistan and southeast Iran) and to the
Indian subcontinent, the empire had its capital Hindu Kush mountains now in Afghanistan. The
city at Pataliputra (modern Patna). The empire Empire was expanded into India’s central and
was the largest to have ever existed in the Indian southern regions by the emperors Chandragupta
subcontinent, spanning over 5 million square and Bindusara, but it excluded a small portion of
kilometers at its zenith under Ashoka. unexplored tribal and forested regions near
CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (321 BCE) Kalinga (modern Odisha), until it was conquered

The Mauryan Empire was founded in
322 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya who Indus Extent of Chandragupta
Shahbazgarhi Maurya's 'Empire
had overthrown the Nanda Dynasty and Kabul Mansera
Takshashila
Srinagar
Purushapura
rapidly expanded his power westward Jhelum
Chenab
across central and western India with Ravi
Chanakya’s help. His expansion took Satluj Rakas Lake Tsangpo
advantage of the disruptions of local Indus Indraprastha Meerut Brahmaputra
powers in the wake of the withdrawal Mathura Yamuna Ganga
Bairat
MAGADHA
westward by Alexander the Great’s Patala Chambal Prayag Pataliputra
armies. By 316 BCE, the empire had fully Son Kashi Gaya Champa Tropic of Cancer
Sanchi Rupnath
occupied Northwestern India, defeating Dwarka Ujjayini I N D I A
Narmada Tamralipti
and conquering the satraps left by SAURASHTRA Tapi Mahanadi
Girnar
Alexander. Chandragupta then defeated
Surparka
Godavari
the invasion led by Seleucus-I, a KALINGA B A Y
O F
Macedonian general from Alexander’s ARABIAN ANDHRA Krishna B E N G A L
SEA Muski
army and gained additional territory west
of the Indus River. Kopbal
The Maurya Empire c. 320 BCE
CHOLAS
The Maurya Empire when it was first KERALAPUTRAS Kaveri
Present International
founded by Chandragupta Maurya c. 320 Boundary of India
BCE, after conquering the Nanda Empire PANDYAS
when he was only about 20 years old. I N D I A N TAMRAPARNI O C E A N
(CEYLON)

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