The Mauryas

The Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, began in 321 BCE and ended in 185 BCE. It was the first pan-Indian empire that ruled across most of the Indian subcontinent. Certain parts of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, central and northern India were in Mauryan Empire. Patliputra (Modern day Patna) was the capital. The Mauryan Empire was geographically vast and a force to reckon with in the Iron Age. Similar to the Mahajanapadas, which was widely spread, and the Nanda empire, which ruled a sizable portion of the Indian subcontinent.

Due to the massive extent of the Mauryan Empire, it became necessary to have uniform governance. Hence efforts were made to bring consistency to the political structure through transportation and communication, literature, marked coins in exchange transactions, and promoting a new ideology. Under the Mauryan Empire, Political harmony and military safety enabled the development of a single economic system, improved trade, and higher agricultural output. A disciplined central authority replaced the earlier scenario of hundreds of kingdoms, numerous small armies, solid regional chieftains, and intramural conflict. Arthashastra, a brainchild of Chanakya, led to uniformity in governance. This manifested itself in the shape of imperial power symbols, culminating in the Ashokan policy of Dharma. In addition, a new philosophy was spread to achieve cultural unity (dhamma of Ashoka).