Maurya Empire

The Maurya Empire (322-185 BCE), founded by Chandragupta Maurya, was ancient India's first pan-subcontinental empire. Ashoka the Great (r. 268-232 BCE), horrified by the carnage of the Kalinga War, converted to Buddhism and promoted non-violence and religious tolerance through his edicts inscribed on pillars and rocks across the subcontinent. The empire fragmented after Ashoka's death and fell to the Shunga dynasty in 185 BCE.

• Existed: 322 BCE – 185 BCE
• Type: Entity
• Government: Centralised absolute monarchy with elaborately theorised bureaucratic administration (Arthashastra model)
• Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna, Bihar)