The Mauryan Empire - Largest Empire in India ever!

Hello Kids! Welcome back to KidsCast! Today, we trace the history where there was the rule of a huge empire. You guessed it right, Mauryan Empire! So get geared up and let us begin!

Area Control:

The Mauryan Empire was enormous and very large. It almost had the whole Indian Subcontinent under its extent! As the empire was huge, it had large areas under its control. Check out this map with its exact territories. 

Area covered by the Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan empire controlled almost the whole Indian subcontinent. It consisted of mainly India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and parts of Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan. Seems huge right?

Establishment:

The empire you see in the map above was firstly called Nanda Empire ruled by Nanda Dynasty. There was one extremely intelligent and wise sage in the court of Emperor Dhana Nanda. His name was Chanakya. His strategies and knowledge are even more famous today. He is known as the master of politics. Anyway, so once he got insulted in the court by the emperor in front of everyone. He then swore to take revenge. He fled. While his fleeing, he found a boy who he thought could take his revenge. He took him along. 

He taught him martial arts, combat arts, administration policies, politics, etc., which were necessary for a person to govern a huge empire. The boy was Chandragupta Maurya. With the help of his guru, he overthrew Dhana Nanda and founded the Mauryan Empire in 322 BCE. Chandragupta Maurya became its emperor and thus began the long rule of the Mauryan Dynasty.

Currency:

Just like every country has its own currency, even the Mauryan empire had one. It was an economically powerful empire. 

Mauryan coins and currency

A Mauryan coin was then called a Pana. They were made up of metals like iron, copper, silver, or gold. 

Capitals:

The Mauryan Empire always had one city as its capital throughout the period.

It was Pataliputra (now, Patna) - 322 BCE - 184 BCE

Decline: 

As always, every empire never remains strong and large forever. It always has a decline. Even the Mauryan empire faced such a decline after emperor Ashoka. He was the last strongest ruler of the Mauryan Empire. After he came weak kings. By this, other rulers took over territories. The last king was Brihadratha Maurya who was killed by his general Pushyamitra Shunga when there was no heir to the kingdom. This led to the Mauryan Empire's collapse and the Shunga Empire's rise. 

So, Kids, this was all for this article. We hope you enjoyed reading about the biggest empire of India ever! Also, it was the first all-Indian empire! So, Kids, we wave off to you for some time but we will be back with amazing articles so don't forget to read them. Bye till then and Happy Learning!