Maurya Empire

In this episode, we explore the rise, power, and legacy of the Maurya Empire, the great Iron Age state that unified much of the Indian subcontinent from around 321 to 185 BCE. From Chandragupta Maurya’s overthrow of the Nanda dynasty to Ashoka the Great’s expansive reign, we trace how the empire built a vast administrative network, strengthened trade through standardized coinage, and maintained one of the ancient world’s most formidable militaries. We also examine Ashoka’s dramatic transformation after the conquest of Kalinga, his embrace of Buddhism, and the empire’s lasting contributions to nonviolence, conservation, missionary activity, stone edicts, monumental pillars, and South Asian political history before its decline and replacement by the Shunga Empire.