India Rediscovered: End of the Mauryan Empire, 185 BCE Srinivasan Mauryan Empire began to decline after the death of King Ashoka in 232 BC. The last king Brihadratha was assassinated in 185 BC by his general Pushyamitra Shunga who was a Brahmin. From the time of Ashoka's death, it took just 47 years for the Mauryan empire to end. This is mainly due to weak rulers, after Ashoka, and an inability to administer such a huge empire. At its peak the Mauryan empire covered just over which this king had agreed to hand over to him." 5,000,000 square km (or 1,900,000 square — Polybius, Greek historian, 200 BC. miles) - the largest ever empire on Indian soil. The empire lasted for 163 years. Brief timeline of Mauryan dynasty: 322 BCE: Chandragupta Maurya founded the The Mauryans achieved new heights in Mauryan Empire by defeating the Nanda governance, economy, infrastructure, foreign Dynasty. relations, art, technology and large-scale 317–316 BCE: Chandragupta Maurya conquers engineering and architecture. These the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent. achievements were on par with the best 305–303 BCE: Chandragupta Maurya gains anywhere else in the world. There is little doubt, territory from the Seleucid Empire. that the Mauryans made India one of great 298–269 BCE: Reign of Bindusara, powers of the ancient world, at their peak. Chandragupta's son. He conquers parts of Subhagasena and Antiochos III (206 BC): Deccan, southern India. Subhagasena was a Mauryan ruler of the 3rd 269–232 BCE: The Mauryan Empire reaches its century BC, described in ancient Greek sources. height under Ashoka, Chandragupta's grandson. His name is mentioned in the list of Mauryan 261 BCE: Ashoka conquers the kingdom of princes, and also in the list of the Yadava Kalinga. dynasty, as a descendant of Pradyumna. He may 250 BCE: Ashoka builds Buddhist stupas and have been a grandson of Ashoka, or Kunala, the erects pillars bearing inscriptions. son of Ashoka. He ruled an area south of the 185 BCE: The empire collapses when Brihadratha, Hindu Kush, possibly in Gandhara. Antiochos III, the last emperor, is killed by Pushyamitra the Seleucid king, after having made peace with Shunga, a Mauryan general and the founder of Euthydemus in Bactria, went to India in 206 BC the Shunga Empire. and is said to have renewed his friendship with 1947 AD: Sovereign independent state of India is the Indian king there: created, the national flag contains the Ashok "He (Antiochus) crossed the Caucasus and Chakra as a symbol of progress. descended into India; renewed his friendship with 1950 AD: Republic of India is formed, a nation Sophagasenus (Subhagasena) the king of the with many of its modern foundations rooted Indians; received more elephants, until he had a back to the Mauryan Empire. hundred and fifty altogether; and having once After the Mauryans, a new dynasty became more provisioned his troops, set out again prominent in northern India, the Shunga Empire personally with his army: leaving Androsthenes was formed by Pushyamitra Shunga, which of Cyzicus the duty of taking home the treasure lasted from 185-75 BC. A TO Z INDIA SEPTEMBER 2022 PAGE 27