Kingdoms and empires of India
The founder of the great Mauryan dynasty, Chandragupta (c. 321 - c. 297), may have participated in repelling Alexander's army. The Mauryas were the first (and last for 2000 years) rulers to rule almost the entire peninsula from their capital Pataliputra, built in the heart of ancient India on the beret of the Ganges River.
The most prominent of the Mauryan dynasty was King Ashoka (c. 274 - c. 236 BC). He began his career as a conqueror, but, tired of bloodshed, converted to Buddhism. He apparently tried to live out his faith by funding public works and preaching nonviolence and tolerance to his subjects. The most important monuments of the Mauryan era include rock inscriptions and carved pillars placed by Ashoka in all corners of his vast domain. Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to other lands, and their successful activities in Burma and Ceylon marked the beginning of the spread of Buddhism throughout East Asia. Buddhist art and architecture flourished in India itself, despite the rapid decline of the Mauryan Empire after the death of Ashoka. After another period of fragmentation in the XNUMXth century BC. e. the north was once again united under the Gupta dynasty. Inspired by the revival of Hinduism, Indian culture reached new heights, giving the world great poetic and dramatic masterpieces in Sanskrit and perfecting sculpture and architecture, pleasing the eye with a wealth of forms. Mathematics and astronomy received significant development. In particular, the world owes the concept of zero and the decimal counting system to India during the Gupta era. In the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, the Guptas successfully repelled the onslaught of the White Huns, but the empire, exhausted by wars, collapsed.
