Magadha Empire: Ancient History of Uttar Pradesh. Magadha was an ancient Indian kingdom in Southern Bihar. It was counted as one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of ancient India.
Magadha played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism. The two of India’s greatest empires, the Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire, originated in Magadha. This empire was founded by Bimbisara. Kaushal and Avanti was also conquered by Magadha Empire.
After the death of Bimbisara, Ajatshatru became the ruler of Magadha Empire. He ruled over Bihar and half of Uttar Pradesh. Magadha Empire was also ruled by Haryank, Shishunaga and Nanda dynasty. Mahapadmananda was the most powerful ruler of Magadha Empire.
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Magadha Empire: Ancient Uttar Pradesh
In 323 BC, Chandragupta Maurya became the emperor of Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya dynasty in 322 BC. He dethroned Dhananand with the help of Kautilya. He expanded his kingdom from Iran-Saurashtra in the West Bengal in the East, Himalaya in the North and Karnataka in the South.
In 305 BC, Chandragupta defeated Seleucus Nicator and Hindu Kush became boundary between their states. Megasthenes was sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya by Seleucus Nicator. Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusar. Bindusar patronised Ajivikas.
- Ashoka the great, was the grandson of Chandragupta and son of Bindusar who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from 268 to 232 BC.
- He is related to the Brahamana religion. Later, he converted to Buddhism.
- According to Buddhist tradition, Ashoka won the throne after killing 99 brothers sparing only Tissa, the youngest one.
- Ashoka’s inscriptions of Topa and Meerut were shifted to Delhi by Firoz Shah Tuglaq and inscription of Kaushambi was established in Fort of Prayag by Mughal emperor Akbar.
Ashoka created the state of four lions in Sarnath. The Lion Pillar of Ashoka has been adopted as the national emblem of India. The sculptures and inscriptions of Ashoka period were constructed with sandstone of Chunar. Dharmarajika Stupa was built by Ashoka in Sarnath.
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