Classical India

By lolyoshie
  • 520 BCE

    Northwestern India Conquered

    Darius, a Persian emperor conquers northwestern India and created the Gandhara kingdom in what is now modern day Pakistan. This soon introduced local rulers to the Persian ways of administration.
  • 500 BCE

    Magadha

    By 500 B.C.E. Magadha had become one of the most important states in northeastern India. After the next two centuries Magadha kings had conquered other states and had control of the Indian commerce.
  • Period: 321 BCE to 185 BCE

    Mauryan Dynasty

  • 320 BCE

    Beginning of the Mauryan Empire

    An adventurer, Chandragupta Maurya soon laid the foundation for the Mauryan Empire which was the first state that brought a unified and central government to the subcontinent.
  • Period: 320 BCE to 550 BCE

    The Gupta Dynasty

    With the help of Chandra Gupta, Samudra Gupta and Chandra Gutpa the second the Gupta empire was able to grow through conquering several regional kingdoms of India. The Gupta dynasty also brought stability and prosperity to the subcontinent.
  • Period: 268 BCE to 232 BCE

    Ashoka's Reign

    During Ashoka's reign he was able to conquer the Kalinga, and was better known as a governor due to his ability to rule with an organized bureaucracy where he was able to create a central treasury to over see taxes.
  • 232 BCE

    The Fall of the Mauryan Empire

    After Ashoka's death, the empire fell due to economic and financial difficulties. Because of their dependence on their military who was wasting their pay they eventually resorted to debasing their currency but though they reduced the amount of metal in the coin the value did not change, this soon lead toe the empire completely collapsing in 185 B.C.E.
  • 182 BCE

    Grecian Rule

    Two centuries after the Mauryan decline northwestern and northern India fell under the Greeks rule, northwestern by the Bactria and northern by Indo-Greeks. They were later defeated and the Kushan Empire began.
  • Period: 78 BCE to 108 BCE

    The Kushan Empire

    The Kushans were able to defeat the Indo-Greek kingdom and start their own. Under Kanishka who reigned during this time ruled over the empire that played a major role in the silk roads by pacifying the area between China and Persia.