ANCIENT INDIA-6 MAGDHA EMPIRE

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  • MAGADHA EMPIRE
     THE HARYANKA DYNASTY (544-412 BC)
  • Bimbisara (544-492BC) was the first ruler of Haryanka dynasty and probably the first king in India
  • The capital of the kingdom was  initially Rajagriha that was  shifted to Pataliputra.
  • The Haryanka king Bimbisara expanded the boundaries of the kingdom through matrimonial  alliances and conquests.
  • He is considered to be the contemporary of Lord Mahavira and follower of Jainism.
  • Killed by his son ajatshatru. The first patricidel king of India.
  • son and successor, Ajatashatru (551-519 BC) the kingdom expanded.
  • A succession of three weak kings.  Anuruddha, Munda and Nagadasaka ascended the throne after him.

  • SHISHUNAGA DYNASTY (412- 344 BC)
  • The last Haryanka ruler, Nagadasaka, was killed by his courtier Shishunaga in 430 BC, who became the king and founded the Shishunaga dynasty.
  • He further strengthened  Magadha by annexing Avanti and  Vatsa and turned Magadha into the most powerful kingdom in north India.  
  • He shifted its capital from Rajgriha to Patliputra.
  • Shishunaga was succeeded by his son Kalashoka.  
  • The second Buddhist Council was organised at Vaishali under the sponsor ship of Kalashoka in 383 BC.
  • The last ruler of Shishunaga dynasty was Nandivardhan

  • Alexander
  • At the age of 22, in 334 BC, he left for his Asiatic campaign.
  • He and his armies faced and quickly defeated Persian King Darius III
  • Even though Alexander’s troops were outnumbered, he created formations and strategies that defeated the Persians.
  • he captured King Darius and declared himself the King of Persia
  • Next it was Alexander’s goal to conquer Egypt. He easily achieved this goal and created the city of Alexandria, named after him, of course, which became an important Greek cultural and commerce center.
  • Now Alexander was “King of Babylon and Asia.” He was, in effect, King of the four quarters of the known world.
  • Next he set his sights on eastern Iran, where he formed colonies under Macedonian rule. After capturing Iran he married the prince’s daughter, Roxana.
  • India was next in 328 BCE. He defeated King Porus’ armies in the north of India.
  • He was impressed by Porus so he gave Porus back his rule and won his loyalty.
  • Alexander marched eastward to the Ganges river but his troops were weary.
  • They missed their wives and children and wanted to go back to Macedonia.
  • Alexander was wounded by Malli soldiers as they traveled back along the Indus river He recovered
  • In order to unify Persia and Macedonia, he commanded that Macedonians marry princesses from Persia.
  • He recruited thousands of Persian soldiers
  • The Death of Alexander
  • At the age of 32, Alexander became ill and died in Babylon, Persia, now part of Iraq
  • He might have died of malaria, but many historians believe he might have been poisoned.
  • Alexander’s empire collapsed after his death but over time the cultures of Greece and the Orient blended (Gandhara scool of art) and thrived due to Alexander’s empire.




  • NANDA DYNASTY (344-321 BC)
  • Mahapadmananda established the Nanda dynasty into a  powerful empire.
  • It was a Non- Kshatriya dunasty
  • extended from Punjab in the went to Bihar in the east.
  • Mahapadmananda had the titles of Ekarat and Sarvakshatrantaka.
  • The Nanda dynasty had a huge army consisting of 2,00,000 lakh infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 2,000 war chariots and 3,00 war elephants.
  • Last ruler of Nanda dynasty was Dhanananda.  He was contemporary of Alexander. Alexander invasion of India took place in 326 BC during the reign of Dhanananda.
    https://youtu.be/fk3AUxRM1As



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