Nanda Empire

Nanda Empire
Nanda Empire
c. 345 BCE–c. 322 BCE
	Possible extent of the Nanda Empire under its last ruler Dhana Nanda (c. 325 BCE).
Status	Empire
Capital	Pataliputra
Religion	Jainism; Ajivikism; Buddhism; Brahmanism;
Government	Monarchy
King
• c. 345 – c. 340 BCE	Mahapadma (first)
• c. 329 – c. 322 BCE	Dhana (last)
Historical era	Iron Age India
• Established	c. 345 BCE
• Disestablished	c. 322 BCE
Preceded by	Succeeded by
	Shaishunaga dynasty
	Mithila (region)
	Panchala
	Surasena
	Vatsa
	Vanga kingdom
	Asmaka
Maurya Empire
Today part of	Bangladesh; India; Nepal

The Nanda dynasty ruled the Magadhan Empire, an ancient Indian empire during the fourth century BCE and possibly also during the fifth. The Nandas overthrew the Shaishunaga dynasty and expanded the empire to include a larger part of northern India. Ancient sources differ considerably regarding the names of the Nanda kings and the duration of their rule, but based on the Buddhist tradition recorded in the Mahāvaṃsa, they appear to have ruled during c. 345–322 BCE, although some theories date the start of their rule to the fifth century BCE.

The Nandas built on the successes of their Haryanka and Shaishunaga predecessors and instituted a more centralised administration. Ancient sources credit them with amassing great wealth, which was probably a result of the introduction of a new currency and taxation system.

Ancient texts also suggest that the Nandas were unpopular among their subjects because of their low-status birth, excessive taxation, and general misconduct. The last Nanda king Dhana Nanda was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Maurya Empire.

Modern historians generally identify the ruler of the Gangaridai and the Prasii mentioned in ancient Greco-Roman accounts as a Nanda king. While describing Alexander the Great's invasion of Punjab (327–325 BCE), Greco-Roman writers depict this kingdom as a great military power. The prospect of a war against this kingdom, coupled with the exhaustion resulting from almost a decade of campaigning, led to a mutiny among Alexander's homesick soldiers, putting an end to his Indian campaign.

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^ Irfan Habib & Vivekanand Jha 2004, p. 13.
^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (a). ISBN 0226742210.
^ ^a ^b Bronkhorst 2011, p. 12.
^ Sujato & Brahmali 2014, p. 22-23.
^ Bronkhorst 2011, p. 30-31.

[FOOTNOTEIrfan_HabibVivekanand_Jha200413-2] Irfan Habib & Vivekanand Jha 2004, p. 13.

[3] Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (a). ISBN 0226742210.

[FOOTNOTEBronkhorst201112-4] Bronkhorst 2011, p. 12.

[FOOTNOTESujatoBrahmali201422-23-5] Sujato & Brahmali 2014, p. 22-23.

[FOOTNOTEBronkhorst201130-31-6] Bronkhorst 2011, p. 30-31.

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Prehistoric Madrasian culture Soanian, c. 500,000 BCE Neolithic, c. 7600 – c. 1000 BCE Bhirrana 7570 – 6200 BCE Jhusi 7106 BCE Lahuradewa 7000 BCE Mehrgarh 7000 – 2600 BCE South Indian Neolithic 3000 – 1000 BCE
Ancient Indus Valley Civilization, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Post Indus Valley Period (Cemetery H Culture), c. 1700 – c. 1500 BCE Vedic civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Kuru kingdom, c. 1200 – c. 500 BCE Early Vedic period Rise of Śramaṇa movement Later Vedic Period Spread of Jainism – Parshvanatha Spread of Jainism – Mahavira Rise of Buddhism Kingdom of Magadha Brihadratha Dynasty 1700 – 682 BCE Haryanka Dynasty 544 – 413 BCE Shaishunaga Dynasty 413 – 345 BCE Nanda Dynasty, 345 – 322 BCE Mahajanapadas, c. 600 – 345 BCE
Classical Kingdom of Magadha Maurya Dynasty, 322 – 185 BCE Pandya Dynasty, 320 BCE - 280 CE Shunga Dynasty, 185 – 73 BCE Kanva Dynasty, 73 – 28 BCE Sangam period 300 BCE – 400 CE Kushan Dynasty, c. 30 – c. 375 CE Satavahana Dynasty, c. 228 BCE – c. 224 CE Gupta Dynasty, c. 240 – c. 550 CE
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