ASHOKA AND THE MAURYA DYNASTY
At its peak in 250 BCE the Maurya Empire was the wealthiest and largest empire in the world, extending across much of modern India, except a small area. The Maurya capital, Pataliputra, was one of the largest cities of antiquity. India was a global power that traded and maintained peaceful diplomatic relations with its neighbours, as far afield as Greece and Egypt. Of the Maurya emperors, two are remembered today as among India's greatest leaders: Chandragupta Maurya and his grandson Ashoka. Chandragupta, the founder of the Maurya dynasty, created his empire by both war and peaceful means. His grandson Ashoka, after conquering Kalinga in a bloody war in 261 BCE, renounced violence. He then spent the rest of his life advocating and propagating a policy of religious tolerance, kindness to all creatures and peaceful coexistence in a multicultural society. . . a policy he called Dhamma.