Magadhan Empire

The Magadhan Empire[1][2][3][4] was an ancient historical power based in Magadha. It was established by Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty in c. 544 BC. It was ruled by the Shaishunga dynasty, Nanda dynasty, Maurya dynasty, Shunga dynasty and the Kanva dynasty.[5]

Magadhan Empire
c.  544 BC - 28 CE
Magadhan Empire under Ashoka in c. 250 BC.
Magadhan Empire under Ashoka in c. 250 BC.
Expansion of the Magadhan Empire.
Expansion of the Magadhan Empire.
Preceded by		Succeeded by
Magadha
Indo-Greek Kingdom
Today part of

Military

Nanda dynasty

According to Curtius, Alexander learned that Agrammes had 200,000 infantry; 20,000 cavalry; 3,000 elephants; and 2,000 four-horse chariots.[6][7] Diodorus gives the number of elephants as 4,000.[8] Plutarch inflates these numbers significantly, except the infantry:[9] according to him, the Nanda force included 200,000 infantry; 80,000 cavalry; 6,000 elephants; and 8,000 chariots.[10] It is possible that the numbers reported to Alexander had been exaggerated by the local Indian population, who had the incentive to mislead the invaders.[11]

Maurya dynasty

According to Megasthenes, the empire wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots and 9,000 war elephants besides followers and attendants.

A vast espionage system collected intelligence for both internal and external security purposes.

References

  1. ↑ Singh, Upinder (2008). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson Education India. ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0.
  2. ↑ Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1988-01-01). Age of the Nandas and Mauryas. Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-208-0466-1.
  3. ↑ Sharma, R. S. (2006-10-20). India's Ancient Past. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-908786-0.
  4. ↑ Gupta, Gyan Swarup (1999). India: From Indus Valley Civilisation to Mauryas. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-763-2.
  5. ↑ Jain, J. L. (1994). Development and Structure of an Urban System. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-552-4.
  6. ↑ Irfan Habib & Vivekanand Jha 2004, p. 13.
  7. ↑ Singh 2008, p. 273.
  8. ↑ H. C. Raychaudhuri 1988, p. 15.
  9. ↑ Irfan Habib & Vivekanand Jha 2004, p. 14.
  10. ↑ H. C. Raychaudhuri 1988, p. 16.
  11. ↑ Ian Worthington 2014, p. 252.
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