The Maurya Empire was the first entity to control most of the Indian subcontinent; it stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal and facilitated trade and economic growth. The Empire was founded by Chandragupta and came to an end when the last emperor, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his general, Pushyamitra Shunga.
The empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya (with assistance from his mentor, Chanakya. Chanakya had been an advisor for the Nandas, the strongest power in the Indian subcontinent at the time, but was insulted and ousted by the Nanda emperor Dhana Nanda. Chanakya fled to the city of Taxila (near modern-day Rawalpindi, Pakistan); on his way there, he witnessed a young Chandragupta playing a game simulating a battle with other children, impressed by Chandragupta's cleverness and royal qualities, Chanakya adopted Chandragupta as his pupil and took him with him to Taxila.
The Nanda capital, Pataliputra (modern-day Patna), was conquered easily by a now adult Chandragupta, and the Nanda dynasty came to an end, though the Nanda king was allowed to leave alive. These new lands brought Chandraguptas into conflict with the Greeks.
Yes, you read that correctly, the Greeks in 334 B.C. Alexander the Great started his campaign in Asia against the Persians, and by 329 B.C., Alexander had brought an end to the Persian Empire. This gave Alexander a vast empire ranging from Greece to the Indus. Alexander died in 323 B.C. His empire split up into different kingdoms ruled by his greek Generals.
Persia, Afghanistan, and the Indus River area were ruled by Seleucus I Nicator, and Chandragupta Maurya wanted the Greeks out of Northern India. Seleucus and Chandragupta fought for many years before agreeing. Chandragupta would get all of North India (Mainly centered around the Indus River) and Parts of Afghanistan. Seleucus would get 500 war elephants, and the two kingdoms would be in a marriage alliance as Seleucus married his daughter to Chandragupta.
