Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c8.2

c8.2

FROM THE fourth century B.C. to the first century B.C. the Grand Route of India witnessed many changes. The chief event of the fourth century B.C. was the development and organisation of the Mauryan empire of Magadha. The development of this empire began after the conquest of Aṅga by Bimbisāra in about 500 B.C. After him Ajātaśatru extended his sway on Kāśi, Kośala and Videha. The Mauryan empire had grown to such an extent that its capital was removed from Rājagṛiha to Pāṭaliputra on the confluence of the Sone and Ganga as this town was of great military importance. The Nandas had perhaps occupied Kaliṅga but Chandragupta Maurya extended his empire to the north-west of the Indian sub-continent. It is, however, a historical fact that Aśoka conquered Kaliṅga. In the second century B.C. the Indo-Greeks led a military expedition against Pāṭaliputra. After them the Scythians and the Parthians entered India through the Grand Route.