Indian Dynasties

Nanda dynasty (c. 345–321 BCE)

The Nanda dynasty ruled in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent during the 4th
century BCE, and possibly during the 5th century BCE. The Nandas overthrew the Shaishunaga
dynasty in the Magadha region of eastern India, and expanded their 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
Mahavamsa, they appear to have ruled during 345–322 BCE, although some theories date the
start of their rule to 5th century BCE.

Maurya dynasty (c. 321–180 BCE)

The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power based in
Magadha and founded by Chandragupta Maurya, which dominated the Indian subcontinent
between 322 and 185 BCE. Comprising the majority of South Asia, the Maurya Empire was
centralized by the conquest of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and its capital city was located at
Pataliputra (modern Patna). The empire was the largest political entity that has existed in the
Indian subcontinent, extending over 5 million square kilometres (1.9 million square miles).

Shunga dynasty (c. 185–73 BCE)

The Shunga Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty from Magadha that controlled areas of
the central and eastern Indian subcontinent from around 185 to 75 BCE. The dynasty was
established by Pushyamitra Shunga, after taking the throne of the Maurya Empire. Its capital was
Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar (modern
Vidisha) in eastern Malwa. The Shunga dynasty was a Brahmin dynasty, established in 185
BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death, when the emperor Brihadratha Maurya, the last ruler
of the Maurya Empire, was assassinated by his Senānī or commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra
Shunga, while he was reviewing the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pushyamitra Shunga then
ascended the throne.

Kanva dynasty (c. 73–26 BCE)

The Kanva dynasty or Kanvayana was a Brahmin dynasty that overthrew the Shunga
dynasty in parts of eastern and central India, and ruled from 75 BCE to 30 BCE. The Kanva
dynasty was established by Vasudeva Kanva in 75 BC. Vasudeva was initially a minister of the
Shunga Emperor Devabhuti, who then assassinated the former emperor and usurped the throne.
The Kanva ruler allowed the kings of the Shunga dynasty to continue to rule in obscurity in a
corner of their former dominions. There were four Kanva rulers. According to the Puranas, their
dynasty was brought to an end by the Satavahanas. The last king of Kanva dynasty was killed by
Balipuccha, who founded the Andhra dynasty

Gupta dynasty (c. 240–605 CE)

The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire existing from the mid-to-late 3rd
century CE to 543 CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 467 CE, it covered much of the
Indian subcontinent. This period is considered as the Golden Age of India by some historians.
The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by the king Sri Gupta; the most notable rulers of
the dynasty were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II alias Vikramaditya. The
5th-century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-
one kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms of Parasikas, the Hunas, the
Kambojas, tribes located in the west and east Oxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.

China Dynasties

Shang Dynasty (ca. 1600-1050 BCE

One of the Three Dynasties, or San Dai (Xia, Shang, and Zhou), thought to mark the
beginning of Chinese civilization: characterized by its writing system, practice of divination,
walled cities, bronze technology, and use of horse-drawn chariots.

Zhou (Chou) Dynasty: Western Zhou (ca. 1046-771 BCE), Eastern Zhou (771-256 BCE)
A hierarchical political and social system with the Zhou royal house at its apex: power
was bestowed upon aristocratic families as lords of their domains or principalities. Although
often compared to European "feudalism," what actually gave the system cohesion was a
hierarchical order of ancestral cults. The system eventually broke down into a competition for
power between rival semi-autonomous states in what became known as the Spring and Autumn
period (ca. 770-475 BCE) and the Warring States (ca. 475-221 BCE) period. It was during these
tumultuous times that Confucius (551-479 BCE) lived.

Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221-206 BCE)

Created a unitary state by imposing a centralized administration and by standardizing the
writing script, weights and measures. Known for its harsh methods of rule, including the
suppression of dissenting thought.

Han Dynasty: Western/Former Han (206 BCE-9 CE) and Eastern/Later Han (25-220 CE)
Modified and consolidated the foundation of the imperial order. Confucianism was
established as orthodoxy and open civil service examinations were introduced. Han power
reached Korea and Vietnam. Records of the Historian, which became the model for subsequent
official histories, was completed.

Song (Sung) Dynasty: Northern Song (960-1127) and Southern Song (1127-1279)
An era of significant economic and social changes: the monetization of the economy;
growth in commerce and maritime trade; urban expansion and technological innovations. The
examination system for bureaucratic recruitment of neo-Confucianism was to provide the
intellectual underpinning for the political and social order of the late imperial period.