3rd Century BC
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 273 BC | Ashoka the Great regarded as the greatest ancient Indian emperor, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, ascends as emperor of the Mauryan Empire. | |
| 266 BC | Ashoka conquers and unifies most of South Asia, along with Afghanistan and eastern Iran. | |
| 265 | Kalinga War takes place between Ashoka and the kingdom of Kalinga. | |
| After conquering Kalinga, Ashoka reportedly regrets what he had done, leading him to adopt Buddhism, which then became the quasi-official state religion of the Mauryan Empire. | ||
| 261 BC | Conquest of Kalinga | |
| 260 | Ashoka begins displaying religious tolerance, grants animal rights, builds hospitals for people and animals, treats his subjects as equals regardless of caste or creed, and promotes non-violence and republicanism. | |
| Ashoka inscribes the Edicts of Ashoka, written down using Brahmi script. | ||
| 232 BC | Ashoka dies and is succeeded by Kunala. | |
| 230 BC | Simuka declares independence from Mauryan rule and establishes the Satavahana Empire. |
Read more about this topic: Timeline Of Indian History