The world has seen its fair share of mighty empires, and not all of them get the attention they deserve!
As Alexander the Great's empire was collapsing, another empire was on the rise in India.
While the founder of this empire has never received the moniker of "Great," it can be argued that he was at least as charismatic and strategic as his Macedonian counterpart.
But unlike Alexander's empire, the Maurya Empire was greater than its founder.
The Maurya Empire was formed around 321 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya.
While little is known about his life before founding an empire, there are many stories about how Chandragupta came to power.
He was reportedly born in Patna – the modern-day Indian state of Bihar.
Some reports claim that he was a chief's son, and his family had been left destitute after his father's death.
Chandragupta's maternal uncles left him with a cowherd but was eventually sold to a hunter as a cattle herder.
Legend has it that he was purchased by a politician named Chanakya – also known as Kautilya – and received a military education.
