Pataliputra through time
Now Patna, Bihar
Theme 4 · 600 to 300 BCE
Janapadas, Mahajanapadas and the second urbanisation
The later capital of Magadha
Theme 5 · 6th century BCE to 321 BCE
Persian and Greek invasions, and the rise of Magadha
Udayin moved the capital here; its riverine location suited imperial expansion
Theme 9 · 5th century BCE to 13th century CE
Buddhism and Jainism: later development and decline
The Third Buddhist Council under Ashoka, about 250 BCE; the first Jain council, about 300 BCE, under Sthulabhadra
Theme 7 · 324 or 321 to 187 BCE
The imperial capital, Megasthenes' Palimbothra; the pillared halls at Kumhrar; the third Buddhist council met here
Theme 8a · 187 to 28 BCE
Post Mauryan north India: Shungas, Kanvas and Kharavela
The Shunga capital, and the Kanva capital
Theme 10 · 319 to 550 CE
The principal Gupta capital; Aryabhata worked at Kusumapura nearby