The fame of Magadha scaled new heights under the Nanda dynasty
Reach- beyond the boundaries of the Gangetic basin
Powerful ruler- Mahapadma Nanda
He uprooted the Kshatriya dynasties in north India and assumed the title ekarat
The Puranas speak of the extensive conquests made by him
The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela of Kalinga refers to the conquest of Kalinga by the Nandas
According to the Buddhist tradition, Mahapadma Nanda ruled for about 10 years
He had eight sons who successively ruled, last one being Dhana Nanda. He kept the empire intact and possessed a powerful army
They had enormous wealth, which finds mention in the Tamil Sangam work Agananuru by the poet Mamulanar
The flourishing state of agriculture in the Nanda dominions and the general prosperity of the country must have brought to the royal treasury enormous revenue
Dhana Nanda had an oppressive way of tax collection though
Taking advantage of this, Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya initiated a popular movement against the Nanda rule, during which time Alexander also invaded India