What is the ancient history of Patna (Pataliputra)?

The ancient history of Patna, known as Pataliputra, is one of the most illustrious in the world. It was the capital of India's greatest ancient empires and a global center of power, learning, and commerce for over a thousand years.

Key stages of Pataliputra's history:

• Origins (5th Century BCE): Its story begins as a small village called Pataligrama. King Ajatashatru of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha built a fort here (Patalidurga) to fight the rival Vajjian confederacy. Its strategic location at the confluence of the Ganges, Son, and Gandak rivers was immediately recognized.
• The New Capital: Ajatashatru's successor, Udayin, officially moved the capital of the Magadha Empire from Rajagriha (Rajgir) to Pataliputra.
• Capital of Empires: From that point on, Pataliputra served as the imperial capital for successive dynasties:
• Nanda Dynasty: It was the capital of the vast Nanda Empire, which controlled most of North India.
• Mauryan Empire (322 BCE): Pataliputra reached its peak glory as the capital of the Mauryan Empire. Under Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka the Great, it was one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in the world.
• Megasthenes' Description: The Greek ambassador Megasthenes, in his book Indica, gave a detailed description of Mauryan Pataliputra. He described a massive, fortified city shaped like a parallelogram, with 64 gates and 570 towers. He also wrote about its efficient administration, grand wooden palaces, and rich markets.
• Later Dynasties: Pataliputra continued as a major city and capital under the Shunga and Gupta dynasties. The Gupta period (4th-6th century CE) was another golden age, with scholars like Aryabhata working in or near the city.
• Decline: After the decline of the Guptas, the city was damaged by floods and invasions. By the 7th century, when the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited, he found it largely in ruins, and the center of power had shifted to Kannauj.

The city was later revived in the 16th century by Sher Shah Suri and renamed Patna, which remains its name today.