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Historical map · 500 BC

Map of India and South Asia in 500 BC

In 500 BC, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 15 states, empires and other polities in India and South Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Achaemenid Empire, the Mahajanapadas and Magadha - Haryanka dynasty. The Achaemenid Empire reached well beyond India and South Asia: its whole territory measured about 5.6 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on India and South Asia in 500 BC. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

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States and empires in India and South Asia in 500 BC

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Achaemenid Empire Wikipedia1.6 million km²5.6 million km²550 BC–327 BC
Mahajanapadas Wikipedia94,000 km²94,000 km²600 BC–351 BC
Magadha - Haryanka dynasty Wikipedia33,000 km²33,000 km²500 BC–405 BC
Janapada of Malla Wikipedia5,500 km²5,500 km²600 BC–451 BC
Janapada of Aśmaka Wikipedia5,430 km²5,430 km²600 BC–351 BC
Janapada of Kuru5,240 km²5,240 km²600 BC–405 BC
Janapada of Matsya Wikipedia5,230 km²5,230 km²600 BC–405 BC
Janapada of Surasena Wikipedia5,210 km²5,210 km²600 BC–405 BC
Janapada of Vajji Wikipedia5,170 km²5,170 km²600 BC–481 BC
Janapada of Avanti Wikipedia5,120 km²5,120 km²600 BC–405 BC
Janapada of Kāśī Wikipedia5,050 km²5,050 km²600 BC–451 BC
Janapada of Kosala Wikipedia5,000 km²5,000 km²600 BC–451 BC
Janapada of Pañcāla Wikipedia4,970 km²4,970 km²600 BC–405 BC
Janapada of Cedī Wikipedia4,400 km²4,400 km²600 BC–451 BC
Janapada of Vatsa Wikipedia4,020 km²4,020 km²600 BC–451 BC

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What comes next: 200 BC

Appear by 200 BC: Maurya Empire, Satavahana Dynasty, Allegiance of Seleucid Empire to Roman Republic, Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, Kalinga, Anurādhapura, Yuezhi, Early Pandyas, Early Cholas, Parthian Empire, Early Cheras.

Gone by 200 BC: Achaemenid Empire, Mahajanapadas, Magadha - Haryanka dynasty, Janapada of Malla, Janapada of Aśmaka, Janapada of Kuru, Janapada of Matsya, Janapada of Surasena, Janapada of Vajji, Janapada of Avanti, Janapada of Kāśī, Janapada of Kosala, Janapada of Pañcāla, Janapada of Cedī, Janapada of Vatsa.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in India and South Asia in 500 BC?

The map data draws 15 states and other polities in India and South Asia in 500 BC. The largest by land were the Achaemenid Empire, the Mahajanapadas, Magadha - Haryanka dynasty, Janapada of Malla and Janapada of Aśmaka.

What was the largest empire in India and South Asia in 500 BC?

Of the states on this map, the Achaemenid Empire held the most land in total: about 5.6 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore India and South Asia in 500 BC interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 500 BC, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

India in other years

Other regions in 500 BC