Under the Maurya Empire, much of India was united for the first time. The empire was named for its founder, Chandragupta Maurya. It reached its peak under Emperor Asoka, who ruled during the 200's B.C. From his capital at Pataliputra (now Patna) in northern India, Asoka controlled almost all India and part of central Asia.<NP> Asoka supported Buddhism, which spread and prospered during his reign. He sent Buddhist missionaries to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and other countries.<NP> The Maurya Empire ended with the assassination of its last emperor in 185 B.C. India was then divided into small political units under no one ruler.
