Which historical empires had major centers in the Ganges River basin?

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The Ganges River basin has served as the heartland of Hindustan and a cradle for successive civilizations throughout history. Several major historical empires and powers established their centers within this region:12

  • Mauryan Empire: The center of the Mauryan empire under Ashoka was located at Patna (ancient Pataliputra), situated on the Ganges in present-day Bihar.1
  • Gupta Empire: Emerging from the lower Ganga-Yamuna Doab in modern-day Uttar Pradesh, the Gupta dynasty ruled over northern and parts of central and western India from the 4th to the 6th century CE.3
  • Empire of Harsha: Kannauj, located on the Ganges in central Uttar Pradesh, served as the capital of the feudal empire of Harsha, which encompassed most of northern India during the mid-7th century.1
  • Mughal Empire: The Mughal Empire maintained its primary centers at Delhi and Agra, both located in the western Ganges basin.1
  • Muslim Era: During the period of Muslim rule that began in the 12th century, Dhaka and Murshidabad in the delta region became significant centers of power.1