Explanation: Bimbisara, who was a contemporary of Buddha, started the process of empire building. It was strengthened by his son Ajatashatru and then by the Nandas.

• The empire reached its glory and peaked with the advent of the Mauryan Empire founded by Chandragupta Maurya.
• The first three Mauryan emperors, Chandragupta, Bindusara and Ashoka, were the best known. After Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire went into decline.

Source: Tamil Nadu NCERT