<span>The Mauryan Empire was the first to unite the whole Indian subcontinent and although it didn't last more than 100 years, it did leave a significant legacy in southern Asia. The biggest impact that the empire had was the spread of Buddhism. The final king of the Mauryan Empire was the first Buddhist king, and the first to send
Buddhist missionaries throughout southern Asia. Although Indian society is now mostly Hindu, the popularity of Buddhism in other parts of southern Asia is largely the result of the the Mauryan's effort to spread the word of the Dharma. Due to the fact that the Mauryan was the first empire to conquer all of the Indian subcontinent, it was the beginning of the collective history of the people of that region and it may have something to do with the formation of the country of India.</span>
