tushar--for upsc aspirants: 7. POST MAURYAN PERIOD

7. POST MAURYAN PERIOD

THE SUNGAS

THE SATAVAHANAS

The Satavahanas were a dynasty that ruled central India from c. 230 BCE to c. 220 CE
The Satavahanas are also known as Andhras. They were among the earliest adopters of Telugu.
The capital cities of the Satavahanas were Kotilingala (Karimnagar), Pune, Paithan.
The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka (c. 230 – 207 BCE).
Other important rulers of the Satavahana dynasty include Satakarni (c. 180 – 124 BCE) and Gautamiputra Satakarni (78 – 106 CE)
The Satavahana king Hala (c 20 – 24 CE) is famous for compiling the collection of Maharashtri poems called Gaha Sattasai
The Buddhist stupa at Amaravati was built by the Satavahanas c. 200 CE.

THE INDO-GREEKS

About Indo-Greeks

The Indo-Greeks were descendants of Greek armies that had invaded India during and after the reign Alexander the Great.
The Indo-Greek kingdom was established by the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius c. 180 BCE.
The kingdom roughly covered the region between eastern Afghanistan in the west to Punjab in the east an northern Afghanistan in the north to Sind in the south
The Indo-Greeks combined elements of Greek and Indian languages and religions, producing a fusion of Greek, Hindu and Buddhist practices
The Indo-Greeks were known as Yavanas in Indian literature
The Indo-Greek kingdoms dissolved in about 10 CE following conquests by Indo-Scythians
Indo-Greeks were the first to issue gold coins in India
Heliodorus was the Ambassador of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas to the court of Bhaghabadra Sunga. Heliodorus is famous for erecting the Heliodorus Pillar at Sanchi, in honour of god Vasudeva in about 110 BCE.

Indo-Greek rule

Alexander the Great invaded Indian in 326 BCE, while retreating left Greek satrapies in the northwest.
Alexander also established Greek colonies in Bactria (central Asia).
In about c. 180 BCE, following the collapse of the Mauryan Empire, the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius I invaded northwest India and established Indo-Greek rule.
The Indo-Greek king Menander I (c. 155 – 130 BCE) embraced Buddhism under the sage Nagasena.
Menander I, also known as Milinda, was the most successful Indo-Greek king
The Milinda Panha is a Buddhist text that records a conversation between Menander and his sage Nagasena.
Most coins in Greek India were bilingual – Greek and Pali
In addition to traditional Greek religion, the Indo-Greeks practiced Buddhism, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism.
Their rule introduced features of Hellenistic art in India, which later developed into Gandhara art.

THE INDO-SCYTHIANS

About Indo-Scythians

The Indo-Scythians were a branch of Scythians that migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, Afghanistan and northwest India.
Indo-Scythian rule in India was established around c. 200 BCE and ended around 400 CE.
The first ruler was Maues (Moga) while the last was Rudrasimha III (who belonged to the Western Satraps).
Indo-Scythians migrated and invaded India following their nomadic flight from Central Asia due to conflict with Chinese tribes.
Scythian invasions from Central Asia had profound effect not only on India, but also on Bactria, Parthia and Rome.
The Sakas were a particular tribe of Indo-Scythians. However, in Indian literature all Indo-Scythians came to be known as Sakas.
The Junagarh inscription written in 150 CE is the first major inscription to be written in Sanskrit. It was written by the Saka ruler Rudra Daman I.

Indo-Scythian rule

Indo-Scythians were Buddhists and followed Indo-Greek practices to a large extent
Indo-Scythian holdings in India were divided mainly into four regions:

The Bimaran Casket, one of the earliest representations of the Buddha, is attributed to Indo-Scythian king Azes II (around 15 BCE).
The Mathura Lion Capital (1^st century CE) is also attributed to the Indo-Scythians.

THE INDO-PARTHIANS

The Indo-Parthians were a branch of Parthians that ruled northwestern India in the first century CE.
They ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan and Haryana, Punjab and Kashmir from about 12 BCE to about 100 CE.
The Indo-Parthian kingdom was established by Gondophares I.
The empire began to fragment following his death.
Their main religion was Zoroastrianism.

THE KUSHANAS

About the Kushanas

The Kushan Empire ruled Bactria, western China and much of northern India in the 1^st to 3^rd centuries CE.
The Kushans were an Indo-European people based in Bactria and western China.
They belonged to the Yuezhi tribal confederation, which was forced out from western China, and moved into Scythian realms in Bactria. Consequently, the Scythians were forced out and migrated southwards to India and westwards towards Parthia and Rome.
The Kushan Empire was founded by Kujula Kadphises in about c 60 CE.

The rule of Kanishka

Kanishka was the most important Kushana ruler (127 CE – 151 CE)
The Kushana Empire reached its maximum extent under Kanishka – it extended from north of the Oxus (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan) to Mathura, including northwest India and Kashmir.
His main capital was at Peshawar, with supplementary capitals at Taxila, Bagram (Afghanistan) and Mathura.
Kanishka convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in about 100 CE in Kashmir.
The advisor of Kanishka was a Buddhist monk called Asvaghosha.
The Rabatak inscription at Rabatak in Afghanistan is attributed to Kanishka. The inscription, written in Bactrian and Greek, gives remarkable clues regarding the lineage of the Kushan dynasty.
The Kanishka Stupa at Peshawar was established by Kanishka. The base of the stupa contained the Kanishka Casket, which contained three bone fragments of the Buddha. The relics of the Buddha are now in display in Mandalay, while the casket itself is housed at the Peshawar Museum.

Pages