The Post Mauryan India

Class 6 | Social Science — History | Unit 2

Class 6 Unit 2 History

Unit 2 The Post Mauryan India

Learning Objectives

To acquire knowledge of the history of dynasties and kingdoms that emerged after the breakup of the Mauryan Empire. To gain an understanding of the polity, society, economy, and culture of various kingdoms that were established in the south, north and north-west of India. To become familiar with their contributions to early medieval India.

Introduction

The break-up of the Mauryan Empire resulted in the invasions of Sakas, Scythians, Parthians, Indo-Greeks or Bactrian Greeks and Kushanas from the north-west. In the south, Satavahanas became independent after Asoka's death. There were Sungas and Kanvas in the north before the emergence of the Gupta dynasty. Chedis declared their independence in Kalinga. It has to be noted here that, though Magadha ceased to be the premier state of India, it continued to be a great centre of Buddhist culture.

Sources

Archaeological Sources

Inscriptions or Copper Plates

Ayodhya Inscription of Dana Deva
Persepolis, Nakshi Rustam Inscriptions
Moga Taxila copper plate
Junagadh or Girnar Inscription
Nasik Eulogy
Inscription of Darius 1

Coins

Coins of Satavahanas
Coins of Kadphises 2
Roman coins

Literary Sources

Puranas
Gargi Samhita
Harshacharita of Banabhatta
Mahabhasya of Patanjali
Brihastkatha of Gunadhya
Madhyamika Sutra of Nagarjuna
Buddhacharita of Asvaghosha
Malavikagnimitra of Kalidasa

Foreign Notice

Accounts of Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller

The Sungas and Kanvas in the North

The Sungas

The last Mauryan emperor, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga, who established his Sunga dynasty in Magadha. Pushyamitra made Pataliputra as his capital. Pushyamitra's kingdom extended westward to include Ujjain and Vidisha. He successfully repulsed the invasion of Bactria king, Menander. But Menander managed to keep Kabul and Sindh. Pushyamitra thwarted an attack from the Kalinga king Kharavela. He also conquered Vidarbha. He was a staunch follower of Vedic religion. He performed two Asvamedha yagnas (horse sacrifice) to assert his imperial authority.

Do You Know?

During the Sunga period, stone was replaced by wood in the railings and the gateways of the Buddhist stupas as seen in Bharhut and Sanchi.

Pushyamitra was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. This Agnimitra is said to be the hero of Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra. The drama also refers to the victory of Vasumitra, Agnimitra's son, over the Greeks on the banks of the Sindhu River. The weak successors of Sungas constantly faced threats from the Indo-Bactrians and Indo-Parthians. The Sunga dynasty lasted for about one hundred years. The last Sunga king was Devabhuti. He was killed by his own minister Vasudeva Kanva. Vasudeva established the rule of the Kanva dynasty in Magadha.

Importance of the Sunga Period

The Sungas played an important role in defending the Gangetic Valley from the encroachments of the Bactrian Greeks. Pushyamitra, and then his successors, revived Vedic religious practices and promoted Vaishnavism. Sanskrit gradually gained ascendancy and became the court Language.

Do You Know?

Patanjali, the second grammarian in Sanskrit, was patronized by Pushyamitra. Though Pushyamitra persecuted Buddhists, during his reign the Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi were renovated and further improved. The expanded Great Stupa of Sanchi and the railings, which enclose it, belong to the Sunga period.

Do You Know?

King Kharavela of Kalinga was a contemporary of the Sungas. We get information about Kharavela from the Hathigumba Inscription

The Kanvas

The Kanva dynasty produced four kings and their rule lasted only for 45 years. The history of Magadha after the fall of the Kanvas is devoid of any significance until the emergence of the Gupta dynasty.

The Kanva rulers were:
Vasudeva
Bhumi Mitra
Narayana
Susarman

The last Kanva ruler Susarman was assassinated by his powerful feudatory chief of Andhra named Simuka, who laid the foundation of the Satavahana dynasty.

Satavahanas in the South

The Kushanas in the north and the Satavahanas (otherwise called as Andhras) in the south flourished for about 300 years and 450 years, respectively. Simuka, the founder of the Satavahana dynasty, is said to have ruled for twenty-three years. His successor was his brother Krishna. The latter and his nephew Satakarni ruled for ten years each, establishing an empire, holding control over a vast area stretching from Rajasthan in the northwest to Andhra in the southeast and from Gujarat in the west to Kalinga in the east. Satakarni is said to have performed two horse sacrifices (Asvamedhayaga), indicative of his imperial position.

Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest ruler of the family. In the Nasik eulogy, published by his mother Gautami-Balasri, Gautamiputra Satakarni is described as the destroyer of Sakas, Yavanas (Greek) and Pahlavas (Parthians). The extent of the empire is also mentioned in the record. Their domain included Maharashtra, north Konkan, Berar, Gujarat, Kathiawar and Malwa. His ship coins are suggestive of Andhras' skill in seafaring and their naval power. The Bogor inscriptions suggest that South India played an important role in the process of early state formation in Southeast Asia.

Contributions of Satavahanas

Literature

The Satavahana king Hala was himself a great scholar of Sanskrit. The Kantara school of Sanskrit flourished in the Deccan in the second century Before Christ. Hala is famous as the author of Sattasai (otherwise called as Saptasati-700 stanzas) in Prakrit.

Art and Architecture

The Satavahana rulers were great builders. They began constructing Buddhist stupas in Amaravati. A bronze statue of the standing Buddha discovered in Oc-Eo (an archaeological site in Vietnam) resembles the Amaravati style. The later Satavahana kings issued lead or bronze coins depicting ships with two masts. A stone seal discovered in Nakhon-Pathom in Thailand has the same design. Gandhara, Madhura, Amaravati, Bodh Gaya, Sanchi and Bharhut were known for splendid monuments and art. The Mathura School of Sculpture produced images and life-size statues of the Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain deities.

Do You Know?

The world-famous life-size statues of Buddha at Bamiyan valley on the mountains of the erstwhile northwestern frontiers of ancient India (currently in central Afghanistan and recently destroyed by the Taliban) were carved out of the solid rocks by the dedicated artists of the Gandhara School of Art during the post-Mauryan period.

Indo-Greeks, Indo-Parthians, Sakas and Kushanas

Indo Greeks and Indo Parthians

After the conquest of north-western India and the Punjab region, Alexander the Great left the conquered territories under provincial governors. Two of its eastern satrapies, Bactria and Parthia, revolted under their Greek Governors and declared their independence. The satrap of Bactria became independent under the leadership of Diodotus I and Parthia under Arsaces. After the decline of the Mauryan empire, the Greek rulers of Bactria and Parthia started encroaching into the northwestern border lands of India. The Bactrian and Parthian settlers gradually inter-married and inter-mixed with the indigenous population. This facilitated the establishment of Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian colonies along the north-western part of India.

Rulers of Indo Greeks

Demetrius 1

He was the son of Greco-Bactrian ruler Euthydemus. He was king of Macedonia from 294 to 288 Before Christ (Before Common Era). Numismatic evidence proves that Demetrius issued bilingual square coins with Greek on the obverse and Kharosthi on the reverse. Scholars are not able to decide which of the three, named Demetrius, was the initiator of the Yavana era, commencing from second century Before Christ (Before Common Era) in India.

Menander

He was one of the best-known Indo-Greek kings. He is said to have ruled a large kingdom in the north-west of the country. His coins were found over an extensive area ranging from Kabul valley and Indus River to western Uttar Pradesh. Milinda-Panha, a Buddhist text, is a discourse between Bactrian king Milinda and the learned Buddhist scholar Nagasena. This Milinda is identified with Menander. Menander is believed to have become a Buddhist and promoted Buddhism.

Contributions of Indo Greeks

Coinage: Indo Greek rulers introduced a die system and produced properly shaped coins with inscription, symbols and engraved figures on them. Indians learnt this art from them.

Sculpture: The Gandhara School of Indian Art is heavily indebted to Greek influence. The Greeks were good cave builders. The Mahayana Buddhists learnt the art of carving out caves from them and became skilled in rock-cut architecture

Sakas

The Indo-Greek rule in India was ended by the Sakas. Sakas as nomads came in huge numbers and spread all over northern and western India. The Sakas were against the tribe of Turki nomads. Sakas were Scythians, nomadic ancient Iranians, and known as Sakas in Sanskrit.

Rulers of Indo Parthians (Pahlavas)

Indo-Parthians came after the Indo-Greeks and the Indo-Scythians who were, in turn, defeated by the Kushanas in the second half of the first century Anno Domini (Common Era). Indo-Parthian kingdom or Gondopharid dynasty was founded by the Gondophernes. The domain of Indo-Parthians comprised Kabul and Gandhara. The name of Gondophares is associated with the Christian apostle Saint Thomas. He came to India and according to Christian tradition, visited the court of Gondophares and embraced Christianity

Saka rule was founded by Maos or Moga in the Gandhara region and his capital was 'Sirkap'. His name is mentioned in the Mora inscription. His coins bear images of Buddha and Siva. Rudradaman was the most important and famous king of Sakas. His Junagadh or Girnar inscription was the first inscription in chaste Sanskrit. In India, the Sakas were assimilated into Indian society. They began to adopt Indian names and practise Indian religious beliefs. The Sakas appointed kshatrapas or satraps as provincial governors to administer their territories.

Kushanas

The Kushanas formed a section of the yueh-chi tribes, who inhabited northwestern China in the remote past. In the first century Before Christ (Before Common Era), the yueh-chi tribes were composed of five major sections, of which the Kushanas attained political ascendancy over others. By the beginning of Christian era, all the yueh-chi tribes had acknowledged the supremacy of the Kushanas; they had shed their nomadic habits and settled down in the Bactrian and Parthian lands, adjacent to the north-western border of India. The Kushanas overran Bactria and Parthia and gradually established themselves in northern India. Their concentration was mostly in the Punjab, Rajaputana and Kathiawar. Kushana rulers were Buddhists. Takshashila and Mathura continued to be great centres of Buddhist learning, attracting students from China and western Asia.

The Kushana Kings

Rulers	Contributions
Kadphises 1	He was the first famous military and political leader of the Kushanas. He overthrew the Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian rulers and established himself as a sovereign ruler of Bactria. He extended his power in Kabul, Gandhara and upto the Indus.
Kadphises 2	He maintained friendly relationship with the emperors of China and Rome and encouraged trade and commerce with the foreign countries. Some of his coins contained the inscribed figures of Lord Siva and his imperial titles were inscribed in the Kharosthi language.

Kanishka

Kanishka was the greatest of all the Kushana emperors. He assumed sovereignty in 78 Anno Domini and proclaimed his rule by the foundation of a new era, which later became the Saka era. The Kushana capital initially was Kabul. Later, it was shifted to Peshavar or Purushapura.

Conquests

Kanishka conquered and annexed Kashmir. He waged a successful war against Magadha. He also waged a war against a ruler of Parthia to maintain safety and integrity in his vast empire on the western and south-western border. After the conquest of Kashmir and Gandhara, he turned his attention towards China. He defeated the Chinese general Pan-Chiang and safeguarded the northern borders of India from Chinese intrusion. His empire extended from Kashmir down to Benaras, and the Vindhya Mountain in the south. It included Kashgar, Yarkhand touching the borders of Persia and Parthia.

Religious Policy

Kanishka was an ardent Buddhist. Kanishka's empire was a Buddhist empire. Kanishka adopted Buddhism under the influence of Asvaghosha, a celebrated monk from Pataliputra. Though a great warrior and an empire-builder, Kanishka was as equal as the exponent and champion of Mahayanism. Kanishka made Buddhism as the state religion and built many stupas and monasteries in Mathura, Taxila and many other parts of his kingdom. He sent Buddhist missionaries to Tibet, China and many countries of Central Asia for the propagation of Buddha's gospel. He organised the fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalavana near Srinagar to sort out the differences between the various schools of Buddhism. It was only in this council that Buddhism was split into Hinayanism and Mahayanism.

Art and Literature

Kanishka was a great patron of art and literature. His court was adorned with a number of Buddhist saints and scholars, like Asvaghosha, Vasumitra and Nagarjuna.

Do You Know?

Asvaghosha was the celebrated author of the fist Sanskrit play, Buddhacharita. He founded the town of Kanishkapura in Kashmir and furnished the capital of Purushapura with magnificent public buildings. The Gandhara School of Art flourished during his time. The most favourite subject of the Gandhara Artists was the carving of sculptures of Buddha. Buddhist learning and culture was taken to China and Mongolia from Takshashila. The great Asiatic culture mingled with Indian Buddhist culture during the Kushana's time.

Kanishka's successors were weak and incompetent. Kushana empire rapidly disintegrated into number of small principalities.

Elsewhere

Kushana Empire corresponded with the last days of the Roman Republic, when Julius Ceasar was alive. It is said that Kushana Emperor sent a great embassy to Augustus Ceasar

Summary

The break-up of the Mauryan empire resulted in the invasions of Sakas, Scythians, Parthians, Indo-Greeks and Kushanas from the north-west. The last Mauryan emperor, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga, who established the Sunga dynasty in Magadha. The history of Magadha after the fall of the Kanvas is devoid of any significance until the emergence of the Gupta dynasty. The Kushanas in the north and the Satavahanas (otherwise called as Andhras) in the south flourished for about 300 years and 450 years, respectively. Rudradaman was the most important and famous king of Sakas. The best known of the Kushanas was Kanishka who was an ardent follower of Mahayana form of Buddhism. Gandhara Art developed during this period

Glossary

Repulsed (v) driven back by force விரட்டியடிக்கப்பட்டது thwarted (v) prevent from accomplishing something முறியடிக்கப்பட்டது Encroachments (n) intrusion on a person's territory, rights etc, ஆக்கிரமிப்புகள் Renovated (v) Restored (something old, especially a building) to a good state of repair புதுபிக்கப்பட்டது Assimilate (v) absorb (information, ideas or culture) fully ஒன்றி போதல் ardent (adj) enthusiastic or passionate தீவிர magnificent (adj) impressively beautiful அற்புதமான

Exercises

Exercise 1. Choose the correct answer

1. The last Mauryan emperor was killed by ______

a) Pushyamitra b) Agnimitra c) Vasudeva d) Narayana

2. ______ was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty.

a) Simuka b) Satakarani c) Kanha d) Sivasvathi

3. ______ was the greatest of all the Kushana emperors.

a) Kanishka b) Kadphises 1 c) Kadphises 2 d) Pan-Chiang

4. The Kantara School of Sanskrit flourished in the ______ during the 2nd century BC.

a) Deccan b) north-west India c) Punjab d) Gangetic valley

5. Sakas ruled over Gandhara region ______ as their capital.

a) Sirkap b) Taxila c) Mathura d) Purushpura Exercise 2. Match the statement with the reason and tick the appropriate answer

1. Assertion (A): Colonies of Indo-Greeks and Indo-Parthians were established along the north-western part of India.
Reason (R): The Bactrian and Parthian settlers gradually intermarried and intermixed with the indigenous population.

a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A. b) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A. c) A is correct but R is not correct. d) A is not correct but R is correct.

2. Statement I: Indo-Greek rulers introduced the die system and produced coins with inscription and symbols, engraving figures on them.
Statement II: Indo-Greek rule was ended by the Kushanas.

a) Statement 1 is wrong, but statement 2 is correct. b) Statement 2 is wrong, but statement 1 is correct c) Both the statements are correct. d) Both the statements are wrong. Exercise 3. Circle the odd one

Pushyamitra, Vasudeva, Simuka, Kanishka

Exercise 4. Answer the following in a word

1. Who was the last Sunga ruler?

2. Who was the most important and famous king of Sakas?

3. Who established the Kanva dynasty in Magadha?

4. Who converted Gondophernes into Christianity?

Exercise 3. Fill in the blanks

1. was the founder of Indo-Parthian Kingdom.

2. In the South, Satavahanas became independent after death.

3. Hala is famous as the author of

4. was the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty.

5. Kushana's later capital was

Exercise 4. State whether True or False 1. Magadha continued to be a great centre of Buddhist culture even after the fall of the Mauryan Empire. 2. We get much information about Kharavela from Hathigumba inscriptions. 3. Simuka was the founder of satavahana dynasity. 4. Buddhacharita was written by Asvaghosha. Exercise 5. Match the following

1. Patanjali
2. Agnimitra
3. King Kharavela
4. Demetrius
5. Gondophernes

a) Kalinga b) Indo-Greek c) Indo-Parthians d) Second grammarian e) Malavikagnimitra

Exercise 6. Find out the wrong statement from the following 1. The Kushanas formed a section of the yueh-chi tribes who inhabited north-western China. 2. Kanishka made Jainism the state religion and built many monasteries. 3. The Great Stupa of Sanchi and the railings which enclose it belong to the Sunga period. 4. Pan-Chiang was the Chinese general defeated by Kanishka. Exercise 7. Answer in one or two sentences

1. What happened to the last Mauryan emperor?

2. Write a note on Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra.

3. Name the ruler of Kanva dynasty.

4. Highlight the literary achievements of Satavahanas.

5. Name the places where Satavahana's monuments are situated.

6. Give an account of the achievements of Kadphises 1.

7. Name the Buddhist saints and scholars who adorned the court of Kanishka.

Exercise 8. Answer the following

1. Who invaded India after the decline of the Mauryan empire?

2. Give an account of the conquests of Pushyamitra Sunga.

3. Write a note on Gautamiputra Satakarni.

4. What do you know of Gondopharid dynasty?

5. Who was considered the best-known Indo-Greek King. Why?

6. Who were Sakas?

7. Give an account of the religious policy of Kanishka.

Exercise 9. Higher Order Thinking

1. The importance of Gandhara School of Art.

2. Provide an account of trade and commerce during the post-Mauryan period in South India.

Exercise 10. Activities

1. Prepare an album with centres of archaeological monuments of Satavahanas and Kushanas.

2. Arrange a debate in the classroom on the cultural contribution of Indo-Greeks Sakas and Kushanas.

Exercise 11. Answer Grid

Who wrote Brihastkatha

Name the Satavahana ruler who performed two Asvamedha sacrifices.

How many years did the Satavahanas rule the Deccan?

Who laid the foundation of the Saka era?

What was the favourite subject of the Gandhara artists?

Where did Kanishka organise the fourth Buddhist Council?

Book-back Exercises — Questions & Answers

Answers generated strictly from the Samacheer Kalvi textbook content. Attempt each question first, then click "Show Answer" to check.

1. Choose the correct answer

1. The last Mauryan emperor was killed by ________

a) Pushyamitra b) Agnimitra c) Vasudeva d) Narayana

Answer: a) Pushyamitra

Explanation: The last Mauryan emperor, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga, who established his Sunga dynasty in Magadha.

2. ________ was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty.

a) Simuka b) Satakarani c) Kanha d) Sivasvathi

Answer: a) Simuka

Explanation: Simuka, the founder of the Satavahana dynasty, is said to have ruled for twenty-three years.

3. ________ was the greatest of all the Kushana emperors.

a) Kanishka b) Kadphises 1 c) Kadphises 2 d) Pan-Chiang

Answer: a) Kanishka

Explanation: Kanishka was the greatest of all the Kushana emperors. He assumed sovereignty in 78 AD and proclaimed his rule by the foundation of a new era, which later became the Saka era.

4. The Kantara School of Sanskrit flourished in the ________ during the 2nd century BC.

a) Deccan b) north-west India c) Punjab d) Gangetic valley

Answer: a) Deccan

Explanation: The Kantara school of Sanskrit flourished in the Deccan in the second century Before Christ.

5. Sakas ruled over Gandhara region ________ as their capital.

a) Sirkap b) Taxila c) Mathura d) Purushpura

Answer: a) Sirkap

Explanation: Saka rule was founded by Maos or Moga in the Gandhara region and his capital was 'Sirkap'.

2. Match the statement with the reason and tick the appropriate answer

1. Assertion (A): Colonies of Indo-Greeks and Indo-Parthians were established along the north-western part of India. Reason (R): The Bactrian and Parthian settlers gradually intermarried and intermixed with the indigenous population.

a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A. b) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A. c) A is correct but R is not correct. d) A is not correct but R is correct.

Answer: a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation: The Bactrian and Parthian settlers gradually inter-married and inter-mixed with the indigenous population. This facilitated the establishment of Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian colonies along the north-western part of India.

2. Statement I: Indo-Greek rulers introduced the die system and produced coins with inscription and symbols, engraving figures on them. Statement II: Indo-Greek rule was ended by the Kushanas.

a) Statement 1 is wrong, but statement 2 is correct. b) Statement 2 is wrong, but statement 1 is correct c) Both the statements are correct. d) Both the statements are wrong.

Answer: b) Statement 2 is wrong, but statement 1 is correct

Explanation: Indo Greek rulers introduced a die system and produced properly shaped coins with inscription, symbols and engraved figures on them. However, the Indo-Greek rule in India was ended by the Sakas, not the Kushanas.

3. Circle the odd one

1. Pushyamitra, Vasudeva, Simuka, Kanishka

Answer: Kanishka

Explanation: Kanishka was a Kushana emperor, while the others were rulers of different dynasties in the post-Mauryan period.

4. Answer the following in a word

1. Who was the last Sunga ruler?

Answer: Devabhuti

2. Who was the most important and famous king of Sakas?

Answer: Rudradaman

3. Who established the Kanva dynasty in Magadha?

Answer: Vasudeva

4. Who converted Gondophernes into Christianity?

Answer: St. Thomas

3. Fill in the blanks

1. ________ was the founder of Indo-Parthian Kingdom.

Answer: Gondophernes

2. In the South, Satavahanas became independent after ________ death.

Answer: Asoka's

3. Hala is famous as the author of ________

Answer: Sattasai (Saptasati)

4. ________ was the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty.

Answer: Susarman

5. Kushana's later capital was ________

Answer: Peshawar (Purushapura)

4. State whether True or False

1. Magadha continued to be a great centre of Buddhist culture even after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.

Answer: True

2. We get much information about Kharavela from Hathigumba inscriptions.

Answer: True

3. Simuka was the founder of satavahana dynasty.

Answer: True

4. Buddhacharita was written by Asvaghosha.

Answer: True

5. Match the following

1. Match the following

1. Patanjali	1. Kalinga
2. Agnimitra	2. Indo-Greek
3. King Kharavela	3. Indo-Parthians
4. Demetrius	4. Second grammarian
5. Gondophernes	5. Malavikagnimitra

Answers: 1-4, 2-5, 3-1, 4-2, 5-3

6. Find out the wrong statement from the following

1. Find out the wrong statement from the following

1. The Kushanas formed a section of the yueh-chi tribes who inhabited north-western China. 2. Kanishka made Jainism the state religion and built many monasteries. 3. The Great Stupa of Sanchi and the railings which enclose it belong to the Sunga period. 4. Pan-Chiang was the Chinese general defeated by Kanishka.

Answer: 2. Kanishka made Jainism the state religion and built many monasteries.

Explanation: Kanishka made Buddhism as the state religion and built many stupas and monasteries, not Jainism.

7. Answer in one or two sentences

1. What happened to the last Mauryan emperor?

Answer: The last Mauryan emperor, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga, who established his Sunga dynasty in Magadha.

2. Write a note on Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra.

Answer: Agnimitra is said to be the hero of Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra. The drama also refers to the victory of Vasumitra, Agnimitra's son, over the Greeks on the banks of the Sindhu River.

3. Name the ruler of Kanva dynasty.

Answer: The Kanva rulers were Vasudeva, Bhumi Mitra, Narayana and Susarman.

4. Highlight the literary achievements of Satavahanas.

Answer: The Satavahana king Hala was himself a great scholar of Sanskrit. Hala is famous as the author of Sattasai (Saptasati) - 700 stanzas in Prakrit.

5. Name the places where Satavahana's monuments are situated.

Answer: The Satavahana rulers began constructing Buddhist stupas in Amaravati. They were great builders of monuments.

6. Give an account of the achievements of Kadphises 1.

Answer: He was the first famous military and political leader of the Kushanas. He overthrew the Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian rulers and established himself as a sovereign ruler of Bactria.

7. Name the Buddhist saints and scholars who adorned the court of Kanishka.

Answer: Kanishka's court was adorned with a number of Buddhist saints and scholars, like Asvaghosha, Vasumitra and Nagarjuna.

8. Answer the following

1. Who invaded India after the decline of the Mauryan empire?

Answer: The break-up of the Mauryan Empire resulted in the invasions of Sakas, Scythians, Parthians, Indo-Greeks or Bactrian Greeks and Kushanas from the north-west. In the south, Satavahanas became independent after Asoka's death. There were Sungas and Kanvas in the north before the emergence of the Gupta dynasty.

2. Give an account of the conquests of Pushyamitra Sunga.

Answer: Pushyamitra's kingdom extended westward to include Ujjain and Vidisha. He successfully repulsed the invasion of Bactria king, Menander. He thwarted an attack from the Kalinga king Kharavela. He also conquered Vidarbha. He performed two Asvamedha yagnas to assert his imperial authority.

3. Write a note on Gautamiputra Satakarni.

Answer: Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest ruler of the Satavahana family. In the Nasik eulogy, published by his mother Gautami Balasri, he is described as the destroyer of Sakas, Yavanas (Greeks) and Pahlavas (Parthians). Their domain included Maharashtra, north Konkan, Berar, Gujarat, Kathiawar and Malwa. His ship coins are suggestive of Andhras' skill in seafaring and their naval power.

4. What do you know of Gondopharid dynasty?

Answer: Indo-Parthian kingdom or Gondopharid dynasty was founded by Gondophernes. The domain of Indo-Parthians comprised Kabul and Gandhara. The name of Gondophares is associated with the Christian apostle Saint Thomas. He came to India and according to Christian tradition, visited the court of Gondophares and embraced Christianity.

5. Who was considered the best-known Indo-Greek King. Why?

Answer: Menander was one of the best-known Indo-Greek kings. He is said to have ruled a large kingdom in the north-west of the country. His coins were found over an extensive area ranging from Kabul valley and Indus River to western Uttar Pradesh. MilindaPanha, a Buddhist text, is a discourse between Bactrian king Milinda and the learned Buddhist scholar Nagasena.

6. Who were Sakas?

Answer: Sakas as nomads came in huge numbers and spread all over northern and western India. The Sakas were against the tribe of Turki nomads. Sakas were Scythians, nomadic ancient Iranians, and known as Sakas in Sanskrit. In India, the Sakas were assimilated into Indian society and began to adopt Indian names and practise Indian religious beliefs.

7. Give an account of the religious policy of Kanishka.

Answer: Kanishka was an ardent Buddhist. He adopted Buddhism under the influence of Asvaghosha, a celebrated monk from Pataliputra. Kanishka made Buddhism as the state religion and built many stupas and monasteries in Mathura, Taxila and many other parts of his kingdom. He sent Buddhist missionaries to Tibet, China and many countries of Central Asia. He organised the fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalavana near Srinagar where Buddhism was split into Hinayanism and Mahayanism.

11. Answer Grid

1. Who wrote Brihastkatha?

Answer: Gunadhya

2. Name the Satavahana ruler who performed two Asvamedha sacrifices.

Answer: Satakarni

3. How many years did the Satavahanas rule the Deccan?

Answer: 450 Years

4. Who laid the foundation of the Saka era?

Answer: Kanishka

5. What was the favourite subject of the Gandhara artists?

Answer: Carving of Sculptures of Buddha

6. Where did Kanishka organise the fourth Buddhist Council?

Answer: Kundalavana (Near Srinagar)

📝 Summary

1. The break-up of the Mauryan Empire led to invasions from the north-west by Sakas, Scythians, Parthians, Indo-Greeks and Kushanas, while in the south Satavahanas became independent and Chedis declared independence in Kalinga.
2. The Sunga dynasty was established when Pushyamitra Sunga assassinated the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha, making Pataliputra his capital and successfully defending against Bactrian king Menander and Kalinga king Kharavela.
3. Pushyamitra Sunga revived Vedic religious practices, performed two Asvamedha yagnas to assert imperial authority, and promoted Sanskrit as the court language while patronizing scholars like Patanjali.
4. During the Sunga period, important Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi were renovated with stone replaced by wood in railings and gateways, and the expanded Great Stupa of Sanchi belongs to this period.
5. The Kanva dynasty succeeded the Sungas when Vasudeva Kanva killed the last Sunga king Devabhuti, but the Kanva rule lasted only 45 years with four kings before Magadha lost significance until the rise of the Gupta dynasty.