POST-MAURYAN PERIOD
(200BC-300AD)
The important regional kingdoms and their area of influence
were as:
1. Sunga dynasty ruled from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
2. The Kanvas ruled from Patliputra.
3. The Indo-Greek rulers ruled over the north western part of the
country.
4. The Satavahanas became the dominant power in Deccan and
Central India with Pratishtana or Paithan as the capital
5. The Chedi dynasty ruled over Kalinga.
Sunga and Kanva
Source: Evidences about Sunga dynasty can be obtained from the
inscriptions of Ayodhya, Vidisha and Bharhut.
The empire finally ended with the assassination of the last Mauryan King,
Brihadratha, by Pushyamitra Sunga, the Mauryan army chief. Mauryans
were succeeded by Shungas, Kanvas and Satavahanas in central and South
India.
The Sunga empire included Ganga valley up to Narmada River, Parts of
Northern India, and Vidisha.
The capital of the Sunga dynasty in the initial period was Pataliputra. Later
the capital was changed to Vidisha.
1. The Shunga Dynasty (185 BCE to 73 BCE)
a. Pushyamitra Shunga (185 BCE to 149 BCE)
Pushyamitra Shunga established the Shunga dynasty. He was initially a Mauryan army
chief who assassinated the last Maurya King, Brihadratha, in 180 BC and usurped the
throne of Patliputra.
This overthrow is considered a Brahminical reaction to the enormous patronage given to
Buddhism by Mauryans. The Ashokavadana tells us about the damage done to the Sanchi
stupa and other structures by Pushyamitra Sunga.
During the reign of Sungas, there was a revival of Brahminical influence.The Bhagavata
religion became important.
Divyavandana’s book describes Pushyamitra as the destroyer of Buddhist monasteries
and their places of worship
cont…
2. Agnimitra:
Pushyamitra Shunga was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. We know him from Kalidasa’s
4th century CE novel Malavikagnimitram, portraying him as the Hero.
Unlike his father, he was a patron of Buddhism and reconstructed the Sanchi stupa and
made his own additions to the structure.
By the time Agnimitra succeeded to the throne, the Vidarbha region
broke away from the Sunga empire and became independent.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devabhuti was the last known Sunga King.
Kanva Dynasty (72 BCE–28 BCE)
2. Kanva Dynasty (72 BCE–28 BCE)
According to Harshacharita, Devbhuti, the last King of the Shunga
dynasty, was murdered by his minister Vasudeva, and Vasudeva
become the founder of Kanva dynasty. They ruled over Magadha.
In the Deccan, Andhras overthrew them, and the Satavahana dynasty
was established.
In north India, they were succeeded by lesser-known smaller
kingdoms such as Mitras of Kaushambi.
Satavahana Dynasty : 60 BC – 225 AD
Satavahana are referred as “Andhra” in the Puranas. Simuka was the founder of the
Satavahana dynasty.
The Satavahanas are reported from the north- western region of the Deccan in the
first century BC, with their primary capital at Pratishthan (modern Paithan in
Maharashtra) on Godavari river & second Capita was Amravati.
Most important king was Gautamiputra Satakarni whose achievements are recorded
in Nasik inscription of Gautami Balashri, his mother.
Satavahanas started the practice of donating land with fiscal and administrative rights
to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks, which eventually weakened their authority and
resulted in the rise of feudalism in the later period.
1. Administration
2. ‘Amatyas’ and ‘Mahamatras’ were district officers at the during
Satvahana rule which was called as ‘Ahara’.
3. • Gaulmika administered the rural areas; Katakas and Skandhvaras
military camps.
4. King during Satvbahanas’ reign was supposed to be the upholder
of the Dharma.
2. Economy
Satvahanas issued coins (Karshapanas) in a number of metals like Silver,
Gold, Copper, Lead and Potin.
• The Satavahanas issued their coins in lead (mainly), copper and bronze.
• They were first native rulers to issue own coins with the portraits of the
rulers.
4. SOCIETY AND RELIGION:
Satvahana revived Brahmanism.
• Being matrilineal most of the kings are named after their mother Gautamiputra Satakarni etc.
• With flourishing of Mahayan Buddhism worship of Krishna and Vasudeva was also common.
5. LITERATURE:
• Most of the inscriptions of the Satvahana rulers are in Prakrit Language as it was their official
language.
• Satvahana ruler Hala, himself great scholar, composed Gathasaptasati.
Foreign Invasions
● The five centuries that passed between the fall of the Mauryas and rise of the Guptas witnessed a lot of political
instability and upheaval in the North of India. The South however remained fairly stable.
● Many foreigners came to India during this period and settled down in India
while in some parts of India there were indigenous kingdoms .Following are the rulers of post –Mauryan period
1. Indo-Greeks
2. Shakas\Scythians
3. Kushans
INDO-GREEKS
● Source: Besnagar Pillar Inscription, Milindapanho,Coins
● The Greeks were the first foreign power in the subcontinent. They were the rulers of Bactria
(area to the northwest of Hindukush mountains in the present day north Afghanistan). After
Alexander died in 323 BC his generals stayed back .Hence the term Bactrian-Greeks was given
to them originally.
● However, the most celebrated Indo-Greek ruler was MENANDER. His empire appears to have
included southern Afghanistan and Gandhara,the region west of the river Indus.
● He has been identified with the name king MILINDA (in Pali literature) mentioned in the
famous text MILINDAPANHO, which contains philosophical questions that Milinda asked
Nagasena (the Buddhist author of the text) and informs us that impressed by the answers,the
king accepted Buddhism as his religion.
● Menander is believed to have ruled between 155BC and 130BC .
● GOLD coins for the FIRST time were introduced by the Indo-Greeks .
● Decline: Defeated by Sakas.
SHAKAS/SCYTHIANS
The Shakas were pushed out of their lands by central Asian nomadic people known as ‘Yueh-chi’ or
‘Yuezhi’ in the 2nd century BC, forcing them to invade India from the northern frontier of modern-
day China.
They introduced satraps system.Under this system, the kingdom was divided into provinces, each
under military governor Maha Kshatrapa (great satrap). The governors of lower status were called
kshatrapas (satraps).
They also introduced Sakas Calendar.
They believe in de-centralization of power. 5 branches are:
● 1. Afghanistan was the location of the first branch.
● 2. The capital of the second branch, Taxila, was established in Punjab.
● 3. The third branch made Mathura it's home.
● 4. The fourth in Maharashtra and Saurashtra.
● 5. The fifth in central India, with Ujjain as its capital.
RUDRADAMAN-1
Rudradaman I (Reign 130 AD – 150 AD)
He is considered the greatest of the Saka rulers.He is from the Western Kshatrapa
dynasty.
He also issued the first long inscription i.e, Junagarh Inscription in chaste
Sanskrit.He took up the title of Makakshatrapa after becoming king.He conducted the
repair work of the Sudarshana Lake at Kathiawar.
He supported Sanskrit literature and cultural arts.
Decline: The Saka Empire started declining after their defeat at the hands of the
Satavahana Emperor Gautamiputra Satakarni.
KHUSHANAS
Kushanas are considered to be one of the five branches of the Yuezhi tribe who lived in the Chinese frontier or
central Asia. They are known as Gui Shuang in Chinese sources.
They moved eastward towards India defeating the Parthians and the Sakas in the 1st century AD.
Kushan Empire –
1. Ruler Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises I [AD 30-AD 80)
Kujula Kadphises was the first Yuezhi chief to lay the foundation of the Kushana Empire in India.
He established his supremacy over Kabul, Kandahar and Afghanistan.
2. He was succeeded by his son Vima Kadphises (AD 80 -AD 95) who expanded the empire into northwest
India
Kanishka of Kushan Dynasty [127 AD – 150 AD]
Considered the greatest Kushana king and also a great king of ancient India. Son of Vima Kadphises.
His kingdom included Afghanistan, parts of Sindhu, parts of Parthia, Punjab, Kashmir, parts of Magadha (including
Pataliputra), Malwa, Benaras, perhaps parts of Bengal, Khotan, Kashgar, Yarkhand (last three in modern China). His
empire covered Gandhara, Peshawar, Oudh, Pataliputra, Kashmir and Mathura. His kingdom also included parts of
Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
His main capital was Peshawar, then known as Purushpura.
Kanishka convened the fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana in Kashmir.
He patronised Buddhism although he was very tolerant in his religious views.He also propagated the Mahayana form of
Buddhism .He was also a patron of art and architecture.
The Gandhara School of art flourished under him.
