Post Mauryan Empire

Post Mauryan
Empire - Study Notes
History
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Post Mauryan Empire
The period following the decline of the Mauryan Empire in India, around 200 BCE, was
characterized by a mix of smaller kingdoms and dynasties that rose and fell over the centuries,
marking the transition from the Mauryan age to the age of regional kingdoms.
Content/Synopsis
The Shungas
Historical references about Shungas
Brief information about The Shunga dynasty
Territorial Expansion of the Sungas
Territorial expansion Map
Administrative Structure
Sunga Art
End of the Shunga Dynasty
The Kanvas
Background
Geographical Expansion
Important rulers
Vasudeva Kanva (c. 75 – c. 66 BCE)
Bhumimitra (c. 66 – c. 52 BCE)
Narayana (c. 52 – c. 40 BCE)
Susarman (c. 40 – c. 30 BCE)
End of the Kanva Dynasty
Reasons for foreign invasion
SUBJECT | History 1 of 19
Indo-Greeks
Importance of Indo-Greek rule
Indo-Greek coins
The Sakas
Different branches of Sakas
Significance of Sakas
Rudradaman 1 ( A.D. 130 - 150)
The Parthians
Geographic expansion
The Kushanas
Establishment of Kushana Empire
Significance of Kushana Empire
Kanishka
Capitals
Language
Impact of Central Asian contacts
Structures and pottery
Cavalry
Trade and agriculture
Polity
New elements in society
Religious developments
Gandhara and Mathura Schools of Art
Gandhara School of Art
Mathura Schools of Art
Literature and Learning
Science and technology
Mains questions for practice
The Shungas
As mentioned before, the last king of the Mauryas, Brihadratha, was assassinated by
Pushyamitra Sunga in 180 BCE.
Let’s see in detail about Shungas:
References of Shungas
The Sungas were Brahmanas and there are several references to Sunga teachers in Vedic
texts.
From Panini, we learn that the Sungas were of Bharadvaja gotra.
Kalidasa’s Malavikagnimitra describes Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra, as belonging to

the Baimbika kula and the Baudhayana Srauta
All these sources indicate that the Sungas were Brahmanas.
Brief information about The Shunga dynasty
Sunga rule in India according to the Puranas lasted for 112 years. Magadha was the
nucleus of the kingdom.
Pushyamitra ruled for 36 years and died in 151 BCE. His son and successor were
Agnimitra and he was succeeded by his son Vasumitra.
After Ashoka’s tryst with Dhamma and Buddhism, the Sungas are known for having
reverted to Brahmanical orthodoxy.
Divyavadana depicts Pushyamitra as a destroyer of Buddhist monasteries and places of

worship, particularly those constructed by Ashoka.
The last Sunga king was Devabhuti.
He was killed by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva.
Thus, the Sunga line came to an end by 75 BCE.
They were followed by Kanvas whose founding member was Vasudeva.
Territorial Expansion of the Sungas
The Sunga rule with its centre at Pataliputra seems to have embraced territories in the
middle Ganga plain, the upper Ganga valley, and eastern Malwa
It appears that some of the more distant regions were probably not directly under their
control and merely owed them political allegiance.
Map of territorial expansion
Administrative Structure
It was possible that Pushyamitra had a central administration at Pataliputra.
He was assisted by a council of ministers and bureaucrats, and his empire was divided
into provinces.
The provinces were put under the charge of governors of royal blood. A council assisted
it.
Certain tribal regions having autonomous power were also integrated.
Patanjali mentions that the sabha which was convened under Pushyamitra probably
functioned as a council of ministers or an Assembly.
Sunga Art
The Sunga empire played an important role in patronizing art.
Bharhut, Bodhgaya, and Sanchi bear evidence of the patronage received from the Sunga
rulers.
The gates and railings of the Bharhut stupa and the fine gateway railings surrounding
the Sanchi Stupa have been built during the Sunga period.
The period saw the flowering of visual arts including small terracotta images, larger
stone sculptures, and architectural monuments like the chaitya hall at Bhaja, the stupa at
Bharhut, and the Great Stupa at Sanchi.
A most characteristic formal quality of Sunga art is its flowing linear rhythm that binds all
isolated objects in one continuous stream of life.
Patanjali’s synthesis of the tradition of Yoga became the foundation of one of the schools
of thought.
North Torana of Sanchi Stupa
End of the Shunga Dynasty
The Kanvas, who perhaps began their political career as subordinates of the Sungas,
brought to an end the Sunga kingdom.
The last Sunga king was Devabhuti.
He was killed by his brahmana minister Vasudeva.
Thus, the Sunga line came to an end by 75 BCE. They were followed by Kanvas whose
founding member was Vasudeva.
The Kanvas
Background
Kanva dynasty, also called Kanvayanas, the successors of the Shungas in the North Indian
kingdom of Magadha.
Kanvas ruled about 72–28 BCE; like their predecessors, they were Brahmans in origin.
That they originally served the Shunga line is attested by the appellation Shungabhrityas
(i.e., servants of the Shungas) given to them in the Puranas.
Geographical expansion
Important Rulers
Vasudeva Kanva (c. 75 – c. 66 BCE)
The Kanva dynasty was established by Vasudeva Kanva in 75 BC.
Vasudeva was initially a minister of the Shunga Emperor Devabhuti, who then
assassinated the former emperor and usurped the throne.
He was succeeded by his son Bhumimitra.
Bhumimitra (c. 66 – c. 52 BCE)
Succeeded Vasudeva Kanva
Coins bearing the legend Bhumimitra have been discovered from the Panchala realm.
Copper coins with the legend "Kanvas" have also been found from Vidisha, as well as
Kaushambi in the Vatsa realm.
Bhumimitra ruled for fourteen years and was later succeeded by his son Narayana.
He fought many wars against Satavahanaswho were contemporary to Kanvas.
Narayana (c. 52 – c. 40 BCE)
Narayana ruled for twelve years.
He was succeeded by his son Susharman who was the last king of the Kanva dynasty.
Susarman (c. 40 – c. 30 BCE)
During the rule of Susarma, in around 30 BCE Satavahana again attacked Magadha, this
time they defeated the last Kanva king Susharman, and annexed their kingdom.
Susarman was the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty.
End of the Kanva Dynasty
According to the Puranas, the last king of the Kanva dynasty was killed by Balipuccha,
who founded the Andhra dynasty.
The Kanvas Dynasty ruled for a very short period of time.
Reasons for foreign invasions
A series of invasions began in about 200 B.C. Causes for these invasions were :
Weakness of the Seleucid Empire which had been established in Bactria.
Pressures from Scythian Tribes, because of which Greeks were unable to hold their
control in this area.
The construction of the Chinese Wall pushed Scythians back from the Chinese border.
Weakness of the successors of Ashoka.
The Indo-Greeks
Greeks were the first to cross the Hindukush and ruled Bactria south of the Oxus river.
Greeks occupied a large part of North-western India, much larger than Alexander.
Meander (Milinda) was the most famous Indo-Greek ruler. (165 -145 B.C)
He had its capital at Sakala (Modern Sialkot), Punjab.
He had invaded Ganga - Yamuna Doab.
Nagasena (also known as Nagarjuna) converted him to Buddhism.
Milinda Panho or the Questions of Milinda book contains the questions Milinda
asked Nagasena about Buddhism.
Importance of Indo-Greek rule :
Indo - Greeks were the first rulers to issue coins that were attributed to the kings.
They issued a large number of Gold coins.
They were the first rulers to issue gold coins in India.
They introduced Hellenistic art features in North-Western India. (purely Greek art)
Gandhara art was the best example of the outcome of Greek contact.
Indo Greek coins
The Shakas
Geographical expansion
Greeks were followed by the Shakas, who controlled a much larger part than the Greeks
in India.
Different branches of Sakas
There were five branches of Shakas :
One branch settled in Afghanistan.
The second branch settled in Punjab with Taxila as its capital.
The third branch settled in Mathura for two centuries.
Fourth branch in Western India where they ruled until the 4rth century A.D.
The Fifth branch established its control in the Deccan area.
King of Ujjain fought effectively against Shakas and drove them out in his time. He called
himself Vikramaditya and started an era called the Vikrama Samvat ( in 57 B.C.). From this
time Vikramaditya became the title.
Significance of the Sakas
Rudradaman 1 ( A.D. 130 - 150)
He was the most famous Shaka ruler.
His rule was established over Sindh, Gujarat, Konkan, The Narmada Valley, Malawa, and
Kathiawar.
He undertook the repairing work of Sudarshan Lake in the Kathiawar region.
He was a great lover of Sanskrit. He issued the first-ever long inscription in Chaste
Sanskrit (pure Sanskrit).
Following are the rulers associated with Sudarshana Lake
The lake was constructed by the order of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the
Maurya dynasty. The order was implemented by his Governor ‘Pushyagupta Vaishya’
By the order of Emperor Ashoka, his great master Tushasp had rebuilt this lake and
strengthened it.
In the post-Mauryan period, Suvishakh the Governor of Saurashtra rebuilt the lake on the
orders of the Shaka ruler Rudradaman 1
In the Gupta period by the order of Skandagupta, Chakrapalit rebuilt the lake.
The Parthians
The Parthians followed Shakas in North-Western India.
The Parthians moved to India from Iran which was their origin.
They occupied only a small portion in North-Western India as compared to The Shakas
and Indo - Greeks.
The most famous ruler of Parthians was Gondophernes.
In course of time Parthians, like Shakas, became an integral part of Indian polity and
society.
The Kushanas
Parthians were followed by Kushanas, who were also called Yuechis or Tocharians.
Originally belonged to the steppes of North-Central Asia.
They established their authority over the lower Indus river basin and the greater part of
the Gangetic river Basin. Their empire extended from the river Oxus to the river Ganga.
Establishment of Kushana empire
The first dynasty was the Kadphises dynasty and Kadphises 1 was the first ruler. He issued
gold coins south of the Hindukush. He minted coppers in imitation of the Romans.
Kadphises 2 was the second king and he issued a large amount of gold money and
spread the kingdom east of the Indus.
Early Kushan kings issued gold coins with the highest purity.
Their inscriptions are distributed not only in the north-western a but also in
Mathura, Shravasti, Kaushambi, and Varanasi.
Significance of the Kushana empire
Kanishka
The rule of Kadphises was succeeded by the Kanishka, who was the most famous Kushan
ruler.
Kanishka started an era in A.D. 78 which is called the Shaka era and is issued by the
Government of India.
Kanishka extended his patronage to Buddhism.
He held a Buddhist Council in Kashmir, where doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism were

finalized.
The Kushan empire in Afghanistan and west of the Indus was supplanted by the
Sassanian power of Iran. But Kushan Principalities continued to exist in India for about a
century.
Capitals
Their first capital was Purushapura (Peshawar) and
Their second capital was Mathura.
Language
He was also a great patron of art and Sanskrit Literature.
The successors of Kanisha bore typical Indian names such as Vasudeva.
Impact of Central Asian contacts
Structures and pottery
Burnt bricks were also used by the People of Indus Valley civilization (IVC). But after the
decline of IVC, the use was discontinued and it re-emerged during the times of Central
Asian Rulers. Due to contacts with Central Asian rulers, use of burnt bricks for flooring
was found. The tiles were used for both flooring and roof.
The period is also marked by the construction of brick walls.
Its typical pottery was Red Ware, both plain and polished.
Cavalry
They introduced better cavalry and use of the riding horses on a large scale.
They made common the use of reins and saddles.
They also introduced turban, tunic, trousers, and heavy long coats.
Trade and agriculture
Kushans controlled the silk route and it was a source of great income to them.
They built a vast empire based on the tolls levied from the traders.
They also promoted agriculture which is evident from the excavation in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Central Asia.
Polity
A feudatory system of organization of state was developed during the reign of Central
Asian rulers.
The Kushans adopted the pompous title of ‘kings of the kings’.
The Shakas and the Kushanas strengthen the idea of the ‘divine origin of kingship’.
Kushan kings were called ‘Son of the Gods’
The Kushans also introduced the ‘Satrap system of government’, where the kingdom was
organized into satrapies and headed by satraps.
Greek also introduced the system of ‘Military Governorship’
New elements in society
They became completely Indianized in the course of time.
They were absorbed into Indian society as a warrior class that is the Kshatriyas.
Religious developments
Some of the foreign rulers were converted to Vaishnavism. The Greek ambassador
Heliodorus set up a pillar in honour of Vasudeva near Vidisha.
The famous Greek ruler Meander adopted Buddhism.
The Kushan rulers worshipped both Shiva and Buddha.
The images of these gods appeared in the Kushana coins.
Additional information - MilindPanho
The Milinda Panho ( 'Questions of Milinda') is a Buddhist text which dates from sometime
between 100 BC and 200 AD.
It purports to record a dialogue between the Buddhist sage Nagasena, and the Indo-
Greek king Menander I of Bactria
The Milinda Pañha is regarded as canonical in Burmese Buddhism
Gandhara and Mathura Schools of Art
The Kushan empire brought together artists trained in different regions which gave rise
to several schools of art:
Central Asian,
Gandhara and
Mathura.
Central Asian sculptures show the synthesis of both local and foreign elements under the
influence of Buddhism.
Indian artisans with the contact of Greeks and Romans gave rise to new kinds of art in
which images of the Buddha were made in the Graeco-Roman style.
The hair of Buddha was fashioned in the Graeco-Roman style.
Mathura produces beautiful images of the Buddha but it is also famous for the headless
statue of the Kanishka. (refer to the image of Mathura School of art) It also produced
stone images of Vardhaman Mahavira.
Artistic products of Mathura were made up of Red Sandstone.
During this period beautiful Buddhist caves were constructed in Maharashtra.
Gandhara School of art
Mathura school of art
Headless statue of Kanishka.
Literature and Learning
Foreign Princes patronized and cultivated Sanskrit literature.
The earliest specimen of the Kavya Style is found in the Junagarh inscription of
Rudradaman of Kathiawar.
Ashvaghosa who wrote the Buddhacharita enjoyed the patronage of Kushana. He also
composed the Saundarananda which is a fine example of Sanskrit kavya.
Avadanas - compositions of Mahayana Buddhism: to preach the teachings of Mahayana

Buddhism. Some of the important books of this genre were the Mahavastu and
Divyavadana.
The best example of secular literature of this time was the Kamsutra of Vatsayana.
Science and technology
In post-Mauryan times Indian astrology and astronomy profited from the contacts with
the Greeks.
In the field of technology, Indians benefited from contacts with Central Asian rulers like
the Kushanas.
The practice of making leather shoes began in India during this period.
The technology of glassmaking came to India with contacts from Rome.
In Summary -
One of the most significant developments during this period was the increased contact
with other parts of Asia, particularly Central Asia, brought about in large part by the
movements of different peoples into India.
These migrations, along with trade and cultural exchange, influenced the political,
cultural, and economic development of the region.
In the northwestern parts of India, the region saw the domination of foreign rulers like
the Indo-Greeks, Shakas (Scythians), Parthians, and finally the Kushanas. The Kushana
Empire, especially under the rule of Kanishka, is known for its contributions to the spread
of Buddhism and the flourishing of art and culture. The Gandhara and Mathura schools
of art flourished during this period.
In central and eastern India, the Sungas succeeded the Mauryas. The Shunga dynasty
was then succeeded by the Kanva dynasty.
In the Deccan and southern India, the Satavahanas (also known as the Andhras) emerged
as a powerful dynasty. They are known for their contributions to art, architecture, and
literature, and they upheld the principle of religious tolerance.
Although no single empire unified India during this period until the rise of the Gupta
Empire, these various regional powers each contributed to the rich and diverse cultural
and historical legacy of ancient India.
It was a period of political fragmentation but also of great cultural and economic
development, with advancements in art, literature, trade, and religion.

Post Mauryan Empire - Study Notes

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Post Mauryan

Empire - Study Notes

Historical references about Shungas

Brief information about The Shunga dynasty

Territorial Expansion of the Sungas

Territorial expansion Map

End of the Shunga Dynasty

Vasudeva Kanva (c. 75 – c. 66 BCE)

Bhumimitra (c. 66 – c. 52 BCE)

Narayana (c. 52 – c. 40 BCE)

Susarman (c. 40 – c. 30 BCE)

End of the Kanva Dynasty

Reasons for foreign invasion

Importance of Indo-Greek rule

Different branches of Sakas

Rudradaman 1 ( A.D. 130 - 150)

Establishment of Kushana Empire

Significance of Kushana Empire

Impact of Central Asian contacts

Structures and pottery

Trade and agriculture

New elements in society

Gandhara and Mathura Schools of Art

Gandhara School of Art

Mathura Schools of Art

Literature and Learning

Science and technology

Mains questions for practice

Let’s see in detail about Shungas:

From Panini, we learn that the Sungas were of Bharadvaja gotra.

Kalidasa’s Malavikagnimitra describes Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra, as belonging to

All these sources indicate that the Sungas were Brahmanas.

Brief information about The Shunga dynasty

Divyavadana depicts Pushyamitra as a destroyer of Buddhist monasteries and places of

The last Sunga king was Devabhuti.

He was killed by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva.

Thus, the Sunga line came to an end by 75 BCE.

They were followed by Kanvas whose founding member was Vasudeva.

Territorial Expansion of the Sungas

Map of territorial expansion

It was possible that Pushyamitra had a central administration at Pataliputra.

Certain tribal regions having autonomous power were also integrated.

The Sunga empire played an important role in patronizing art.

North Torana of Sanchi Stupa

End of the Shunga Dynasty

The last Sunga king was Devabhuti.

He was killed by his brahmana minister Vasudeva.

Vasudeva Kanva (c. 75 – c. 66 BCE)

The Kanva dynasty was established by Vasudeva Kanva in 75 BC.

He was succeeded by his son Bhumimitra.

Bhumimitra (c. 66 – c. 52 BCE)

Succeeded Vasudeva Kanva

He fought many wars against Satavahanaswho were contemporary to Kanvas.

Narayana (c. 52 – c. 40 BCE)

Narayana ruled for twelve years.

Susarman (c. 40 – c. 30 BCE)

Susarman was the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty.

End of the Kanva Dynasty

The Kanvas Dynasty ruled for a very short period of time.

Reasons for foreign invasions

Weakness of the Seleucid Empire which had been established in Bactria.

Weakness of the successors of Ashoka.

He had its capital at Sakala (Modern Sialkot), Punjab.