Post-Mauryan Period

The period following the decline of the Mauryan Empire (185 BCE onwards) was marked by political fragmentation, regional kingdoms, and significant cultural interactions. With the fall of the Mauryas, India saw the rise of various dynasties like the Shungas, Kanvas, Satavahanas, Indo- Greeks, Kushans, and Shakas, each contributing to political, economic, and artistic developments.

This era witnessed a blend of indigenous and foreign influences, leading to the spread of Buddhism, advancements in trade along the Silk Route, and the growth of regional art forms such as Gandhara and Mathura sculptures. While political unity weakened, economic and cultural exchanges flourished, setting the stage for future empires like the Guptas.

Archaeological Sources

For the first time during this period, coins were associated with the kings and Indo- Greeks were the first Indian Kings who issued coins in their names. Some inscriptions are:

• Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman which was the first big inscription in Sanskrit,  Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela,
• Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva,
• Nasik inscription of Gautami Balashri,
• Kanheri inscription of Vasishtaputra Puluamayi and  Land Grants issued by Satavahana kings.

Literary Sources

• Divyavadana  Lalitavistara
• Arya Manju Shri Mool Kalpa  Milind Panho
• Gargi Samhita
• Malvika-Agnimitram of Kalidas  Mahabhasya of Patanjali
• Periplus of the Erythrean-sea  Geography of Strabo
• Natural History of Pliny and
• History of Tibet by Lama Taranath.

Shunga Dynasty [185 BC - 73 BC Capital: Vidisha]

• Pushyamitra Sung killed the last Mauryan king Brihadratha and establish the Sung dynasty in the north India.

Challenges

• To protect north India against the invasions of the Bactrian Greeks from the northwest who advanced up to Pataliputra and occupied it for some time.
• He fought with the Demetrius a Bactrian Greek ruler and won the battle  Pushyamitra succeeded in regaining the lost territory.
• Pushyamitra also fought a campaign against Kharavela of Kalinga who invaded north India.

Pushyamitra Sunga

• Pushyamitra was a staunch follower of Brahmanism.
• He performed two asvamedha sacrifices. Patanjali, author of ‘Mahabhasya’ was priest of 2 Ahvamedha Yajna.
• Buddhist sources refer him as a persecutor of Buddhism, but there is enough evidence to show that Pushyamitra patronised Buddhist art.
• During his reign the Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi were renovated and further improved.

Successors of Pushyamitra

• Agnimitra: The Puranas assigned a reign of 36 years to Pushyamitra who was succeeded by his son Agnimitra, the hero of Kalidasa’s Malavika Agnimitram.
• Sujyeshtha: Agnimitra was succeeded by Sujyeshtha, identical with Jethamitra of the coins.
• Last Ruler – Devabhuti – Who was murdered by his minister VasudevaKanva, the founder of the Kanva dynasty.

Importance

• The rule of the Sungas was important because they defended the Gangetic valley from foreign invasions.
• They also promoted the growth of Vaishnavism and the Sanskrit language.
• It can be assumed that the Sunga rule was a brilliant anticipation of the golden age of the Guptas.

Kanva Dynasty [72 BC-27 BC]

• Founder: VasudevaKanva
• The puranas designated kings of Kanva dynasty as ‘Sungabhrityas’ or the servants of Sungas  Andhras conquered Magadha in 27 BC and Kanva dynasty came to end.
• The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45 years. After the fall of the Kanvas, the history of Magatha was a blank until the establishment of the Gupta dynasty.

Kalinga [Chetis Dynasty]

• Name of founder  is unknown. But  the  first known king of this dynasty  was Mahameghavarmana.
• The veil of obscurity is lifted by the far famed but damaged Hatigumpha (in the Udaygiri hill near Bhubaneswar) inscription.
• The inscription is called so because the image of an elephant is carved out of stones next to the boulder carrying the inscription
• However, there is not much information about the kings of the dynasty except Kharvela.
• Kharvela was the follower of Jainism and had fought many successful battle against his neighbours such as Satvahana , king Satkarni. He is believed to have lived on first century BC.

Satavahana Dynasty [ 60 BC-225 AD]

They were also known as the Andhras. It’s founder was Simuka Satvahana. The Puranas and inscriptions remain important sources for the history of Satavahanas. Among the inscriptions, the Nasik and Nanaghad inscriptions throw much light on the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni. The coins issued by the Satavahanas are also helpful in knowing the economic conditions of that period.

Successor

• Krishna: Extended the kingdom up to Nasik in the west.
• Sri Satakarni: He conquered western Malwa and Berar. He also performed Asvamedha sacrifices.
• Gautamiputra Satakarni: The greatest ruler of the Satavahana dynasty
• Hala (seventeenth king): Became famous for his book Gathasaptasati, also called Sattasai.  Pulamavi IV: considered the last king of the main Satavahana line.

Gautamiputra Satakarni

• His achievements were recorded in the Nasik inscription by his mother Gautami Balasri.
• He is described as the destroyer of the Shakas, Pahlavas and the Yavanas (Greeks); as the uprooter of the Kshaharatas and the restorer of the glory of the Satavahanas.
• Gautamiputra Satakarni captured the whole of Deccan and expanded his empire.  His victory over Nagapana, the ruler of Malwa was remarkable.
• He patronized Brahmanism. Yet, he also gave donations to Buddhists.
• He issued coins on which the image of ships was inscribed. They reveal the naval power and maritime trade of the Satavahanas.

Salient Features of Satavahana Dynasty Administration

• The king was represented as the upholder of dharma and he strove for the royal ideal set forth in the Dharmashastras.
• The Satavahana king is represented as possessing the divine qualities of ancient gods.
• Kingdom was divided into districts called Ahara. Their officials were known as Amatyas and Mahamatras (same as in Mauryan times).
• The Satavahana kingdom had three grades of feudatories – Raja (who had the right to strike coins), Mahabhoja and Senapati.
• The administration in the rural areas was placed in the hands of Gaulmika (village headman)

Tax Structure

• The state collected taxes both from agriculture and trade.
• Important beginning was the donation of revenue of a village to either a Brahmana or the Buddhist sangha.
• The importance of land revenue for the king can be judged from the elaborate procedure that was used to record donations of land.

Social Life

• Shows many features which are different from those prescribed in the Sanskrit texts such as the Manusmriti.
• Many inscriptions of the Satavahana rulers mention the names of their mothers rather than those of their fathers, such as Gautamiputra Satakarni or Satakarni, son of Gautami. This is not in keeping with the Dharmasastras which state that in the approved forms of marriage, the bride acquires the gotra of her husband and loses that of the father.
• It is clear from various sources that the society was not governed by rules laid down by the Brahmanical texts and Buddhist traditions might have had some sway on society.
• The artisans mention their occupations with their names and not their castes.

Culture

• Traders and merchants figure prominently as donors, but also important are blacksmiths, gardeners and fishermen.
• Many of the yavanas adopted Prakrit names and made donations to Buddhist monasteries.
• One of the Satavahana queens named Nayanika also performed Vedic sacrifices and made large donations to the Brahmana and Buddhist monks.
• The Satavahana kings donated large sums of money and land to the Buddhist monasteries and this added to the wealth of the sangha.
• Gradually, the influence and membership of the Buddhist sangha increased.

Economy

• Merchants organized guilds to increase their activities.
• There was a remarkable progress in the fields of trade and industry during the Satavahana
• The craft guilds organized by different craftsmen such as potters, weavers and oil pressers also came into existence.
• Silver coins called Karshapanas were used for trade. The Satavahana period also witnessed overseas commercial activity.
• Ptolemy mentions many ports in the Deccan. The greatest port of the Satavahanas was Kalyani on the west Deccan.
• Gandakasela and Ganjam on the east coast were the other important seaports.

Foreign Invasions of Northwest India

Bactrians

• Bactria and Parthia became independent from the Syrian empire in the middle of the third century B.C. Demetrius, the Greek ruler of Bactria invaded Afghanistan and Punjab and occupied them.
• From Taxila, he sent two of his commanders, Appolodotus and Menander for further conquests.  Appolodotus conquered the Sindh and marched up to Ujjain. Menander extended his rule up to Mathura and from there he made attempts to capture Pataliputra. But he was stopped by the army of Vasumitra, the grandson of Pushyamitra Sunga.
• Menander was also known as Milinda and the capital of his kingdom was Sakala (Sialcot). He evinced much interest in Buddhism and his dialogues with the Buddhist monk Nagasena was compiled in the Pali work, Milindapanho (Questions of Milinda).
• He also embraced Buddhism. A Greek ambassador Heliodorus became a Vaishnavite and erected the Garuda Pillar at Besnagar.
• The Greek influence in India lasted for more than a century after the death Menander.

Contribution

• First to introduce gold coins and first to inscribe dates on coins
• The concept of 7 days in a week was given by the Indo – Greeks
• They developed structural art famously known as Gandhara School of Art.

Shakas [1st BC-4 AD]

• Founder: Maues
• Also known as Scynthians they originally belong to Central Asia.  They were defeated by their neighbours the Yueh – Chis.
• Hence, they gradually came and settled in the north western India around Taxila in the first century BC.
• Famous ruler: The most famous Shaka ruler is Rudradaman He repaired famous Sudarshan lake of Mauryan period.
• He married a Hindu woman and had converted to Hinduism.
• He ruled in the middle of second century ad and his empire was spread over almost full of western India.
• The inscription is Speaking of his achievement was found engraved on the Boulder of Girnar Junagadh.
• This is the first royal encryption of early India composed in Sanskrit.
• An era called Vikrama Samvat is reckoned from 58 BC

Decline of the Shakas

• Defeat at the hands of the Satavahana Emperor Gautamiputra Satakarni.
• Rule in northwest India and Pakistan came to an end after the death of Azes II (12 BC) when the region came under the Kushanas.
• In western India, their rule came to an end when Western Satrap Saka ruler Rudrasimha III was defeated by Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty.

Parthians [19-45 AD]

• The Parthians were Iranian origin people and had Strong Cultural similarities with Shakas.
• Hence, they were referred to in India as a Shaka – Pahlava.
• The Parthians rule in the north western area of Pakistan is indicated in the inscription called the “Takht-i-Bahi” recovered from Mardaan near Peshawar
• Some literary sources also associate him with the Saint Thomas who is set to have converted both the king and his brother to Christianit

Kushana [1st Century AD to 3rd century AD]

• The Kushanas are also referred to as Yueh-chis or Tocharians.
• Defeated Shakas and Pahalavas, created a big empire in the Pakistan
• The founder of Kushana dynasty is believed to be Kijula Kadphises and was succeeded by his son Wema Kadaphises.
• But kanishka was the most famous of Kushana and asceded the throne in 78 AD.  This event is marked as the start of new era known as Saka era.

The King Kanishka [ 78 AD- 101 AD]

• The Kushan empire reached its zenith under Kanishka.
• Extended from Central Asia to north India and included Varanasi, Kosambi and Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh.
• He started Saka Era and is used by government of India. He was great patron of Mahayana Buddhism.
• He sent missionaries to Central Asia and China for the propagation and also built Buddhist chaityas and viharas at different places.
• He patronised Buddhist scholars like Vasumitra
• Asvaghosha- a great philosopher, poet and dramatist. He was the author of Buddhacharita Nagarjuna from South India
• Charaka- the famous physician of ancient India
• He convened the 4th Buddhist council at kundalvan in Jammu and Kashmir In this council Buddhism got split into 2 schools: Hinayana and Mahayana.
• He also patronised the Gandhara and Mathura school of sculptural art.
• Kanishka is also credited to have built the city of Purushapura, present day Peshawar as his capital a giant stupa to house Buddha’s relic.

Administration of Kushan Empire

• Kushans ruled over numerous petty princes who paid tribute to them, and they dubbed themselves “King of Kings.” The Kushan dynasty’s rulers were regarded as Sons of God.
• The empire was divided into provinces called satraps and each satrap was ruled by Mahakshtrap a military governor. He would be assisted by a Kshatrap.
• They practised the dual hereditary rule, in which two monarchs governed at the same time.

Contributions of Kushan Empire

• Kushans were renowned for their horsemanship. In India, they improved the cavalry.  The Kushans and Shakas introduced turbans, tunics, pants, and long thick coats.
• The Kushan dynasty was responsible for the development of Sanskrit literature.
• The kings of the Kushan Empire were in charge of the silk route, and it was their primary source of revenue.
• They were India’s first kings to issue enormous quantities of gold coins.
• Masons and painters from all over the world were transported to the Kushan empire, resulting in the birth of art schools like Mathura, Gandhara, and Central Asia.
• The Kushan dynasty supported great writers, including Ashvagosha, Vasumitra, and Nagarjuna.

Developments in Post-Mauryan Era

Urbanisations

• The process of urbanization which began in the pre-Mauryan period (came to be known as the “second urbanisation”) got accelerated in the post-Mauryan period.
• The number of cities increased and these now combined with political and commercial functions.
• There was a greater use of brick, both for residential structures as well as for fortifications and public buildings.
• It is also at this time that imposing religious monuments were built and embellished.

Internal Trade

• Trade activities were carried out primarily in essential commodities such as salt, metals, etc.
• The early trade routes gained more importance. There were many reasons for this increase:  Firstly, agriculture was now generating enough surplus.
• Secondly, both Buddhism and Jainism which had a large following by now encouraged the accumulation and reinvestment of wealth and trade was one of the occupations held in high regard.
• Thirdly, the expansion of urban centres meant that there was a growing class of consumers for subsistence as well as luxury goods.

External Trade

• Two major empires that arose at this time were the Roman Empire in the west and the later Han empire in China.
• The external trade increased by the discovery of monsoons by Hippatus a Greek navigator in 45AD.
• It helped undertaken more and more sea voyages for trading purpose, several ports town came about on the western coast such as Bharoch, Supara, Kalyan, Muziris etc.
• The trade was done using these ports with the Roman Empire through the Red Sea.
• Trade with South East Asia was done to the ports on eastern coast of India such as Tamralipti, Arikamedu etc.
• The book called periplus of Erathrian Sea, written in the first century AD gives a vivid account of the trade with the Roman Empire.

Post-Mauryan India was a dynamic period of political changes, cultural exchanges, and economic growth. While the subcontinent lacked a single dominant empire, regional powers like the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Kushans, and Shakas played crucial roles in shaping Indian history. This era saw the flourishing of trade, especially along the Silk Route, the spread of Buddhism across Asia, and significant developments in art, architecture, and literature.

Despite political fragmentation, the interactions between indigenous and foreign rulers enriched India’s cultural and economic landscape. The foundations laid during this period influenced later empires, particularly the Guptas, who would usher in a new age of stability and prosperity.

 

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Subject: Ancient History

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