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I. Foreign Dynasties in India A. Indo-Greek Rulers & Their Coinage
| Ruler |
Period |
Key Contributions & Facts |
| Agathocles |
c. 190-180 BC (Greco-Bactrian) |
– First Indo-Greek ruler to issue bilingual coins (Greek and Brahmi). – First to depict Hindu deities Sankarshana (Balram) and Vasudeva (Krishna) on his silver coins. |
| Menander (Milinda) |
c. 155-130 BC |
– Not a contemporary of Indian rulers like Bimbisara, Gautama Buddha, or Prasenjit. – Sixteen of his coins were discovered at the archaeological site of Bairat. |
| Strato II |
25 BC – 10 AD |
– Issued lead coins. |
| Demetrius I Anicetus |
c. 200-180 BC Greco-Bactrian |
Classified as an Indo-Greek ruler. |
B. The Saka (Western Satraps)
| Ruler |
Key Contributions & Facts |
| Rudradaman I |
– A Saka ruler from the Kshatrapa dynasty. – His Junagadh (Girnar) Inscription (Gujarat) is highly significant because: • It is the first major inscription written in perfect Sanskrit. • It contains the earliest specimen of the ‘Kavya’ style (poetic, literary style). • It records the renovation of the Sudarshan Lake (built by the Mauryas) without using forced labor. – His title was Avamukta. |
| Gondophernes |
Classified as a Parthian ruler. |
C. The Kushan Empire
| Aspect |
Details |
| General Coinage |
– Issued the largest number of copper coins in northern/northwestern India. – First to issue gold coins regularly and on a large scale in India. |
| Rulers |
|
| Vima Kadphises |
– Credited with introducing gold coins for regular use. |
| Kanishka |
– Depicted Buddha on his coins. – His coronation in 78 AD marks the beginning of the Saka Samvat era. – The Sarnath Buddhist image inscription dates to 81 AD (the 3rd year of his reign). – Empire: Stretched from Turpan (China) and Kashmir to the Vindhya Hills, and from Northern Afghanistan to Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. – Defeated by the Chinese general Pan Chao (c. 73-94 AD). – Court Scholars: Ashvaghosha, Vasumitra, Nagarjuna, Charaka, Parsva, and Mathara. |
| Other Rulers |
Huvishka (became king after Kanishka) |
| Rabatak Inscription |
– Discovered in Afghanistan; written in Greek and Bactrian. – Mentions the cities of Saket, Kaushambi, Pataliputra, and Champa. The city of Shravasti is not mentioned. |
| Social Context |
– The institution of child marriage is stated to have started in the Kushan period (1st century). |
II. Native Indian Dynasties
A. Shunga Dynasty
| Aspect |
Details |
| Origin |
– Followed the Mauryan dynasty. – Ancestors originated from Ujjain. – Capital was Pataliputra. |
| Rulers |
|
| Pushyamitra Shunga |
– The Ayodhya inscription states he performed two Ashwamedha Yajnas. |
| Devabhuti |
– The last ruler; assassinated by his minister, Vasudeva Kanva. |
B. Kanva Dynasty
| Aspect |
Details |
| Origin |
– Ruled after the Shungas. – Founded by Vasudeva Kanva. – They were Brahmins. |
C. Satavahana Dynasty
| Aspect |
Details |
| Origin & Power |
– Most powerful dynasty in Southern India after the Mauryas. – Founded by Simuka (Sindhuk/Shiprak). – Earliest among the post-Mauryan southern dynasties (before Vakatakas, Chalukyas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas). |
| Capitals |
Primary: Pratisthan (Paithan). Also used Amravati. |
| Coins |
Issued coins of Lead, Copper, Bronze, and Silver. They did not issue gold coins. |
| Language & Sources |
– Promoted Sanskrit, Prakrit, and folk languages. – The Matsya Purana contains the longest list of its 29 kings. |
| Rulers |
|
| Gautamiputra Satakarni |
– Referred to as “Ekabrahmana” in the Nasik inscription by his mother, Gautami Balashri. – A supporter of Brahmanism; known as the protector of the Varna System. |
| Ikshvaku Dynasty |
– Referred to as ‘Shriparvatiya’ in the Puranas; initially, feudatories of the Satavahanas. |
D. Mahameghavahana (Chedi) Dynasty of Kalinga
| Ruler |
Details |
| Kharavela |
– Most famous king of the Mahameghavahana dynasty. – Heavily leaned towards and was a patron of Jainism. – Primary information comes from the Hathigumpha inscription (Udaigiri caves, Odisha). |
E. Republican Clans
| Clan |
Details |
| Yaudheyas |
– A republican tribe known for issuing coins. – Their coins depict the six-headed war god Kartikeya with a peacock. |
III. Art, Architecture & Inscriptions
A. Gandhara School of Art
-
Style: A synthesis combining Indian and Greek (Hellenistic) features; Greco-Buddhist art.
-
Medium: Invariably used green schist stone.
-
Influence: Blended elements from Greek, Syrian, Persian, and Indian art. Popular during the Saka and Kushan periods.
B. Significant Inscriptions & Sites
| Inscription/Site |
Associated Ruler/Dynasty |
Key Information |
| Junagadh/Girnar Inscription |
Rudradaman I (Saka) |
First major Sanskrit inscription; Kavya style; Sudarshan Lake renovation. |
| Hathigumpha Inscription |
Kharavela (Kalinga) |
Primary source for Kharavela’s reign. |
| Nasik Inscription |
Gautamiputra Satakarni (Satavahana) |
Calls him “Ekabrahmana”. |
| Ayodhya Inscription |
Pushyamitra Shunga (Shunga) |
Records performance of two Ashwamedha Yajnas. |
| Bhitari Pillar Inscription |
Skandagupta (Gupta) |
Provides information about Skandagupta. |
| Bamiyan, Afghanistan |
– |
Famous for its giant Buddha statues carved into cliffs. |
IV. Calendars and Eras
| Era |
Start Year |
Key Facts |
| Vikram Samvat |
58 BC (or 57 BC) |
– Also known as Krit and Malav. – Jain texts state a gap of 470 years between the salvation of Mahavir (527 BC) and its start. – There is a difference of 135 years between Vikram Samvat and Saka Samvat. |
| Saka Samvat |
78 AD |
– The national calendar of India. – To find the Saka year from an A.D. date, subtract 78 (e.g., 2009 AD = Saka 1931). – The first day, Chaitra 1, generally corresponds to March 22 (March 21 in a leap year). |
V. Education & Chronology of Personalities
| Personality |
Period / Association |
Details |
| Taxila University |
Ancient Center of Learning |
Famous students: Charaka (Ayurvedacharya), Jivaka (physician to Bimbisara), Kautilya, Chandragupta Maurya. |
| Kalidas |
Gupta Period |
The great poet. |
| Patanjali |
Shunga Period |
Author of Mahabhasya |
| Kamban |
Twelfth Century |
A poet. |
VI. Foreign Invasions & Miscellaneous
| Topic |
Details |
| Chronological Order of Invaders |
1. Greeks (Alexander, 326 BCE) 2. Sakas (Scythians, 1st century BCE) 3. Kushanas (1st century CE) |
| First Persian Invader |
Darius-I was the first Persian ruler to capture a part of India (the Indus region). |
| Justinian (Eastern Roman Emperor) |
His most significant contribution was in the field of Law (Corpus Juris Civilis). |
| Dynastic Capitals |
– Kadamba Dynasty: Capital was Banavasi. – Chandel Dynasty: Capital was Mahoba. |
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