After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, many types of political and cultural changes took place. From 2000 BC to 3000 BC, different types of powers developed and new characteristics developed in the field of literature, art, and religion.
Political History of North India:
After the destruction of the Maurya Empire, regional dynasties were born in different parts of India. In the same period, invaders from Central Asia and Western China also attacked India such as Indo-Greek, Shanka Pallava and Kushan etc. This gave India an opportunity to get closer to the politics and civilization of Central Asia.
(a) Shunga Dynasty:
By killing the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha, his commander Pushyamitra Shunga established the rule of the Shunga dynasty over Magadha. He drove the Greek invaders out of India. He was a supporter of the Vedic religion.
(b) Bactrian or Indian Greek
After Alexander's death in 323 BC, many Greeks came to India to live in the north western frontier region of Bactria, the main center. The king there was called Bactria Greek. The most powerful Indian was the Greek king Menander.
(c) Saka dynasty:
Saka is a Hindi name used for Scythian ancestry. They are originally from Central Asia. They were defeated by the people of the U Chis caste. That's why these people came to bc. In the first century, the northwestern regions of India started living around Taxila. Rudradaman was the most majestic of the kings of this dynasty. His empire extended to the whole of western India.
(d) Parthian:
These people were native to Iran. They have cultural links with the Shaks. For this reason, he is known as Saka Pallava in Indian origin. The ruler of this dynasty was Gondophras.
Kushan dynasty:
They were originally from western China. They belonged to the Yu-Chis race of China. He had established his vast empire in Pakistan by defeating the Shakas, Pallavas. The first king of this dynasty was Kujul Kad Physis. The most powerful king of this dynasty was Kanishka. He suspected him. He patronized Buddhism. He called the Fourth Buddhist Association. The Kushan empire was governed by the Mahakshatraya system. King Kanishka of Kushan dynasty made progress in all fields. He also made progress in the field of literature and medicine.
Relations with Central Asia
During the Kushan period, political contacts in Central Asia gave space to the subsequent cultural coordination between the two regions. Later, he lost his identity and emerged as a Kshatriya. Many of them became Buddhists. Connectivity with Central Asia led to new methods of making currency in India.
Emergence of early kingdoms in Orissa and Deccan:
Deccan and Eastern India were under the control of Ashoka. Ashoka had achieved success in the war and took control of Kalinga. Kalinga and Deccan emerged after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.
Kalinga:
After Ashoka, Kalinga became important during the reign of Chedi dynasty. The king here was Kharvel. He was a follower of Jainism.
Satavahana dynasty:
The greatest king of this dynasty was Gomati son Shatakarni. He defeated the saka ruler Nahpan. He expanded his empire. In the fourth half of the third century, this dynasty collapsed and the rule of the Ikshvaku dynasty was established. In the Satavahana period, the king was the chief in the work related to governance. He was helping her.
Business and Business Activities:
(a) Internal and external routes
In ancient India, there were two major internal routes. As-
(a) Uttarapath:
It connected the northern and eastern parts of India to the north-western borders.
(b) South Path:
It connected the Indian peninsula with the western and northern parts. The external trade route had major ports on the west coast of India. Such as Bharuch, Sopara, Muziris etc. Trade with South East Asia was done by sea route. Welfare,
(b) Trade with West and Central Asia:
Initially, trade was done by land route. Later, trade started through the sea route. There is evidence of trade between India and Rome. The Romans used to import spices, perfumes, gems, ivory and muslin in India. Pepper, diamonds, turquoise, sapphire, onyx, pearls, indigo , sandalwood and steel were also exported from India to the Roman Empire. India used to import gold and silver from Rome. Rome also exported wine and wine to India.
(c) Handicrafts and Industries
There were 60 handicraft-based businesses in this period. The artisans of gold-silver and precious gems were different. Ujjain was the center of the garland and textile industry. The center of cotton and silk cloth was Mathura Bang.
(d) Category of Artisans' Union:
The community of merchants was organized as a group called Category. Its president was called the best. The other type of business group was called Sarth. Its president was called Sarthva. There were also organizations in the handicraft group. The president of which was called Jyeshtha.
Art & Architecture:
Art was religious in the post-Mauryan period. In the field of art and architecture, there have been two important features of this era. Such as- (a) construction of stupas, (b) development of different styles of sculpture.
(1) Stupa:
The stupa is a huge semicircular dome. It has a central cell. In this, the remains of Buddha or Buddhist monks were kept in a small trunk. The stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut have been famous during this period.
(2) Rock architecture
During this period, there was progress in the field of building construction or architecture by cutting rocks. The kings of the Satavahana dynasty had built temples, buildings and monks' residences by cutting solid rocks near Pune and Nashik in Maharashtra. Such Buddhist buildings were called Vihara and Chaitya.
(3) Styles of sculpture:
During this period, more and more statues of Mahatma Buddha were being made. During this period, three major styles of sculpture - (a) Mathura style, (b) Gandhara style and (c) Amaravati style developed. Among them, Mathura style was more prevalent in this period.
(4) Gandhara style of art:
The Gandhara region was located in the northwestern region of the subcontinent of India. The art style that developed in this region is known as Greek, Roman, Indo-Greek or Greco-Buddhist. The style of this region was influenced by Roman, Greek and Indian art. Gandhara art was patronized by the Shakas and Kushans. The main features of the Gandhara style have been to depict attractions including birds.
(5) Amaravati style of art:
This style developed in Andhra Pradesh between the lower valleys of the Krishna and Godavari rivers. This style was patronized by the kings of Satavahana and Ikshvaku dynasty. The main feature of this genre has been narrative art.
Early History of South India
(a) Megalithic culture of South India:
Stone weapons, pottery and iron tools have been found in this period.
(b) Sangam period:
Sangam period refers to the era in the early history of South India when Tamil language poets wrote more and more Tamil poems. The word sangam explains the confluence or coming together of poets. The poems of this period were based on the theme of love and war etc. The Tamil region stretched from the hills of Tirupati to Kanyakumari. During this period, there were frequent battles between the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. Due to this, Sangam poets wrote poems based on wars. During this period, the Tamil region was divided into five tinai or economic zones. People were identified only on the basis of their occupation. In this period, the rich used to live in pucca houses. They wore precious clothes while the poor lived in mud huts. They wore simple costumes. Warriors had a special place in society. Women were educated during this period. They participated in all kinds of activities. The practice of Sati was prevalent. There were many types of restrictions on widows in the society. At that time agriculture, crafts and business were the means of livelihood of the people. Rice was the staple food item. The craftsmanship included the manufacture of cotton and silk textiles and the work of making ivory items. Trade and commerce also flourished during this period. Indra, Vishnu and Shiva were worshiped during this period. Rituals were performed by Brahmins.
Major political developments in North India after the Mauryan dynasty
The last king of the Maurya dynasty was Brihadratha. He was killed by his commander Pushyamitra Shunga. In this way, Pushyamitra established the rule of Shunga dynasty in North India. Pushyamitra Shunga became the first king of his dynasty. During his reign, the Indian Greeks called Yavan. In an area called Balkh. Developed into an independent power. They had established their authority in the north-western and northern regions of India. Pushyamitra Shunga defeated the Yavanas and drove them out of India. By killing the last ruler of the Shunga dynasty, Vasudeva established the ruling power of the Kanva dynasty.
Kushan: His contribution to India
The Kushan empire was divided into small regions. Each region was ruled by mahakshatrapa or senapati. He was helping her. Internal and external trade was advanced in the Kushan period. Due to this, new cities, centers came into existence. Gold and silver coins were prevalent in this period. This indicates that the economic situation was strong during this period. During this period, good progress was also made in the field of literature and medicine. Charaka, the father of Ayurveda, belonged to this period. He wrote a book called Charaka Samhita on medicine. Buddhist scholar Ashwaghosa wrote a work called Buddhacharitra during this period. It was.
Relations between India and Central Asia in the early century of the Christian era
The invasions of India by the Bactria Greeks and the Shaka Pallavas took place during the rule of the Kushans, which established political contacts with Central Asia. These linkages resulted in the subsequent cultural coordination between the two regions. But soon such foreign groups lost their identity and emerged as Kshatriyas. Some of these people converted to Buddhism. Menander, the Indian bactrian ruler, took the initiation of Buddhism from a Buddhist monk named Nagsen. Connectivity to Central Asia gave space to new currency making systems in India. Instead of the unrefined coins with holes, sophisticated Greek style coins with pictures of great personalities and former kings started to run. This became a paradigm for the successor coin system in India. India also received knowledge of astronomy from the Greeks. The people of India also learned the art of knowing the future fruits from the people of Greece. As a result of the contact with Central Asia, a new era of sculpture began in India. The Gandhara branch was born due to the coordination of Indian and Greek styles.
Gautami's son Shatakarni'sachievement
Gautami's son Shatakarni was the most powerful ruler of the Satavahana dynasty. He had expanded the Satavahana empire by defeating the Saka king Nahpan. His empire stretched from the Krishna River in the south to the Godavari River in the north. The capital of his empire was the establishment. It was near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. In the fourth half of the third century, the rule of the Satavahana dynasty was destroyed. In his place, the rule of the Ikshvaku dynasty was established.
Salient features of India's maritime trade
In the post-Mauryan period, India's trade with the West was done. Initially, trade was done by land route. But Parsis used to create obstacles in this. Therefore, later trade started through sea routes. Now cargo ships could go directly from Indian seashores through the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The book Periplus of the Erythrean Sea shows that Indo-Rome trade was of the best kind. The Romans used to import spices, perfumes, gems, elephants, muslin, pepper , wood and steel etc. from India. Whereas India used to import gold and silver and wine grapes wine, tin, glass, coral and girls in the form of maids etc. from Rome.
Expansion of various styles of sculpture in the post-Mauryan period
Various styles of sculpture developed in the post-Mauryan period. Mathura style, Gandhara style and Amaravati style developed during this period. Among them, Mathura style had an important place from the point of view of art. Statues of Mahatma Buddha were made in this style. Mathura-style sculptors used local red stone with black dots to make the idol. In this style, in addition to more and more number of Ayag Pata or pieces of stones for worship, statues of Jain Tirthankaras were also sculpted. The influence of Brahmins is also seen in Mathura style. During the Kushan period, a large number of idols of Hindu gods and goddesses were also made in Mathura style. It was. Such as Kartikeya, Vishnu and Kubera.
Gandhara art developed in a region called Gandhara in the North West region. This style was influenced by Roman, Greek and Indian styles. The theme of this style was Buddhism but the style was Greek. This style was patronized by the Shakas and Kushans. In this style, brown-blue color was used to make the idol. In this style the muscles in human figures are shown (subtly. The statue of Gautam Buddha is made in this style with curly hair by pulling a cloth. These sculptures are considered to be the best in the field of sculpture.
Sangam literature
The word Sangam is interpreted to mean the communion or coming together of poets. Traditionally, three sangams were held one after the other. The poems written in Sangam literature were based on love and war. Sangam literature shows that the Tamil region was divided into tribal groups. The chieftain of the clan was hereditary. In the Sangam era, there were large tribal chieftains who ruled the Tamil region. Their capital was Chola. The capital of Uraiyar was Cher.
The capital of Banji and Pandya was Madurai. There were frequent wars between the Cholas, Cher and Pandyas. As a result of this, Sangam poets wrote poems based on wars. Brahmins existed in the Sangam period. They used to carry out Vedic rituals and ceremonies. He also gave advice to sardar. But Brahmins were not privileged in the society. People were identified on the basis of occupation. Such as artisans, craftsmen, salt sellers, businessmen and textile businessmen etc. The rich lived in pucca houses and wore precious clothes, while the poor lived in mud huts and wore simple clothes. Warriors had a respectable place in society. When he died in battle, stone monuments were erected in Natukal or Virukal. They worshiped him like an idol of god. In this period, women were educated because there are signs of many poets. Women also participated in economic activities. The practice of Sati was prevalent but it depended on the will. The condition of widows was deplorable in this period.
Post-Mauryan Art and Architecture
Art was religious in the post-Mauryan period. There have been two main features of art and architecture in this period such as (1) the construction of stupas, (2) the development of different styles of sculpture. The statues of Mahatma Buddha were first made in this period. Due to contact with the north-western region, there was development in this period as a new style of Gandhara art.
(1) Stupa
It is a large semicircular dome, it has a central cell. In this, the remains of Buddha or Bhukisha were kept in a small trunk. Its base was surrounded by a clockwise path, it had a wooden fence, later it started to become stone. The main stupas of this period were of Sanchi and Bharhut. They were built by Ashoka. Later these were expanded to Amravati and Nagarjuna Konda. Stupa of Bharhut bc. Built in the 2nd century. It was. It is considered superior for sculpture. Its fence is made of red stone. During this period, three large stupas were built in Sanchi. The largest stupa was built by Ashoka. Its b.c. There was expansion twice in the second century. The Stupa of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh was built in the 2nd century.
(2) Rock architecture
During this period, there was progress in the field of building construction or architecture by cutting rock. The Satavahana kings had built temples, buildings and houses for a large number of monks by cutting solid rocks near Pune and Nashik in Maharashtra. Such places were called Chaityas while the abode of monks was called Vihara.
(3) Styles of sculpture
Three styles of sculpture developed during this period. Such as Mathura style, Gandhara style and Amravati style. The biggest contribution of Mathura style to the art of that time has been the statues of Mahatma Buddha. This is the first time this type of art has been created.
(4) Gandhara style of art
This art was of such a type that was influenced by Roman, Greek and Indian styles. The theme of the sculptures in it has been Buddhism but the style has been Greek. The Shakas and Kushanas had protected it. It depicts microscopic muscles in human figures.
(5) Amravati style of art:
Amaravati style developed in Andhra Pradesh between the lower valleys of Krishna and Godavari. It was patronized by the kings of Satavahana and Ikshvaku dynasty. The art of this style consists of artefacts found in bonds, pillars and other parts of the stupas, etc. Its subject matter is stories based on the life of Mahatma Buddha. The main feature of this style is narrative art. It has circular ornaments carved in such a way that they naturally refer to the event. The second feature of this style was the use of white marble to highlight the shapes,
Saka dynasty
Saka is a Hindi name used for Scythian ancestry. These were native to Central Asia. These people. He lost to his neighbor Yu-Chis in the 1st century BC. In India
They settled in the northwestern region of Taxila near Taxila. The boundaries of his kingdom extended to Mathura and Gujarat. The most powerful of the Saka kings was Rudradaman His empire extended to almost all of western India. All information about him is found in the Junagadh inscription. This inscription is the first royal description written in Sanskrit in India.
Parthian
The Parthians were native to Iran. They have a strong cultural connection with the Shaks. That is why he is addressed as Saka Pallava in Indian origin. Information about Parthian rule is obtained from the description of the famous Takht-e-Bahi at Mardan near Peshawar in the northwest region of Pakistan. This description in about 5th AD suggests that the rule of the Parthian ruler Gondofres or Gondospheres was superior.
Rise of Kalinga
Ashoka invaded Kalinga and caused huge loss of public money. Kalinga emerged after the fall of the Maurya empire. Kalinga became important during the rule of the Chedi dynasty after Ashek, but there is no information about any king other than Kharvel. Kharvel's achievements are collected in the Hathigumpha inscription on the Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneswar in Orissa. Here the image of the elephant is inscribed near the stone. Hence the name of this record was Hathigumf. This gives us information that Kharvel was a worshipper of Jainism. It is also reported about him that he defeated his neighbors in the war. His reign was in B.C. The first century
Satvahana Era Governance and Administration
The Satavahana empire was divided into sub-divisions i.e. districts of food or nation. The smallest unit of administration was the village. Its president was called Gramik. The king had Amatya as an assistant and minister. Revenue was collected in the form of cash and goods. For the first time in the history of India, the kings of the Satavahana dynasty had arranged for tax-free land donation to Buddhists and Brahmins to adopt religion. Later this system became even more important. The Satavahana kings considered themselves Brahmins and were supporters of maintaining the varna system.
Megalithic Culture of South India
There is a glimpse of the New Stone period in South India. In this, the work of using sophisticated axes and sharp weapons to stones had been done. After this, the Megalithic culture was born. Megalithic was a domed site with large stones burying and collecting graves. For the most part, they stayed away from their residence. From these places, iron has been obtained for the first time from South India. Apart from these, black and red pottery has also been a feature of the Megalithic civilization. These types of megaliths were found in large numbers in Maharashtra from the north of Nagpur to the southern point of the Indian peninsula. Among the main centres of megalithic are Brahmagiri, Maski, Adichallanur and Junapanear Nagpur.
important dialogue
Answer: Brihadratha
Answer: Helidorus was the ambassador of the Indian Greek ruler Athilki Das in the court of Shunga ruler Bhagabhadra.
Question 3. Which Indian Greek ruler is mentioned in the famous Buddhist text Milinchopanho in the form of Milind?
Answer: Menander
Question 4. Which engraved Sanskrit account is considered to be the first description of ancient India?
Answer: Rudradaman or Girnar inscription of Junagadh
Question 5: In which area were the Shakas a resident?
Answer: Central Asia
Question 6. Who was the most famous ruler of Kushan dynasty?
Answer: Junior
Question 7. By whom and when did the Saka Samvat begin?
Answer: In 78 AD, Kanishka
Question 8. Under whose patronage was the Fourth Buddhist Committee organized?
Answer: Kundalvan (presently Harwan near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir) under the protection of Kanishka
Question 9. Who was Charaka?'
Answer: As the father of Ayurveda, who wrote a book called Charaka Samhita.
Question 10. What were the characteristics of Greek style coins?
Answer: They depicted the portraits of the ruler.
Question 11. Which term was used for Greek astronomers in early Indian literature?
Answer: Yavana
Question 12. Who was Kharvel?"
Answer: Kharvel, the ruler of the Cherry dynasty, who ruled Kalinga around the 2nd century BC
Answer: Orissa near Bhubaneswar :
Answer: Gautami son Shatakarni (1st century)
Question 15. Name the capital of Satavahana dynasty?
Ans: Pratishthan (Paithan near Aurangabad in Maharashtra) Question 3. What was the smallest unit of administration in the Satavahana Empire?
Question 16. Satavahana rulers considered themselves to belong to which caste?
Answer: Brahmin
Question 17. What do you understand by answer?
Answer: The Uttarpath was a landpath that connected the northern and eastern parts of India to the north-western borders (modern-day Pakistan and beyond).
Question 18. What was the southpath?
Answer: The Dakshinpath was the land route that connected the Indian peninsula with the northern and western parts of India.
Question 19. What was the impact of the discovery of monsoon in Indian history?
Answer: This encouraged maritime trade between India and Rome.
Question 20. Which book depicts Indo-Rome trade relations?
Answer: 'Ferryplus of the Erythrian Sea' was written by an unknown author in the first century.
Question 21. What does "category" mean?
Answer : Association of Artisans - Traders
Question 22. The tradition of tax-free religious grants was started by the rulers of which dynasty in India?
Answer: Satavahana
Question 23. What were the two main features of post-Mauryan architecture?
Answer: Construction of stupas and development of regional styles of art.
Question 24 - What do you understand by stupa ?
Answer: Stupas used to be a place of worship for Buddhists, as they stored the remains of Buddha or Buddhist monks.
Question 25. What were the main stupas of the post-Mauryan period?
Answer: Sanchi, Barhut Amravati and Nagarjunakonda Stupa
Question 26. What is the difference between Chaitya and Vihara?
Answer: Under Buddhist architecture, Chaitya and Vihara were rock-cut buildings. Like the Chaitya temple, the Vihara was the residence of the monks.
Q.27 Name the two major styles of sculpture that developed in the post-Mauryan era.
Answer: Mathura, Gandhara and Amravati styles of art.
Question 28. What type of stones were used in Mathura style?
Answer: Red stone with black dots
Question 29. Who was the chief patron of Gandhara style?
Answer: Shaka Kushan
Question 30. What do you understand by megalithic?
Answer: Megalithic tombs were sites that contained graves.
Question 31. What do you mean by the word Sangam?
Answer: It indicates the conference of Tamil poets.
Question 32. What was the theme of Sangam literature?
Answer: Love and War
Question 33. Who were the main tribes and chieftains mentioned in Sangam literature?
Answer: 'Kurniji' (hilly area), 'Palai' (anhydrous area), 'Mulai' (herding area), Marudam (moist area) and 'Nital' (beach).
Answer: Chola ruler Karikal during Sangam period
Question 35. Which Chola ruler built a dam on the Kaveri river?
Answer: It was built by the Chola ruler Karakal.
Question 36. Who was the founder of Shunga dynasty?
Answer: The founder of shunga dynasty was Pushyamitra Shunga.
Question 37. With whom did Pushyamitra Shunga have a conflict?
Answer: Pushyamitra Shunga had a conflict with King Demetrius of Balkh.
Question 38. Where did the Indian Greeks settle down?
Answer: They came to live in the North Western frontier region of India, Bactria.
Question 39. Which territories were included in Menander's empire?
Answer: Menander's empire included northern Afghanistan and Gandhara, the eastern region of the Indus River.
Question 40. Who was the most powerful of the saka rulers? How far did his empire spread?
Answer: Rudradaman was the most powerful of the Saka rulers. His empire extended to almost all of western India.
Question 41. Where were the Parthians originally from?
Answer: Parthians were natives of Iran.
Question 42. Where were the Kushans natives? What caste were they from?
Answer: The Kushans were native to western China. He belonged to the Yuqi race of China.
Question 43. Name the three major kings of the Kushan empire.
Answer: There were three major kings of kushan empire - (1) Kujul Kadafish, (2) Vimakdafish, (3) Kanishka.
Question 44. Which religion was protected by Kanishka?
Answer: Kanishka had patronised Buddhism.
Question 45. During the reign of Kanishka, Buddhism was divided into which two branches?
Answer: During the reign of Kanishka, Buddhism was divided into two branches called Mahayana and Hinayana.
Question 46. Which arts were protected by the Kushans?
Answer: The Kushanas had patronised the Gandhara and Mathura art of sculpture.
Question 47. From whom did Menander take the initiation of Buddhism?
Answer: Menender took the initiation of Buddhism from the Buddhist monk Nagsen.
Question 48. From whom did the people of India learn astronomy?
Answer: The people of India learned astronomy from the Greeks.
Question 49. How was Gandhara style developed?
Answer: Gandhara art was developed by the coordination of Indian and Greek style.
Question 50. Where was Kalinga at present?
North Kalinga was located on present-day Orissa.
Question 51. Kharvel was a worshipper of which religion?
Answer: Kharvez was a worshipper of Jainism.
Question 52. Who was the first to be defeated by Gautami's son Shatakarni?
Answer: Gautamiputra Shatakarni was the first to defeat Saka King Nahpan.
Question 53. What was the provision for collecting revenue during the Satavahana period?
Answer: During the Satavahana period, revenue was collected in the form of cash and goods.
Q.54 When and who discovered the monsoon?
Answer: The monsoon was discovered in 45 AD by a Greek seafarer Hippetus.
Question 55. Which were the ports on the west coast of India?
Answer: The ports on the west coast of India were Bharu Kutch, Sopara, Kalyan and Muziris etc.
Question 56. From which book do you get information about Indo-Rome trade?
Answer: Information about Indo-Rome trade is found in the book Periplus of the Erythriean Sea.
Question 57. What kind of art was there in the post-Mauryan period?
Answer: Art was religious in the post-Mauryan period.
Question 58. Name the important places of the megalithic.
Answer: The main places of Mahapashnik are Brahmagiri, Maski (Karnataka), Adichallanur (Tamil Nadu) and Junapani near Nagpur (Maharashtra).
Question 59. Who protected the Sangam conventions?
Answer: Sangam conventions were patronised by the Pandya rulers of Madurai.