Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (185 BC – 320 AD)

→ Founded by Pushyamitra Shunga — Mauryan army general; assassinated Brihadratha (last Maurya king) during a military parade in 185 BC
→ Brahmin revival — Pushyamitra performed two Ashvamedha yajnas; Sanskrit revival; anti-Buddhist perception (though debated by historians)
→ Defeated Greek king Demetrius and later Menander in battles (saved India from Indo-Greek expansion)
→ Patanjali (author of Mahabhasya, a commentary on Panini's grammar) lived in Pushyamitra's court
→ Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra — about Pushyamitra's son Agnimitra; important literary source
→ Art patronage: Stone gateways (Toranas) of Sanchi Stupa built during Shunga period
→ Bharhut Stupa (MP) — built/decorated during Shunga period; narrative panels of Jataka stories
→ After 10 kings and 112 years, Shungas were replaced by Kanvas

→ Founded by Vasudeva Kanva who killed Devabhuti (last Shunga king)
→ Only 4 kings; lasted 45 years; very limited historical importance
→ Overthrown by Satavahanas from Deccan

→ Also called Andhras; capital: Pratishthana (Paithan) on Godavari river
→ Greatest king: Gautamiputra Satakarni — "Lord of Vindhyas"; defeated Shakas, Pahlavas, Yavanas (Indo-Greeks); used titles Rajaraja, Maharaja
→ Matrilineal naming: Kings named after mothers — e.g., Gautamiputra = son of Gautami (unique in Indian history)
→ Currency: Lead coins — first in India; also copper, silver, and potin alloy
→ Trade: Active sea trade with Rome; important ports at Sopara (Maharashtra) and Kalyan; exported pepper, textiles, pearls
→ Language: Prakrit inscriptions; bilingual inscription (Sanskrit + Prakrit) at Nashik
→ Religion: Patronized both Buddhist and Vedic traditions; unique — mixed patronage
→ Art: Amaravati School — limestone sculptures; dynamic swirling style; marble panels at Amaravati (AP)

→ Capital: Purushapura (Peshawar); also Mathura as secondary capital
→ 78 AD: Possibly started the Saka Era — officially adopted by Indian government as the National Calendar
→ 4th Buddhist Council at Kundalavana (Kashmir); President: Vasumitra; Deputy: Ashvaghosa; Mahayana-Hinayana split formalized
→ Great patron of Mahayana Buddhism; built Kanishka Stupa (tallest wooden structure in ancient world, ~640 feet)
→ Silk Road trade — controlled route between China, Central Asia, India
→ Court gems:

   → Ashvaghosa — wrote Buddhacharita (biography of Buddha in Sanskrit); Saundarananda (Sanskrit poem)
   → Nagarjuna — Madhyamaka Buddhist philosopher; "Indian Plato"
   → Charaka — physician; wrote Charaka Samhita (medicine)
   → Vasumitra — Buddhist scholar
   → Mathara — statesman

→ Gandhara Art — Greco-Buddhist blend; first realistic human images of Buddha; wavy hair, toga-like robes; grey schist stone; influenced by Hellenistic Greek traditions
→ Mathura Art (parallel) — indigenous; red sandstone; more spiritual, meditative style; both schools depicted Buddha in human form for the first time

🔑 Key Difference: Gandhara = Greek influence | Mathura = Indian indigenous | Amaravati = South Indian dynamic style

🛤️ Silk Road

→ Connected China, Central Asia, India, and Rome — one of the most important trade networks of the ancient world
→ Kushanas controlled the Central Asian segment — acted as middlemen between East and West
→ Facilitated trade in silk, spices, precious stones, and horses

⚓ Maritime Trade

→ Satavahanas dominated western coast trade with Rome; exported pepper, textiles, pearls
→ Roman gold coins found abundantly in South India — evidence of massive trade surplus
→ Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century AD Greek text) — describes Indian ports, trade goods, and navigation routes

🏗️ Key Ports

→ Bharuch (Broach) — most important western port; hub of Indo-Roman trade
→ Sopara — another significant western coast port (Maharashtra)
→ Arikamedu — Roman beads and artefacts found; evidence of direct Roman contact (near Puducherry)
→ Tamralipti (Bengal coast) — gateway for Eastern trade with Southeast Asia

🪙 Currency

→ Indo-Greeks introduced first gold coins in India; also bilingual coins (Greek + Kharoshthi)
→ Kushana coins show religious syncretism — Shiva, Buddha, fire deities depicted on the same king's coins
→ Satavahanas issued lead and potin alloy coins — first lead coins in India

💡 Economic Impact

→ Cross-cultural trade enriched India materially and culturally
→ Roman gold influx boosted Indian economy; Pliny complained about Rome's gold drain to India
→ New crafts like glass-making from Rome were adopted
→ Buddhist monasteries along trade routes served as rest houses and cultural exchange centres

🏛️ Western Kshatrapas (Shakas)

→ Ruled Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh from 1st–4th century AD
→ Initially vassals to Kushanas; gradually became independent rulers
→ Most famous: Rudradaman I (c. 130–150 AD)
→ Junagadh rock inscription — first Sanskrit prose inscription in Indian history
→ Repaired Sudarshana Lake (originally built during Chandragupta Maurya's time)
→ Great patron of Sanskrit language and literature
→ Fought Satavahanas — defeated Gautamiputra Satakarni; later lost to Vasishthiputra Pulumayi

🏛️ Kharavela of Kalinga (Chedi Dynasty)

→ Ruled c. 1st century BC; powerful king of Kalinga (modern Odisha)
→ Famous Hathigumpha inscription — carved in Udayagiri caves, Odisha; 17-line inscription describing his military campaigns year by year
→ Great patron of Jainism; built cave shelters for Jain monks
→ Military conquests across India — claimed victories over Magadha, Satavahanas, and Pandya kings
→ Performed various yajnas (Vedic rituals) — showing religious tolerance
→ Important source for Kalinga history — Hathigumpha inscription is one of the most detailed royal records of the era

✅ Must-Know for Prelims

→ Pushyamitra Shunga: killed last Maurya king (Brihadratha)
→ Ashvamedha revived by: Pushyamitra Shunga
→ Sanchi Toranas (gateways): Shunga period
→ Gautamiputra Satakarni: greatest Satavahana king; defeated Shakas
→ Lead coins (first in India): Satavahanas
→ First Sanskrit prose inscription: Rudradaman I — Junagadh inscription
→ Milindapanho: Menander/Milinda ↔ Nagasena
→ Saka Era (78 AD): possibly started by Kanishka; used in National Calendar
→ 4th Buddhist Council: Kashmir, Kanishka, Vasumitra presided
→ Buddhacharita: by Ashvaghosa (Kanishka's court)
→ Gandhara art: Greco-Buddhist; grey schist; NW India
→ First gold coins in India: Indo-Greeks