PART A: POST-MAURYAN PERIOD
1. Shunga Dynasty (184-73 BC)
🗡️ Foundation
- Founder: Pushyamitra Shunga (184-148 BC) PYQ Repeat!
- Last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander Pushyamitra
- Origin: Ujjain
- Dynasty nature: Brahmin dynasty
⚡ Key Facts
- Performed 2 Ashvamedha Yajnas (Ayodhya inscription)
- Contemporary of Greek king Menander
- Patanjali (author of Mahabhasya) belonged to Shunga period PYQ!
- Last ruler: Devabhuti - killed by his minister Vasudeva Kanva
2. Kanva Dynasty (73-28 BC)
- Founder: Vasudeva Kanva (killed last Shunga ruler)
- Also a Brahmin dynasty like Shungas
- Last ruler: Susharma - deposed by Simuka (Satavahana)
3. Satavahana Dynasty (30 BC - 220 AD) - South India's Powerhouse
🏛️ Foundation
- Founder: Simuka/Sindhuk/Shiprak (30 BC)
- Deposed last Kanva ruler Susharma
- Most powerful dynasty after Mauryas in South! PYQ!
- Capital: Paithan/Pratisthan (initial capital: Amravati)
- Rulers mentioned: 30-31 in Puranas (29 in Matsya Purana)
👑 Important Rulers
- 1. Krishna (brother of Simuka): First to use title "Satakarni"
• Source: Nanaghat inscription
- 2. Gautamiputra Satakarni (Most famous!)
• Patron of Brahmanism
• "Protector of Varna System" - prevented inter-caste marriage PYQ Hit!
• Source: Nasik Inscription (by his mother Gautami Balashri)
4. Indo-Greeks (Yavanas)
⚡ Important Rulers
Demetrius
• Conquered parts of India
• Established Indo-Greek rule
Menander (Milinda)
• 155/165-130 BC
• Milindapanha (dialogue with Buddhist monk Nagasena) PYQ!
• Converted to Buddhism
• Coins found at Bairat (16 coins)
Agathocles
• First to introduce bilingual coins (Greek + Brahmi)
• Depicted Sankarshana & Vasudeva on coins
Strato II
• Issued lead coins (25 BC - 10 AD)
💰 Contribution
- Introduced gold coins in North-West India for first time
- Promoted widespread circulation
5. Sakas (Scythians) - 1st Century BC
👑 Important Ruler: Rudradaman I (130-150 AD)
🎯 Junagarh/Junagadh Inscription (Girnar Hills, Gujarat) Super PYQ!
• Earliest perfect Sanskrit inscription!
• Written in Brahmi script
• Earliest specimen of "Kavya" style
• Mentions Sudarshana Lake (built by Chandragupta Maurya, repaired by Rudradaman)
• Renovated lake without forced labour!
• Also contains edicts of Ashoka & Skandagupta
6. Kushan Dynasty (1st-3rd Century AD) - The Golden Era
📜 Major Rulers
| Ruler |
Key Facts |
| 1. Kujula Kadphises |
Issued copper coins |
| 2. Vima Kadphises |
First to issue gold coins regularly! Super
PYQ! |
| 3. Kanishka (78-101 AD) |
GREATEST! Started Saka Era (78 AD) |
| 4. Huvishka |
Continued dynasty |
👑 Kanishka - The Great (78-101 AD)
⭐ Major Achievements
- Started Saka Samvat (78 AD) Super Hit!
• National calendar of India
• Vikram Samvat (57 BC) - Saka Samvat (78 AD) = 135 years difference
- Coronation: 78 AD (confirmed by 1960 London Convention)
- Sarnath Buddha inscription: 81 AD (3 years after coronation)
🌏 Empire
- Spread from North China to Vindhya hills
- North Afghanistan to Eastern UP & Bihar
- Capitals mentioned in Rabatak inscription: Saket, Kaushambi, Pataliputra, Champa
(NOT Shravasti)
🎭 Court Scholars
- Ashvaghosa: Poet laureate PYQ!
• Buddhacharita (life of Buddha)
• Saundarananda
• Sariputraprakaran
- Vasumitra: Headed 4th Buddhist Council (Kashmir)
- Parsva, Nagarjuna: Buddhist scholars
- Charaka: Court physician! (wrote Charaka Samhita)
☸️ 4th Buddhist Council
- Place: Kashmir (Kundalvana)
- Chairman: Vasumitra
- Vice-Chairman: Ashvaghosa
- Result: Buddhism split into Hinayana & Mahayana
💰 Coins & Art
- Coins: Buddha depicted on Kanishka's coins!
- Yaudheya coins: 6-headed Kartikeya (God) with peacock
- Gold coins: Called "Dinara" by Ibn Battuta
- Largest copper coins issued in North-West India
🎨 Gandhara School of Art
Developed during Kushan period!
• Based on Gandhara & Mathura styles
• Influenced by Greek art
• Encouraged by Kanishka
• First images of Buddha in human form
⚡ Other Facts
- Child marriage started in Kushan period (1st century AD)
- Trade through Persian Bay & Red Sea (no naval forces though)
- Attack on China: Defeated by smaller Chinese force (86 AD)
7. Kharavela of Kalinga - The Jain King
🏛️ Hathigumpha Inscription (Udayagiri Caves, Odisha) PYQ!
• Records life up to his 38th year (13 years of reign)
• Only known source about Kharavela
• Follower of Jainism
• King of Kalinga (present-day Odisha)
PART B: HARSHA VARDHANA PERIOD (606-647 AD)
8.Harshavardhana - Last Great Ancient Indian Ruler
👑 Rise to Power
- Dynasty: Pushyabhuti/Vardhana of Thanesar
- Original capital: Thanesar (Haryana)
- Shifted capital to: Kannauj (to help sister Rajyashri) PYQ!
- Ruled: 606-647 AD (41 years)
⚔️ Military & Empire
- Defeated by: Pulakeshin II (Chalukya) at Narmada
River (618 AD) Super PYQ!
• Stopped Harsha's southward expansion
• Source: Aihole Inscription + Hiuen Tsang's account
- Controlled entire North India (except Kashmir & Deccan)
📚 Literary Patron
- Court poet: Banabhatta (from Prithikuta village, on banks of Son
River Bihar)
• Wrote "Harshacharita" (biography of Harsha) PYQ!
• Wrote "Kadambari" (novel)
- Harsha himself was a writer! Wrote 3 Sanskrit plays:
• 1. Ratnavali
• 2. Priyadarshika
• 3. Nagananda
☸️ Religious Assemblies
1. Kannauj Assembly
• Prove superiority of Mahayana Buddhism
• 20 rulers attended
• Presided by: Hiuen Tsang
2. Prayaga (Allahabad) Assembly UP
• Held every 5th year
• Called "Mahamoksha Council"
• 6th assembly attended by Hiuen Tsang
• 18 rulers present
🇨🇳 Hiuen Tsang (629-645 AD) - Chinese Traveller
Most important visitor during Harsha! Super
PYQ!
Purpose: Visit Buddha sites, collect Buddhist texts
Book: "Sei-Yu-Kei" (A Record of the Western Regions)
Stayed: 13 years in India
Studied at: Nalanda University
Key Observations:
• Mathura - famous for cotton textiles
• Thanesar - prosperous due to trade
• Roads NOT completely safe (robbed many times!)
• Harsh punishments - ordeals by fire, water & poison
• Taxes levied at ferries, trade routes
⚖️ Administration
- "Hundi" - bill of exchange (evolved in post-Harsha period)
- Revenue primarily from trade taxes
9. Post-Gupta Regional Kingdoms (500-606 AD)
- 1. Later Guptas of Magadha - ruled parts of Bihar
- 2. Maukharis of Kannauj - capital Kannauj (ruled till 606 AD)
- 3. Pushyabhutis of Thanesar - Harsha's dynasty
- 4. Maitrakas of Valabhi - Gujarat (late 5th - 8th century)
10. Invaders' Chronology
Correct order of invasions:
1. Persians (Darius I) - 522-486 BC (first to invade India!)
2. Greeks (Alexander) - 326 BC
3. Sakas (Scythians) - 1st century BC
4. Kushans - 1st century AD
🎯 PYQ "Sniper" Shots
Q: Who founded Shunga dynasty?
A: Pushyamitra Shunga (killed last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha, 184 BC).
Q: Protector of Varna system?
A: Gautamiputra Satakarni (Satavahana).
Q: Milindapanha dialogue between?
A: King Milinda (Menander) & Buddhist monk Nagasena.
Q: Earliest perfect Sanskrit inscription?
A: Junagarh/Junagadh Inscription (Rudradaman I). Earliest "Kavya" style!
Q: Who first issued gold coins regularly?
A: Vima Kadphises (Kushan).
Q: When was Saka Samvat started?
A: 78 AD (by Kanishka). Vikram Samvat: 57 BC.
Q: Difference between Vikram Samvat & Saka Samvat?
A: 135 years (57 + 78 = 135).
Q: Ashvaghosa was court poet of?
A: Kanishka. Wrote Buddhacharita.
Q: Harsha's capital?
A: Kannauj (shifted from Thanesar).
Q: Who defeated Harsha?
A: Pulakeshin II (Chalukya) at Narmada River (618 AD).
Q: Hiuen Tsang visited during?
A: Harsha's reign (629-645 AD). Studied at Nalanda.
Q: Harshacharita written by?
A: Banabhatta (Harsha's court poet).
UPPCS Preparation • Ancient India COMPLETE!