Ancient Indian History
🔒 Log in to trackPost-Mauryan Age: Shungas to Kushanas
🔒 Log in to trackAfter the Mauryas, north India saw the Shungas and Kanvas, while the Satavahanas ruled the Deccan. Groups from Central Asia also entered the north-west: Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians and Kushanas. Kanishka was the greatest Kushana. Exams ask about rulers, coins, eras and Indo-Roman trade.
Shungas and Kanvas
| Dynasty | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Shunga (c. 185 to 73 BCE) | Pushyamitra Shunga killed Brihadratha. He performed 2 Ashvamedhas. Patanjali lived in his age. Agnimitra is the hero of Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitram. Bharhut stupa railings date here. |
| Kanva (c. 73 to 28 BCE) | Vasudeva Kanva killed the last Shunga king. The Satavahanas ended the Kanvas. |
Foreign dynasties in the north-west
Learn them in order of arrival: Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians, Kushanas.
| Group | Key ruler | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Indo-Greeks | Menander (Milinda), capital Sakala (Sialkot) | First coins with a king's portrait; Milindapanha; roots of Gandhara art |
| Shakas | Rudradaman I (Ujjain) | Junagadh inscription: first long inscription in chaste Sanskrit; repaired Sudarshana lake |
| Parthians | Gondophernes | Tradition links him with St. Thomas |
| Kushanas | Kujula Kadphises, Vima Kadphises, Kanishka | See below |
The Sudarshana lake was first built under Chandragupta Maurya's governor Pushyagupta.
The Kushanas
Vima Kadphises issued large gold coins with Shiva on them.
Kanishka began the Shaka era in 78 CE. It is the base of India's National Calendar.
- Capital: Purushapura (Peshawar). Second centre: Mathura.
- He held the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana, Kashmir. He backed Mahayana.
- His court: Ashvaghosha (Buddhacharita), Nagarjuna, Vasumitra, physician Charaka.
- Two art schools grew. Gandhara used grey schist and a Greco-Roman style. Mathura used red sandstone and Indian style.
Watch: The Shaka era was begun by Kanishka, a Kushana, not by a Shaka ruler.
The Satavahanas
The Satavahanas ruled the Deccan. Simuka founded the dynasty. The capital was Pratishthana (Paithan) on the Godavari.
- Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest king. He destroyed the Kshaharata Shakas under Nahapana.
- His mother Gautami Balashri's Nasik inscription praises him.
- Hala wrote Gathasaptashati in Prakrit.
- They gave the first tax-free land grants to Brahmanas.
- Their coins were of lead and potin. Their language was Prakrit.
Kharavela of Kalinga was a Jain patron. His record is the Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri, Odisha.
Eras
| Era | Starts | Linked with |
|---|---|---|
| Vikram Samvat | 57 BCE | Vikramaditya of Ujjain |
| Shaka Samvat | 78 CE | Kanishka |
| Gupta era | 319 to 320 CE | Chandragupta I |
| Harsha era | 606 CE | Harshavardhana |
Tip: Vikram Samvat: subtract 57 to get CE. Shaka: add 78.
Indo-Roman trade
Yavana (Roman) traders came to Indian ports.
- Tamralipti in the east.
- Bharuch and Sopara in the west.
- Muziris in Kerala.
- Arikamedu near Pondicherry, where Roman pottery, lamps and beads were found.
Large hoards of Roman gold coins show that trade favoured India. The guide Periplus of the Erythraean Sea describes these ports.
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Post-Mauryan dynasties and their kings
"Which dynasty came after the Shungas", "Rudradaman belonged to", or an order of dynasties.
Heartland chain: Shunga, then Kanva.
North-west chain: Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians, Kushanas.
King hooks: Menander Indo-Greek, Rudradaman Shaka, Gondophernes Parthian, Kanishka Kushana.
Each king has one dynasty, so the king names the dynasty.
Who repaired the Sudarshana lake and issued the first long inscription in chaste Sanskrit?
Show solutionHide solution
The inscription is at Junagadh.
The Shaka ruler of Ujjain issued it.
Rudradaman I
Kanishka and the Kushanas
"The Shaka era was started by", Kanishka's capitals, Gandhara and Mathura art, scholars at his court.
Kanishka: 78 CE Shaka era; Peshawar and Mathura.
He held the Fourth Council. Hinayana and Mahayana split.
Court: Ashvaghosha, Charaka, Vasumitra, Nagarjuna.
Art: Gandhara (grey schist) and Mathura (red sandstone).
Kanishka collects many separate facts, so the era and the capitals are the anchors.
Which Kushana ruler struck large gold issues showing Shiva on the coins?
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Kanishka's predecessor issued them.
He was Vima Kadphises.
Vima Kadphises
Satavahanas: rulers, capital and customs
"Capital of the Satavahanas", Gautamiputra Satakarni, first land grants, lead coins.
Founder Simuka. Capital Pratishthana (Paithan) on the Godavari.
Greatest king: Gautamiputra Satakarni. Evidence: the Nasik inscription of his mother.
Firsts: tax-free land grants to Brahmanas. Coins of lead and potin. Language Prakrit.
The Satavahana facts are few and fixed.
The greatest Satavahana ruler, whose deeds are told in his mother's Nasik inscription, was:
Show solutionHide solution
His mother was Gautami Balashri.
His name begins with Gautami.
Gautamiputra Satakarni
Indo-Roman trade
"Arikamedu is famous for", "the main east-coast port", Roman gold hoards, the Periplus.
Ports: Tamralipti east; Bharuch and Sopara west; Muziris in Kerala; Arikamedu near Pondicherry.
Arikamedu gave Roman pottery, lamps and beads.
Roman gold hoards show a trade surplus for India.
Each port has one direction, so the direction helps.
Which post-Mauryan site near Pondicherry is famous for Roman pottery and trade goods?
Show solutionHide solution
The site is on the south-east coast.
Its finds include Roman lamps and beads.
Arikamedu
Eras and their founders
"Vikram Samvat began in", "Shaka era started in", "Gupta era", "Harsha era".
Vikram Samvat 57 BCE. Shaka 78 CE. Gupta 319 to 320 CE. Harsha 606 CE.
To change a Vikram Samvat year to CE, subtract 57.
To change a Shaka year to CE, add 78.
Four dates cover all era questions.
The Shaka Samvat, used in India's National Calendar, began in: (a) 57 BCE (b) 78 CE (c) 319 CE (d) 606 CE
Show solutionHide solution
57 BCE is Vikram Samvat.
319 CE is the Gupta era and 606 CE the Harsha era.
(b) 78 CE
Shortcuts that save time
Vikram Samvat is 57 BCE, so subtract. Shaka is 78 CE, so add.
Shaka year 1948 matches which CE year?
Show solutionHide solution
Add 78 to the Shaka year.
1948 + 78 = 2026.
2026 CE
Simuka founder. Pratishthana capital. Gautamiputra greatest. Hala poet.
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Giving Rudradaman's Junagadh inscription in Prakrit.
Ashoka's edicts are Prakrit. Rudradaman's Junagadh inscription is in Sanskrit.
Saying a Shaka ruler began the Shaka era.
Kanishka, a Kushana, began it in 78 CE.
Confusing Charaka with Sushruta.
Charaka was Kanishka's physician. Sushruta is the surgeon.
Placing the Kanvas before the Shungas.
Order: Shunga (185 BCE), then Kanva (73 BCE).
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
Heartland order: Shunga (185 to 73 BCE), then Kanva (73 to 28 BCE).
North-west order: Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians, Kushanas.
Menander and Nagasena wrote the Milindapanha. Indo-Greeks gave the first portrait coins.
Rudradaman I: Junagadh inscription, chaste Sanskrit, Sudarshana lake.
Kanishka: Shaka era 78 CE, Peshawar and Mathura, Fourth Council, Gandhara and Mathura art.
Satavahanas: Simuka, Pratishthana, Gautamiputra Satakarni, first Brahmana land grants, lead coins.
Ports: Tamralipti, Bharuch, Sopara, Muziris. Arikamedu has Roman finds.
Practice: 12 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 12 questions
Suggested time 5 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.