IASNOVA
The Indo-Greeks
1.The first to cross the Hindukush were the Bactrian Greeks.
( Mnemonics-the order of entry into India-
Greeks – Shakas – Parthians – Kushans )
2. Causes for invasion– weakening of Seleucid empire,pressure from Scythian tribes(they were themselves pushed back by Chinese wall construction) ,weak successors of Ashoka
3. Menander– most famous Indo Greek ruler-also called Milinda-Capital at Sakala-converted to Buddhism by Nagasena.
4. MilindaPanho– questions of Milinda and answers by Nagasena
5. Indo greeks issued large number of coins,first coins attributed to kings in India.
6.Indo greeks were the first to issue gold coins.
7.Introduced features of Hellenistic art– led to Gandhara Art.
The Shakas
8. King Vikramaditya of Ujjain defeated Shakas in 57-58 BC.
9. Era- Vikram Samvat- 57 BC
10. Chandragupta 2 – most famous of all 14 Vikramadityas
11. Shakas benefitted from sea borne trade in Gujarat.
12. They issued large number of silver coins.
13. Rudradaman 1( AD 130- 150) – most famous Shaka ruler- he undertook repairs of Lake Sudarshana in Kathiawar– great lover of Sanskrit- issued first ever long inscription in Sanskrit.
The Parthians
14. Original inhabitants of Iran
15. Gondophernes- most famous Parthian ruler-St. Thomas came to India during his reign.
The Kushans
16. Kushans were nomadic people from the Steppes of Central Asia.
17. 9 modern countries were under Kushans rule.
18. Kadphises dynasty– 2 kings- Kadphises 1 who issued cooper coins in imitation of Roman coins and Kadphises 2 who issued gold coins.
19. Kanishka Dynasty- other dynasty of Kushans
20. They issued large number of gold coins with high metallic purity.
21. First capital- Purushapura( Peshawar) ,second capital -Mathura
22. Kanishka– most famous king of Kushan dynasty
23. He started Shaka era in AD 78– now used by govt of India
24. He was patron of Mahayana Buddhism-Buddhist council in Kashmir.
25. Also a patron of art and Sanskrit literature.
26. Kushan rule in Afghanistan was supplanted by Sassanian power of Iran .
27. Kushan coins,inscriptions, and terracottas have been found in central Asia
28. At Toprak-Kala in Khorezm,south of Aral Sea ,on the Oxus,a huge Kushan palace has been unearthed.
29. Inscriptions in Aramaic script and Khorezmain language.
Impact of Central Asian Contacts
30. Advancement in building activities- use of burnt bricks and tiles
31. Red ware pottery
32. Shakas and Kushans had no original script,written language and organized religion.
33. Introduced better cavalry and use of riding horses,reins and saddles.
34.Introduced turban,tunic,trousers and heavy long coat,caps,helmets and boots.
Trade and Agriculture
35. Received good deal of gold from Altai Mountains and Roman empire.
36. Kushans controlled the Silk Route– levied tolls from traders.
37. Kushans- first rulers in India to issue gold coins on a wide scale.
38. Promoted agriculture-The earliest archaeological traces of large scale irrigation in Pakistan,Afghanistan and western Central Asia belong to Kushan period.
Polity
39. Shakas and Kushans strengthened the idea of divine origin of Kingship.
40. Ashoka– dear of Gods.Kushans- Sons of God– adopted from Chinese.
41. Kushans introduced the Satrap system of government– less centralization.
42. Greeks introduced the military governorship- called Strategos.
New Elements In Indian Society
43. They were absorbed as Kshatriyas in Hindu Varna system.
44. Some foreign rulers converted to Vaishnavism- eg- Greek Ambassador Heliodorus set up a pillar in Vidisa in honour of Vasudeva( Vishnu).
45. Kushans worshipped both Shiva and Buddha– images of both appear on coins.
46. Some Kushan rulers were Vaishnavites-eg Kushan ruler Vasudeva.
47. New form of Buddhism came into existence-Mahayana or the Great Wheel.( other was Hinayana or the Lesser Wheel).
48. Kanishka- patron of Mahayana- Buddhist council in Kashmir- set up many stupas,got commentaries engraved on red copper.
Gandhara and Mathura Schools of Art
49. Rise of Central Asian,Gandhara and Mathura schools of art.
50. Gandhara Art– images of Buddha were made in Graeco-Roman style-hair was fashioned in that style.
51. Famous headless statue of Kanishka- Mathura
52. Stone images of Vardhaman Mahavira- Mathura
53. Mathura’s pre gupta sculptures ignores Krishna.
54. Red Sandstone-Mathura school of art
55. Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati– centres of Buddhist art in Andhra Pradesh
Literature and Learning
56. The earliest specimen of Sanskrit kavya is found in Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman in Kathiawar.
57.Inscriptions started in chaste Sanskrit though use of Prakrit continued till 4th century AD.
58. Buddha-charita and Saundarananda – composed by Ashvaghosha– patronised by Kushans.
59. Progress of Mahayana Buddhism led to composition of avadanas in Buddhist-Hybrid Sanskrit– Mahavastu and Divyavandana were important books.
60. Greeks introduced curtain in Indian theatre system.(yavanika)
61. Kamasutra of Vatsyayana – 3rd century AD
Science and Technology
62.Astrology and astronomy benefitted from Greeks.
63.Greek coins were improvement on punch marked coins.
64. Practice of making leather shoes- during Kushan period.
65.Embassies were sent from India to the court of Roman emperor Augustus in 27-28 AD and to Roman emperor Trojan in 110-20 AD.
66. Glass making made great progress.
Now, Take the test on this Topic– – Quiz :Central Asian Contacts
