Post-Mauryan Politics discussed by Harsh
Background
Mauryan age was a golden period in Indian history in many senses because this period saw the development which were not occurred in earlier ages. But after flourishing for more than 140 years this great empire was started to disintegrate and ended in c. 187 BC when the last Mauryan king, Brahadratha was killed was Pushyamitra Shunga. After the end of Mauryan empire, various new kingdoms started to emerged, this age came to known as post-Mauryan age (c. 200 BC to c. 300 AD).
Also Read : Decline of Mauryan Empire
Socio-Cultural life of Mauryan Age
Magadha – Factors Behind its Rise
Ashokan Inscriptions and Their Importance
Pre-Historic Studies – Megalithic Culture
Resources of History for Post-Mauryan Age
The texts of Jatakas contains many stories of ordinary peoples, traders and travelers of post-Mauryan age. The Buddhist works like Milindapanha and Lalitavistara contains the records of this age. Puranic texts also contain details about this age. Later, Dharmasutras and Smritis such as Manava Dharmasutra (Manu Smriti) and Yajnavalkya Smriti also provided detail about this age.
This period also witnessed the beginning of Sanskrit drama. Ashvaghosa’s Sariputraprakarna (woven around the conversion of Maudgalayana and Sariputra by Buddha). The other works of Ashvaghosa include Buddhacharita and Saundarananda which provides information about this age. There were medical works also like Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita.
Sangam literature was the most prominent text of this age. In contains the works like Ettutokai (eight poems), Pattupattu and Tolkappiyam. The texts of Periplus Maris Erythraeid who was an Egyptian traveler provided important information about the post-Mauryan age. The texts of Ch’ien Han Shu and Hou Han-Shu, Chinese travelers, provide information of movement and migration of peoples in central Asia.
Apart from the texts, archeology also provides beneficial details. The later Northern Black Painted ware (NBPW) and post-NBPW gave input on this age.
Political History of North India in Post-Mauryan Age
The states were of two natures; some of the states were monarchial in nature and others were non-monarchial in nature. For example, Arjunayanas Uddehikas, Malavas and Yaudheyas were non-monarchial in nature. Shungas, Indo-Greeks, Shaka-Pahlavas (Scytho-Parthians) were the prominent powers in the post-Mauryan period.
Shungas
According to Harshacharita, Pushyamitra Shunga killed Brahadratha to established the Shunga dynasty that ended the marks of Mauryan empire in c. 187 BC. His empire was extended over only part of erstwhile Mauryan empire. He also performed Ashwamedha sacrifice. He was in conflict with Bactrian Greeks. As per record there were ten kings, supposed to ruled for 112 years. The last king was Devabhutti who was killed by his minister Vasudeva to establish the Kanva dynasty but they eventually crushed by Mitras. Mitras was destroyed by Shakas.
The Indo-Greeks
Bactria was the ancient name of area around south of Oxus River and north-west of Hindukush mountains. Greeks of Bactria originally Satraps (subordinate rulers) of Seleucid Empire of west Asia. They ruled over north-west part on India around 2nd BC to early 1st AD, that’s why known as Indo-Greeks or Indo-Bactrian. Diodotus was first to revolt against Seleucid empire and established an independent empire.
Demetrius, Appoliodotus, Pantaleon and Agathocles were responsible for extending Bactria to south of the Hindukush mountains. Menander was the most important ruler who adopted Buddhism within guidance of Nagasena. The rule over Gandhara came to an end because of Parthians. After defeat from Kshatrapa ruler Rajuvula rule over Jhelum also ended. A significant development of this time was rise of Gandhara school of Art.
Shaka-Pahlavas or Scytho-Parthians
Shakas were originally belonged to Scythian ethnic stock of Syr Darya. The history of Shakas was mainly collected from the coins and inscriptions. Moga (Moa and Maues) name appear on copper and silver coins. Another group includes Vonones, Spalirise, Azes, Azilises. Vikrama era of 58/57 BCE (used by Government of India) considered mark the accession of Vonones, the earliest independent Parthian ruler of eastern Iran.
Malavas ruled over part of north-west Rajasthan and adjacent areas. Another group represented by Gondo-phernes (king Guduvhara) mentioned in Takht-i-Bahi inscription (Afghanistan). They ruled through governors known as Kshatraps. Later Rajuvula, a Kshatrapa, became independent ruler of Mathura.
Kushanas
Kushanas were one of the five principalities of Yuch-chi as Kuei-Shang (Kushanas). Miaos, extended rule over north of Oxus and established independent Kuei-Shang principality. Later Kujula Kadphises laid foundation of Kushana empire by amalgamated the five principalities and reached its zenith during the rule of Kanishka whose rule marked as the beginning of Shaka era, c. 78 AD.
He extended the empire to east of Ganga valley and Malwa region in south. His empire includes Afghanistan and western part of China. But he was defeated by Pan Chao of China. Kanishka was a great patronage of Buddhism. Vaisishka, Huvishka, Vasudeva etc. were successors of Kanishka. Empire started declining during Vasudeva and Vasudeva, the second was the last ruler of the line.
After decline Shaka Kshatrapa came to fore in western and central Asia. Naga kings were also ruled around Padmavati and Mathura.
Hence, after disintegration of Mauryan empire many important dynasties came into prominence with many powerful rulers who not extended their empires but also patronized the art and culture activities.
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