Module 08. Post-Mauryan Period and Foreign Dynasties

The period following the decline of the Mauryan Empire, roughly from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, is known as the Post-Mauryan period. This era marked a phase of political fragmentation, foreign invasions, and cultural synthesis across the Indian subcontinent. While regional powers arose in different parts of India, foreign dynasties from Central and West Asia established their rule in north-western India. The Post-Mauryan era thus represents a significant phase of transition, witnessing the fusion of Indian and foreign elements in politics, art, religion, and trade.

Political Fragmentation after the Mauryas

After the death of Emperor Ashoka around 232 BCE, the Mauryan Empire rapidly declined due to weak successors, administrative disintegration, and economic strain. By about 185 BCE, Pushyamitra Shunga, a general of the Mauryan army, overthrew the last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha, and founded the Shunga dynasty in Magadha. The Mauryan political unity gave way to several regional kingdoms that controlled different parts of India.
Major regional dynasties during this period included:

• The Shungas (c. 185–73 BCE) in Magadha and central India.
• The Kanvas (c. 73–28 BCE), who succeeded the Shungas.
• The Satavahanas (c. 1st century BCE–3rd century CE) in the Deccan.
• The Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Parthians, and Kushans in north-western India.
• The Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas in the far south, who were flourishing as independent Tamil kingdoms.

This fragmentation did not result in decline alone; it also encouraged regional diversity and the growth of trade, art, and culture under various rulers.

The Shunga and Kanva Dynasties

The Shunga dynasty, founded by Pushyamitra Shunga, sought to revive Brahmanism, which had declined under Mauryan patronage of Buddhism. The Divyavadana and Harshacharita mention Pushyamitra’s conflicts with Buddhist institutions, though archaeological evidence suggests Buddhism continued to thrive. The Shungas patronised Vedic sacrifices and promoted Sanskrit culture.
Art and architecture during this period flourished. The famous Bharhut Stupa and the Sanchi Stupa (enhanced under later rulers) reflect the continuation of Buddhist art with distinct Shunga stylistic features—such as intricate railings, gateways, and narrative reliefs depicting Jataka tales.
The Kanvas, who succeeded the Shungas, ruled for a brief period before being overthrown by the Satavahanas, signalling the shift of political power towards the Deccan.

The Rise of the Satavahanas

The Satavahanas, also known as the Andhras, emerged as the foremost power in the Deccan following the decline of the Mauryas. Their empire covered parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The founder was Simuka, while the most powerful ruler was Gautamiputra Satakarni (c. 106–130 CE).
The Satavahanas played a crucial role in restoring political stability in the Deccan and acted as a cultural bridge between northern and southern India. They followed a mixed administrative system influenced by Mauryan models but retained regional features.
Economically, they controlled key trade routes linking northern India with ports on the western coast. The Nasik, Karle, and Amaravati cave inscriptions reveal their patronage of Buddhism. They issued coins in lead, copper, and silver, often bearing bilingual inscriptions in Prakrit and Tamil scripts.

Foreign Dynasties in North-Western India

After the fall of the Mauryas, north-western India became a theatre of foreign invasions due to its proximity to Central Asia and its strategic location along the trade routes leading to West Asia. A succession of foreign dynasties established their rule, each contributing to the cultural amalgamation of the region.
1. The Indo-Greeks (c. 2nd–1st century BCE): The Indo-Greeks were descendants of Greek rulers left behind after Alexander’s invasion. The most famous among them was Menander (Milinda), who ruled from Sagala (modern Sialkot). He is renowned for his dialogue with the Buddhist monk Nagasena, recorded in the Milindapanho. Indo-Greek coinage, noted for its artistic excellence and bilingual inscriptions (Greek and Kharosthi), reflects their cultural interaction with Indian traditions.
2. The Shakas or Indo-Scythians (c. 1st century BCE–1st century CE): The Shakas were of Central Asian origin and displaced the Indo-Greeks. Their most powerful ruler was Rudradaman I, who reigned from Ujjain and is known for his Sanskrit inscription at Junagadh, one of the earliest long inscriptions in Sanskrit. The Shakas maintained trade networks and supported Buddhism and Hinduism alike.
3. The Parthians (c. 1st century CE): The Parthians, originally from Iran, succeeded the Shakas in some regions. Their rule was brief, but they are remembered for their association with St. Thomas the Apostle’s arrival in India according to Christian tradition.
4. The Kushans (c. 1st–3rd century CE): The Kushans, originally a branch of the Yuezhi tribe from Central Asia, established a vast empire under Kujula Kadphises and later under Kanishka the Great. Kanishka’s reign marked the zenith of the Kushan Empire, encompassing northern India, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
Kanishka was a great patron of Buddhism, convening the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana (Kashmir), which led to the division between the Hinayana and Mahayana schools. The Kushans issued gold coins of high purity bearing images of both Indian and foreign deities, demonstrating their syncretic culture. The Gandhara and Mathura schools of art flourished under their patronage, blending Greek and Indian artistic elements.

Economic and Cultural Developments

The Post-Mauryan period was marked by a boom in trade and urbanisation. The development of inland routes such as the Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha, and maritime trade with Rome and Southeast Asia, enriched the Indian economy. Roman gold coins discovered in southern India attest to the volume of Indo-Roman trade.
Art and architecture reached new heights during this era. The Gandhara school (Greco-Buddhist) depicted the Buddha in human form influenced by Hellenistic styles, while the Mathura school represented indigenous artistic traditions. The stupas of Sanchi and Amaravati, the Chaityas of Karle, and Viharas of Nasik and Ajanta stand as testimony to the artistic brilliance of the time.
Religiously, the period witnessed the spread of Buddhism, Jainism, and various sects of Hinduism. The Bhakti element in religious expression began to emerge, while the Mahayana school of Buddhism expanded across Asia through the patronage of rulers like Kanishka.

Legacy and Significance

The Post-Mauryan period and the era of foreign dynasties were times of dynamic cultural fusion and political experimentation. Though fragmented politically, India became a vibrant centre of transcontinental trade and cultural exchange. The synthesis of Indian and foreign traditions—visible in art, language, religion, and administration—laid the foundation for the cosmopolitan character of later Indian civilisations.