Q. Consider the following statements:
- Brihadratha was the last Mauryan King who was killed by Pushyamitra Sunga.
- In the post-Mauryan period, Indo-Greeks were the first invaders to cross the Hindu Kush and established their rule in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer:
Both 1 and 2
Notes: Mauryan Empire was finally ended by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE. He was a general of the last Mauryan King, Brihadratha. He is said to have killed Brihadratha in full public view. Shungas probably revived Brahmanical way of life as they performed several Vedic sacrifices. So, statement 1 is correct. Construction of the Great Wall of China shielded China from the attacks of Scythians. So, they xpushed towards Central Asia and forced Parthians, Greeks and Shakas towards India. The Greeks had set up a kingdom in north Afghanistan to the south of the river Oxus, which was known as Bactria. They were constantly being attacked so they moved towards India. They were first to invade India in 206 BCE. Thus, statement 2 is correct.