ANCIENT INDIA-2

 ANCIENT INDIA(PREHISTORIC-700AD)

"OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN NEVER FALLING, BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL".

POST MAURYAN EMPIRES(200 BC -300 CE)

THE FALL OF MAURYAN EMPIRE LED TO THE EMERGENCE OF VARIOUS SMALL IMPIRES. THE IMPIRES ARE-

1. SHUNGA DYNASTY(184 BC - 75 BC)

This dynasty was established by Pushyamitra shunga, the commander in chief of Brihadratha after killing him. The empire covered the northern, central and eastern India. the empire lived for a short frame of time and was dissolved by invaders. This dynasty was invaded by indo- greeks, Kalinga and Satavahanas.

REASON FOR COLLAPSE-• Attack by different empires

                                                   •Over attachment of the last ruler to a girl

2. INDO- GREEKS

This dynasty was established by the generals of alexander after he died. This was the first foreign dynasty over the Indian subcontinent. This dynasty was dissolved by the Sakas. The most powerful kind of this dynasty was Menander.

3. KANVA DYNASTY(75BC - 30 BC)

The Kanva dynasty was formed the same way the shunga dynasty was formed. Vasudeva Kanva killed the ruling king of shunga dynasty and established the Kanva dynasty. He was a minister in the court of Shunga king. Satavahanas attacked Kanva and have taken control over their territory. 

REASON FOR COLLAPSE- Attacked by the Satavahanas

                                                  

4. SATAVAHANA DYNASTY(200 BC - 350 CE)

This dynasty dominated the deccan part of India for almost three centuries. They were also known as the 'Andhras'. Most of the information about this dynasty comes from purans. Pulumavi IV was the last king of this dynasty. after his death, the empire fragmented into five smaller kingdoms.

5. SAKA DYNASTY(200 BC - 400 CE)

 This dynasty is also known as the Indo- scythians. They attacked and annexed the territory occupied by the Indo- greeks.  They were later attacked by the kushana empire, After the kushana empire they were attacked by the satavahanas and finally dissolved.

6. KUSHANA DYNASTY

This dynasty mostly covered north western India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Tajikistan, This empire flourished under the rule of Kanishka. They slowly started to decline after the rise of local rules in India.

After the rise of so many small regional kingdoms, then came the Gupta empire.

GUPTA EMPIRE

The Gupta empire ruled over most of the Indian subcontinent for the next one and a half century. This period is classified as the Golden period of Indian history. The Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira and Vatsyayana. Every thing flourished during this period, from trade to literature, from architecture to science and a lot more. But, due to loss of territory and constant attack by the Huns, the empire became economically weaker and collapsed. 

Again, after the collapse of Gupta Empire various local dynasties such as maukharis, maitrakas, pushyabhutis and gaudas came into existence.

HARSHA's EMPIRE

Harsha was earlier a member of the Vardhana dynasty. His biography harshacharita was written by his court poet banabhatta. He made kannauj as his capital city. When he tried to extend his power in the south, he was vanquished by the chalukyas.

CHALUKYA EMPIRE(600 CE- 1200 CE)

They are divided into three types

i) Badami Chalukyas(600CE -642CE)

ii) Eastern Chalukyas(642CE-1100CE)

iii) Western Chalukyas(1100CE-1200CE)

They ruled most of the deccan region for almost two centuries. the chalukyas had a great army comprised of Infantry, Cavalry, elephant unit and a dominant navy.