Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Chapter 10 Changing Times PDF Download

Changing Times

After the disintegration of Mauryan empire, the ambition of local rulers got strengthened. The regional kingdoms came to a rise. Among them, we studied the Shunga and Satavahana kingdoms in the last lesson. During the same period there began foreign invasions, such as invasions by Greek, Shakas, Kushanas, on India. This period of the rise of regional kingdoms was also the period of political and social transition.

Nomadic Tribes Of Central Asia

After the death of Alexander, the Satrapas appointed by him declared their independent status and they came to be known as Indo-Greek kings. During the declining period of Indo-Greek kings, nomadic tribes in Central Asia attacked Bactria. The tribes of Central Asia migrated to India in this period. These migrations proved to be important in the political scene in North India. In the latter half of 2nd century B.C.E., the Pahalavas (Parthians) and Shakas (Scythians) attacked northwestern regions. The Yuezi tribes from China pushed the Shakas out from Central Asia. Yuezis were pastoralists. With the strength of their war skills, they vanquished the local kings and there they established their own kingdoms.

Teacher's Note

These foreign tribes came to India just like how people from different countries come to your city today. For example, people from China or America live in Indian cities and bring their own culture.

Exam Trick

Remember: Yuezi tribes pushed out Shakas. Think "Y comes after S" in alphabet. So Yuezi came after Shakas and pushed them out.

Points to Remember

Alexander's generals became Indo-Greek kings.
Nomadic tribes from Central Asia attacked Bactria.
Yuezi tribes were very good warriors on horses.
These tribes established their own kingdoms in India.

Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas

The Greek Satrapas of North-west are known as Indo-Greeks. In Indian tradition, they are mentioned as Yavana. Their objectives were to establish their dominance in the region of Mediterranean Sea and to strengthen the hold over trade in west and central Asia. Seleucus Nicator was Indo-Greek king from the province of Bactria in the North-west. In the conflicts between the Indo-Greek kings, the kingdom of Bactria proved to be powerful. Bactrian king Demetrius attacked India in 180 B.C.E. He won over Takshashila. His capital was at Sakal (Siyalkot). During this period, the Indo-Greek king Eucratides established an independent kingdom. In this way, two independent Indo-Greek kingdoms were established in the northwest region. There were 40 Indo-Greek kings in total including the two branches established by Demetrius and Eucratides. The only source to know the history of Indo-Greeks is their coins. Things like emblems, script, portraits on their coins of the kings, images of deities are their gifts to the numismatic tradition of India.

Shakas came from Central Asia. They established their kingdom by driving out the Greeks of Bactria. Their colony acquired the name Shakasthan (Shistan). Maues alias Moga was the first Shaka king in India. He established the kingdom by conquering the provinces of Gandhara and Punjab. Due to the weakness of the succeeding Shaka kings, Pahalava king Gondophernes defeated them and established his rule in India.

Teacher's Note

Indo-Greeks were the first foreigners who ruled parts of India. They were like the British who came to India later. Their coins tell us their story, just like old coins in your grandfather's house.

Exam Trick

Remember: Indo-Greeks = 40 kings. Shakas = came after Greeks and pushed them out. Think "S comes after G" - Shakas came after Greeks.

Points to Remember

Indo-Greeks ruled in northwest India.
Demetrius was a famous Bactrian Greek king.
We know about Indo-Greeks only from their coins.
Shakas defeated the Greeks and ruled in their place.
Maues was the first Shaka king in India.

Although the Shaka rule in Gandhara and Punjab came to an end, some Shaka rulers continued to rule in Western India. The Shaka administrative system was structured after the Achaemenid and Seleucid models. The state was divided into various Satrapis (provinces) and Mahakshatrapa, a military official, was appointed for each satrapy. These Satrapies were further divided into sub-sections and a Satrapa was appointed on each of it. These Satrapas were permitted to engrave their own inscriptions and also issue coins. It seems that they had considerable autonomy.

Shakas were nomadic pastoralists. There are no architectural remains, which can be ascribed to Shakas. However, their characteristic tombs have been discovered. These tombs contain remains of an individual, who could be their chief, along with his personal belongings including remains of his horse and other objects. Horse was an important part of the culture of Shakas. Their skills in mounted archery enabled them to make swift attacks. Saddle, reins, composite bow and arrow made their war technique more effective.

The rule of Shaka king Rudradaman proves to be noteworthy due to his conflict with the Satavahanas. The Junagarh inscription in Saurashtra is an important Sanskrit inscription. It is inscribed below the Ashokan edict. The Ashokan edict is in Prakrit while Rudradaman's inscription is in Sanskrit. It seems that the Shaka kings had adopted Sanskrit language. The Rudradaman inscription records repairs of Sudarshan lake that was built during the Mauryan era. It shows that the lake was used over a prolonged period. It mentions Rudradaman's victory in the Narmada valley, expedition against Satavahana kingdom and praises him for his victory over Yaudheya Republics in Rajasthan.

Teacher's Note

Shakas were excellent horse riders and archers. They were like cowboys on horses. The Junagarh inscription shows they respected Indian culture by using Sanskrit language.

Exam Trick

Remember: Shakas loved horses. They were mounted archers. Think "Shaka = Saddle" to remember they rode horses with saddles and bows.

Points to Remember

Shakas were good at horse riding and archery.
They had a military system with Satraps and Mahakshatraps.
Shakas buried their chiefs with their horses and belongings.
Rudradaman was a famous Shaka king.
Shakas used Sanskrit language like Indian kings.

Kushanas

After coming to Bactria from central Asia, the Kushanas captured the Indo-Greek kingdoms. As an effect of their contact with the Greek is reflected in some traits of Kushana culture. After pushing the Shakas out to the South, under the leadership of Kujula Kadphises, the Yuezi groups came together and Kujula Kadphises brought them to northwest India from the Hindukush mountains. He declared himself as the king of Bactria. With this the Kushana rule was established upto Kabul, Kashmir. We get this information from Chinese records, Greek, and Roman literature. In Indian literature, Kushanas are referred as Tukhar or Tushar.

Teacher's Note

Kushanas came after Shakas and were even stronger. They ruled a very large empire. Kujula Kadphises was their first great leader who united all Yuezi tribes.

Exam Trick

Remember: Kushana = Kujula Kadphises + Yuezi tribes. K came together with Y to make a big empire from Kabul to Kashmir.

Points to Remember

Kushanas came from Central Asia and defeated the Indo-Greeks.
Kujula Kadphises was the first Kushana leader.
They mixed Greek and Indian cultures together.
Their rule extended from Kabul to Kashmir.
In Indian books they are called Tukhar or Tushar.

Kushana Empire

After winning over the small kingdoms, Kushanas followed the system of Shakas and established their Satrapis there. A military officer called Satrapa (Kshatrapa) was appointed on the satrapies. The King was the chief of all the Satrapas and adopted the titles like Rajadhiraj, Maharaj etc. The concept of divinity of the King is seen for the first time in the inscriptions on the Kushana coins. They called themselves as Devputra (Son of God).

By defeating many Shaka kings, Kanishka obtained the status of an emperor. He built the Kushana empire from Kabul to Pataliputra and from Kashmir to Malwa. He is said to have attacked China twice. From Central Asia it was difficult to administer over the far extended empire. Hence an intermediate administrative centre was the need of the moment. Hence, Kanishka established two capitals, one at Purushpur (Peshawar) and the other at Mathura. Kanishka had organised the fourth Buddhist Council in the vihara at Kundalvan in Kashmir.

The Kushanas had adopted the Indian culture. This is obvious from the name of last Kushana king Vasudeva. During his period the decline of Kushanas began. The Kushana empire disintegrated into pieces and the various Satrapas became independent. The Kushana rule existed in the province of Punjab and Gandhar till 4th century C.E.

The detailed Prashasti (eulogy) of Samudragupta is inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. This prashasti is a written source giving information of his political career. This inscription is known as Prayaga Prashasti. It is paradoxical right below Ashokan's edict declaring the importance of Dhammavijay is inscribed the detailed account of Samudragupta's Digvijaya.

Teacher's Note

Kanishka was the greatest Kushana emperor. He was like Alexander but he helped Buddhism grow. He made two capital cities because his empire was too big to manage from one place.

Exam Trick

Remember: Kanishka = Two Capitals. He made Purushpur and Mathura as capitals because his empire was very large. K = Kabul to Pataliputra (his empire size).

Points to Remember

Kanishka was the greatest Kushana emperor.
He made two capital cities - Purushpur and Mathura.
Kushana kings called themselves Devputra (Son of God).
Kanishka organized the fourth Buddhist Council.
The last Kushana king was Vasudeva.

Gupta Empire

The history of Gupta empire indicates the process of transformation of a small state into a mighty empire. Srigupta was the founder of Gupta dynasty. His title Maharaj indicates that he was a feudatory. His son Ghatotkach also uses the same title which means during his period also the Gupta kings were feudatories. Chandragupta I is given the credit of expanding the Gupta rule and transforming it into an empire. The title added to his name, titled Maharajadhiraj, gives an idea of the increasing status of the Gupta kings. He married Kumaradevi who belonged to the Lichchhavi clan. This matrimonial alliance proved to be politically beneficial for the Gupta dynasty. His portrait with Kumaradevi is seen on a coin issued by him. His rule was spread over in the regions of Magadha, Saket (Ayodhya) and Prayag. King Samudragupta was the most brilliant, valiant and benevolent ruler of this dynasty.

Samudragupta's ambition was to rule entire India as an unified empire. His title Sarvarajochchheta on his coins, which means, the annihilator of all kings proves this. Samudragupta first conquered neighboring kingdoms. After the conquest in the North, he carried out expedition in the South to conquer the Southern kingdoms. During that period, the rule of Vakatakas was strong in southern region. Samudragupta could include the southern part upto the region of Kanchi under his dominance, except the Vakatakas. The rulers of the regions beyond his conquered area became his feudatories. By obtaining tribute from these kings, he made them accept his sovereignty.

After this great conquest (Digvijay), Samudragupta performed Ashwamedha sacrifice and proclaimed himself as Chakravarti king. Shakas, Kushanas, and kings in Sri Lanka accepted the suzerainty of the Guptas. The image of Samudragupta along with a lyre (Veena) on his coins indicates that he was a patron of art. Chandragupta II defeated Shakas and ascended the throne. He took up the title Vikramaditya. He established his rule in the western regions of Malwa, Gujarat, and Kathewar. Due to this the areas on west coast also came under the dominance of the Guptas and they entered into the trade carried out in the west. Later Chandragupta crossed Hindukush and brought the north-western provinces under his control. In this manner he established a sovereign state encompassing the entire north India. He gave his daughter, Prabhavati, in marriage to the Vakataka king Rudrasena II and created congenial relations with the Vakatakas in the south.

Chandragupta II gave patronage to many scholars, just like his father and had deep interest in knowledge and art. It is said that there were Navratnas (nine gems) in his court. They were: Dhanvantari (physician), Kshapanak (astrologer), Amarsinha (lexicographer), Sanku (architect), Vatal Bhatt (magician), Ghatkarpura (architect/author), Kalidasa (great poet), Varahamihira (astronomer) and Vararuchi (grammarian).

Teacher's Note

Samudragupta was the greatest Gupta king. He conquered almost all of India. He was like Ashoka but he used the sword, not just Buddhism. Chandragupta II was also very great and helped artists and scholars.

Exam Trick

Remember: Samudragupta = South and North Digvijaya. He conquered both directions. Chandragupta II = Vikramaditya (Victory giver). Think "V for Victory" for Vikramaditya.

Points to Remember

Srigupta founded the Gupta dynasty.
Samudragupta conquered North and South India.
Chandragupta II took the title Vikramaditya.
Chandragupta II had nine great scholars called Navratnas.
Samudragupta performed Ashwamedha sacrifice as Chakravarti king.

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