Maharashtra Board Class 6 History Chapter 8 States after the Maurya Empire PDF Download

8. States After The Maurya Empire

8.1 The Shunga Dynasty

After Emperor Ashoka, Maurya power started declining. The last Maurya Emperor was called Brihadratha. The Maurya General Pushyamitra Shunga revolted against Brihadratha, killed him and became the king himself.

Teacher's Note

After a big empire falls, many smaller kingdoms take its place. This happened in India after the Mauryas, just like today when big companies close and many small shops open in that area.

Exam Trick

Remember: Pushyamitra Shunga = General who became king. He PUSHED the Mauryas out! This will help you remember his name and what he did.

Points to Remember

Maurya power fell after Emperor Ashoka died.
Brihadratha was the last Maurya Emperor.
Pushyamitra Shunga was a general who killed the emperor and became king.
The Shunga dynasty started after this revolt.

8.2 Indo-Greek Kings

During this period, there were several small kingdoms ruled by Greek kings to the northwest of the Indian subcontinent. Those kings are known as Indo-Greek kings. In the history of the coins of ancient India, the coins of these kings are very important. They had a tradition of putting the picture of the king on one side and that of a deity on the other side. This tradition later took root in India. One of the famous Indo-Greek kings was Menander, who discussed Buddhist philosophy with the Buddhist bhikkhu, Nagasena. Menander is also referred to as 'Milinda'. The questions that he discussed with Bhikkhu Nagasena led to the creation of the book 'Milind Panha'. The Pali word 'panha' means 'question'.

Teacher's Note

Indo-Greek kings mixed Greek and Indian cultures. This is like today when Indian students learn English and use it with Hindi. Two cultures come together and make something new.

Exam Trick

Remember: Menander = Milinda. Both names are the same person! He discussed with Nagasena and made the book Milind Panha. Think: Milind + Panha = Milinda's Questions.

Points to Remember

Indo-Greek kings ruled in the northwest of India.
They put the king's picture on one side of coins and a god's picture on the other side.
Menander was a famous Indo-Greek king.
Menander is also called Milinda.
He discussed Buddhism with bhikkhu Nagasena.

8.3 Kushana Kings

India was invaded from time to time by several tribes. The Kushanas were one such tribe from Central Asia. They established their rule in the northwestern region and in Kashmir in the first century CE. The Kushana kings were the first to start minting of gold coins in India. They started the custom of putting the images of Gautama Buddha and different Indian deities on the coins. The Kushan king Kanishka extended their empire.

Teacher's Note

Kushana kings came from far away and became Indian kings. They made gold coins with Buddha's picture on them. This shows how different religions mixed together in ancient India.

Exam Trick

Remember: Kushanas = Gold coins. They were the FIRST to make gold coins in India. First = Kushana. This is easy to remember!

Points to Remember

Kushanas were a tribe from Central Asia.
They ruled in the northwest and Kashmir.
They were the first to make gold coins in India.
They put Buddha's picture on their coins.
King Kanishka was their greatest ruler.

8.4 The Gupta Dynasty

The end of the third century CE saw the rise of the Gupta dynasty in North India. The Guptas remained in power for nearly three centuries. 'Shrigupta' was the founder of the Gupta dynasty. Samudragupta and Chandragupta II were the notable kings of the Gupta dynasty.

Samudragupta

The expansion of the Gupta empire began during the reign of Chandragupta I. His son, Samudragupta, defeated the smaller neighbouring kingdoms and extended the empire further. In his time, the Gupta empire spread from Assam upto the Punjab. He had also conquered the eastern coastal region up to Kanchi in Tamilnadu. Due to these victories, his power came to be recognised everywhere. As a result, kings on the northwestern frontiers as well as those in Sri Lanka made treaties of friendship with him. A pillar inscription at Prayag describes Samudragupta's conquests and victories. This inscription is known as 'Prayag-prashasti' and also as 'Allahabad Prashasti'. He was an expert veena player. He minted coins which had a variety of images engraved on them. In one of them, he is seen playing the veena. His name Samudragupta, is engraved on it.

Chandragupta II

After Samudragupta, his son Chandragupta II ascended the throne. He extended the Gupta empire towards the northwest. He also won Malwa, Gujarat and Saurashtra. He established good relations with the powerful Vakataka rulers in the south by giving his daughter Prabhavati in marriage to Rudrasen II.

There is an iron pillar at Mehrauli near Delhi. It has not rusted even in the course of the last fifteen hundred years. It is an excellent specimen of the metallurgical skill of the ancient Indian people. The inscription on the pillar bears the name of a king called 'Chandra'. It is on this basis that the iron pillar is assumed to be of the period of Chandragupta II.

Teacher's Note

The Gupta kings made a very strong empire. The iron pillar at Delhi still does not rust after 1500 years! This shows how smart the ancient Indians were in making things.

Exam Trick

Remember: Samudra = Ocean, so Samudragupta = Ocean King. He spread his empire like an ocean! Chandra = Moon, so Chandragupta II shined like the moon. These name meanings help you remember them.

Points to Remember

The Gupta dynasty ruled for almost 300 years.
Samudragupta spread the empire from Assam to Punjab.
Samudragupta was an expert veena player.
Chandragupta II won Malwa, Gujarat and Saurashtra.
The iron pillar at Delhi shows the skill of ancient Indians.

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