Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

THE HIST OR Y OF INDIA  47

Indo-Greeks from Bactria (200–80 BC), the Mauryas. They included the Satavahanas (100
Scythians or Shakas with many branches BC–AD 220), and the Ikshvakus (AD 225–310)
(from 80 BC), the Parthians (1st century AD), in the eastern Deccan, under whom Buddhist
and the Kushanas (AD 50–300). The stupas were constructed at Amravati (see
territory of Kanishka, the greatest Kushana p679) and Nagarjunakonda (see p680).
king, covered the northwest, Kashmir Another Deccan dynasty were the Vakatakas
and most of the Gangetic Valley. He too (AD 250–550), during whose reign many of
was a patron of Buddhism. Mahayana the superb sculptures and paintings at Ajanta
Buddhism developed at this time, reflected (see pp483–5) were made. In the western
in two great schools of art, with Deccan, the Chalukyas came to power
Buddha sculptures in the Graeco- and built great temples at Badami (see
Roman Gandhara style in the pp540–41), Pattadakal (see pp542–3)
northwest, and in a more and Aihole (see pp544–5). Their most
indigenous style at Mathura. powerful ruler, Pulakeshin II (AD 608–
As the Kushanas declined, 642), defeated Harsha, and stopped
the Gupta dynasty emerged in his southward advance.
northern India to establish another In the far south, the three
great empire (AD 320–500). The kingdoms of the Cheras (now Kerala),
Gupta period saw a great cultural Buddha head, Cholas and Pandyas ruled between
flowering, with fine sculptures, Gupta period 400 BC and AD 400. The people
classical Sanskrit poetry and of this region were of non-Aryan
drama, and learned treatises on origin and were known as Dravids. Another
mathematics and astronomy produced at major dynasty in the south were the
this time. In religion, the two Hindu sects of early Pallavas, who ruled from AD 275–550,
Vaishnavism and Shaivism (followers of with their capital at Kanchipuram. During
Vishnu and Shiva) became prominent, and these centuries, cities, craft guilds, and
the Buddhist university of Nalanda was inland and foreign trade flourished across
established (see pp222–3). But inroads by India. The South Indian kingdoms grew rich
the Huns, marauding tribes from Central on trade with Rome
Asia, contributed to the decline of the till AD 300,
Guptas after AD 450. export ing
The next major empire was established luxury goods
by Harsha (AD 606–647) at Kanauj. His long such as spices,
and enlightened rule is described by the fine silks,
Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (see p223). precious gems,
and exotic
Rulers in the South creatures such
Meanwhile, in the Deccan region, numerous as monkeys The Drunken Courtesan, a 2nd-century
dynasties arose after the decline of the and peacocks. Kushana panel

A 4th-century Iron
pillar, Delhi 606–647
250–300 Buddhist 300–399 Ramayana Harsha’s reign
AD 52 stupas of and Mahabharata 476 Birth of
St Thomas Nagarjunakonda and are compiled Aryabhata, great
in India Amravati are built astronomer and 630–644 Hiuen
320–500 Gupta dynasty mathematician Tsang in India
100 BC AD 100 200 300 400 500 600
AD 78–110 335–375 Reign of
Reign of Samudra Gupta 608–642 Reign of
Kushana king Statue of Pulakeshin II,
Kanishka Kanishka Gold coin of 450 Hun Chalukyan king
Samudra Gupta invasions begin

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