Indo-Greek Kingdom

Indo-Greek Kingdom
• In 326 B.C.E. Alexander III conquered the north-

western part of the Indian subcontinent as far as the
Hyphasis River
• In 305 BCE, Seleucus I Nicator and Chandragupta
Maurya’s armies met at the Indus.
• Several Greeks, such as the historian Megasthenes,
followed by Deimachus and Dionysius, were sent to
reside at the Mauryan court.
• Greek populations remained in the northwest of the
Indian subcontinent under Mauryan rule.
• The Indo-Greek Kingdom, or Graeco-Indian Kingdom,
also known historically as the Yavana Kingdom,
covering various parts of Afghanistan, the northwest
regions of the Indian subcontinent, (all of present
Pakistan), and a small part of Iran; from 180 B.C.E. to
around 10 C.E.
• The kingdom began when the Greco-Bactrian king
Demetrius invaded India in 183 B.C.E., ultimately
creating an entity which seceded from the powerful Greco-Bactrian Kingdom cantered in Bactria.
• Adopt title of Raja
• Issue bilingual coins-greek and karoshi
• Capital : Sakal or Sialkot
• Indo- Greek rule in India had 3 branches, namely, Bactria i.e., North Afghanistan, Taxila (Takshashila) and
Sakal or Sialkot which is now in Pakistan.
• Heliodorus was the ambassador sent by the ruler Anticiades to the court of Shunga ruler Bhagabhadra.
• An ambassador from the Taxila branch, Heliodorus was sent to court of King of Vidisha.
• Heliodorus got a stone pillar constructed in Greek style (different from Asokan style) which was dedicated to
Lord Vasudeva.
• Demetrious and Menander or Milind are two significant rulers mentioned from Sakal or Sialkot branch of
Indo-Greek.
• Menander, during the 165-145 B.C., was most illustrious among all the Indo-Greek rulers. His capital was
Sakala (modern Sialkot) in Pakistan and he ruled for almost twenty years.
• Menander or Milind (165 BC – 145 BC) adopted Buddhism under Nagasen who wrote “MILINDPANHO” in
Sanskrit. This book is a great source of history of this age.
• Indo-Greeks were the first to issue gold coins bearing inscriptions of images of Kings and Gods. India learned
Use of calendar/days ,curtain(yavan) from Greeks. Greek term horoscope was derived from the term
horasastra. They introduced practice of governorship.
• Patronising both Buddhism and Hinduism, the greatest contribution of Indo-Greeks is witnessed in
development of Gandhara School of Art.
Coins of Indo-Greeks
• Gold, silver, copper, and Nickel coins were circulated in the north of Hindu Kush.
• The coins had an image of greek Legends. The Indo-Greek rulers were the first one in the history of India,
whose coins carried the portraits of kings and their names.
• The Indo-Greek coins contain a royal image of the greek deities(Zeus, Athena, and Apollo).on the reverse.
• The coins were made under the Indian weight standards.
• They had bilingual inscriptions-greek and karoshi.
• Coins of Menander were marked with the "Dhammachakka" of Buddhism.
• Indo-Greek rulers are also known for first issuers of Gold coins in India.
• The Indo-Greek dynasty declined after the invasion of the Scythians ( Saka).
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• Strato II introduced first time the lead coin in India.

• Strabo was the Greek geographer during this time.
Sakas
• The Indo-Greek rule in north-western India was destroyed by the Sakas.
• The Sakas are also known as the Scythians.
• Sakas or Scythians were nomadic tribes originally from central Asia.
• In about 165 B.C., Sakas were turned out of their original home by the Yueh-chi.
• Yueh-chi later came to be known as Kushanas.
• The Sakas were divided into five branches and established themselves in various
parts of north-western and northern India.
• The first branch settled in Afghanistan.
• The second branch settled in Punjab with Taxila as its capital.
• The third branch settled in Mathura.
• The fourth in Maharashtra and Saurashtra.
• The fifth in central India with Ujjain as its capital.
• The Sakas ruled in different areas from the 1st century B.C. to about 4thcentury
A.D.
• According to Historians, the first Saka King in India was known as Maues or Moga.
• He established his power in Gandhara and spread out his power and supremacy in almost all regions of
Northwest India.
• Mathura, Ujjain and Girnar were centres of Saka rulers in north India.
• Ujjain saka/Malwa saka :
• 1st :chastan
• Rudradaman (130 CE – 150 CE) of Ujjain centre of Sakas is of significance as he
finds mention in Junagarh inscription.(1st Sanskrit inscription)
• This inscription is in Sanskrit unlike previous Prakrit inscriptions.
• Rudradaman got the lake Sudarshan repaired for better irrigation (constructed
during the time of Chandragupta Maurya).
• Last rular:Rudrasingh III
• The King of Ujjain defeated Sakas and assumed the title of ‘Vikramaditya’ and estd. the Vikram Samvat or era
in 57 CE.(Chandragupta II)
• Nasik Saka:
• Bhumak and Nahapan of Girnar centre of Sakas, had their coins spread over many places in western
India.(MH ,Malwa AND GJ)
• Nahapan defeated by Gautamiputra satkarni.
• Nahapan issue 3 language coin:bramhi ,Greek,kharosti
KUSHANAS
Yueh-chi were a nomadic tribe settled on the north-western border of China as per accounts of the Chinese
historians.
Yueh-chi came in conflict with a neighbouring tribe known as Hiung-nu in the year 165 B.C. In this conflict, Yueh-chi
were defeated and forced to move out of their land.
They could not move towards china in the east because of the China Wall; therefore, they moved toward the west
and south.
In westwards movement, Yueh-chi came in conflict with another tribe called Wu-sun whom Yueh-chi defeated easily.
Thereafter, Yueh-chi were divided into two groups as −
Little Yueh-chi migrated to Tibet.
Great Yueh-chi came to India.
• Kujula Kadphises was also known as ‘Dharmathida’ and ‘Sachadharmathida’(meaning one who believs in true
faith). It is suggested that he was a Buddhist.
• Vima Kadphises(actual founder):He added to the Kushan territory by his conquests in Afghanistan and
north-west India.
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• He was the first to introduce gold coinage in India, in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage.
• Coin with image :shiv,bull,nandi,trishul
• Kharosthi and Greek language coin
• Title:maheswar
Kanishk(78-105 AD)
• Kadphises II was succeeded by Kanishka. He was most known and greatest of
all the Kushana kings.
• Kanishka ascended to throne in A.D. 78 and he founded the Saka era.
• Kanishka’s empire extended from Khotan in the northwest to Benaras in the
east and Kashmir in the north to Saurashtra and Malwa in the south.
• Purushapur i.e. modern Peshawar was the capital of the vast empire of
Kanishka.
• 2nd capital :Mathura
• Kanishka, a Mahayan Buddhist, was the most important Kushana ruler.
• Kanishka was a follower of Buddhism. The 4th Buddhist council was held
during Kanishka’s reign.
• Kanishka’s court was adorned by the presence of scholars such as Parsva, Vasumitra, Ashvaghosha, Charaka,
and Nagarjuna.
• Taxila and Mathura emerged as the great centres of art and culture during the reign of Kanishka.
• Ashwaghosh was vice-president of this Mahayan Buddhist council.
• “Buddha Charita” i.e., biography of Buddha, was composed by Ashwaghosh of Patliputra.
• Nagarjuna propounded the Madhyamika Philosophy of Mahayan Buddhism.
• Nagarjuna also discussed the idea of relativity and hence, is sometimes called as Einstein of India.
• Ruling over the regions of Silk route, Kushanas greatly benefitted from it.
• They issued gold standard coins (22 or 23 carats).
• Processing of the imported Chinese raw silk at Bharoch in Gujrat helped it in becoming an important trading
centre.
• Greater use saddle in horse riding, armour, turbans, trouser, helmets, long coats and better cavalry are
Kushana’s contributions.
• Introduced Satrap system – Empire was divided into Satrapies under the Satrap.
• The Kushan period saw the development of Buddhist architecture, including stupas, viharas (monasteries),
and chaityas (prayer halls).
• Apart from the overland Silk Road, the Kushan Empire also engaged in maritime trade with regions around
the Indian Ocean. Ports like Bharuch and Kalyan were crucial centers for trade with the Roman Empire,
Southeast Asia, and East Africa.
• The Kushans were instrumental in spreading Buddhism in Central Asia and China and in developing
Mahayana Buddhism and the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art.
• Kanishka conflicted with Chinese general of King Han Ho-ti, the emperor of Han Dynasty and defeated him in
second attempt.
• Sushruta who wrote Sushruta Samhita has also been connected to Kanishka.
• It was Kanishka’s time when Buddhism got divided between the Hinayana and Mahayana.
• Vasudeva I was the last great king of the Kushanas. After his death, the empire disintegrated away.
• The Cap, Boot and helmet was introduced in India by the central Asian Tribes.
• Largest number of copper coins was issued by the Kushanas.
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• In 326 B.C.E. Alexander III conquered the north-

• Strato II introduced first time the lead coin in India.

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