External invasions and assimilation - class-XI

Kushan dynasty ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. Its greatest ruler was Kanishka. They were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism and played an important role in extending to China and other Asian countries through the Silk Road.

Kanishka was the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. He was a great patron of Buddhism. Some of the scholars in the Court of Kanishka were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathara. Ashvaghosh was a Buddhist philosopher, dramatist, poet and orator from India while Vasumitra was a scholar in his court who headed the 4th Buddhist Council.

Kushan dynasty ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. Its greatest ruler was Kanishka. The Kushan empire was founded by the Yeuchi clan of Central Asia. Yeuchis were an ancient clan first reported in Chinese histories as nomadic pastoralists.

The first great ruler of the Kushan Empire was Kujula Kadphises I. He
was succeeded by Kadphises II or Vima Kadphises. He issued gold coins
which showed the wealth and prosperity of his kingdom.

Kanishka was the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. He had the title of Devaputra which means son of God. His rule lasted for about 13 years from c. 127. He was a great patron of Buddhism.  

Vima Kadphises also was known as Kadphises II, was the son of Kujula Kadphises who was the founder of Kushan dynasty. Vima adopted the title of 'Lord of the Whole World' in his issued Gold coins.

Gondophares I was the founder of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom which is now in western Pakistan(north-west part of India) towards the end of the 1st century BC. Coins of Gondophernes, some bearing his Indian name Guduphara, indicate that he may have reigned supreme over both eastern Iran and northwestern India. 

Kanishka was the emperor of Kushana empire from year 78 A.D. He started the Saka era. It is still used by the Government of India.

Kanishka was the most powerful ruler of the Kushan Empire. His conquests and patronage of Buddhism played an important role in the development of the Silk Road, and the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism from Gandhara across the Karakoram range to China. He was a patron of Buddhism and he called the 4th Buddhist council in the Kundalvana of Kashmir in 78 AD. His greatest contribution to Buddhist architecture was the Kanishka stupa at Peshawar, Pakistan.

Menander was King of the Indo-Greek Kingdom. He embraced Buddhism under the patronage of Nagasena and was known by the name Milinda. It is described in Milinda Panha which is a Pali Buddhist text.

The Ancient Sakas in India had introduced Satrap system of government, along with Parthians. Under this system, the kingdom was divided into provinces, each under military governor Mahakshatrapa (great satrap). The governors of lower status were called kshatrapas (satraps). These governors had the power to issue their own inscriptions and mint their own coins. Chashtana was a ruler of the Saka Western Satraps in northwestern India during 78-130 CE. He was satrap of Malwa during that period.

Ashvaghosha was a philosopher and poet who is considered India’s greatest poet before Kalidasa (5th century) and the father of Sanskrit drama. He popularized the style of Sanskrit poetry known as kavya and eventually ascended the position of the spiritual counselor in Kanishka’s court at Peshawar.

The Junagarh inscription gives the information about the Sudharshan lake that the lake was an artificial reservoir, was built by the Mauryan emperors for checking floods. Around 150 AD, the lake was repaired by the Shaka ruler Rudradaman I. And, it was again repaired under the Skandgupta’s reign (415 AD- 455AD) by his governor Parramatta.

The Kushan rule was brought to an end by the Hindu Shahi Dynasty. After the fall of the Kushan dynasty in the third century, it established it's reign and ruled till 9th Century. Its capital was Kabul.

The first image of the Buddha-was carved out during the reign of famous Kushan king Kanishka I. Durng the reign of Kanishka, Gandhara School of art and Mathura School of Art developed proficiently. Gandhara School of Art is known for the first sculptural representations of the Gautam Buddha in human form.

Buddhism originated in Ancient India, spread throughout the Maurya empire and into neighbouring lands such as Central Asia and to the island of Sri Lanka south of India, which ultimately lead to the spread of Buddhism into China, Korea, and Japan.

Charaka was one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in Ancient India. He was the physician of Kanishka and also the author of a famous treatise on the Indian system of medicine.

The Yueh-Chi (Yuezhi) were a nomadic people driven out of the Gansu region in western China by the Xiongnu, often referred to as the Hunas in historical Indian texts.

Kanishka was the emperor of the Kushan dynasty in the second century (c. AD 127–150). He ascended the throne in 78 AD. This date was used as the beginning of the Saka calendar era.

While earlier traditions existed, the systematic worship of religious images in India gained significant prominence and institutional support during the Kushana period, particularly under Kanishka.

Greatest Shaka ruler Kanishka patronized Parsva, Ashvaghosha, Nagarujna, Vasumitra and Charka. Mughal king Akbar patronized Birbal. Birbal, was an advisor or and main commander of army in the court of the Mughal emperor, Akbar.

Answer - (A) - Milind Panha was the great Buddhist work consisting of dialogues between Indo-Greek King Menander and the Buddhist philosopher Nagasena. Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka are the parts of Tripitakas. Buddhacharita is an epic poem written on the life of Gautam Buddha.

Saint Thomas the Apostle is traditionally believed to have traveled to India and visited the court of the Indo-Parthian King Gondophernes in the 1st century AD.

Answer-  (A) Milinda Panha

Answer- (A) Vasumitra: Kanishka

Kanishka the Great, was the emperor of the Kushan dynasty in the second century. He is famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. Kanishka ascended the throne in 78 AD/ CE, and this date was used as the beginning of the Saka calendar era.

Rudradaman I, a Western Kshatrapa (Saka) ruler, is famous for the Junagadh rock inscription which details his restoration of the Sudarshana Lake irrigation dam.

Kanishka the Great expanded the Kushana Empire significantly, holding territories that extended into Central Asia beyond the Pamir mountains.

Gondophernes was a ruler of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom, which was established in the regions of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Great Stupa in Sanchi, India was originally built by the ruler Ashoka the Great in the 3rd century BCE. The center of this stupa boasted of a plain hemispherical brick like structure. This structure was laid to over the remains of the Buddha.Sanchi Great Stupa also features an attractive and magnificent chhatra. Shunga enlarged the stupa.

Kanishka was the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. He was a great patron of Buddhism. He issued many coins during his rule that depicted Hindu, Buddhist, Greek, Persian and Sumerian-Elemite images of gods, showing his secular religious policy.

Charak was one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda and is chiefly known for being the author of Charak Samhita. He is regarded as "Father of Indian Medicine". He lived during the reign of Kanishka, the king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region.

Bimbisara(546-494 B.C.): He belonged to the Haryanka dynasty, ruled magadh, a follower of Jainism and was the contemporary of both Mahavira and Gautam Budhha.

Mahapadma Nanda: (400-329 B.C.): He was the powerful ruler of Nanda dynasty. He destroyed kshatriyas and assume the title of ‘ekrat’. Hathigumpha inscription of Kharvela Kalinga talks about conquests of Nandas.

Kanishka (78-120 A.D.): He was the famous ruler of Kushana dynasty. Founder of Saka era from 78 A.D. Mahayana Buddhism came into vogue during his times.

Skandgupta (455-467 A.D.): He was considered the last great Gupta ruler, he ascended the throne after Kumaragupta and saved the empire by defeating Huns.

Saka era was started by King Kanishka of Kushan empire. Kanishka was the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. The Śaka era started in AD 78 is now used throughout India and is the most important of all. It has been used not only in many Indian inscriptions but also in ancient Sanskrit inscriptions in Indochina and Indonesia. 

Kushan dynasty ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. Vima Kadphises was a Kushan emperor from approximately 90–100 CE. He was the Kushan emperor to first introduce gold coinage. Vima Kadphises was a Kushan emperor from approximately 90–100 CE. 

Nahapana was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, a descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India, was a great conqueror, was said to have gained fame by being well versed in grammar, polity, logic, music furthermore he had taken a vow not to kill men except in battle. 

Kanishka conquered regions like Kashgar, Yarkand, and Khotan in the Tarim Basin. Kapisa was a region in the Hindu Kush, not conquered from China.

Sagala (modern Sialkot) was the capital of the Indo-Greek kingdom and was known as Euthydemia after the king Euthydemus.

Vima Kadphises, was a Kushan emperor from approximately 90–100 CE. He was the Kushan emperor to first introduce gold coinage, in addition to the existing copper and silver coinage.