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UPPCS Ancient History Gap Sheet: Post-Mauryan Kingdoms and Foreign Invasions.
UPPCS has asked 21 of these. 4 have not been asked yet. Lock the first list, then read the second: it holds what UPPCS has not used yet.
First, the concept
After the Mauryas, regional kingdoms and north-western dynasties connected India with wider trade networks. Coins, inscriptions and art reveal these contacts better than memorising an undifferentiated list of foreign rulers.
Distinguish Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Indo-Parthians and Kushans. In the Deccan, Satavahana inscriptions use Prakrit, while different dynasties sponsored Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain traditions.
✅ Already asked (21)
Invasions and north-west
- Alexander's Hydaspes battle · Defeated Porus on the Jhelum in 326 BCE.
- Beas limit of Alexander · His soldiers refused to advance beyond the Beas.
- Menander and Milindapanha · Text records dialogue between King Milinda and Nagasena.
- Rudradaman's Junagadh inscription · About 150 CE; a major early Sanskrit inscription describing repair of Sudarshana lake.
- Gondophares Indo-Parthian rule · Gondophares belonged to the Indo-Parthian dynasty.
- Vima Kadphises gold coinage · Kushan ruler associated with extensive gold coin issues.
- Kanishka's Buddha coins · Some gold coins depict Buddha with the legend BODDO.
- Purushapura Kushan centre · Present Peshawar; an important capital under Kanishka.
- Saka and Vikrama eras · Saka era starts in 78 CE; Vikrama era in 57 BCE.
- Kujula Kadphises consolidation · An early Kushan ruler associated with consolidating Kushan power.
Regional kingdoms and inscriptions
- Pushyamitra's Shunga rule · Succeeded the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha.
- Kanva succession · Vasudeva founded the Kanva dynasty after the Shungas.
- Simuka's Satavahana dynasty · Conventionally regarded as the founder of the Satavahanas.
- Pratishthana capital · Paithan on the Godavari was a major Satavahana capital.
- Gautamiputra's Nashik record · His mother Gautami Balashri's inscription praises his achievements.
- Satavahana Prakrit records · Their inscriptions commonly use Prakrit and Brahmi.
- Satavahana lead coins · Lead was widely used in their coinage.
- Kharavela's Hathigumpha · Udayagiri, Odisha; records the Kalinga ruler's activities in Prakrit.
- Pravarasena's sacrifices · Vakataka ruler Pravarasena I is credited with four Ashvamedhas.
UP post-Mauryan evidence
- Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva · Mentions two Ashvamedhas performed by Pushyamitra.
- Mathura Kushan art centre · A major centre of sculpture under Kushan patronage.
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🔒 4 items not asked yet
Invasions and north-west: 2 · Regional kingdoms and inscriptions: 2
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⚠️ The Saka era starts in 78 CE; that does not securely date Kanishka’s accession. Satavahana coinage is notable for lead, not mainly gold.
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