Pusyamitra Sunga

When Alexander the Great conquered the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent in 326 BCE, he allied with king Ambhi of Taxila (called Taxiles or Omphis in Greek sources), and with his support managed to subdue king Porus of Pauravas, a state of eastern Punjab, defeating him at the Battle of the Hydaspes River. Alexander thereafter established vassal states (satrapies), headed by the previous kings Ambhi and Porus, and founded several garrison towns. A Greek satrap named Philippus controlled a Macedonian occupation force. After his ass ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Formative period

Becoming the king of one of India's most powerful states, Chandragupta invaded the Punjab, after one of Alexander's satraps, Peithon of Media had tried to raise a coalition against him. He managed to conquer the Punjab capital of Taxila, one of ancient India's most important cities, increasing his power and consolidating his control. Mauryan Empire - Emperor Chandragupta. Chandragupta was again in conflict with the Greeks, when Seleucus I, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, tried to reconquer the northwestern p ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Birth of an Empire, Mauryan Empire - Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya, Mauryan Empire - Conquest of Magadha, Mauryan Empire - Building India's first empire, Mauryan Empire - Emperor Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Administration, Mauryan Empire - Economy, Mauryan Empire - Religion, Mauryan Empire - Decline, Mauryan Empire - The Empire to modern Indians

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Building India's first empire

The reign of Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker kings. Brhadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, ruled territories that had shrunk considerably from the time of emperor Ashoka, but he was still upholding the Buddhist faith. He was assassinated in 185 BCE during a military parade by the commander-in-chief of his guard, the Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Birth of an Empire, Mauryan Empire - Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya, Mauryan Empire - Conquest of Magadha, Mauryan Empire - Building India's first empire, Mauryan Empire - Emperor Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Administration, Mauryan Empire - Economy, Mauryan Empire - Religion, Mauryan Empire - Decline, Mauryan Empire - The Empire to modern Indians

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Decline

Emperor Chandragupta Maurya became the first major Indian monarch to initiate a religious transformation at the highest level when he embraced Jainism, a religious movement resented by orthodox Hindu priests that usually attended the imperial court. At an older age, Chandragupta renounced his throne and material possessions to join a wandering group of Jain monks. However his successor, Emperor Bindusara preserved Hindu traditions and distance ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Birth of an Empire, Mauryan Empire - Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya, Mauryan Empire - Conquest of Magadha, Mauryan Empire - Building India's first empire, Mauryan Empire - Emperor Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Administration, Mauryan Empire - Economy, Mauryan Empire - Religion, Mauryan Empire - Decline, Mauryan Empire - The Empire to modern Indians

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Religion

For the first time in South Asia, political unity and military security allowed for a common economic system and enhanced trade and commerce, with increased agricultural productivity. Hundreds of kingdoms, small armies, powerful regional chieftains and internecine warfare gave way to a disciplined central authority. Farmers were liberated of tax and crop collection burdens from regional kings, paying heed to a nationally-administered, strict but fair system of taxation as advised by the principles in the Arthashastra. Chandragupta Mau ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Birth of an Empire, Mauryan Empire - Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya, Mauryan Empire - Conquest of Magadha, Mauryan Empire - Building India's first empire, Mauryan Empire - Emperor Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Administration, Mauryan Empire - Economy, Mauryan Empire - Religion, Mauryan Empire - Decline, Mauryan Empire - The Empire to modern Indians

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Economy

The Empire was divided into four provinces with the imperial capital at Pataliputra. From Ashokan edicts, the name of the four provincial capitals are Tosali (in the east), Ujjain in the west, Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north). The head of the provincial administration was the Kumara (royal prince) who used to govern the provinces as king's representative. The kumara was in turn assisted by Mahamatyas and council of ministers. This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with the Emperor and ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Birth of an Empire, Mauryan Empire - Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya, Mauryan Empire - Conquest of Magadha, Mauryan Empire - Building India's first empire, Mauryan Empire - Emperor Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Administration, Mauryan Empire - Economy, Mauryan Empire - Religion, Mauryan Empire - Decline, Mauryan Empire - The Empire to modern Indians

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Administration

Later, the Chola kingdom emerged in northern Tamil Nadu, and the Chera kingdom in Kerala. The ports of southern India were involved in the Indian Ocean trade, chiefly involving spices, with the Roman Empire to the west and Southeast Asia to the east. In the north, the first of the Rajputs, a series of kingdoms which managed to survive in some form for almost a millennium until Indian independence from the British. History of India - Harsha's empire. King Harsha of Kannauj succeeded in reuniting northern In ...

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History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age

The middle period, especially that associated with the Gupta dynasty, is known as India's Golden Age, a time of unparalleled cultural development. The Kushanas invaded northwestern India about the middle of the 1st century CE, from Central Asia, and founded an empire that eventually stretched from Peshawar to the middle Ganges and, perhaps, as far as the Bay of Bengal. It also included ancient Bactria (in the north of modern Afghanistan) and southern Tajikistan. Their power also extended into Turkestan and helped spread Buddhism to China. In ...

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History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age

Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories. After around 100 BCE, Indian kings recovered the area of Mathura and Eastern Punjab east of the Ravi River, and started to mint their own coins. The Arjunayanas (area of Mathura) and Yaudheyas mention military victories on their coins ("Victory of the Arjunayanas", "Victory of the Yaudheyas"). During the 1st century BCE, the Trigartas, Audumbaras and finally the Kunindas (closest to Punjab) also started to mint their own coins, usually ...

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Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History

The coins of the Indo-Greeks provide rich clues on their uniforms and weapons. Typical Hellenistic uniforms are depicted, with helmets being either round in the Greco-Bactrian style, or the flat kausia of the Macedonians (coins of Apollodotus I). Their weapons were spears, swords, longbow (on the coins of Agathokleia) and arrows. Interestingly, around 130 BCE the Central Asian recurve bow of the steppes with its gorytos box starts to appear for the first time on the coins of Zoilos I, suggesting strong interactions (and apparently an ...

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Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces

Very little is known about the economy of the Indo-Greeks. The abundance of their coins would tend to suggest large mining operations, particularly in the mountainous area of the Hindu-Kush, and an important monetary economy. The Indo-Greek did strike bilingual coins both in the Greek "round" standard and in the Indian "square" standard, suggesting that monetary circulation extended to all parts of society. The adoption of Indo-Greek monetary conventions by neighbouring kingdoms, such as the Kunindas to the east and the Satavahanas to the south, would also suggest that Indo-Greek coins ...

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Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy

Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art. Main article: Greco-Buddhist art In general, the art of the Indo-Greeks is poorly documented, and few works of art (apart from their coins and a few stone palettes) are directly attributed to them. Traditionally, no sculptural remains have been attributed to the Indo-Greeks, although their Hellenistic heritage and artistic proficiency would naturally have encouraged such creations (as neighbouring and contemporary Ai-Khanoum abundantly suggests). On ...

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Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art

From the 1st century CE, the Greek communities of central Asia and northwestern India lived under the control of the Kushan branch of the Yuezhi, apart from a short-lived invasion of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom. The Kushans founded the Kushan Empire, which was to prosper for several centuries. In the south, the Greeks were under the rule of the Western Kshatrapas. It is unclear how much longer the Greeks managed to maintain a distinct presence in the Indian su ...

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Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Early History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Evidence of the initial invasion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Consolidation and rise of Menander I, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Bactrian invasions against Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Culture, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Buddhism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Hinduism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Zoroastrianism, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Incipient Greco-Buddhist art, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Indo-Greeks in the art of Gandhara, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Economy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Armed forces, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Later History, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Eastern territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Western territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Art and religion, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Astronomy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Military role, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Linguistic legacy, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Influence of Indo-Greek coinage, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Genetic contribution, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Greco-Roman exchanges with India, Indo-Greek Kingdom - List of the Indo-Greek kings and their territories, Indo-Greek Kingdom - Notes

Read more here: » Indo-Greek Kingdom: Encyclopedia II - Indo-Greek Kingdom - Enduring legacy of the Indo-Greek Kingdom

Chandragupta Maurya's fantastic rise to power is complemented by origins shrouded in mystery and controversy. On the one hand, a number of ancient indian accounts, such as the drama Mudrarakshasa by Visakhadatta, describe his royal ancestry and even link him with the Nanda family. On the other, his fortune is often accounted to a twist of fate wherein his preceptor, Kautilya, is said to have observed this village boy's executive character and raised him to defeat Dhana Nanda. Supposedly the son of a peacock tamer (hence the name Maurya), he ...

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Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state

Amongst the 16 Mahajanapadas, the kingdom of Magadha rose to prominence under a number of dynasties that peaked in power under the reign of Asoka Maurya, one of India's most legendary and famous emperors. The kingdom of Magadha had emerged as a major power following the subjugation of two neighbouring kingdoms, and possessed an unparalleled military. History of India - Shishunaga dynasty. According to tradition, the Shishunaga dynasty founded the Magadha Empire in 684 BC, whose capital was Rajagriha, later ...

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History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - The Magadha Empire

Around the 5th century BCE, the northern Indian subcontinent was invaded by the Achaemenid Empire and the Greeks of Alexander the Great's army. This had important repercussions for Indian civilisation, as the political systems of the Persians would have an influence on later Indian political philosophy, including the administration of the Mauryan dynasty, and a melting pot of Indian, Persian, Central Asian and Greek culture was created in the modern region of Afghanistan, producing a unique hybrid culture. History of India - Achaemenid EmpireSee also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - Persian and Greek invasion

By 500 BC, sixteen monarchies and 'republics' known as the Mahajanapadas stretched across the Indo-Gangetic plains from modern-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh. The largest of these nations were Magadha, Kosala, Kuru and Gandhara. The right of a king to his throne, no matter how it was gained, was usually legitimized through religious right and genealogies concocted by priests who ascribed divine origins to the rulers. There is some controversy about how closely the political entities of this period can be represented by those mentioned in the ...

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History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - The Mahajanapadas

Bronze age civilizations in the Indian subcontinent laid the foundations for modern Indian civilization, including urban settlements and the development of Vedic beliefs, which form the core of Hinduism. Many historians claim that the rise, and eventual decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, and the migration of nomadic peoples from Central Asia and the Caucasus into the Indian subcontinent shaped the its history during this period. History of India - Indus Valley Civilization. See also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - The Bronze age

The Mudrarakshas play of Visakhadutta as well as the Jain work Parisishtaparvan refers to Chandragupta's alliance with the Himalayan king Parvatka. The Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a composite army made up of Yavanas, Kambojas, Sakas, Kiratas, Parasikas and Bahlikas (Bactrians) (Mudrarakshas, II). With the help of these frontier martial tribes from the northwest, Chandragupta was able to defeat the Greek successors of Alexander the Great, as well as the Nanda rulers of Magadha ...

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Kambojas, Kambojas - Ethnicity & Language of Kambojas, Kambojas - Original Home of Kambojas, Kambojas - Kambojas: A Warrior Clan, Kambojas - Kambojas: Master Horsemen, Kambojas - Kambojas in Indian Literature, Kambojas - The Kambojas and Alexander the Great, Kambojas - The Kambojas and the Mauryan Empire, Kambojas - Kambojas' migration to India and beyond, Kambojas - Modern Kamboj and Kamboh, Kambojas - Diaspora, Kambojas - Traditions, Kambojas - During Muslim Rule, Kambojas - Agriculturists, Kambojas - Physical Characteristics, Kambojas - Kamboj in Sports, Kambojas - Notes

Read more here: » Kambojas: Encyclopedia II - Kambojas - The Kambojas and the Mauryan Empire

In India, the Kambojas seem to have belonged to the Kshatriya caste of Indo-Aryan society. The earliest and most powerful reference endorsing the Kshatriya-hood of the Kambojas is Panini's fifth century BCE Ashtadhyayi. Panini refers to the Kamboja Janapada, and mentions it as "one of the fifteen powerful Kshatriya Janapadas" of his times, inhabited and ruled by Kamboja Kshatriyas (Ashtadhy ...

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Kambojas, Kambojas - Ethnicity & Language of Kambojas, Kambojas - Original Home of Kambojas, Kambojas - Kambojas: A Warrior Clan, Kambojas - Kambojas: Master Horsemen, Kambojas - Kambojas in Indian Literature, Kambojas - The Kambojas and Alexander the Great, Kambojas - The Kambojas and the Mauryan Empire, Kambojas - Kambojas' migration to India and beyond, Kambojas - Modern Kamboj and Kamboh, Kambojas - Diaspora, Kambojas - Traditions, Kambojas - During Muslim Rule, Kambojas - Agriculturists, Kambojas - Physical Characteristics, Kambojas - Kamboj in Sports, Kambojas - Notes

Read more here: » Kambojas: Encyclopedia II - Kambojas - Kambojas: A Warrior Clan

From the 11th century, the destruction of Buddhism in the Indian mainland by Islamic invasions led to the decline of the Mahayana faith in South-East Asia. Continental routes through the Indian subcontinent being compromised, direct sea routes between the Middle-East through Sri Lanka and to China developed, leading to the adoption of the Theravada Buddhism of the Pali canon, introduced to the region around the 11th century CE from Sri Lanka. King Anawrahta (1044–1077), the historical founder of the Burmese empire, unified the count ...

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History of Buddhism, History of Buddhism - Life of the Buddha, History of Buddhism - Early Buddhism, History of Buddhism - 1st Buddhist council 5th c. BCE, History of Buddhism - 2nd Buddhist council 383 BCE, History of Buddhism - Ashokan proselytism c. 260 BCE, History of Buddhism - 3rd Buddhist council c.250 BCE, History of Buddhism - Hellenistic world, History of Buddhism - Asian expansion, History of Buddhism - Sunga persecutions 2nd–1st c.BCE, History of Buddhism - Greco-Buddhist interaction 2nd c. BCE–1st c. CE, History of Buddhism - Rise of Mahayana 1st c.BCE–2nd c.CE, History of Buddhism - Mahayana expansion 1st c.CE–10th c.CE, History of Buddhism - India, History of Buddhism - Central and Northern Asia, History of Buddhism - South-East Asia, History of Buddhism - Emergence of the Vajrayana 5th century, History of Buddhism - Theravada Renaissance 11th century CE—, History of Buddhism - Expansion of Buddhism to the West, History of Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » History of Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - History of Buddhism - Theravada Renaissance 11th century CE—

Main article: Vajrayana Vajrayāna Buddhism, also called Tantric Buddhism, first emerged in eastern India between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. It is sometimes considered a sub-school of Mahayana and sometimes a third major "vehicle" (Yana) of Buddhism in its own right. The Vajrayana is an extension of Mahayana Buddhism in that it does not offer new philosophical perspectives, but rather introduces additional techniques (upaya, or 'skilful means'), including the use of visualizations and other yogic practices. Many of the practices of Tantric Buddhism are also derived from Bra ...

See also:

History of Buddhism, History of Buddhism - Life of the Buddha, History of Buddhism - Early Buddhism, History of Buddhism - 1st Buddhist council 5th c. BCE, History of Buddhism - 2nd Buddhist council 383 BCE, History of Buddhism - Ashokan proselytism c. 260 BCE, History of Buddhism - 3rd Buddhist council c.250 BCE, History of Buddhism - Hellenistic world, History of Buddhism - Asian expansion, History of Buddhism - Sunga persecutions 2nd–1st c.BCE, History of Buddhism - Greco-Buddhist interaction 2nd c. BCE–1st c. CE, History of Buddhism - Rise of Mahayana 1st c.BCE–2nd c.CE, History of Buddhism - Mahayana expansion 1st c.CE–10th c.CE, History of Buddhism - India, History of Buddhism - Central and Northern Asia, History of Buddhism - South-East Asia, History of Buddhism - Emergence of the Vajrayana 5th century, History of Buddhism - Theravada Renaissance 11th century CE—, History of Buddhism - Expansion of Buddhism to the West, History of Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » History of Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - History of Buddhism - Emergence of the Vajrayana 5th century