Indus Valley Civilization, Territorial States, North-West India, Deccan

Get top class preparation for competitive exams right from your home: get questions, notes, tests, video lectures and more- for all subjects of your exam.

Territorial States

Kingdoms and Capitals

Table of Show the Kingdoms and CapitalsTable of Show the Kingdoms and Capitals
KingdomCapital
KapilavastuPiprahwa
Lichchhavi isVaishali
Mahajanapadas
AngaChampa
KashiVaranasi
KoshalaShravasti
MallasKushinara
Vatsa/VamsaKaushambi
AvantiUjjain (North) / Mahishamati (South)
MagadhaRajgir (Girivraja)
Chedi/Cheti
Kuru
Panchala
Matsya
SurasenaMathura
Ashmaka
Gandhara
Kamboja
Vriji/VajjiMithila
SatvanahanasPaithan
PandyaMadurai
CholaPuhar (kaveripattanam)
ChalyukyasBadami (Bijapur)
PallavasKanchi
KadambasVijayanti
GangasKolar

First Magadha Empire

Table of the First Magadha EmpireTable of the First Magadha Empire
DynastyRulerRemark
HaryankaBimbisaraContemporary of Buddha
Ajatsatru
UdayinBuilt fort on the confluence of Ganga and Son at Patna
Shishunagas-Destroyed the power of Avanti
Nandas (most powerful rulers of Magadha)Mahapadma Nanda
Table of Details of Mauryas (Patliputra) Table of Details of Mauryas (Patliputra)
Mauryas (Patliputra)
Mauryas had a very elaborate bureaucracyChandragupta MauryaMegasthenes visited during his time
BindusaraLinks with Greek princes
AshokaBuddhism
Shunga
Pushyamitra ShungaDestroyed the Maurya empire. Killed Maurya king Brihadratha
  • Balisadhaka – tax collectors during the times of Nandas
  • Shaulkiki or shulkadhyakshas were also toll collectors
  • Shakyas and Lichchhavis were republics

Literature

Table of Show of Book, Author an RemarkTable of Show of Book, Author an Remark
BookAuthor/LanguageRemark
Digha NikayaPaliBuddhist text

North-West India

Menander (Milinda) was the most famous Indo-Greek ruler.

  • His capital at Sakala (Sialkot)
  • Converted to Buddhism by Nagasena (Nagarjuna)

Shakas

  • Succeeded the Greeks in North West
  • Rudradaman I: most famous ruler
    • He issued first ever long inscription in chaste Sanskrit

Parthians

  • Followed Shakas
  • Famous king: Gondophernes
    • St. Thomas came during his reign

Kushans

  • Aka Yuezhi or Tocharians
  • Kadphises was the first king
  • Kanishka is the most famous ruler
    • Started the Shaka era in 78 AD
    • Held the Buddhist council in Kashmir where the doctrines of Mahayana form were finalized
    • Patronized Ashvaghosa
  • Kushans inscriptions and coins found at Toprak Kala in Khorezm
  • Kushans were the first rulers to issue gold coins on a large scale
  • Introduced the Satrap system of government
  • They controlled the Silk Route
  • Worshipped both Shiva and Buddha. Some worshipped Vishnu too.
  • Kanishka built a large number of Stupas

Greek ambassador Heliodors set up a pillar in honour of Vasudeva near Vidisa.

Appointed governors called strategist

Deccan

Satvanahanas

  • Succeeded Mauryas in Deccan
  • Brahmana rulers
  • Gautamiputra Satkarni (AD 106 - 130)
  • Vashishthiputra Pulimayi: Capital at Paithan
  • Started the practice of granting tax-free villages to Brahmanas and Buddhist Monks
  • Yajna Sri Satakarni
  • Chaityas (Buddhist temples) and Viharas (monastaries) were constructed during their times
    • Most famous Chaitya at Karle in Deccan
  • Show trace of matrilineal social structure
  • Administration
    • Ahara – district
    • Officials – amatyas or mahamatras
    • Gaulmika – head of a small military regiment and look after administration in rural areas
    • Three grades of feudatories: raja, mahabhoja, senapati
    • Language: Prakrit