POST MAURYAN DEVELOPMENT (200 BC-300 AD)
* The most important political development of the post-Mauryan period was the advent of foreigners from the northwest.
* The Bactrian Greeks came first, followed by the Shakas or the Scythian who hold their rule till the 4th century.
* The Shaka was followed by the Parthians or Pahlavas.
* The Parthians were followed by the Kushanas who eventually established themselves in the Indian soil.
* Kanishka was the most famous Kushan ruler.
* The Kushanas were one of the branches of the Yuechi tribe which turned out of china by the Hunas and established their kingdom in India after a while.
* Kanishka was a great conqueror and succeeded in establishing a vast empire whose boundaries extended far beyond the frontiers of India. His regime is thought to have started from AD 78.
* Kanishka extended his whole patronage to Buddhism. He was also a great patron of art and Sanskrit.
* Kanishka coin was similar to the Roman coins which contain his own image and also some god and goddess was inscribed.
POST MAURYAN ART AND LITERATURE
* One of the most important features of the post-Mauryan period was the development of art and architecture which was to have a lasting impact on Indian culture.
* Religious architecture was the most new activities which prevails or recorded.
* Arts mainly centered around Buddhism and the artistic remains of the period are mostly Buddhist stupas and cave temples.
* The stupas at Taxila, Chakpat etc. show the characteristic tendency in post-Mauryan period was the elongation of the stupa.
* The chief architectural remains besides the stupas consists of cave temples whose beginnings may be traced tp the reign of Ashoka.
* The structure at Karle which dates back to the beginning of the Christian era is the finer example and the elaborate and ornate cave architecture.
* Examples of wall paintings are also found in Ajanta and Ellora.
* The Jainas also had their cave temples, but they were not as elaborate as those of the Buddhist.
* The post-Mauryan period is the age of great sculptural achievements.
* Indian craftsmen came into contact with Central Asian, Greeks and Romans.
HISTORY OF SATAVAHANAS
* The Satavahanas ruled erstwhile Mauryan empire in the Deccan and Central India.
* They are considered to be the same as the Andhras mentioned in the Puranas.
* Gradually, they extended their power over Karnataka and Andhra.
* They established their first empire in South India, they had to defend their land from Shakas.
Administration of Satavahanas
* They ruled according to Dharmashastras.
* The King was represented as upholder of dharma and new divine attributes were assigned to him.
* The Satavahanas retained some administrative structures of the mauryas like amatya, mahamatras and rashtra.
* The Satavahanas started the practice of royal grants of land to brahmanas and Buddhist monks.
* They also had three grades of feudatories. The highest is raja followed by mahabhoja and senapati.
Social Organisation
* The Satavahanas originally seem to have been a Deccantribe but they were so brahmanised.
* Gautamiputra Satakarni described himself as a brahman and claimed to have reestablished the fallen fourfold of varna system.
* They shows traces of a matrilineal social structure.
* Queens made important religious gifts in their own rights.
* The ruling families were basically patriarchal because succession to the throne passed to the male member.
Religion
* They claimed to be brahmanas and they represented the triumph of Brahmanism.
* They worshipped a large number of Vaishnava god such as Krishna and Vasudev.
* The Satavahanas also promoted Buddhism by granting land to the monks.
* Both the religion drew large converts from amongst foreigners which prove the liberal religious spirits of the age.
Economic condition
* Agriculture, trade and handicrafts were the main professions of the people.
* The east and west coast of the kingdom facilitated trade with the west and south East Asia.
* The main items of trade include silk, muslin, cotton, clothes, spices, medicinal herbs, ivory, pearls etc.
* The traders organized into guilds called shrenis.
* Coins of silver and copper were used for the purpose of exchange.
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