[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
dynasty of Andhra kings[115], who claimed to belong to the Satavahana family, ruled until 236 A.D. over
varying but often extensive territories. What remained of the Maurya throne was usurped in 184 B.C. by the
Sungas who in their turn were overthrown by the Kanvas. These latter could not withstand the Andhras and
collapsed before them about 27 B.C.
Alexander's invasion produced little direct effect, and no allusion to it has been found in Indian literature. But
indirectly it had a great influence on the political, artistic and religious development of the Hindus by
preparing the way for a series of later invasions from the north which brought with them a mixed culture
containing Hellenic, Persian and other elements. During some centuries India, as a political region, was not
delimitated on the north-western side as it is at present and numerous principalities rose and fell which
included Indian territory as well as parts of Afghanistan.
These states were of at least three classes, Hellenistic, Persian or Parthian, and Scythian, if that word can be
properly used to include the Sakas and Kushans.
CHAPTER II. HISTORICAL 55
Hinduism and Buddhism, Vol I.
Bactria was a Persian satrapy before Alexander's invasion but when he passed through it on his way to India
he founded twelve cities and settled a considerable number of his soldiers in them. It formed part of the
Empire of Seleucus but declared itself independent in 250 B.C. about the same time that the Parthians revolted
and founded the Empire of the Arsacidae. The Bactrian kings bore Greek names and in 209 Antiochus III
made peace with one of them called Euthydemus, in common cause against the nomads who threatened
Western Asia. Demetrius, the son of this Euthydemus, appears to have conquered Kabul, the Panjab and Sind
(c. 190 B.C.) but his reign was troubled by the rebellion of a certain Eukratides and it is probable that many
small and contending frontier-states, of which we have a confused record, were ruled by the relatives of one
or other of these two princes. The most important of them was Menander, apparently king of the Kabul valley.
About 155 he made an incursion to the east, occupied Muttra and threatened Pataliputra itself but was
repulsed. He is celebrated in Buddhist literature as the hero of the Questions of Milinda but his coins, though
showing some Buddhist emblems, indicate that he was also a worshipper of Pallas. Shortly after this Hellenic
influence in Bactria was overwhelmed by the invasion of the Yueeh-chih, though the Greek principalities in
the Panjab may have lasted considerably longer.
In the reign of Mithridates (c. 171-138 B.C.) the Parthian Empire was limitrophe with India and possibly his
authority extended beyond the Indus. A little later the Parthian dependencies included two satrapies, Aracosia
and the western Panjab with capitals at Kandahar and Taxila respectively. In the latter ruled kings or viceroys
one of whom called Gondophores (c. 20 A.D.) is celebrated on account of his legendary connection with the
Apostle Thomas.
More important for the history of India were the conquests of the Sakas and Yueeh-chih, nomad tribes of
Central Asia similar to the modern Turkomans[116]. The former are first heard of in the basin of the river Ili,
and being dislodged by the advance of the Yueeh-chih moved southwards reaching northwestern India about
150 B.C. Here they founded many small principalities, the rulers of which appear to have admitted the
suzerainty of the Parthians for some time and to have borne the title of satraps. It is clear that western India
was parcelled out among foreign princes called Sakas, Yavanas, or Pallavas whose frontiers and mutual
relations were constantly changing. The most important of these principalities was known as the Great Satrapy
which included Surashtra (Kathiawar) with adjacent parts of the mainland and lasted until about 395 A.D.
The Yueeh-chih started westwards from the frontiers of China about 100 B.C. and, driving the Sakas before
them, settled in Bactria. Here Kadphises, the chief of one of their tribes, called the Kushans, succeeded in
imposing his authority on the others who coalesced into one nation henceforth known by the tribal name. The
chronology of the Kushan Empire is one of the vexed questions of Indian history and the dates given below [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
dynasty of Andhra kings[115], who claimed to belong to the Satavahana family, ruled until 236 A.D. over
varying but often extensive territories. What remained of the Maurya throne was usurped in 184 B.C. by the
Sungas who in their turn were overthrown by the Kanvas. These latter could not withstand the Andhras and
collapsed before them about 27 B.C.
Alexander's invasion produced little direct effect, and no allusion to it has been found in Indian literature. But
indirectly it had a great influence on the political, artistic and religious development of the Hindus by
preparing the way for a series of later invasions from the north which brought with them a mixed culture
containing Hellenic, Persian and other elements. During some centuries India, as a political region, was not
delimitated on the north-western side as it is at present and numerous principalities rose and fell which
included Indian territory as well as parts of Afghanistan.
These states were of at least three classes, Hellenistic, Persian or Parthian, and Scythian, if that word can be
properly used to include the Sakas and Kushans.
CHAPTER II. HISTORICAL 55
Hinduism and Buddhism, Vol I.
Bactria was a Persian satrapy before Alexander's invasion but when he passed through it on his way to India
he founded twelve cities and settled a considerable number of his soldiers in them. It formed part of the
Empire of Seleucus but declared itself independent in 250 B.C. about the same time that the Parthians revolted
and founded the Empire of the Arsacidae. The Bactrian kings bore Greek names and in 209 Antiochus III
made peace with one of them called Euthydemus, in common cause against the nomads who threatened
Western Asia. Demetrius, the son of this Euthydemus, appears to have conquered Kabul, the Panjab and Sind
(c. 190 B.C.) but his reign was troubled by the rebellion of a certain Eukratides and it is probable that many
small and contending frontier-states, of which we have a confused record, were ruled by the relatives of one
or other of these two princes. The most important of them was Menander, apparently king of the Kabul valley.
About 155 he made an incursion to the east, occupied Muttra and threatened Pataliputra itself but was
repulsed. He is celebrated in Buddhist literature as the hero of the Questions of Milinda but his coins, though
showing some Buddhist emblems, indicate that he was also a worshipper of Pallas. Shortly after this Hellenic
influence in Bactria was overwhelmed by the invasion of the Yueeh-chih, though the Greek principalities in
the Panjab may have lasted considerably longer.
In the reign of Mithridates (c. 171-138 B.C.) the Parthian Empire was limitrophe with India and possibly his
authority extended beyond the Indus. A little later the Parthian dependencies included two satrapies, Aracosia
and the western Panjab with capitals at Kandahar and Taxila respectively. In the latter ruled kings or viceroys
one of whom called Gondophores (c. 20 A.D.) is celebrated on account of his legendary connection with the
Apostle Thomas.
More important for the history of India were the conquests of the Sakas and Yueeh-chih, nomad tribes of
Central Asia similar to the modern Turkomans[116]. The former are first heard of in the basin of the river Ili,
and being dislodged by the advance of the Yueeh-chih moved southwards reaching northwestern India about
150 B.C. Here they founded many small principalities, the rulers of which appear to have admitted the
suzerainty of the Parthians for some time and to have borne the title of satraps. It is clear that western India
was parcelled out among foreign princes called Sakas, Yavanas, or Pallavas whose frontiers and mutual
relations were constantly changing. The most important of these principalities was known as the Great Satrapy
which included Surashtra (Kathiawar) with adjacent parts of the mainland and lasted until about 395 A.D.
The Yueeh-chih started westwards from the frontiers of China about 100 B.C. and, driving the Sakas before
them, settled in Bactria. Here Kadphises, the chief of one of their tribes, called the Kushans, succeeded in
imposing his authority on the others who coalesced into one nation henceforth known by the tribal name. The
chronology of the Kushan Empire is one of the vexed questions of Indian history and the dates given below [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]