6 – The Age of
Reorganisation
Decline
of the Maurya Empire
- After Aśhoka’s death, the Maurya Empire
gradually weakened.
- Very little information is available about
Aśhoka’s successors.
- Around 185 BCE, the last Maurya ruler was
killed by his commander-in-chief Puṣhyamitra Śhunga.
- This event led to the breakup of the Maurya
Empire.
- Many smaller kingdoms became independent.
- Earlier tributary states started ruling
themselves.
- The northwest region became weak and open to
foreign invasions.
The
Age of Reorganisation
- Historians call this period the “Age of
Reorganisation.”
- Old regions were reorganised into new
kingdoms.
- Different kingdoms competed to become
powerful.
- India’s political map changed greatly during
this period.
- People’s social, economic, and cultural life
also changed.
- Kingdoms expanded through warfare and
alliances.
- Matrimonial alliances between royal families
helped maintain peace.
- Border regions became important because rulers
wanted security from attacks.
- Art, literature, architecture, and cultural
exchanges developed rapidly.
Surge
of the Śhungas
- Puṣhyamitra Śhunga founded the Śhunga dynasty.
- The Śhungas ruled parts of north and central
India.
- Puṣhyamitra performed the aśhvamedha yajña to prove his power.
- Though smaller than the Maurya Empire, the
Śhunga kingdom remained strong.
- The Śhungas protected their territory from
invaders.
- They also maintained relations with the
Greeks.
- Vedic rituals and traditions revived during
this period.
- Other schools of thought like Buddhism
continued to flourish.
- Sanskrit became important for literature and
philosophy.
- Patañjali compiled the Yoga Sūtras during this
period.
- The Śhungas supported art and architecture.
- The Bharhut Stūpa became an important example
of Śhunga art.
- Beautiful carvings and Buddhist stories were
added to the stupa railings.
The
Sātavāhanas
- The Sātavāhanas ruled large parts of the
Deccan region.
- They are also called the Andhras.
- Their kingdom included present-day Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
- Important capitals included Amarāvatī and
Pratiṣhṭhāna (Paithan).
- Trade and commerce flourished greatly under
their rule.
- Sātavāhana coins have been found across India.
- Many coins showed ships, proving the
importance of maritime trade.
- Ship designs show advanced shipbuilding
knowledge.
- Agriculture prospered in the Krishna-Godavari
river valley.
- The kingdom traded with the Roman Empire.
- Exports included spices, textiles, sandalwood,
pearls, ivory, and luxury goods.
- Imports included glass and perfumed ointments.
- Taxes and tolls increased royal income.
- Economic prosperity encouraged literature,
art, and culture.
Life
under the Sātavāhanas
- Princes were often named after their mothers.
- Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi was named after his mother Gautamī Balaśhrī.
- Royal women held important positions in
society.
- Queens donated land and wealth to Buddhist
monks and religious institutions.
- Naneghat inscriptions describe a queen
performing Vedic rituals like aśhvamedha yajña.
- Donations included cows, elephants, horses,
silver coins, and land.
- Inscriptions were written in Brahmi script.
- Some numerals in inscriptions resembled modern
Indian numerals.
- The Sātavāhanas worshipped Vāsudeva (Kṛiṣhṇa).
- They also supported Buddhism, Jainism, and
Vedic traditions.
- Tax-free land grants were given to scholars
and monks.
- In the 3rd century CE, the empire broke into
smaller kingdoms.
- Weak central control and economic decline
caused the decline.
Coming
of the Chedis
- After the Mauryas declined, Kalinga became
powerful again.
- The Chedi dynasty ruled Kalinga.
- King Khāravela was the most famous ruler of
the Chedis.
- He was a follower of Jainism.
- He respected all schools of thought and
religions.
- The Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves near
Bhubaneswar were developed for Jain monks.
- These caves are examples of rock-cut
architecture.
- Skilled craftsmen carved beautiful statues and
rooms in rocks.
Hathigumpha
Inscription
- The Hathigumpha inscription is found in the
Udayagiri caves.
- It is written in Brahmi script.
- The inscription records Khāravela’s
achievements year by year.
- It mentions military victories and public
welfare works.
- Khāravela formed a council of sages and
ascetics.
- He repaired temples and supported all
religious sects.
- This reflects the Indian tradition of
religious tolerance.
Kingdoms
and Life in South India
- Three important kingdoms rose in south India:
- Cheras
- Cholas
- Pānḍyas
- These kingdoms remained independent even
during Mauryan rule.
- They competed for political control but also
encouraged trade and culture.
- South India became prosperous through
agriculture and maritime trade.
Sangam
Age and Sangam Literature
- The period became famous as the Sangam Age.
- Sangam means an assembly or association of
poets.
- Sangam literature is the oldest literature of
south India.
- It contains collections of Tamil poems.
- Poems describe:
- Love
- Heroism
- War
- Generosity
- Nature
- Historians use Sangam literature to understand
society and culture.
The
Cholas
- The Cholas ruled from the 3rd century BCE to
the 13th century CE.
- Karikāla was one of the greatest Chola rulers.
- He defeated the Cheras and Pānḍyas.
- Karikāla built the Kallaṇai or Grand Anicut.
- It diverted Kāveri river water for irrigation.
- The project increased agricultural production.
- The Kāveri delta became the “rice bowl of the
South.”
- The system is still used today in Tamil Nadu.
Silappadikāram
- Silappadikāram is a famous Tamil epic.
- It tells the story of Kaṇṇagi and Kovalan.
- Kovalan was wrongly accused of theft and
executed.
- Kaṇṇagi proved his innocence
using her anklet.
- The Pānḍya king realised his
mistake and died of shock.
- Kaṇṇagi cursed Madurai, and
the city was destroyed by fire.
- Later she was honoured as a goddess in the
Chera kingdom.
- The story teaches justice and the ruler’s duty
toward people.
- It also gives information about cities, trade,
and society.
The
Cheras
- The Cheras ruled parts of Kerala and western
Tamil Nadu.
- Their capital was Vanji (modern Karur).
- They encouraged Tamil literature and Sangam
poets.
- The Cheras traded with Rome and West Asia.
- Exports included:
- Spices
- Timber
- Ivory
- Pearls
- Chera rulers issued coins with royal symbols.
The
Pānḍyas
- The Pānḍyas ruled around
present-day Madurai.
- Their kingdom became prosperous through trade.
- Megasthenes described them as wealthy and
well-administered.
- They traded with Greeks and Romans.
- Pearls from the Pānḍya kingdom were famous.
- The Pānḍyas were also an
important naval power.
- Their inscriptions mention concern for public
welfare and support for all religions.
Invasions
of the Indo-Greeks
- Indo-Greeks entered India through the
northwest.
- They were originally Greek rulers left behind
by Alexander.
- After the Mauryas weakened, they occupied
northwestern regions.
- Greek and Indian cultures mixed together.
- This influenced art, governance, language, and
daily life.
- The Heliodorus pillar near Vidisha is an
example of Indo-Greek influence.
- Coins of Indo-Greeks showed kings, Greek gods,
and Indian deities.
- Indo-Greek rule ended after Śhaka invasions.
The
Emergence of the Kuṣhāṇas
- The Kuṣhāṇas came from Central Asia.
- They entered India around the 2nd century CE.
- Their empire stretched from Central Asia to
northern India.
- Kaṇiṣhka was the most powerful Kuṣhāṇa ruler.
- He encouraged art, culture, and religion.
- Coins showed Buddha and Śhiva.
- This reflected religious tolerance and
cultural mixing.
- The Kuṣhāṇas controlled important parts of the Silk Route.
- Trade connected India with Asia and the West.
Gandhāra
School of Art
- Gandhāra art developed in northwest India.
- It combined Greek and Indian artistic styles.
- Sculptures were made from grey-black schist
stone.
- Buddha statues had realistic bodies and
flowing robes.
- Greek influence is clearly visible in the
sculptures.
Mathurā
School of Art
- The Mathurā school developed in Uttar Pradesh.
- Sculptures were made from red sandstone.
- It reflected more Indian artistic traditions.
- Sculptures included:
- Buddha
- Lakṣhmī
- Śhiva
- Kubera
- Yakṣhas and Yakṣhinīs
- Figures appeared fuller and more natural.
Cultural
Exchange and Development
- Different kingdoms interacted through trade
and travel.
- Greek, Central Asian, and Indian cultures mixed
together.
- Art, architecture, religion, and literature
developed greatly.
- Buddhism and Hindu traditions spread widely.
- Sanskrit literature flourished during this
age.
- Major texts like the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa became important.
- This period shows how Indian civilisation grew
through interaction and assimilation.
*****
Questions
and Activities
1. Why was the post-Maurya era also
known as the era of reorganisation?
·
After
the decline of the Maurya Empire around 185 BCE, many smaller kingdoms emerged across
India.
·
Earlier
tributary states became independent and reorganised themselves into new
political units.
·
Different
kingdoms constantly competed for power and territorial control.
·
Matrimonial
alliances and wars became common methods to expand kingdoms.
·
The
political map of India changed greatly during this period.
·
Along
with political changes, art, architecture, trade, literature, and cultural
exchanges also developed rapidly.
·
Therefore,
historians call this period the “Age of Reorganisation.”
2. Write a note on the Sangam
literature in 150 words.
·
Sangam
literature is the oldest known literature of south India.
·
It
belongs to the Sangam Age, which lasted between the 2nd century BCE and the 3rd
century CE.
·
The
word “Sangam” means an assembly or association of poets.
·
This
literature consists mainly of Tamil poems written by different poets.
·
The
poems describe many aspects of life such as love, war, bravery, generosity,
nature, trade, and daily life.
·
Sangam
literature gives valuable information about the Chera, Chola, and Pānḍya
kingdoms.
·
Historians
use these poems to understand the society, culture, economy, and political life
of ancient south India.
·
Famous
works of this tradition include Silappadikāram and other poetic anthologies.
·
The
language and poetic style of Sangam literature are highly admired.
·
It
played an important role in preserving Tamil culture and traditions.
3. Which rulers mentioned in this
chapter included their mother’s name in their title, and why did they do so?
·
The
Sātavāhana rulers included their mother’s names in their titles.
·
An
important example is Gautamīputra Sātakarṇi.
·
He
was named after his mother Gautamī Balaśhrī.
·
This
tradition showed the importance and respect given to royal mothers in
Sātavāhana society.
·
It
also highlighted the influence and prestige of queens in administration,
religion, and public life.
·
Some
queens made donations, supported religious institutions, and issued
inscriptions.
4. Write a note of 250 words about
one kingdom from this chapter that you find interesting.
The
Sātavāhana Kingdom
·
The
Sātavāhanas were one of the most important dynasties of ancient India.
·
They
ruled large parts of the Deccan region from the 2nd century BCE onward.
·
Their
kingdom included present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
·
Important
capitals of the kingdom were Amarāvatī and Pratiṣhṭhāna.
·
I
find this kingdom interesting because it became a centre of trade, culture,
religion, and administration.
·
Trade
and commerce flourished greatly under the Sātavāhanas.
·
Their
coins have been found across different parts of India.
·
Some
coins even showed ships, proving the importance of maritime trade.
·
The
kingdom traded with the Roman Empire and exported spices, textiles, pearls,
ivory, and sandalwood.
·
Agriculture
also prospered in the Krishna-Godavari river valley.
·
The
Sātavāhanas supported different religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Vedic
traditions.
·
They
donated land to monks and scholars for religious and educational activities.
·
Women
held respected positions in society.
·
Queens
like Gautamī Balaśhrī played important roles and issued inscriptions.
·
The
Sātavāhanas also contributed to art and architecture.
·
Amarāvatī
became an important centre of Buddhist art.
·
Their
inscriptions in Brahmi script help historians study ancient India.
·
The
Sātavāhana kingdom shows how trade, culture, religion, and administration
developed together in ancient India.
5. Imagine you have the chance to
create your own kingdom.
My
Kingdom
·
If
I created my own kingdom, I would name it “Sukhapuri,” meaning “land of
happiness and peace.”
·
My
royal emblem would be a lion holding a lotus flower.
·
The
lion would symbolise strength and courage, while the lotus would represent
peace and purity.
·
My
title as ruler would be “Dharmarāja,” meaning “ruler who follows justice and
righteousness.”
·
The
main values of my kingdom would be equality, honesty, discipline, kindness, and
respect for nature.
·
Education
would be free for all children.
·
Farmers,
traders, soldiers, artisans, and scholars would all receive equal respect.
·
Strict
laws would be made against corruption and injustice.
·
Trees
would be planted across the kingdom to protect the environment.
·
Roads,
wells, hospitals, and schools would be built for public welfare.
·
All
religions and cultures would be respected equally.
·
Trade
and agriculture would be encouraged to increase prosperity.
·
Art,
music, and literature would also receive royal support.
·
My
kingdom would aim to provide peace, justice, and happiness to all people.
6. Ancient structures mentioned in
this chapter and their approximate locations
|
Ancient
Structure |
Present
Location |
|
Bharhut
Stūpa |
Madhya
Pradesh |
|
Amarāvatī
Stūpa |
Andhra
Pradesh |
|
Udayagiri-Khandagiri
Caves |
Bhubaneswar,
Odisha |
|
Naneghat
Caves |
Maharashtra |
|
Hathigumpha
Inscription |
Odisha |
|
Kallaṇai (Grand Anicut) |
Tamil
Nadu |
|
Heliodorus
Pillar |
Vidisha,
Madhya Pradesh |
|
Gandhāra
Region |
Present-day
Pakistan and Afghanistan |
|
Mathurā
Art Centre |
Uttar
Pradesh |
|
Sarnath
Pillar of Aśhoka |
Uttar
Pradesh |
******