Key Points

The period from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, following the Maurya empire's collapse, is called the 'Age of Reorganisation'. It was marked by the breakup of the old empire and the rise of new competing kingdoms.

Founded by Pushyamitra Shunga, this dynasty replaced the Mauryas. They revived Vedic rituals like the ashvamedha yajna and contributed to art, such as the railings of the Bharhut Stupa.

Ruling large parts of the Deccan, the Satavahanas were known for maritime trade, depicted on their coins. Their kings, like Gautamiputra Satakarni, often took their mother's name.

After the Mauryas, King Kharavela of the Chedi dynasty made Kalinga a powerful kingdom. A follower of Jainism, his achievements are recorded in the Hathigumpha inscription.

This period in the South is named after the Sangam literature, the oldest literature in South India. It consists of collections of poems composed by assemblies of poets.

The Sangam Age was dominated by three powerful kingdoms in the South: the Cholas, the Cheras, and the Pandyas, who frequently competed for supremacy.

The Chola king Karikala built the Kallanai dam. The Cheras traded spices with Rome, and the Pandyas, with their capital at Madurai, were famous for their pearl trade.

The weakening of the northwest frontier led to invasions by groups like the Indo-Greeks, the Shakas (Indo-Scythians), and the Kushanas.

Successors to Alexander's governors, the Indo-Greeks ruled in the northwest. They assimilated into Indian culture, issuing coins with Indian deities and erecting monuments like the Heliodorus pillar.

Originally from Central Asia, the Kushanas established a vast empire in northern India. Their most famous ruler was Kanishka, who controlled parts of the Silk Route.

King Kanishka was a great patron of art and culture. He encouraged Buddhism and his coins often featured figures like Buddha and Shiva, showing religious tolerance.

This art style, flourishing under the Kushanas, blended Indian themes with Greco-Roman artistic styles. It is known for its realistic sculptures of the Buddha made from grey schist stone.

Developing in the Mathura region, this was a purely indigenous Indian art style. It used red sandstone to create sculptures of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain deities.

This era was marked by flourishing trade, both within the subcontinent and externally. Indian goods like spices, textiles, and pearls were traded with the Roman Empire and other parts of Asia.

Despite political conflicts, the period witnessed a remarkable cultural exchange and assimilation. Rulers often patronized multiple religions, creating a shared heritage evident in art, architecture, and literature.