1 consolidation
1.1 end of first conquests
1.2 consolidation , rise of menander i
1.3 fall of bactria
consolidation
the end of first conquests
back in bactria king named eucratides managed topple euthydemid dynasty around 170 bce , years later made himself ruler of westernmost indian territories well, weakening indo-greek kingdom , putting stop expansion.
coin of menander. greek legend, basileos soteros menandroy lit. saviour king menander .
there may have been setbacks in east. hathigumpha inscription, written king of kalinga, kharavela, describes presence of yavana king name has been identified demetrius army in eastern india, apparently far city of rajagriha 70 km southeast of pataliputra , 1 of foremost buddhist sacred cities, claims demetrius retreated mathura on hearing of kharavela s military successes further south:
in eighth year, (kharavela) large army having sacked goradhagiri causes pressure on rajagaha (rajagriha). on account of loud report of act of valour, yavana (greek) king dimi[ta] retreated mathura having extricated demoralized army , transport.
the interpretation has been challenged, , presence far east seems difficult attest demetrius i, issued no indian coins whatsoever.
in case, eucratides seems have occupied territory far indus, between c. 170 bce , 150 bce. advances checked indo-greek king menander asserted himself in indian part of empire, , began last expansions eastwards.
consolidation , rise of menander i
detail of asia in ptolemy world map. menander mons in center of map, @ east of indian subcontinent, beyond ganges, right above malaysian peninsula.
menander considered successful indo-greek king, , conqueror of vastest territory. finds of coins numerous , widespread of indo-greek kings. in antiquity, @ least 1st century ce, menander mons , or mountains of menander , came designate mountain chain @ extreme east of indian subcontinent, today s naga hills , arakan, indicated in ptolemy s world map of 1st century ce geographer ptolemy. menander remembered in buddhist literature, called milinda, , described in milinda panha convert buddhism: became arhat relics enshrined in manner reminiscent of buddha. introduced numismatic reforms, such issuing coins portraits, had hitherto been unknown in india. common coin reverse athena alkidemos ( protector of people ) became common type successors in east.
conquests east of punjab region made during second half of century king menander i, eastern conquests brief. following passage may allude return of menander home territories, perhaps due civil war competing king zoilos i, or nomad invasion of bactria:
yavanas, infatuated war, not remain in madhadesa (the middle country). there mutual agreement among them leave, due terrible , dreadful war having broken out in own realm.
following menander s reign, twenty indo-greek kings known have ruled in succession in eastern parts of indo-greek territory. upon death, menander succeeded infant son thraso, apparently murdered , further civil wars ensued. judging coins, many of later kings claimed descendance either euthydemids or menander, details remain uncertain due lack of sources.
the fall of bactria
from 130 bce, scythians , yuezhi, following long migration border of china, started invade bactria north. around 125 bce, greco-bactrian king heliocles, killed during invasion , greco-bactrian kingdom proper ceased exist. indo-greek kingdom, entirely isolated hellenistic world, did nevertheless maintain itself, if can judge vast number of coins issued following kings, such lysias , antialcidas.
during time, indo-greek territory seems have extended paropamisadae , arachosia in west, eastern punjab, perhaps further eastern strongholds such mathura (see below). uncertain when coastal provinces along mouth of indus , further east lost, or how tightly ever integrated kingdom.
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