Indo-Greek Rule

Introduction

Indo-Greeks were also known as Bactrian Greeks. They reigned in the North-Western parts of India from 180 B.C.E. to around 10 C.E. This Hellenistic-era Greek kingdom also covered parts of Afghanistan and Iran.

It is also known as the Graeco-Indian kingdom or the Yavana kingdom. The kingdom came into existence when the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius came to invade India in 180 BCE.

The Indo-Greek Rule

The fall of the Mauryan Empire witnessed the breaking of Northern India into several small kingdoms. The Magadha region was occupied by the Sungas in 185 BC, who were then followed by the Kanvas and reigned the ruling throne.

The Kanvas were then overthrown by the Satvahanas, who originate from the Deccan. Northwest India was always in turmoil due to the constant invasion of Central and North- western Asian powers.

The Graeco-Bactrian king Demetrius took this opportunity in 180 BC and invaded a much weaker Indian continent and established the Graeco-Indian Kingdom.

The Greeks were already present throughout Indian history before the advent of Demetrius. Alexander the Great had previously invaded the continent when his general Seleucus Nicator established the Seleucid Empire. The presence of Greek populations in the North Western parts of the Mauryan Empire can be proved by Ashoka’s edicts.

Indo-Greek Rule: Overview

The Indo-Greek Kingdom was reigned by over 30 Hellenistic Greek kings. The birth of the kingdom happened in the hands of Demetrius who conquered parts of Punjab and southern Afghanistan. The Indo-Greek rule brought a fusion of Indian and Greek cultures. The Indo- Greek kingdoms followed the Euthydemid rule for nearly 25 years.

A major part of information about the kings of this period has been gained from Coins. The Indo-Greek coins had pictures of Indian deities inscribed on them; historians say that this was done to gain the favour of the Indian population.

The demise of Demetrius lead to civil wars between the Bactrian Kings, which ultimately resulted in the formation of the separate kingdom of Apollodotus I. He was regarded as the first Indo-Greek king. He reigned over Gandhara and Western Punjab.

A major part of the Indo-Greek kings was devoted to Buddhism. There are some north Indians who still assert themselves as a part of Greek community. The Gandhara School of Art was proof of the influence that the Indo-Greek ruler had on the art and crafts of this period.

Indo-Greek Rule: Key Ruler

The most important and key ruler of the Indo-Greek Kingdom was Menander I; his history and achievements are hereby mentioned below.

• Menander I − Menander I was originally a Bactrian king and was known by many names, such as Minedra, Minadra, or Milinda. The expanse of his kingdom covered a huge area including the Kabul river valley, Ravi River, Swat valley and Arachosia.

His empire extended almost up to Rajasthan and Pataliputra. He transferred his faith to Buddhism and became a deep-rooted follower.

The Milinda Panha written in 100 BC, documents a dialogue between Milinda, which was Menander’s Pali name, and the Buddhist sage Nagasena. This work was written originally in Sanskrit but was later translated into Pali. Milinda was presented as a benevolent king in this account. Menander's death in 130 BC saw the succession of his son Strato I to the throne.

Indo-Greek Rule: Coins and Economy

The production of coins during the Indo-Greek rule was one of its chief features. They were and are still considered to be the most impressive pieces of antiques and art of all time.

• The coins were distributed to the North and South Hindu Kush region and had different characteristics. They were mostly gold, silver, copper and nickel coins.

• The coins had the markings of Greek legends on them and also images of deities like Zeus, Apollo, and Athena on the backside. The coins distributed to the south Hindu Kush region were mostly silver and copper coins. They had Greek and Kharoshthi inscriptions on them.

• The availability and production of large amounts of coins can point out the large mining operations ventured during this period. The bilingual coins were a key to the monetary circulation to every nook and corner of society, providing a fluid economy.

• There was also the presence of cross-border trade. There were also accounts of trade going on between the Indo-Greek kingdom and China. Maritime relations established in the 3rd century BCE throughout the Indian Ocean also had positive effects on the economy.

Indo-Greek Rule: Downfall

Strato II was the last ruler of the Indo-Greek kingdom. He reigned over regions of Punjab till 55 BC. The major reason behind the fall of the Indo-Greek kingdom was the Scythians or the Sakas who invaded the kingdom.

The fall of the kingdom though did not end the stay of the Greeks, who still lived for some centuries under the rule of the Indo-Parthians and the Kushans.

Conclusion

The Indo-Greek rule took place in the Northern parts of India from 180 B.C.E. to around 10 C.E. The reign started with the Bactrian kings, which then was converted to a proper Indo- Greek rule with the advent of Apollodotus I.

The most important ruler of this kingdom was Demetrius I whose accounts are found in the Milinda Panha. The most impressive feature of the Indo-Greek rule was perhaps the production of bilingual coins, with images of Indian deities and Greek gods inscribed on them. They were distributed to the south and north Hindu Kush region.

FAQs

Qns 1. Which Chinese explorer testified for the trade relations between the Indo- Greek Kingdom and China?

Ans. The Chinese explorer Zhang Quian went to Bactria in 128 BCE. There, in one of his indirect testimony, he gave a hint of a trading relationship present between the Indo-Greek Kingdom and China. He found traces of Chinese products in Bactrian markets which made him arrive at this conclusion.

Qns 2. Who were some of the Greek ambassadors in the Mauryan court?

Ans. There are accounts of Megasthenes appearing in Chandragupta Maurya’s court after the conflicts between Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus. The other Greek ambassadors were Deimachus and Dionysius.

Qns 3. What were the different names given to the Greeks according to different Indian languages?

Ans. Certain sources from the time of the Indo-Greek rule suggest that the Greeks were usually called Yavanas in Sanskrit. They were also named Yonas according to the Pali language.