Test: Foreign Invasion - BPSC (Bihar) MCQ

Indo-Greeks->Shakas->Parthians->Kushanas

• The best-known rulers who controlled the Silk Route were the Kushanas, who ruled over central Asia and northwest India around 2000 years ago.

• Their two major centres of power were Peshawar and Mathura. During their rule, a branch of the Silk Route extended from Central Asia down to the seaports at the river Indus's mouth, from where silk was shipped westwards to the Roman Empire.

• The Kushanas were amongst the earliest rulers of the subcontinent to issue gold. So, both A and R are wrong.

• Kanishka's empire included Afghanistan, Gandhara, Sind and Punjab and later he also conquered Magadha and extended his power Bodh Gaya. This is evident from the coins found in the region.

• Kanishka embraced Buddhism, but his coins exhibit Buddha and Hindu gods' images as he was not against any religion. So, 2 is wrong.

• Frequently referred to as 'black gold' in ancient India, on account of its demand and trade value mainly due to its high trade value, the Zamorin ruler of Malabar coast had a flourishing trade centre for the export of pepper and other spices in Kerala.

• The main mercantile traders were Arabs and people from the Middle East. The early Roman Empire got direct access to the Malabar Coast in India and its range of exotic spices after Egypt's conquest in 30 BCE.

• The pepper prices were extremely high in the Middle Ages, and the Romans completely dominated the trade.

• The best-known rulers who controlled the Silk Route were the Kushanas, who ruled over central Asia and northwest India around 2000 years ago. Their two major centres of power were Peshawar and Mathura.

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  Taxila was also included in their kingdom. During their rule, a branch of the Silk Route extended from Central Asia down to the seaports at the river Indus's mouth, from where silk was shipped westwards to the Roman Empire.

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  The Kushanas were amongst the earliest rulers of the subcontinent to issue gold coins. Traders used these along the Silk Route.

• Many passes in the northwest Himalayas, such as the Khyber, Bolan, Kurram, Swat valley and Gomal, provided easy routes between India and the Central Asian region.

• There has been a continuous flow of traffic through these passes to enter India and for trade. The Swat valley in this region formed an important route because Alexander of Macedon came to India through this route.

• They soon merged with the Indian society and adopted Indian names and inter-married.

• Even their coins started carrying the images of Indian gods like Vishnu, Ganesha and Mahesha.

• The fact that they had adapted to the Indian society easily may explain why foreign rulers patronized Buddhism.

• Huge statues of Kushanas have been found in a shrine at Mat near Mathura (Uttar Pradesh). Similar statutes have been found in a shrine in Afghanistan as well.

• The title Devaputra was possibly inspired by Chinese rulers who called themselves sons of heaven.

• They indicated their close links with the gods using the title 'Hindu Suratrana' meaning Hindu Sultan.

• No such titles were adopted.