The rulers of this ethnic stock were known as the Indo-Scythians. They...
• Scythians (referred to as Shakas in Indian sources) were a group of Iranian nomadic pastoral tribes. In the second century BC, central Asian nomadic tribes and tribes from the Chinese region invaded the region of present-day Kazakhstan whose inhabitants were Scythians. This promoted the Scythians to move towards Bactria and Parthia. After defeating the Parthian king, they moved towards India. Scythians who migrated to India are known as Indo-Scythians. The Sakas had an Indian kingdom larger than the Indo-Greeks.
• There were five branches of Shakas with their seats of power in different parts of India and Afghanistan.
(i) One branch settled in Afghanistan
(ii) The second branch settled in Punjab with Taxila as the capital
(iii) The third branch settled in Mathura
(iv) The fourth branch established its hold over western India (where they continued to rule until the fourth century A.D.). They were the predecessors of the Kardamakas (known as the Western Shakas).
(v) The fifth branch established its power in the upper Deccan
• The history of the Scytho-Parthian and Shaka rule in India is known largely through inscriptions and coins. An inscription found at Taxila mentions a Shaka king named Moga and his kshatrapa (governor) Patika. The Shakas (Indo-Scythians) and the Scytho-Parthians ruled through governors or subordinate rulers known as kshatrapas and mahakshatrapas who played an important role in the expansion of their empire.
• Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
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The rulers of this ethnic stock were known as the Indo-Scythians. They...
Indo-Scythians
The passage describes the rulers of the ethnic stock known as the Indo-Scythians. These rulers governed through governors or subordinate rulers known as kshatrapas. Their history is primarily known through inscriptions and coins.
King Moga
One of the prominent Indo-Scythian rulers mentioned in the passage is King Moga, who played a significant role during that period.
Identification of Dynasty
- The passage talks about rulers known as the Indo-Scythians who ruled through governors or kshatrapas.
- The rulers are associated with inscriptions and coins, indicating a well-documented history.
- King Moga is mentioned as a ruler belonging to this ethnic stock.
Therefore, based on the characteristics described in the passage, the dynasty or ethnic stock being referred to is the Shakas. They were a group of Indo-Scythians who ruled during this period.