Beginning around 180 bc, the northern part of the Indian subcontinent was invaded by a series of foreign armies from Central Asia. The Indo-Greeks were the first to come, led by Greco-Bactrian leader Demetrius, who established the Indo-Greek Kingdom in the region in 175 bc. Demetrius created a state which seceded from the powerful Greco-Bactrian Kingdom in Bactria (today’s northern Afghanistan). One of his successors was Menander who, along with Demetrius, is credited with extending the power and influence of the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Taxila in Punjab was one of the many capitals of the kingdom. It was ruled by a succession of over 30 Hellenistic kings during almost two centuries of Indo-Greek rule.
Greek, Buddhist and Hindu art, culture, languages and symbols came together in an interesting fusion during this period, evident from excavated Indo-Greek coins and other archaeological remains. Of particular significance is Greco-Buddhist art which combines the realism of Hellenistic creativity with symbols of Buddhism. The Indo-Greeks vanished around 10 bc when the region was invaded by Central Asian tribes such as the Scythians, followed by the Yuezhis from China and the Parthians, who established their own kingdoms in the region.
The Scythians, also known as Sakas, came to India from Central Asia in 10 bc in search of new territory after invading Bactria. Maues, or Moga, was one of the early Scythian leaders in India and ruled over Gandhara, in present-day northern Pakistan. He gradually extended his empire to the north-west, until the arrival of the Yuezhis from China, who conquered the area and set up the Kushan Empire. In the 1st century, invading Parthian leader Gondophares established the Indo-Parthian kingdom, which extended from northern India to Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, Parthian rule only lasted until the year 75 ad when the region was annexed by the Kushans again.
The most powerful leader of the Kushans was Kanishka, King of Gandhara. Like Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, Kanishka was known for his patronage of Buddhism. During his reign, he built Buddhist stupas, the most notable being the Kanishka stupa at Peshawar, and developed Buddhist art by helping to establish the Gandhara School of Art. Coins made during Kanishka’s rule were embellished with Buddhist, Hindu, Greek and Persian images, evidence of his religious tolerance. Kanishka is said to have convened the fourth Buddhist council in c.100.
Kanishka was an ambitious monarch who was keen to control the entire territory of Central Asia. To this end, he made conquests in the Indian subcontinent and beyond. At its height, his empire stretched from the Pamir mountain range in Central Asia to Bengal in the Indian subcontinent, with the capital at Peshawar. Kanishka’s successors failed to maintain his power or influence; by the middle of the 3rd century, the Kushans were left with only Gandhara and Kashmir.
Gandhara School of Art
The Gandhara art style featured scenes from Buddhist texts and images of the Buddha, some of which were based on the Greek god Apollo. Images from this school showed the Buddha as a short, stocky form, either seated or standing. The eyes in most of the statues were open with a circle between the brows, and the hands were depicted resting in the lap in a gesture of repose, or with the right hand touching the earth.