Sunga Empire
| Shunga Empire | ||||||||||
| शुङ्ग | ||||||||||
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 Approximate extent of the Shunga empire in (c. 185 BCE).
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| Capital |
Pataliputra Vidisha |
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| Languages |
Sanskrit Prakrit |
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| Religion |
Hinduism Buddhism |
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| Government | Monarchy | |||||||||
| Emperor | ||||||||||
| • | 185–151 BCE | Pushyamitra Shunga | ||||||||
| • | 151–141 BCE | Agnimitra | ||||||||
| • | 83–75 BCE | Devabhuti | ||||||||
| Historical era | Antiquity | |||||||||
| • | Established | 185 BCE | ||||||||
| • | Disestablished | 75 BCE | ||||||||
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| Today part of |
 India Bangladesh Nepal
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The Shunga Empire (IAST: Śuṅga) was an ancient Indian dynasty from Magadha that controlled vast areas of the Indian subcontinent from around 187 to 78 BCE. The dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Shunga, after the fall of the Maurya Empire. Its capital was Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar (modern Vidisha) in eastern Malwa.
Pushyamitra Shunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Shunga rulers. The empire is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and indigenous powers. They fought the Kalinga, the Satavahana dynasty, the Indo-Greek Kingdom and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras.
Art, education, philosophy, and other forms of learning flowered during this period including small terracotta images, larger stone sculptures, and architectural monuments such as the stupa at Bharhut, and the renowned Great Stupa at Sanchi. Shunga rulers helped to establish the tradition of royal sponsorship of learning and art. The script used by the empire was a variant of Brahmi script and was used to write Sanskrit.
The Shunga Empire played an imperative role in patronizing culture at a time when some of the most important developments in Hindu thought were taking place. Patanjali's Mahābhāṣya was composed in this period. Artistry also progressed with the rise of the Mathura art style.
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