*** Welcome to piglix ***

Sunga Empire

Shunga Empire
शुङ्ग
185 BCE–75 BCE
Approximate extent of the Shunga empire in (c. 185 BCE).
Capital Pataliputra
Vidisha
Languages Sanskrit
Prakrit
Religion Hinduism
Buddhism
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
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Maurya Empire
Kanva dynasty
Today part of  India
 Bangladesh
   Nepal

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.


...
Wikipedia

...