With reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the correct chronological order?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, Greeks – Sakas – Kushans. In the post-Mauryan north-west, the Indo-Greeks (Bactrian Greeks) came first, from about the early second century BCE (Demetrius, Menander). They were followed by the Sakas (Indo-Scythians) from roughly the first century BCE (e.g., Maues). The Kushans (a branch of the Yuezhi) came last, establishing their empire from the first century CE under Kujula Kadphises and reaching a peak under Kanishka (c. 127 CE). Hence the sequence is Greeks → Sakas → Kushans.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Wrong — it puts the Sakas before the Greeks. The Indo-Greeks (from the early 2nd century BCE) preceded the Sakas (1st century BCE).  (c) Wrong — it makes the Greeks last, but the Indo-Greeks were the earliest of the three post-Mauryan invaders, not the latest.  (d) Wrong — it reverses the Sakas and Kushans. The Sakas (1st century BCE) arrived before the Kushans (1st century CE).

Concept: After the decline of the Mauryas, a succession of Central Asian peoples entered India through the north-west: the Indo-Greeks, then the Sakas (Scythians), the Parthians (Pahlavas), and finally the Kushans. This wave shaped Indian coinage (fine gold coins), Gandhara/Mathura art, and cross-cultural exchange along the Silk Road.

State PCS 2023 Q85 — History PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q85 — History PYQ with Answer