Post-Mauryan India (c. 200 BCE – 300 CE)

Shunga Dynasty (185–73 BCE): Founded by Pushyamitra Shunga; revived Brahmanical rites (performed Ashvamedha); patronised the Sanchi Stupa expansion; grammarian Patanjali lived at his court.

Kanva Dynasty (73–28 BCE): Succeeded the Shungas in Magadha; short-lived.

Indo-Greeks (Bactrian Greeks): Ruled the northwest after the decline of Mauryan control; most famous ruler was Menander (Milinda), whose capital was Sakala (Sialkot); he is said to have converted to Buddhism after dialogue with monk Nagasena (recorded in Milindapanho). Indo-Greeks introduced the practice of issuing gold coins with portraits in India.

Shakas (Scythians): Ruled western India; the most notable Shaka ruler was Rudradaman I (Western Kshatrapa), known for the Junagadh rock inscription (first major inscription entirely in chaste Sanskrit), which also mentions repairs to the Sudarshana Lake (originally built under Chandragupta Maurya).

Parthians (Pahlavas): Ruled briefly in the northwest; Gondophares is the most notable ruler, associated with a legendary visit by St. Thomas the Apostle.

Kushans: A Central Asian people (originally part of the Yuezhi confederation) who established a large empire straddling Central Asia and North India. Kadphises I and II were early rulers. The greatest Kushan ruler was Kanishka (c. 78 CE), whose capital was Purushapura (Peshawar), with a second capital at Mathura.

• Kanishka started the Shaka Era (78 CE), which is used as the Indian National Calendar even today.
• He was a great patron of Buddhism, convened the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana (Kashmir), and promoted Mahayana Buddhism.
• The Gandhara School of Art (Greco-Roman/Hellenistic influence, realistic human depictions of Buddha in flowing robes) and the Mathura School of Art (indigenous red sandstone tradition) both flourished under Kushan patronage.
• Kanishka's court is associated with scholars like Ashvaghosha (author of Buddhacharita), Nagarjuna (Madhyamika philosophy), Vasumitra, and the physician Charaka.

Satavahanas (Andhras): The most powerful power in the Deccan/South India during this period, with capital at Pratishthana (Paithan) on the Godavari. Founded by Simuka; the greatest ruler was Gautamiputra Satakarni, who defeated the Shaka ruler Nahapana (celebrated in his mother Gautami Balashri's Nasik inscription). The Satavahanas were patrons of Prakrit literature (Gathasaptasati attributed to Hala) and Buddhist architecture (caves at Karle, Nasik, Amaravati stupa). They introduced the practice of land grants to Brahmanas and issued lead/potin coins.