Dr. Charles Metelka - University of Wisconsin-Stout

India). His grandson Ashoka, greatest of all Mauryan kings expanded the empire
promoting Buddhism and Built Buddhist shrines. (Halliday, 2000, p.29)
The Mauryan Empire began to break up about 230 BC and during that time
Greeks from the independent state of Bactria in Central Asia invaded Indus valley
establishing capitals near present day Peshawar and Rawalpindi. The Scythians were later
replaced by Partians in about AD 20 who were Iranian nomads for Central Asia from east
of Caspian Sea. The Partians established trade route along Silk Road between China and
Roman Empire .Later, the kushans overthrew Parthians and asswned the position as the
centre ofthe silk route. During the second century, Kushans were at the peak of their
power and controlling an empire that extended from Eastern Iran and Chinese's frontier
to the south of Ganges River (in present day India). With their capital based in Peshawar,
Kanisha, the most famous king of Kushans expanded Buddhism with construction of
monasteries and Stupas in the Peshawar and Swat plains and whose ruins can be found
even today in those valleys. Gandhara, as the region was called became the centre of
Buddhist learning art and pilgrimage. (Halliday, 2000, p.31)
As the Kushans declined, in about Ad 455, White Huns (Hepthalites) conquered
Gandhara from northwest, sacking its cities and as they worshipped Shiva and sun god
Surya, their influence resulted in decline of Buddhism. Later, the Sassians and Turks
overthrew the Huns around Ad 565 and Turki king of Kapisa in Afghanistan controlled
much ofthe Gandhara Empire until in AD 870, Hindu Shahis from Central Asia
overthrew them and took control with Hund on Indus established as their capital. They
ruled over a vast area stretching from Afghanistan to Multan extending eastwards to
Kashmir till 1008. (Halliday, 2000, p.33)
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