Following the decline of the Maurya Empire around 185 BCE, the Indian subcontinent entered a dynamic period of political decentralisation, cultural synthesis, and regional reorganisation. Rather than a dark age, this era witnessed the rise of powerful regional kingdoms, extensive trade networks, and a remarkable flourishing of art, literature, and diverse schools of thought.
The Maurya Empire ended when the last Maurya emperor was assassinated around 185 BCE by his commander-in-chief, Puṣhyamitra Śhunga, who founded the Śhunga dynasty in north and central India.
Ruling large parts of the Deccan from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, the Sātavāhanas (also referred to as Andhras) established a powerful empire with major capitals at Amrāvatī and Pratiṣhṭhāna (Paithan).
After the decline of the Maurya Empire, Kalinga (modern Odisha) rose to prominence under the Chedi dynasty.
The southern region of India saw the rise of three powerful kingdoms, collectively referred to by the Sangams as the three "crowned kings": the Cholas, the Cheras, and the Pāṇḍyas.
This era is defined by Sangam literature, the oldest collection of Tamil poetry. Compiled in assemblies (sangams) of poets, these works describe personal emotions like love and societal values like heroism and generosity.
This famous Tamil epic tells the story of Kaṇṇagi and her husband Kovalan. It centers on the principles of justice, the moral duty (dharma) of a king, and provides a vivid description of the wealth and trade of southern cities.
The northwest frontier of the subcontinent witnessed successive waves of migrations and invasions, leading to deep cultural synthesis.
The Kuṣhāṇa period witnessed a massive boom in religious art, laying the groundwork for later Indian temple architecture through two distinct schools of art.