SOAS Research Online

Abstract

(CH. I) The Indo-Greeks or the Yavanas were not all hellenistic Greeks settled by Alexander and the Seleucids; they consisted also of earlier settlers, who were anti-Macedonian and who had probably mixed with the Iranians. Their history must be studied against two backgrounds : the aftermath of Alexander's invasion and the fall of the Mauryan Empire. (CH. II) Their rise to power was the result of a revolt by Diodotus I. the consolidation of their kingdom was achieved by Euthydemus I and his son Demetrius I. The far reaching conquests in India claimed for Demetrius I are rejected and an attempt is made to show that the Demetrius who is said to have conquered India by the Western Classical sources was probably second Demetrius who struck bilingual coins. (CH. III) The extension of Yavana Power in the Paropamisadae and Gandhara Pantaleon and was made by Antimachus I, his successor Demetrius II/Agathocles. Eucratides successfully rebelled and annexed much of their in kingdom. He was not related to the Seleucid Antiochus IV. The Joint-king who murdered Eucratides I was possibly Plato. There is no proof of the existence of Apollodotus I. (CH. IV) The climax of the Yavana Power was reached during the reign of Menander, the greatest of the Yavana kings. The actual extent of his kingdom in India is discussed and due importance is given to the existence of regional Indian Powers in Madhyadesa. The evidence of the Yuga-purana is analysed, and several hitherto accepted views are rejecected. The Yavana kingdom at its climax did not extend beyond the Ravi. (CH. V) The kings after Eucratides and Menander are divided into groups on the basis of their coin-types and are dealt with the help of the geographical distribution of coins and the use of common monograms. The discussion of Apollodotus is continued to show that there was only one king of this name. A gap of fifteen years is proposed in the long reign of Strato I. (CH. VI) It has been shown that three distinct peoples, the Sakas, the Pahlavas and the Yueh-chih, overthrew the Yavana Power from three different directions at different times,. Their movements are clearly distinguished. The Yueh-chih finally occupied Bactria proper much later than 129-28 B.C., and there was a long gap between Hermaeus and Kujula Kadhphises. Three Appendices, five plates and three Maps and a select Bibliography are included.