Which one is your favorite Empire / Dynasty in the world? why?
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
I think mine is Gandhra Civilization. I have remained in Northern Pakistan for a good part of my life, visited the stupas, Ancient Taxila University etc, those things interest me. Considering for the time in which the empire existed, it was spread over a very vast area spanning from Afghanistan (Kabul, Peshawer, Charsadda, Swat, Taxila etc).
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
I think mine is Gandhra Civilization. I have remained in Northern Pakistan for a good part of my life, visited the stupas, Ancient Taxila University etc, those things interest me. Considering for the time in which the empire existed, it was spread over a very vast area spanning from Afghanistan (Kabul, Peshawer, Charsadda, Swat, Taxila etc).
Which Dynasty/ Empire was prominent in Gandhara Civilisation? Who were the popular emperors of that era?
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
^ It gained prominence during Kanishka’s time, this was the Kushan empire, which was centered around Peshawer.
Kanishka - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
**Kanishka (**Kanishka the Great), (Sanskrit: कनिष्क, Bactrian language: *Κανηϸκι, Middle Chinese: 迦腻色伽 (Jianisejia)) was an emperor of the Kushan Empire, ruling an empire extending from Bactria to large parts of northern India in the 2nd century of the common era, and famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements. His main capital was at Purushpura (Peshawar in present day northwestern Pakistan) with regional capitals at the location of the modern city of Taxila in Pakistan, Begram in Afghanistan and Mathura in India.
*****Kanishka was a Kushan of probable Yuezhi ethnicity. He used an Eastern Iranian, Indo-European language known as Bactrian (called “αρια,” i. e. “Aryan” in the Rabatak inscription), which appears in Greek script in his inscriptions, though it is not certain what language the Kushans originally spoke; possibly some form of Tocharian - a “centum” Indo-European language. The “Aryan” language of the inscription was a “satem” Middle Iranian language,[SUP][1]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP] possibly the one spoken in “Arya” or “Ariana” (the region around modern Herat) and was, therefore, quite possibly unrelated to the original language of the Kushans (or the Yuezhi), but adopted by them to facilitate communication with local people.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/WimaKadphises.JPG/220px-WimaKadphises.JPGhttp://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.20wmf11/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png
Vima Kadphises was Kanishka’s father.British Museum.
Kanishka was the successor of Vima Kadphises, as demonstrated by an impressive genealogy of the Kushan kings, known as the Rabatak inscription.[SUP][2]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP][SUP][3]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP] The connection of Kanishka with other Kushan rulers is described in the Rabatak inscription as Kanishka makes the list of the kings who ruled up to his time: Kujula Kadphises as his great-grandfather, Vima Taktu as his grandfather, Vima Kadphises as his father, and himself Kanishka:
“… for King Kujula Kadphises (his) great grandfather, and for King Vima Taktu (his) grandfather, and for King Vima Kadphises (his) father, and *also for himself, King Kanishka”[SUP][4]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP]
A number of legends about Kanishka, a great patron of Buddhism, were preserved in Buddhist religious traditions. Along with the Indian kings Ashoka and Harshavardhana, and the Indo-Greekking Menander I (Milinda), he is considered by Buddhists to have been one of the greatest Buddhist kings.
Kanishka’s eraKanishka’s era was used as a calendar reference by the Kushans and later by the Guptas in Mathura for about three centuries. Kanishka’s era is now believed by many to have begun in 127CE on the basis of Harry Falk’s ground-breaking research.[SUP][5]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP][SUP][6]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP] The actual source, however, gives 227 CE as Year One of a Kuṣâṇa century without mentioning Kanishka’s name. Since Kuṣâṇa centuries always “drop the hundreds” an incept of 127 CE was deduced by Falk on the basis of Chinese and other sources. This date and reference are disputed by some scholars.
edit]Conquests in South and Central Asiahttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Kushanmap.jpg/220px-Kushanmap.jpghttp://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.20wmf11/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png
Kushan territories (full line) and maximum extent of Kushan dominions under Kanishka (dotted line), according to the Rabatak inscription.[SUP][7]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP]
Kanishka’s empire was certainly vast. It extended from southern Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, north of the Amu Darya (Oxus) in the north west to Northern India, as far as Mathura in the south east (the Rabatak inscription even claims he held Pataliputra and Sri Champa), and his territory also included Kashmir, where there was a town Kanishkapur, named after him not far from theBaramula Pass and which still contains the base of a large stupa.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/Bronze_coin_of_Kanishka_found_in_Khotan.jpg/220px-Bronze_coin_of_Kanishka_found_in_Khotan.jpghttp://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.20wmf11/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png
Bronze coin of Kanishka, found inKhotan, modern China.
Knowledge of his hold over Central Asia is less well established. The Book of the Later Han, Hou Hanshu, states that general Ban Chao fought battles near Khotan with a Kushan army of 70,000 men led by an otherwise unknown Kushan viceroy named Xie (Chinese: 謝) in 90 CE. Though Ban Chao claimed to be victorious, forcing the Kushans to retreat by use of a scorched-earth policy, the region fell to Kushan forces in the early 2nd century.[SUP][8]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP]As a result, for a period (until the Chinese regained control c. 127 CE)[SUP][9]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP] the territory of the Kushans extended for a short period as far as Kashgar,Khotan and Yarkand, which were Chinese dependencies in the Tarim Basin, modern Xinjiang. Several coins of Kanishka have been found in the Tarim Basin.
Controlling both the land (the Silk Road) and sea trade routes between South Asia and Rome seems to have been one of Kanishka’s chief imperial goals.
edit]Kanishka’s coinshttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Kanishka-Helios.jpg/300px-Kanishka-Helios.jpghttp://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.20wmf11/skins/common/images/magnify-clip.png
Gold coin of Kanishka I with the Hellenistic divinity Helios. (c. 120 AD).
Obverse: Kanishka standing, clad in heavy Kushan coat and long boots, flames emanating from shoulders, holding a standard in his left hand, and making a sacrifice over an altar. Greek legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΚΑΝΗϷΚΟΥ “[coin] of Kanishka, king of kings”.
Reverse: Standing Helios in Hellenistic style, forming a benediction gesture with the right hand. Legend in Greek script: ΗΛΙΟΣ Helios. Kanishka monogram (tamgha) to the left.
Kanishka’s coins portray images of Indo-Aryan, Greek, Iranian and even Sumero-Elamite divinities, demonstrating the religious syncretism in his beliefs. Kanishka’s coins from the beginning of his reign bear legends in Greek language and script and depict Greek divinities. Later coins bear legends in Bactrian, the Iranian language that the Kushans evidently spoke, and Greek divinities were replaced by corresponding Iranic ones. All of Kanishka’s coins - even ones with a legend in the Bactrian language - were written in a modified Greek script that had one additional glyph (Ϸ) to represent /š/ (sh), as in the word ‘Kushan’ and ‘Kanishka’.
On his coins, the king is typically depicted as a bearded man in a long coat and trousers gathered at the ankle, with flames emanating from his shoulders. He wears large rounded boots, and is armed with a long sword similar to a scimitar as well as a lance. He is frequently seen to be making a sacrifice on a small altar. The lower half of a lifesize limestone relief of Kanishka similarly attired, with a stiff embroidered surplice beneath his coat and spurs attached to his boots under the light gathered folds of his trousers, survived in the Kabul Museum until it was destroyed by the Taliban.[SUP][10]](Kanishka - Wikipedia)[/SUP]
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
For me, it is easily the Chola Dynasty. I also like the rule of Emperor Ashoka after his reformation. :)
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
For me, it is easily the Chola Dynasty. I also like the rule of Emperor Ashoka after his reformation. :)
Ashoka was from Maurya Dynasty?
What is the meaning of Chandda Asoka?
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Ashoka was from Maurya Dynasty?
What is the meaning of Chandda Asoka?
Yes. He was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. Before he reformed and became the great Emperor we know he had built hell on earth, an elaborate and horrific torture chamber. He had 500 women in his harem and when a few of them insulted him, he had all of them burnt to death. This torture chamber earned him the name of Chanda Ashoka (Sanskrit), meaning Ashoka the Fierce .
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Thanks for the info :k:
Just a little off topic, harem is Arabic word, which got place in English. Whats the Hindi word for harem. I think Hinduism now don’t allown polygamy, but at certain time it was allowed. There is a character ‘Raja Indra / Inder’ who was popular for keeping harem?
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
I am not sure of the hindi word per se. In olden days they used to say 'Antha-pura' sanskrit for 'inner apartments' where the women of the royal household used to live. There was no harem like the muslim harems with eunuchs etc. In some places, there were women warriors guarding the inner apartments. Chandragupta Maurya had royal bodygaurds comprising of some of these women warriors. There was also no segregation of the house hold per se traditionally . This became rigid with Islamic invasion and muslim influences.
Polygamy was not disallowed in Hinduism but was discouraged. Monogamy or having one wife was considered the best option and encouraged. Hindu law books like the smiritis allowed for polygamy in certain special circumstances. Ex: Yagnavalkya Smriti states that if a man's wife was alchoholic, barren, sick, quarrelsome, hated men had only daughters, then he could marry again. But the first wife should also be maintained and not discarded. At the end of the day the various smritis like manusmiritis were only law books like the constitution of various kingdoms and did not have divine sanction. I am not aware of Vedas promoting polygamy. Polygamy was usually practiced among the warrior and merchant class (rich people).
Polygamy was finally banned by the Indian Govt under the Hindu Marriage Act.
Sorry who is Raja Indra ?
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
I am not sure of the hindi word per se. In olden days they used to say 'Antha-pura' sanskrit for 'inner apartments' where the women of the royal household used to live. There was no harem like the muslim harems with eunuchs etc. In some places, there were women warriors guarding the inner apartments. Chandragupta Maurya had royal bodygaurds comprising of some of these women warriors. There was also no segregation of the house hold per se traditionally . This became rigid with Islamic invasion and muslim influences.
Polygamy was not disallowed in Hinduism but was discouraged. Monogamy or having one wife was considered the best option and encouraged. Hindu law books like the smiritis allowed for polygamy in certain special circumstances. Ex: Yagnavalkya Smriti states that if a man's wife was alchoholic, barren, sick, quarrelsome, hated men had only daughters, then he could marry again. But the first wife should also be maintained and not discarded. At the end of the day the various smritis like manusmiritis were only law books like the constitution of various kingdoms and did not have divine sanction. I am not aware of Vedas promoting polygamy. Polygamy was usually practiced among the warrior and merchant class (rich people). Polygamy was finally banned by the Indian Govt under the Hindu Marriage Act. Sorry who is Raja Indra ?
Even Islam allow polgamy under special conditions on subject to certain conditions :)
Raja Indra was some handsome Raja in tale of Gul Bakawli
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Taxila was existing before gandhara civilization, Chankya taught in that university:)
Raja Indra might be Devraj Indra who is king of Swarg with Mata Sachi and many apsaras:D
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
I am not sure if University at Takshashila was a part of any dynasty strictly. Many kings including Ashoka patronized it. It was most probably an autonomous institute :D. Other distinguished alumni include Charaka and Paanini.
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Taxila was existing before gandhara civilization, Chankya taught in that university:)
Raja Indra might be Devraj Indra who is king of Swarg with Mata Sachi and many apsaras:D
That might be.. In Urdu literature, they say 'Raja inder ka darbar laga huwa tha' referring to harem like activities.
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Paanini.. sounds familiar 
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
he compiled first grammer of Sanskrit.
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
he compiled first grammer of Sanskrit.
Yes now I remembered :)
If you hadn't told me that, by tomorrow I might confuse it with Panjeeri :D
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
What about the Ummayad Caliphate? On one hand this empire (yes it was empire in real sense not caliphate) produced people like Yazid, who were responsible for the brutal events like Karbala and on other hand in their period Arab state expanded and conquests of Sindh and Spain happened?
A brief of Ummayyad Empire (661–750)
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four Islamic caliphates established after the death of Muhammad (PBUH). It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the city of Mecca, Damascus was the capital of their Caliphate. Eventually, it would cover more than five million square miles, making it the largest empire the world had yet seen. The Umayyads established the largest Arab-Muslim state in history. From the time of prophet Muhammad until 1924, successive and contemporary caliphates were held by various dynasties, including the Rashidun Caliphate of the first four caliphs after Muhammad, the Umayyads based in Damascus and Córdoba, the Abbasids based in Baghdad & later in Cairo, the Fatimids based in Cairo, and finally the Turkish Ottoman Empire based in Istanbul.
- Ummayads had the best administration system the world had yet seen. To assist the Caliph in administration there were six Boards at the Centre: Diwan al-Kharaj (the Board of Revenue), Diwan al-Rasa’il (the Board of Correspondence), Diwan al-Khatam (the Board of Signet), Diwan al-Barid (the Board of Posts), Diwan al-Qudat (Board of Justice) and Diwan al-Jund (the Military Board).
- Fifth largest contiguous empire to ever exist.
- Modern Arab nationalism regards the period of the Umayyads as part of the Arab Golden Age.
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Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Yes now I remembered :)
If you hadn't told me that, by tomorrow I might confuse it with Panjeeri :D
Try saying Foofa with loads of panjeeri in mouth:D
My favourite is Royal British Empire.
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
I am not sure if University at Takshashila was a part of any dynasty strictly. Many kings including Ashoka patronized it. It was most probably an autonomous institute :D. Other distinguished alumni include Charaka and Paanini.
Taxila has remained part of gandhara civilization (i have seen their museum and stupas) and other indo Greek civilizations, but it's history before that I am not aware of that. The remains of gandhara civilization have been found in peshawer, charsadda, swat and all the way to Kabul and other areas of Afghanistan. Chanakya link could be true as well as this area was part of mauryan empire.
Re: Your favorite Empire / Dynasty in History
Yes Takshasila was once part of Gandhara empire, I was talking of the University only since other kings from different empires also endorsed and built buildings there.