Middle kingdoms of India (or Classical India) refers to the political entities i

n India from the 3rd century BCE and the 13th century CE. This period begins aft
er the decline of the Maurya Empire, and the corresponding rise of the Satavahan
a dynasty, beginning with Simuka, from 230 BCE. The "Middle" period lasts for so
me 1500 years, and ends in the 13th century with the rise of the Delhi Sultanate
and the end of the Later Cholas (Rajendra Chola III died in 1279). The period i
s known as the classical period of India, during which India is estimated to hav
e had the largest economy of the world controlling between one third and one fou
rth of the world's wealth.
The Northwest[edit]
During the 2nd century BCE, the Maurya Empire became a collage of regional power
s with overlapping boundaries. The whole northwest attracted a series of invader
s between 200 BCE and 300 CE. The Puranas speak of many of these tribes as forei
gners and impure barbarians (Mlecchas). First the Satavahana dynasty and then th
e Gupta Empire, both successor states to the Maurya Empire, attempt to contain t
he expansions of the successive before eventually crumbling internally due press
ure exerted by these wars.
The invading tribes were influenced by Buddhism which continued to flourish unde
r the patronage of both invaders and the Satavahanas and Guptas and provides a c
ultural bridge between the two cultures. Over time, the invaders became "Indiani
zed" as they influenced society and philosophy across the Gangetic plains and we
re conversely influenced by it. This period is marked by both intellectual and a
rtistic achievements inspired by cultural diffusion and syncretism as the new ki
ngdoms straddle the Silk Road.
The Indo-Scythian Sakas[edit]
Main articles: Indo-Scythians and Saka
The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Sakas who migrated from southern Siberia
into Bactria, Sogdia, Arachosia, Gandhara, Kashmir, Punjab, and into parts of We
stern and Central India, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, from the middle of
the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE. The first Saka king in India was Maue
s or Moga who established Saka power in Gandhara and gradually extended supremac
y over north-western India. Indo-Scythian rule in India ended with the last of t
he Western Satraps, Rudrasimha III, in 395 CE.
The invasion of India by Scythian tribes from Central Asia, often referred to as
the "Indo-Scythian invasion", played a significant part in the history of India
as well as nearby countries. In fact, the Indo-Scythian war is just one chapter
in the events triggered by the nomadic flight of Central Asians from conflict w
ith Chinese tribes which had lasting effects on Bactria, Kabul, Parthia and Indi
a as well as far off Rome in the west. The Scythian groups that invaded India an
d set up various kingdoms, included besides the Sakas[1] other allied tribes, su
ch as the Medes,[2] Scythians,[2][3] Massagetae, Getae,[4] Parama Kamboja Kingdo
m, Avars, Bahlikas, Rishikas and Parada Kingdom.
The Indo-Greeks[edit]
Main article: Indo-Greek Kingdom
Silver coin of the founder of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Demetrius (r. c. 205 171 BC)
.
The Indo-Greek Kingdom covered various parts of the northwest and northern India
n subcontinent during the last two centuries BCE, and was ruled by more than 30
Hellenistic kings, often in conflict with each other.
The kingdom was founded when Demetrius I of Bactria invaded the Hindu Kush early
in the 2nd century BCE. The Greeks in India were eventually divided from the Gr
eco-Bactrian Kingdom centered in Bactria (now the border between Afghanistan and
Uzbekistan).