Discuss the impact of the central Asian contacts on India’s political system, society and science and technology.

Impact of the Central Asian contacts on Indian political system.

(i) The Shakas and the Kushanas strengthened the idea of the divine origin of kingship.

(ii) The Kushana kings were called sons of god. This title was adopted by the Kushanas from the Chinese, who called their king the son of heaven.

(iII) The Kushanas also introduced the satrap system of government. The empire was divided into numerous satrapaties, and each satrapaty was placed under the rule of a satrap.

(Iv) Some curious practices such as hereditary dual rule, two kings ruling in the same kingdom at one and the same time, were introduced.

 Impact of the Central Asian contacts on Indian society.

(i) With their coming many sub caste emrged in the indian society.

(ii) Since most of them came as conquerors they were absorbed in Indian society as a warrior class, that is, as the Kshatriyas. Their placement in the Brahmanical society was explained in a curious way.

 Imapct of the Central Asian contacts on India’s science.

(i) In Post-Maurya times Indian astronomy and astrology profited from contact with the Greeks.We notice many Greek terms about the movement of planets in Sanskrit texts.

(ii) Indian astrology came to be influenced by Greek ideas, and from the Greek term horoscope was derived the term horosastra used for astrology in Sanskrit.

(Iii) Impact of the Central Asian contacts on India's technology.

In the field of technology also the Indian seems to have benefitted from contact with the central Asians.

(ii) Kanishka is represented as wearing trousers and Gang boots.

(iii) Possibly the practice of making leather shoes began in India during this period.

(iv) Similarly gold coins in India were struck by the Kushanas in imitation of Roman gold coins.