• There were numerous ethnic groups with roots in western China and Central Asia. These were Indo-Greeks, the Scythians or the Shakas, the Parthians or the Pahlavas and the Kushanas. It was through such political processes that India came in closer contact with the central Asian politics and culture. 

• In the further south, the Satavahanas established their separate dominion after Kalinga declared its independence. Because of this, the Sunga dynasty quickly replaced the Mauryan empire, which was limited to the Gangetic valley.

Sunga Dynasty (185-73 BC)

• • Pushyamitra Sunga, the commander-in-chief of the Mauryas, was the founder of the Sunga dynasty. He took the throne after killing the last Mauryan emperor. The biggest threat to Sunga reign was defending north India against invasions by Bactrian Greeks coming from the northwest.
  • Greek troops advanced up to Pataliputra and almost captured it. However, Pushyamitra was able to recover the lost territory. He also fought a campaign against Kharavela of Kalinga who invaded north India.
  • Pushyamitra embraced Brahmanism . He is referred to as a Buddhist persecutor in Buddhist literature.Buddhist sources refer him as a persecutor of Buddhism. The Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi were renovated and notably improved during his rule.
  • When Pushyamitra passed away, his son Agnimitra took over as ruler. Devabhuti, the last Sunga emperor, was assassinated by Vasudeva Kanva, the ancestor of the Kanva dynasty, who was also his minister.
  • For 45 years, the Kanva dynasty ruled. After the fall of the Kanvas, the history of Magatha was a blank until the establishment of the Gupta dynasty.

• The rule of the Sungas was important because they defended the Gangetic valley from foreign invasions. In the cultural sphere, the Sungas revived Brahmanism and horse sacrifice. They also promoted the growth of Vaishnavism and the Sanskrit language.

Administration of Shungas

• As nuclear kingdoms emerged, royal authority tended to disperse, but Mauryan administration in the provinces through royal princes persisted. 
• As nuclear kingdoms were established inside the empire, royal power tended to become less centralized.  
• The provinces made up the empire. Districts, or Janapadas, were created by further subdividing the provinces.  
• The monarch served as the head of state and was aided by the Mantriparishad, or council of ministers.
• The council of ministers provided the monarch with guidance on topics of governance and policy, and the king was ultimately in charge of overseeing the entire administration of the empire.