Early Pakistan

THIS GANDHARA CIVILIZATION
One of the main centres of Buddhism was Gandhara, a state in north-west Pakistan, covering the Vale
of Peshawar and parts of the valleys of the Kabul and Swat rivers·. It was a country on the great crossroads of the trade routes
from India, China, central and western Asia.
Many sculptors, artists, writers and teachers settled there, especially in the capital, Taxila.
A new style of art was created there, especially in sculpture. This was the result of Greek influence on the local style and culture.
 Remains of Gandhara sculpture are also found in present-day Swat. A famous Chinese scholar, who studied there
 in the 5th centurYAD, describes Taxila as a huge, flourishing and prosperous city, with many monasteries and temples.
 Soon after this, it was destroyed by the invading Huns, and did not recover. Another Chinese scholar, visiting the
area in the 7th century, described Taxila as just a ruin. Even the site of the city was lost, until archaeologists
in the second half of the 19th century discovered and excavated it. Today, Taxila is once again a flourishing and important city.
more Greeks
After Alexander's death, Greeks settled in Bactria-modern-day Afghanistan and Tajikistan-again invaded the
subcontinent and set up their capitals in Taxila and Charsadda. One of their rulers was Menander, a wise and good man,
 who encouraged learning. Although he was a Buddhist, he respected all other religions.
The Greeks set up trade routes from the subcontinent to Europe, and Greek remained the
official language for another 150 years.

The Kushans
The Kushans were another people from central Asia, who ir. about 50AD marched into northern India.
Their empire stretched from central Asia to Kashgar in northern China, and from the Bay of Bengal to Bhopal in India.
Their greatest ruler was Kanishka (about 120-150AD), who was a Buddhist but who respected everyone's religious beliefs.
It was under Kanishka that Buddhism split into two groups. One part, a very strict form of the religion, spread to Sri Lanka
and south-east Asia, where it is still practised. The other, which was more moderate, spread to central Asia, China and Japan.
The Kushan Empire broke up around 250AD.
The Guptas
The golden age of the Gupta dynasty began around 350AD. This dynasty was founded by Chandragupta, an Aryan prince,
who eventually ruled over a large empire in the northern part of the subcontinent. However, the invasion of the Huns, an incredibly
savage race from central Asia, in 480.AD, destroyed much of this civilization. The Huns were finally defeated in 550AD,
and in 606AD, Harsha began te rebuild the Gupta Empire. The forty years of Harsha's rule are aiso known as the
Golden Age, as he promoted educatior good government and law and order in the land. Harsha died in 650AD.
We know quite a lot about this tirTe because a Chinese pilgrim, Xuan Zan; lived for many years at Harsha's court, and later wrote
a book about life in the Gupta Empire.
A very important event then took place in the subcontine"" which changed its history, and laid the foundation of present day Pakistan.