Biggest Indian Empires and their Official languages

 

What could be a better way to see the evolution and changing of any culture than focussing on its historical dynasties? Actually there is none, because with every major empire comes a change in customs, traditions, celebrations and the biggest change being language. Why? Because its almost never happened that a major dominant empire gets dethroned by any other empire with similar culture. And with the new empire comes new language. 

And so today we will discuss about the 5 biggest Indian Empires and their official languages:

1. Maurya Empire: The Maurya Empire (320–185 BCE) was the first significant historical Indian empire and unquestionably the biggest one established by an Indian dynasty. One state, Magadha, in present-day Bihar, came to dominate the Ganges plain as a result of state consolidation in northern India, which gave rise to the empire. 

• After Alexander the Great invaded northwest India, Chandragupta Maurya seized control of Magadha and established the Maurya Empire. Both internally and in terms of foreign policy, the empire was first quite successful. Many of its laws were developed by Chanakya, Chandragupta's minister, who published The Arthashastra, which argued for a powerful, centralised, authoritarian state.
• In Mauryan Empire Pali language was the most spoken language. The Middle Indo-Aryan language of north Indian origin known as Pali is the traditional and liturgical language of the Theravada Buddhist canon. 
• Overall, the Old Indo-Aryan Vedic and Sanskrit dialects and Pali appear to be closely related, yet neither of these dialects appear to be the direct ancestors of Pali.

• Due to the Buddha's opposition to using Sanskrit, a learned language, as a medium for his teachings and his encouragement of his disciples to adopt vernacular dialects, Pali became the canonical language of Buddhism. 
• Over time, his sayings were passed down orally from India to Sri Lanka (about third century BCE), where they were recorded in Pali (first century BCE), a literary language with somewhat mixed vernacular origins. 
• Pali eventually rose to prominence and started to be regarded as a universal language. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Vietnam were all given access to Tipiaka (Sanskrit: Tripiaka), the Theravada canon and language. However, Pali continued to be used as a literary language until the 18th century outside of mainland India.

2. Kushan Empire: The Kushan Empire (135 BCE-375 CE) was founded in northern Afghanistan's Bactria region by Yuezhi nomads who came there from Xinjiang as a result of Han Dynasty conquests. Once there, they swept aside the Greco-Bactrian monarchy and crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains into present-day India and Pakistan. 

• They ruled the majority of the Ganges valley and an arc that reached into Xinjiang through Afghanistan and Central Asia during the height of their power. The establishment of commercial routes connecting India, China, Persia, and Rome happened during their rule. Through the Kushans, who eventually relocated their capitals to Mathura, India, and Peshawar, Pakistan respectively. Indian influence, particularly Buddhism, spread throughout Central Asia. 
• This tendency peaked during the reign of Emperor Kanishka (127–151 CE), who called the Fourth Buddhist Council and effectively made Buddhism the state religion while simultaneously deeply extending his territory into central India.
• For administrative purposes, the Kushan Empire first continued to use Greek, but eventually switched to Bactrian. According to the Bactrian Rabatak inscription, which was found in 1993 and transcribed in 2000, the Kushan ruler Kanishka (about 127 AD) switched from using Greek as the official language to using Bactrian ("Arya language"). 
  

• As a result, the Greek language was no longer used in official capacities, and only Bactrian was later attested. However, the Greek script was still employed to write Bactrian. Inscriptions, coins, seals, manuscripts, and other written records all include evidence of the Bactrian language.

3. Gupta Empire: While the Gupta Empire (320–550 CE) was a magnificent empire, it also had a chequered history. It shared similarities with the earlier Maurya Empire, which was centred in the Magadha area and ruled over much of South Asia, but it was only able to expand into what is now North India.

• India saw its golden period during the Gupta dynasty, when much of its illustrious literature and science were created. However, the Guptas were also responsible for the rigidification of caste and the ongoing devolution of authority to regional leaders. 

• During this period, Bengal, which had previously been a sparsely populated swampy region, saw the expansion of Indian culture. and the invention of chess, as well as the first clarification of numerous astronomical and mathematical systems. 
• During this time of peace, the Guptas' primary accomplishments were artistic and intellectual. Chess was created during this time, zero was first utilised, and numerous other astronomical and mathematical systems were clarified. 

• The primary language used in that empire was Sanskrit. The Gupta dynasty saw a rebirth of the Sanskrit language. It was widely used and acknowledged as the language of the courts. Sanskrit was adopted by Buddhist scholars, particularly those of the Mahayana school. Even Jain academics who often employed Prakrit and Pali switched. Many eminent poets, dramatists, playwrights, and literary works came into prominence during this time. 
• During this time, Kalidasa rose to prominence and produced two of his most important works, Abhigyanashakuntalam and Meghadoota. Additionally, he wrote Rutusamhar, Raghuvansham, and Kumarasambhava. 
• The Panchatantra, the Puranas, and the Mahabharata were all revised and rewritten throughout this time period as well. During this time, Vishakadatta's Mudra Rakasha, Dandis Dashkumarcharita, Shudrakas Mrichhkatikam, and many other renowned literary works were also written.
• 4. Pratihara Empire: The Pratihara Empire, also known as the Gurjara-Pratiharas (650–1036 CE), is not well known in the West and is even less well known in India. However, it is one of the most important states in South Asian history, and both its size and longevity were greater than those of many other empires. Following the disintegration of the Gupta Empire, the empire began among military clans in western India. During this time, the Rajputs, who would later play a significant role in Indian history, rose to prominence in the desert regions of sections of Gujarat and Rajasthan. 

Majorly two languages were used in the Pratihara Empire- Sanskrit and Prakrit.

• The Pratiharas were able to give their citizens security and support the arts and literature despite the continual threat of war.
• Mahendrapla aka Nirbhayanarendra had the famous Sanskrit poet-dramatist Rajashekhara as his spiritual guide (upadhyaya). Up until the reign of Mahipala, Mahendrapla's son and successor, in whose presence the play Balabharata was presented, Rajashekhara continued to grace the Pratihara court. 
• In addition to the Bharata, the same author also produced the sophisticated poetical work Kvyamms, three more dramas, Blarmyaa, Karpramajar, and Viddhalabhajik. Despite having typical love themes, Rajashekhara's works offer a glimpse of the political climate in northern India at the period because they are strongly related to court politics.

5. Mughal Empire: Babur, an exiled Timurid prince who established himself in Kabul, is credited with founding the Mughal empire. From there, he took control of the Punjab, overthrew the Delhi Sultanate, and then expanded his dominion over northern India. 

• A large portion of the Indian subcontinent was covered by the Mughal Empire. By the time Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, died, the Mughal Empire had expanded southern to what is now Gujarat state and the northern Deccan area of India, as well as northward from Afghanistan to the Bay of Bengal.
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• And during their reign Persian language was made their official language. the Mughal period is considered as the golden period for Persian language. The Akbar's reign is specially referred as The Renaissanance of Persian literature. Several Sanskrit texts were translated into Persian during Akbar's reign. All translation work was completed during the Akbar's period. 
• The Persian language was used to translate the Sanskrit versions of the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, the Atharva-Veda, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Panchatantra. Mulla Abdul Qadir Badayuni translated into Persian the Ramayana and Singhasan Batisi. Faizi translated the Panchatantra into Persian. Maulana Shah Mohammad Shahabadi translated Rajataringini. The Akbar Nama and Ain-i-Akbari were written by Abul Fazl.