Examine the nature and impact of India's contacts with Central Asia during the 1st to 3rd century CE. How did these interactions influence India's political, cultural and economic spheres ?
Verified Answer
Under the Kushans and Indo-Greeks, trans-Eurasian trade flourished along the Silk Route, driving urban growth and introducing high-purity gold coinage. Politically, it introduced divine kingship notions (Devaputra) and the satrapy system. Culturally, it spurred the Gandhara school of art, enriched Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, and introduced stitched attire.