Who were the first foreign rulers of northwest India in the post-Mauryan period?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Bactrian Greeks.
The first foreign rulers of northwest India in the post-Mauryan period were the Bactrian Greeks. After the decline of the Mauryan Empire around 185 BCE, the northwestern regions of India, including parts of present-day Punjab and Sindh, came under their control. The Bactrian Greeks, descendants of Alexander the Great’s forces, established kingdoms that facilitated cultural and commercial exchanges between Greece and India. They influenced art, architecture, coinage, and trade, and played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism, leaving a lasting impact on the history and cultural development of northwestern India.