With reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the correct chronological order?

Correct Option

The correct chronological order of invaders in ancient India among the given options is Greeks, followed by Sakas, and then Kushanas.

• Greeks: The earliest significant foreign incursion into India was led by Alexander in 326 BCE. This was followed by the establishment of Indo-Greek kingdoms in the northwestern regions of the subcontinent.
• Sakas: Originating from Central Asia, the Sakas (Scythians) invaded India around the 2nd century BCE. They displaced the Indo-Greeks and established their rule in areas including Gandhara, Malwa, and Gujarat.
• Kushanas: The Kushanas, also of Central Asian origin, succeeded the Sakas in the 1st century CE. They established a vast empire, prominently under rulers like Kanishka, and significantly influenced the cultural and economic landscape of ancient India.

Incorrect Options

• Option (B) Greeks-Kushanas-Sakas: This sequence is incorrect because the Kushanas invaded India after the Sakas, not before them.
• Option (C) Sakas-Greeks-Kushanas: This sequence is incorrect as the Greek invasions and subsequent Indo-Greek rule preceded the arrival of the Sakas in India.
• Option (D) Sakas-Kushanas-Greeks: This sequence is incorrect because the Greeks were the earliest among these three groups to invade and establish influence in ancient India.