They belong to Parthia in northern Iran, invaded India and established a small kingdom in the north-west. They were called as Pahlavas in India.
Gondofernes (1st century A.D.) was the most famous ruler of this dynasty. St Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus and a missionary from Syria visited his court. St Thomas is supposed to be the first Christian to arrive in India. An Italian traveller, Marco Polo who visited India in the 13th century informed that he saw the tomb of St Thomas in Madras. It can be deduced that St Thomas came to India in 1stcentury A.D., and reached South India propagating Christianity and passed away in Madras. Marco Polo visited Motupalli (Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh), the main seaport of Kakatiyas and gave an account of the then Kakatiya ruler Rudrama Devi.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who were the Parthians/Pahlavas, and when did they rule during the Post-Mauryan Age?
Answer: The Parthians, also known as Pahlavas, were a nomadic Iranian people who established a powerful empire in the Post-Mauryan Age. They ruled from approximately 247 BCE to 224 CE, primarily in the region of present-day Iran and parts of Central Asia.
2. What were the key characteristics of the Parthian/Pahlava administration and governance?
Answer: The Parthian administration was characterized by a decentralized system of rule. Local rulers, known as satraps, enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy. The Parthians adopted many administrative practices from their predecessors, the Seleucids, and maintained a delicate balance between central authority and regional autonomy.
3. How did the Parthians contribute to trade and cultural exchange during their rule?
Answer: The Parthians played a crucial role in facilitating trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. Their empire became a nexus for commerce between the East and West, fostering the flow of goods, ideas, and technologies across diverse regions.
4. What was the religious landscape during the Parthian/Pahlava period?
Answer: Zoroastrianism was the predominant religion during the Parthian era, and the rulers actively patronized this faith. However, the empire was characterized by religious tolerance, allowing various other religious communities to coexist peacefully.
5. How did the Parthian Empire come to an end, and what followed their rule?
Answer: The Parthian Empire faced internal strife and external pressure from the Sassanids, another Persian dynasty. In 224 CE, the last Parthian ruler was defeated by the Sassanid king Ardashir I, marking the end of the Parthian Empire. The Sassanids then established their rule, ushering in a new era in Persian history.
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