Indian Art in the Later Era

In the beginning of the Christian era, significant historical evolution took place in northern India. The Buddhism saw a mutation from its earlier Hinyana form to Mahayana (larger vehicle) form which was more humanistic, and along with urging the individual to work out his own path to Nirvana, provided him the opportunity to achieve the same with the help of merciful Bodhisattvas (those close to achieving Nirvana). The Buddha, about this time, changed from a guiding human being to a savior and a god. During this period, the bustling trade route spanning a quarter of the globe called the Silk Route, due to hostile Parthian influences, dropped from the usual Levant region to pass through the mountain passes of India. The camel caravans en-route to the sea took along with them the Asian silks and spices for the western world and brought back eagerly imported Roman creations and exotic objects of gold and glass. In the Deccan, the Andhras flourished from this profitable trade whereas in the north of India, the Yueh-Chi, now firmly settled from Bactria, Gandhara, Kashmir to as far south as Banaras and Sanchi (as the Kushan dynasty), controlled and benefited from it.