The Shunga dynasty followed immediately after the downfall of the Mauryas in Magadha. Under the weak successor of the Mauryas, administrative machinery had become weak and finally it was grasped by Pushyamitra Shunga, who established the Shunga Dynasty in Magadha. Pushyamitra Shunga was a pioneer of the vibrant kings of Shunga lineage. The Shunga kings extended their Empire to a vast extent. Under the Shunga kings art and architecture flowered in the form of visual arts, including small terracotta images, larger stone sculptures, and architectural monuments such as the chaitya hall at Bhaja, the stupa at Bharhut, and the renowned Great Stupa at Sanchi. The core of the Great Stupa of the great Mauryan emperor Ashoka was reconstructed under the Shunga patronage. Not only the coverage of the Empire was stretched to a vast extent, the Shunga kings also had brought about cultural prosperity in ancient India. Pushyamitra Shunga was the significant king of the Shunga Dynasty. However after the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra continued some years with prosperity, but could not hold the former magnificence.

Pushyamitra Shunga - Pushyamitra Shunga was originally the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan dynasty. Overthrowing the Mauryan dynasty, Pushyamitra set out to extend his Empire to the farthest limits and also drove away the Yavanas from Indian limits. He had performed the Ashwamedha Yajna in order to establish triumph of Brahmanical revival.

The Later Shungas - The later Shungas however were too incompetent to restrain the administrative machinery with former glory and brilliance, which Pushyamitra Shunga had initiated with such zeal. During their rule, the vast consolidated Empire of the Shunga Dynasty was disintegrated and independent rulers were at continuous strife with one another. Moreover cultural prosperity, which the dynasty had attained during Pushyamitra`s time, had degraded during the later Shungas.