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.