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Meanwhile the scene shifted back to north-western India which during the 6th century B.C. had been isolated from developments in the rest of India and had closer connection with Persian civilization, being politically a part of the Achaemenid empire. A little before 530 B.C. Cyrus, the Achaemenid emperor of Persia, crossed the Hindu kush mountains and received tribute from the tribes of Kamboj, Gandhar and the trans- Indus region. Persian ascendancy in north-western India ended with the conquest of Persia by Alexander of Macedonia in circa 330 B.C. Soon after north-west India was also to succumb to Alexander's armies. In 327 B.C. Alexander, continuing his march across the empire of Darias, entered the Indian provinces of the Achaemenid empire. The Greek campaign in north-west India lasted for about two years. It made no impression historically or politically on India, which is supported by the fact that no mention of Alexander is found in any Indian sources. Alexander came to India in order to reach the eastern most parts of the Darias's empire, to solve the 'problem of Ocean', the limits of which were a puzzle to Greek geographers and to add the fabulous country of India to his list of conquers. The campaign took him across the five rivers of Punjab, at the last of which his soldiers laid down his arms and refused to go further. He then decided to follow the Indus as far as the sea and from there return to Babylon, sending a part of his army via the sea and the remainder by land along the coast. The campaign involved some hard fought battles, such as the now famous Battle of Hydaspes against Porus (Puru), the king of Jhelum region. next page >> |
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