4/21/2020 Study Notes: Foreign Invasions in India : UPSC & State Services

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Study Notes: Foreign Invasions in India

926 upvotes 30 comments Updated : Jun 25, 2018, 6:50

By : Arpit Kumar Jain

Foreign Invasions in India

North-West India had several small principalities such as Kambojas, Gandharas etc. which
fought against each other. The area did not have any powerful kingdom like Magadha which
could be easily entered through passes in Hindukush

Iranian Invasion – 518 BC

Iranian rules Darius penetrated into NW India in 516 BC and annexed Punjab, West of Indus
and Sindh. This was 20th province of Iran and contributed 1/3rd of the total revenue of Iran due
to fertile lands. Xerxes, the successor of Darius, employed a large number of Indians in the war
against Greeks.

Results of the contacts

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The impetus to trade and commerce.

Kharoshthi script came into India
Iranian in uence on Ashokan sculptures is clearly seen
Iranian invasion eventually led to Alexander’s invasion

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Alexander’s Invasion

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He defeated the last king of the line of Darius, Xerxes in 333 BC and 331 BC. After occupying
the realm of the Persian king, Alexander crossed the Hindukush mountains in eastern

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Afghanistan in 327 BC.

After annexing Iran, Alexander moved into India through Khyber Pass. Ambhi, the ruler of
Taxila readily submitted. He met Porus at Jhelum where he defeated him in the Battle of
Hydaphes but later restored his kingdom to him. Alexander marched till the Beas river but his
army refused to accompany him. He remained in India from 326-325 B.C after which he was
forced to retreat.

Results of the invasion

Direct contact between India and Greek was established through four distinct Land and Sea
routes which led to increased trade and commerce.

Cities established: Alexandria in Kabul, Boukephala beside Jhelum, Alexandria in Sindh

Alexanders’ expeditions have given us clearly dated records of his campaign, valuable
geographical accounts and information about Indian society and economy

Central Asian contacts and their results

The Indo-Greeks

The series of invasions began in 200 BC by the Bactrian Greeks who were pushed by the
Scythian tribes.

Menander (165-145 BC) was the most famous ruler who was converted to Buddhism by
Nagasena. The questions of Menander were compiled as Milindapanho.
Indo-Greeks were the rst to issue Gold coins in India and they were also the rst to issue
coins which could be de nitely attributed to Kings.
They introduced the features of Hellenistic Art through which Gandhara style had
developed.

The Shakas (1st BC – 4th AD)

The Shakas or Scythians replaced Indo-Greeks. There were ve branches of Shakas and
they controlled a much larger territory.
Vikrama Samvat started in 57 BC when a king called as Vikramaditya in Ujjain defeated
the Shakas.
Rudradaman I (AD 130-150) was a famous king who ruled over western India. He
repaired the Sudarshana lake in Kathiawar.

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The Parthians

They originally belonged to Iran and they replaced the Shakas in the NW India.
During the times of Gondophernes, St.Thomas is said to have come to India for the
propagation of Christianity.

The Kushans

They were nomadic people of Central Asia who ruled from the Oxus to the Ganges.
The Kadaphises I and II ruled for 28 years from 50 AD. They were replaced by the
Kanishka.
Peshawar was their rst capital and Mathura the second.
Kanishka started the Shaka era in 78 AD.
Kanishka patronized Buddhism by holding a Buddhist council in Kashmir where the
doctrines of the Mahayana form of Buddhism was nalized.

Impact of the Central Asian Contacts

Advances in building activities and pottery

They had a better cavalry
They identi ed themselves as an integral part of India
Satrapy system of Government developed
They appointed military governors called Strategos
Mahayana style of Buddhism developed with Gandhara and Mathura schools of Art
supporting the Buddhism.

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Jun 25 UPSC & State Services

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