FOREIGN INVASION

➮ The Period of 6th century B.C. was marked by political instability in North-West India.
➮ In 516 B.C. the Iranian ruler Darius penetrated into North-West India. Darius annexed Punjab, west of Indus and Sindh.
➮ This area constituted the 20th kshatrapy (province) of Iran.
➮ The Indian Kshatrapy included Sindh, the North-West frontier, and part of Punjab.
➮ The Iranian Scribes brought into India the Kharoshti script.
➮ Under the leadership of Alexander of Macedonia, the Greeks destroyed the Iranian Empire.
➮ Alexander marched to India through the Khyber Pass in 326 B.C.
➮ Ambhi was the king of Taxila.
➮ Porus ruled between Jhelum and Ravi.
➮ Porus provided strong resistance to Alexander.
➮ The battle of Hydaspes was fought between Porus and Alexander.
➮ Alexander’s invasion paved the way for the expansion of the Mauryan Empire in northwest India.
Effects of Alexander’s Invasion
➮ It exposed India to Europe by opening up four distinct lines of communication three by land and one by sea.
➮ Due to cultural contacts, a cosmopolitan school of art came up in Gandhara.
➮ It paved the way for the unification of North India under Chandragupta by weakening small states.