Category Ancient India

          Megasthenes was a Greek historian from the kingdom of Ionia. The king Seleucus-I sent him as an ambassador to the court of King Chandragupta Maurya. His report about the culture, history and religion of India was the basis of western knowledge about India.

          Megasthenes described the people of Pataliputra as skilled in the arts, and as having plenty of nourishing food. There were not many thieves, and people often left their houses and property unguarded. He described the people of Pataliputra as uncomplicated in their manners, and as seldom going to court against one another.

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              Eight years after being crowned king, Ashoka decided to annex Kalinga, or present day Orissa, into his kingdom. This was the first and last battle that Ashoka ever fought. Though Ashoka won, he was horrified by the sight of the dead and wounded on the battlefield. Over one hundred and fifty thousand   soldiers were captured, and over one hundred thousand were killed. This experience changed Ashoka, and he swore that he would never wage war again. He took up Buddhism, and vowed to practice only virtuous actions in the future.

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          The most important development after the fall of the Mauryas was the arrival of foreign tribal groups into India. Around 200 BC, the Indo-Greeks from Afghanistan began to attack Indian territories. Ashoka’s weak successors could not withstand this invasion.

          The Indo-Greeks were, therefore, able to conquer large areas in India and establish kingdoms there. The most famous Indo-Greek was King Menander, also called Milinda. His capital was at Sakala, which is now Sialkot, in Pakistan. He was very interested in Buddhism, and his discussions with a great Buddhist scholar of the time have been put together in a book called ‘Milinda Panho’ or ‘The questions of Milinda.’ Milinda’s reign was long and successful. His coins testify to the prosperity and extent of Milinda’s empire.

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          Did you know that the national emblem of India has been taken from the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath, and that the Ashoka chakra on the Indian flag was Ashoka’s symbol for the wheel of Dharma?

          Ashoka spread the teachings of Buddha and his own messages by engraving them on stone pillars throughout his kingdom. Since he wanted his words to be everlasting, he chose a medium that would never rust or decay.

          The Ashoka pillars, as they are now called, were over forty feet high and extremely heavy. They are found from Afghanistan in the north to Karnataka in the south. The messages on these pillars were written in Pali, a simple form of Sanskrit, which the common people spoke during Ashoka’s time.

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          The great Indian emperor, Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. At his birth, his mother is believed to have said, “Now I am Ashoka”, which means ‘Now I am without sorrow.’ Therefore, the child was named ‘Ashoka’. In 268 BC, Ashoka was crowned king of Magadha, and he proved himself very courageous and a good administrator. He ruled over and empire that covered two-thirds of the Indian continent! He was the most famous of the Mauryan kings, and was one of the greatest rulers of India.

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          Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, became Chandragupta’s prime minister, and legend describes him as being the author of a book titled Arthashastra. ‘Arthashastra’ means the science of property and material success. This success includes political and diplomatic strategy aimed at uniting India.

          According to Kautilya, a ruler should use any means to attain his goal, and his actions required no moral sanction. The only problems discussed are of the most practical kind. Though kings were allowed a free rein, the citizens were subject to a rigid set of rules. Much of our knowledge about the state policy of the Mauryas comes from the Arthashastra, which is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy.

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            Chandragupta was the founder of the Maurya dynasty, which ruled ancient India for about 140 years. He was not born a prince. He came from an ordinary family and it is believed that Chandragupta was raised by peacock trainers.

           Some say, he came from a land of peacocks, and that is why he was called ‘Maurya’, a word that comes from ‘mayura’, which means peacock. Chandragupta was the pupil of a brilliant Brahmin called Chanakya. Under his guidance, he started taking over the small villages on the outskirts of the kingdom ruled by King Dhanananda. Finally, in 321 BC, he conquered the capital, Pataliputra, and overthrew King Dhanananda. Chandragupta’s troops conquered many north Indian kingdoms and claimed lands that stretched as far west as Afghanistan. In this way, Chandragupta united northern India under one ruler for the first time in history, and established the Mauryan Empire.

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          Alexander’s invasion resulted in the establishment of Greek settlements in India. It taught the Indian kings the need to be more united among themselves in order to fight off invaders. The skill and discipline of the Greek army inspired the need for a better army.

          Many small kingdoms were destroyed, leading to the establishment of a new empire. India thus came into contact with the European world, and land and sea routes to India became well known. The Greek influence on Indian art can be seen in the Gandhara sculptures, as well as in architecture and science. In short, the Greek influence restructured the Indian states and society, and changed the fabric of the North Indian artistic and scientific world.

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          As Alexander marched through India he fought battles, built altars, and founded cities. One city he called Boukephala in honour of his favourite horse Bucephalus, which died and was buried there.

          Other cities he called Alexandria in honour of his own name. As they journeyed, Alexander and his soldiers saw many new and strange sights. At last, Alexander reached the city of Lahore, and marched on to the banks of the river Sutlej beyond. He was eager to reach the holy river Ganges, and conquer the people there. However, his men had grown weary of fighting under the burning sun and torrential rains of India, and they begged him to go no further. Therefore, greatly against his own will, Alexander turned back.

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          The greatest battle fought by Alexander in India was at Jhelum. The Indian infantry attacked with 20,000 men and 130 elephants. The trumpeting, ferocious elephants were defeated by Alexander, but he suffered great losses, too.

          Porus, King of the Punjab, led the final elephant charge in person. He lost more than 12,000 troops and both of his sons were also killed in battle. Porus was finally captured and brought to meet Alexander. Porus was a magnificent figure of a man, tall and handsome. His bearing had lost none of its pride, and his air was of one brave man meeting another. He was a king, who was in the presence of another king with whom he had fought honourably for his kingdom. Alexander asked Porus whether he had any request. Porus replied that he only wished to be treated like a king. His answer so impressed Alexander, that he returned Porus’ kingdom to him.

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