Why alexander returned from india

The areas lying to the west of Punjab were entrusted to satraps governors and Macedonian garrisons. On the way back, there were military encounters with ganas republics such as the Malloi Malavas , Oxydrakai Kshudrakas , Sibae Shibi and Agalassoi.

Alexander died two years later in Babylon in BCE. The people, especially, the skin colour, was nothing like they had seen before. Interestingly, they settled on the theory that Indians were essentially Ethiopians, but had a significant infusion of Greek blood. This, they argued must have happened when Dionysus, the God of wine, invaded India! When Dionysus arrived, he founded many cities and established their laws…he also taught them to plow the earth once he gave them seeds himself…He also armed them with weapons for war.

This most probably was a reference to the Banyan. He also spoke about trees that had a sweet bark and sweet fruits, which tasted almost like dates. On the fauna, he was most impressed by the parrot, never seen by the Greeks until now.

This left Nearchus floored. Nearchus also attests to the advancement of medical science in India. He says that at one point when Greek physicians failed to provide remedies for snake-bite to Alexander, the king gathered Indian healers who were also able to cure other diseases and painful conditions.

Arrian, about years later, quotes Nearchus as saying that Indians dye their beards of one hue or the other according to taste — white, blue, green, purple, red. He also mentions that Indians had seven castes — the highest is that of 1 Sophists or philosophers, followed by the 2 tillers of the soil, 3 herdsmen, 4 handicraftsmen and retail dealers, 5 warriors, 6 superintendents or inspectors and the last caste was of the 7 councillors of the state. Perhaps he can be forgiven for he had never actually visited India and fell prey to Chinese whispers, writing about what he had heard about India from travellers and previous accounts.

Around the time when Alexander left, northern India was in a state of political flux. Most of the Mahajanapadas had either collapsed or were a part of the Nanda Empire. The ones that were independent were seen as too weak. The time was ripe to unite the subcontinent. It is said that the two may even have met! How they met and what impression they carried of each other can only be imagined! First, as the Greek army retreated, his trusted men stayed back to lead new kingdoms and dynasties — from present-day Afghanistan to Egypt.

He also took care of assigning his captured kingdoms to able generals. One of them was Seleucus Nicator whose daughter was given in marriage to Chandragupta. His ambassador in the Mauryan court was Megasthenes.

Culture, art, faith and history were shaped as the land that was carved by the sword came to be stitched together by the Greeks who stayed back. Dipping into a vast array of material — archaeological data, historical research and contemporary literary records, we seek to understand the many layers that make us.

This series is brought to you with the support of Mr K K Nohria, former Chairman of Crompton Greaves, who shares our passion for history and joins us on our quest to understand India and how the subcontinent evolved, in the context of a changing world. After his death in Babylonia BC , most of the Macedonia generals returned home to settle disputes of succession. A considerable number of Greek colonists remained in the Punjab, linked by marital ties to their adopted country.

The supporter of Inter-Racial marriages. He dreamed of uniting the East and the West by the natural bonds of marriage, and ruling over it.

How the rule of Alexander helped India? By curbing the fierce tribes, who inhabited the hills and passes of north-west India, Alexander paved the way for the rise of a united empire under the Mauryas. The Indo-Greek contact persisted during the Seleucid period. The Mauryan kings maintained close ties with the Greeks. Indianisation Gharwapasi of Greeks.

The Bactrian Greeks ruled the North West for two hundred years. Throughout this long period, thousands of Indianized Greeks remained in India, to merge eventually with the local people and to add their bit to the shaping of the Indian culture. Continue With.

Sign in with gmail. They refused to practice proskynesis and some plotted his death. Increasingly paranoid, Alexander ordered the death of one of his most esteemed generals, Parmenio, in B.

Pushed too far, Alexander killed Cleitus with a spear, a spontaneous act of violence that anguished him. Some historians believe Alexander killed his general in a fit of drunkenness—a persistent problem that plagued him through much of his life.

Alexander struggled to capture Sogdia, a region of the Persian Empire that remained loyal to Bessus. Supposedly, one of those on the rock was a girl named Roxane. As the story goes, Alexander fell in love with Roxane on sight. He married her despite her Sogdian heritage and she joined him on his journey.

Some tribes surrendered peacefully; others did not. Even so, after a fierce battle in a raging thunderstorm, Porus was defeated. One event took place at Hydaspes which devastated Alexander: the death of his beloved horse, Bucephalus. Alexander wanted to press on and attempt to conquer all of India, but his war-weary soldiers refused, and his officers convinced him to return to Persia. So Alexander led his troops down the Indus River and was severely wounded during a battle with the Malli.

After recovering, he divided his troops, sending half of them back to Persia and half to Gedrosia, a desolate area west of the Indus River.

In early B. Wanting to unite the Persians and Macedonians and create a new race loyal only to him, he ordered many of his officers to marry Persian princesses at a mass wedding. He also took two more wives for himself. But after Alexander took a firm stand and replaced Macedonian officers and troops with Persians, his army backed down. To further diffuse the situation, Alexander returned their titles and hosted a huge reconciliation banquet.

By B. Thanks to his insatiable urge for world supremacy, he started plans to conquer Arabia. After surviving battle after fierce battle, Alexander the Great died in June B. Some historians say Alexander died of malaria or other natural causes; others believe he was poisoned. Either way, he never named a successor. Now We May Know Why. Many conquered lands retained the Greek influence Alexander introduced, and several cities he founded remain important cultural centers even today.

The period of history from his death to 31 B. Alexander the Great. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Alexander the Great of Macedon Biography. Alexander of Macedonia. San Jose State University. The Battle of Issus. Fordham University. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present.