that saved the Indus River civilization from destruction
Two massive armies clashed in 305 BC on the Indus River lowlands. They had both travelled quite a distance from home. Control of the Indus River Valley's precious land was in jeopardy.
Greek monarch Seleucus, the most powerful of the late Alexander the Great's generals, who had established his rule over most of Alexander's conquests and triumphed over several rulers, led one force. He set out to cross the Indus in an effort to increase his territory, gain glory, and go farther than anyone had ever gone before, including Alexander. The Greek culture would remain unchallenged as the best in the world.
A man who had already established a solid reputation for himself in India led the opposing force. He had successfully planned the invasion of much of northern India with the aid of his lieutenants. The pinnacle of his accomplishments would be taking control of the lush Indus River valley, which served as the cradle of Indian civilisation. Indians would experience dread, amazement, and love upon hearing the name Maurya. He went by Chandragupta.
On the Indus River's plains, two powerful rulers came face to face. The outcome of their impending conflict would determine the fate of the Indian continent.
Warning: there will be no fighting between them. The two kings agreed that making friends would be preferable to making enemies. Greek historian Appian claims in his Syriaca that the two together to an understanding. Seleucus abandoned his plans to capture the Indus River valley, which allowed Chandragupta to include the cities and inhabitants of the area into his expanding empire. The two kings "contracted a marriage relationship," according to Appian, signifying that they established a new union and joined their dynasties.
Finally, Chandragupta gave Seleucus 500 trained war elephants as payment for the Greek army' retreat from India.
Before abandoning it all and settling into a monastery, where he eventually vanishes from history, Chandragupta would go on to build up and extend the first great empire of India, becoming the Alexander of India and one of the most admired people in the world. The Maurya Empire, which he would establish, would lead Indian civilisation to its firsttremendous pinnacle; his grandson Ashoka reigned over the most peaceful period of human history.
Seleucus would go with his elephants to the west, where he kept up his control over western culture. Those elephants were helpful in Seleucus's battles with his adversaries for control of the Greek realm because they terrified war veterans and broke impregnable phalanxes. The elephants of Chandragupta found their purpose halfway around the world—on the battlefields of Anatolia—after being born in the jungles of Magadha, raised in Indian army camps, transported over the mountains of Persia, and crossing the great rivers of Mesopotamia.
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