Rise of Magadha and Alexanders Invasion

The rise of Magadha and Alexander’s invasion of India were two significant events that shaped the course of ancient Indian history. Magadha, one of the most powerful Mahajanapadas, emerged as a dominant force due to its strategic location, strong rulers, and military innovations. Under dynasties like the Haryanka, Shishunaga, and Nanda, Magadha expanded its influence, paving the way for the Maurya Empire.

Meanwhile, in the west, Alexander the Great’s invasion (327–326 BCE) brought India into direct contact with Greek civilization. Though his campaign was short-lived, it had a lasting impact on Indian polity, trade, and cultural exchanges. The invasion also exposed the weaknesses of fragmented Indian states, indirectly contributing to the rise of a unified Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya.

Haryaka Dynasty

Bimbisara (546 – 494 B.C.)

• He consolidated his position by matrimonial alliances. His first matrimonial alliance was with the ruling family of Kosala. He married Kosaladevi, sister of Prasenajit.
• He was given the Kasi region as dowry which yielded large revenue. Bimbisara married Chellana, a princess of the Licchavi family of Vaisali. This matrimonial alliance secured for him the safety of the northern frontier.
• Moreover, it facilitated the expansion of Magadha northwards to the borders of Nepal. He also married Khema of the royal house of Madra in central Punjab.
• He defeated Brahmadatta of Anga and annexed that kingdom. He maintained friendly relations with Avanti.
• He had also efficiently reorganized the administration of his kingdom.
• Bimbisara was a contemporary of both Vardhamana Mahavira and Gautama Buddha.

Ajatasatru (494 – 462 B.C.)

• He fought against Kosala and Vaisali. His won a great success against a formidable confederacy led by the Lichchavis of Vaisali. This war lasted for about sixteen years.
• He fortified Pataliputra to serve as a convenient base of operations against Vaisali.
• Buddhists and Jains both claim that Ajatasatru was a follower of their religion. But it is generally believed that in the beginning he was a follower of Jainism and subsequently embraced Buddhism.
• He is said to have met Gautama Buddha. This scene is also depicted in the sculptures of Barhut.
• According to the Mahavamsa, he constructed several chaityas and viharas. He was also instrumental in convening the First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha soon after the death of the Buddha.
• The immediate successor of Ajatasatru was Udayin.
• He laid the foundation of the new capital at Pataliputra situated at the confluence of the two rivers, the Ganges and the Son.
• Udayin’s successors were weak rulers and hence Magadha was captured by Saisunaga. Thus, the Haryanka dynasty came to an end and the Saisunaga dynasty came to power.

Saisunaga dynasty

• The genealogy and chronology of the Saisunagas are not clear.
• Saisunaga defeated the king of Avanti which was made part of the Magadhan Empire.
• After Saisunaga, the mighty empire began to collapse. His successor was Kakavarman or Kalasoka.
• During his reign the second Buddhist Council was held at Vaisali.  Kalasoka was killed by the founder of the Nanda dynasty.

Nandas: The First Empire Builders of India

• Their conquests went beyond the boundaries of the Gangetic basin and in North India they carved a well-knit and vast empire.
• Mahapadma Nanda was a powerful ruler of the Nanda dynasty. He uprooted the kshatriya dynasties in north India and assumed the title ekarat.
• The Puranas speak of the extensive conquests made by Mahapadma.
• The Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela of Kalinga refers to the conquest of Kalinga by the Nandas.
• According to the Buddhist tradition, Mahapadma Nanda ruled about ten years. He was succeeded by his eight sons, who ruled successively.
• The last Nanda ruler was Dhana Nanda. He kept the Magadhan empire intact and possessed a powerful army and enormous wealth.
• The enormous wealth of the Nandas is also referred to in the Tamil Sangam work Ahananuru by the poet Mamulanar.
• Dhana Nanda was the last Nanda king who is described as an arrogant and oppressive ruler which imposed heavy taxes on a common man
• Taking advantage of this, Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya initiated a popular movement against the Nanda rule. It was during this time that Alexander invaded India.

Persian and Greek Invasions

Cyrus (558-530 BCE)

• Cyrus the Great was the greatest conqueror of the Achaemenid Empire.  He was first conqueror who led an expedition and entered into India.
• He captured the Gandhara region. All Indian tribes to the west of the Indus river submitted to him and paid tribute.

Darius I (522- 486 BCE)

• Grandson of Cyrus, conquered the Indus Valley in 518 BCE and annexed the Punjab and Sindh.
• This region became the 20th Satrapy of his empire. It was the most fertile and populous province of the empire.
• He also sent a naval expedition under Skylas to explore the Indus.

Xerxes (465-456 BCE)

• He utilised his Indian province to strengthen his position.
• He deployed Indian infantry and cavalry to Greece to fight but faced a defeat in Greece.  After this failure, the Achaemenians could not follow a forward policy in India.
• However, the Indian province was still under their control.
• Darius III enlisted Indian soldiers to fight against Alexander in 330 BCE.

IRANIAN & MACEDONIAN INVASION

• In North West India small states such as Kamboj, Gandhara and Madara fought one another.  There was no powerful Kingdom like Magadh.
• The area was fertile and rich in natural resources so it attracted the attention of its neighbours.
• The Achaemenid ruler Darius of Iran took advantage of the political disunity in the North West India and penetrated in 516 BC.

ALEXANDER’s INVASION

• Xerxes, successor of Darius employed Indians in a long war against the Greeks and India continue to be the part of Iranian empire till its invasion by Alexander.
• Macedonian king Alexander the Great destroyed the Iranian empire.
• Herodotus the father of history and other Greek historians have painted India as a fabulous land which attracted alexanders attention towards the India.
• The Taxila ruler Ambhi readily submitted but when Alexander reached the Jhelum, he encountered a strongest resistance from the Porus, this was called battle of Hydaspes.
• Alexander defeated Porus but was impressed by his bravery and therefore least told his Kingdom to him and made him he is ally.
• Alexander remain in India for 19 months 326 to 325 BC and return to the Greece placing his governors on his conquest.
• However these Greek positions in India were Lost to the Mauryan rulers.

Effects of Alexander’s invasion

• Alexander’s invasion encouraged political unification of north India under the Mauryas.  The system of small independent states came to an end.
• Alexander’s invasion had also paved the way for direct contact between India and Greece.
• The routes opened by him and his naval explorations increased the existing facilities for trade between India and West Asia.

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Subject: Ancient History

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