Trade and Trade Routes in Ancient India c8.3

c8.3

It is important to remember in connection with the campaigns of Alexander against India that owing to the tribal rebellions in the fifth century B.C. the eastern frontier of the Achaemenian empire had become very much contracted and the republics in Sindh and the Panjab had gained their independence. The statement of Strabo that the frontier of India and Iran was on the Sindh river is not correct, because according to Arrian the Iranian Kshatrapas had no control beyond Laghman and Nagarahāra.¹ Foucher is of the opinion that the statement of the companions of Alexander that he proceeded beyond the Indus is purposefully incorrect. In his opinion in the spring of 326 B.C., when Alexander reached Taxila he had conquered most of the Achaemenian empire. The revolt of the Macedonian soldiers on the Beas river according to Foucher was due to the fact that after conquering the Achaemenian empire they did not want to proceed beyond. Alexander's decision to march back by the Indus informs us that some part of the Achaemenian empire had yet remained to be conquered. In the spring of 325 B.C., when Alexander reached the confluence of the Indus with other rivers of the Panjab, then according to the Behistun inscription he had reconquered Gandhāra.² The land extending to the confluence of the Akesines with other rivers when it was put under the control of the Kshatrapas then Hindu-Sindhu-Sind province of Darius was re-established.³