Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c11.2

c11.2

In a previous chapter we traced the expansion and consolidation of the Magadhan empire under the Nandas. The New Monarchy was exposed to a two-fold danger. On the one hand there were symptoms of popular disaffection with the regime which did not augur well for the future. Besides this there appeared on the north-western horizon the spectre of foreign dominion. Alexander, it is true, had to retire from the Beas but his "successors" inherited his ambition and some of his plans. The lament was no doubt heard that the pursuit of Alexander's policy and retention of his conquests required "royal troops under the command of some distinguished general"¹. Neither of these conditions could be fulfilled for some time after Alexander's death. The Macedonian Regents² from 323 to 317 B.C. had to be content with a sort of condominium on the Indian borderland. It did not, however, take long to consolidate the *Yavana* forces in Western Asia under a new leader so that Indians had once more to prepare themselves for their fiery onset.