[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924) › c19.12 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c19.12 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c19.12 - **Language:** English ### [c19.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c19.12) The observation of Pliny that numerous (\*plerique\*) authors include in India the four satrapies of Gedrosia, Arachosia, Aria, and the Paropanisadae must have been based on the fact that at some period previous to A. D. 77, when his book was published, those four provinces were actually reckoned as part of India. At what time other than the period of the Maurya dynasty is it possible that those provinces should have formed part of India ? Pliny’s information about the country was mainly drawn from the writings of Megasthenes and the other contemporaries of Alexander, Chandragupta and Seleukos ; and the natural interpretation of his observation requires us to believe that the four satrapies in question were ‘the large part of Arianē’ ceded by Seleukos. Kābul and Kandahār frequently have been held by the sovereigns of India, and form part of the natural frontier of the country. Herāt (Aria) is undoubtedly more remote, but can be held with ease by the power in possession of Kābul and Kandahār. - [Previous: c19.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c19.11) - [Next: c19.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c19.13) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c19.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c19.12) · Pramāṇa