[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) › c7.6 # The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c7.6 The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c7.6 - **Language:** English ### [c7.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c7.6) European students, whose attention has been mainly directed to the Graeco-Roman foundation of modern civilization, may be disposed to agree with the German philosopher in the belief that 'Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian antiquities are never more than curiosities';¹ but, however well founded that opinion may have been in Goethe's day, it can no longer command assent. The researches of orientalists during the last hundred years have established many points of contact between the ancient East and the modern West; and no Hellenist can now afford to profess complete ignorance of the Babylonian and Egyptian culture which forms the bedrock of European institutions. Even China has been brought into touch with Europe; while the languages, literature, art, and philosophy of the West have been proved to be connected by innumerable bonds with those of India. Although the names of even the greatest monarchs of ancient India are at present unfamiliar to the general reader, and awaken few echoes in the minds of any save specialists, it is not unreasonable to hope that an orderly presentation of the ascertained facts of ancient Indian history may be of interest to a larger circle than that of professed orientalists, and that, as the subject becomes more familiar to the reading public, it will be found no less worthy of attention than better known departments of historical study. A recent Indian author justly observes that ‘India suffers to-day in the estimation of the world more through that world’s ignorance of the achievements of the heroes of Indian history than through the absence or insignificance of such achievements’.¹ The following pages may serve to prove that the men of old time in India did deeds worthy of remembrance, and deserving of rescue from the oblivion in which they have been buried for so many centuries. - [Previous: c7.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c7.5) - [Next: c7.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c7.7) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c7.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.smith-1924.c7.6) · Pramāṇa