Public Administration in Ancient India c17.24

c17.24

In view of the peculiar position of affairs in India in ancient times, alliances were regarded as a great necessity by most of the Powers. The purposes, however, for which alliances were made were various. Sometimes, the object of an alliance was the joint acquisition of territory, or the colonisation of uninhabited tracts of country. More often, kings combined to crush a powerful rival. But in a large majority of cases, alliances were made for the purpose of defence against other Powers.¹