Everyone knows Alexander (a Macedonian) made an unsuccessful bid for India in 327 BC.
But few know that the Greeks returned a century later and ruled the Indian northwest until 10 AD.
That’s over two whole centuries.
But few know that the Greeks returned a century later and ruled the Indian northwest until 10 AD.
That’s over two whole centuries.
For perspective, that’s longer than the Mauryas, as long as the Guptas, and as long as the British, both Company and the Crown put together.
The Mughals ruled only a little over century longer.
The Mughals ruled only a little over century longer.
And even after they were gone, the Greek influence lasted yet another century in coinage and architecture.
But that’s not the most incredible part of the story. That bit comes around 30 BC.
But that’s not the most incredible part of the story. That bit comes around 30 BC.
That’s when the Roman emperor Constantine—dude who formalized and mainstreamed Christianity—conquered mainland Greece and all its dependencies in Egypt and Persia.
But he left out India.
Which means that for a brief 40-year window between 30 BC and 10 AD…
But he left out India.
Which means that for a brief 40-year window between 30 BC and 10 AD…
The only surviving Greek kingdom on Earth was not in Greece but in India.
Amused?
More such stories in my book but more importantly, keep in mind something very important every time you wonder why too much Mughals and too little, say, Ashoka in our textbooks:
Amused?
More such stories in my book but more importantly, keep in mind something very important every time you wonder why too much Mughals and too little, say, Ashoka in our textbooks:
There’s stories that have lost their spotlight even to the ones you think have lost theirs to the Mughals.
Instead of complaining, you’d be serving your past better by exploring and sharing.
Give it a shot.
amzn.eu
Instead of complaining, you’d be serving your past better by exploring and sharing.
Give it a shot.
amzn.eu
Sorry, it was Augustus, not Constantine.
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