XERXES and INDIA ( Persian Invasions on India 500 BC to 300 BC)

India is land famous for its knowledge , riches , spices and clothes , Some areas of india also connected to the parts of famous silk route from china to Italy .Ancient Indian border touches to the Persia in Central Asia , therefore conflicts between Persian empire and india was not unusual .

In the 600 BC onwards Achaemenid empire began their invasions on their east and west borders i.e towards India and Greece .The North western part of india which was wealthy part  did not have any powerful kingdom like Magadh to bring the entire region under one organised kingdom. There were many small kingdoms who were fighting with each other .The Persian rulers took advantage of political instability in this region and begin their attacks on north west part of India.

Cyrus what is the founder of Achaemenid empire in Iran he was the first ruler to attack on Indian border land and captured Gandara region( modern Afghanistan).

Many Indian tribes living in  the west part of the Indus river submitted to Cyrus many inscriptions mention  that Gandara was under the control of Cyrus

Darius-I  grandson of the  Cyrus also attacked on Indus Valley and conquered it.In  520 BC west of Indus River was controlled by Darius-I  and this area become the most precious area of Persian empire .

Greek and Persian descriptions mention that 360 talent of gold was paid as a tribute to the Persian empire from this province further greek authors also mentioned that many Indian tribes were also employed in the Persian army when it attacked on the greek lands. Darius-I also send a naval expedition to India.

Xerxes the son of Darius-I  put all his powers towards Greek kingdoms ( Remember the story of 300 ) but he also  strengthen his positions on the india provinces .After the defeat of Xexes Indian cavalries and infantry came back to india . Thus the defeat of Persians in Greece benefited India and North west Province start becoming free from the control of Persian empire .

Effects of the Persian Invasion 

1. it resulted in Indo-Irnian trade relations , Archaeologists found Iranian coins in the North west frontier of India .

2. The Khroshthi Script was introduced in India .

3. Iranian Sculptures also influenced Indian Art and Sculpture .

4. Legend and Stories of Wealth of India also paved the way for the  Invasion of Alexander ,but  India was prepared to face this attack under  the Great  Empire Magadha .

British East India Company :- India

The  East India company also known as East India trading company or the British East India company was founded in 1600 AD ,it was formed to trade in Indian Ocean initially Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia.

The company seized large part of Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia and Hong Kong.

Originally East India company was termed as a "Governors and the company of merchants of London trading into the East Indies " it wanted to trade in cotton silk indigo sugar spices tea and opium. Later on East India Company captured , controlled and colonised almost all parts of South East Asia which consist modern Afghanistan ,Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka , Myanmar.

First representatives of East India company Sir Thomas Row and Sir William Hawking came to India under the reign of Mughal Emperor JAHANGIR son of Emperor Akbar in  1608 by the ship Hector , Mughal Emperor Give east India company permission to establish Factory at Surat .No body had ever  imagined that with in 200 years this innocent trading company will establish the one of the biggest Empires of the World .

After the decline of Mughal power in 1707 A.D (Death of Emperor Aurangzeb) and fall of Maratha power in third battle of Panipat 18765 A.D , East India Company become dominant power in India .

French and Portuguese Companies were also defeated and East India Company establish its empire India unto 1850 A.D.

in 1857 A.D a major uprising (First War of Independence ) started in India to oppose oppressive policies of East India Company but crushed down by the Brutal suppression and atrocities on Indian . Finally British crown take over the empire of East India Company in its hand and after 1858 A.D India came under direct control of British Crown . 

After a long non violent freedom struggle (unique in world)  under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi India wins freedom in 1947 A.D after partition of Indian Subcontinent in two Nations India and Pakistan by the British Government.

Under development ,poverty ,illteracy are the problem still faced by the south east Asia  due to long history of Colonialism .

Indus Valley Civilization : Wonders of Ancient World

 Ancient world has seen many advanced civilisations  Egyptian ,Chinese ,Mesopotamian and Indus Valley civilisation . Indus Valley civilisation was situated in Indian subcontinent around 3500 BC to 1500 BC these dates are not well established , as new discoveries in the field of archaeology are coming we are getting new timeline for Indus Valley civilisation .

 

Indus Valley civilisation also be named as Harppan civilisation because it was first founded in Harappa in 1924 A.D Under the leader ship of Sir John Marshal by Dr. R.D Banerjee and D.R Sahani .

Total area covered by Indus Valley civilisation was near 1,60,000 km² comprising  Morden Afghanistan Pakistan and north west parts of India. More than 200 sites are already discovered in different parts of Indians of continent some of the major sites of Harappan civilisation are Harappa (Punjab) , Mohenjodaro (Sindh ) ,Chanhudaro (Sindh ) , Lothal (Gujrat)  , Rakhigrahi (Harayana) , Dholavira ( Gujrat ) ,Kalibangan ( Rajasthan )  , Balakot( Pakistan ) , Manda , Alamgirpur , Surkotda and Mehargarh etc.

Some of the distinct features of Indus Valley civilisation are town planing , drainage system , religious beliefs , trade and agriculture .

                                                          Harappa Site 

Major Features of Indus Valley civilisation

1. Town planning :- One of the striking features of Indus Valley civilisation is its town planning , almost every town be it in border of Afghanistan or 1000 km away from it in India is dived in two parts 1. lower town and 2. Citadel .Every structure is  made of baked bricks and designed well in symmetry . It is a miracle that people of Harappa managed to maintain this similarity of towns across the sub continent for 1500 years continuously .

2. Drainage System :-  People of Harrpan civilisation have great sense of health and hygine  , all the drains in the city were intersect on 90 angle , drains were build of baked bricks and covered with stones .Even in todays Morden world all the major cities are suffering from problems of the water drainage system . 

                                          Drainage sytem 

3. Agriculture and trade :- Harappan civilisation was very enrich in agricultural production , more than 20 types of crop evidences were  founded in different sites of Harappa . Trade relation of harappa was extended unto Mesopotamian civilisation and beyond .Lothal ,Surkotda,Kalibangan were famous ports which were famous for trade through sea route .

4. Religious beliefs :- Although we are not successfully depicted Harappa script yet we have found some pictorial inscriptions on the seals along with terracotta figures . It was suggested by the archaeologists that worship of Mother Earth , unicorn ,bull with hump ,snakes and fire is prevalent in the society .

 Pashupati Shiva in meditative posture , sitting in Yoga Posture ...Is yoga existed at the time of Harrapan Civilisation 

Fall of the Civilisation :- Archaeologists had given different theories on the decline of the Indus Valley civilisation . For example Mr. A.H Wheeler suggested Attack of Aryans /Indra was the main reason for the fall of civilisation . Some suggested that Great flood ,over use of resources , environmental imbalance and constant decline in trade was responsible for the end of Harappan civilisation . 

Still Many questions to be answered and many mysteries to be solved ...we still amazed by the Greatness of this civilisation .