Historical Context
- Timeline:
- Iranians invaded India in the 6th century B.C, during the rule of King Darius I in Iran.
- Invasion and occupation of territories in the North-Western Frontier Province, Sind, and Punjab in 516 B.C.
Occupation Duration:
- The Iranian Empire maintained control over these territories until Alexander’s invasion of India.
Condition in India during the Invasion:
- North-East India:
- Smaller principalities and republics gradually merged with the Magadhan Empire.
- North-West India:
- Presented a different picture in the sixth century BC.
- Several small principalities, including the Kambojas, Gandharas, and Madras, were engaged in conflicts.
- Absence of a powerful kingdom like Magadha in the region to unify the warring communities.
- The area’s fertility and rich natural resources made it attractive to neighboring regions.
- Vulnerability to penetration through the passes in the Hindu Kush.
Iranian Invasion of India: Key Points
Achaemenian Rulers’ Strategy:
- Time Frame:
- Achaemenian rulers of Iran expanded their empire concurrently with Magadhan princes in India.
Political Disunity Exploited:
- Achaemenian rulers took advantage of the political disunity prevailing on the north-west frontier of India.
Darius’s Invasion (516 B.C.):
- Ruler:
- Darius I led the invasion, penetrating north-west India in 516 B.C.
- Territories Annexed:
- Annexed the Punjab, west of the Indus, and Sindh.
- Creation of Satrapy:
- The annexed area transformed into the twentieth province or Satrapy of Iran.
- The Iranian Empire comprised a total of twenty-eight satrapies.
- Composition of Indian Satrapy:
- The ‘Indian satrapy’ encompassed Sindh, the north-west frontier, and part of Punjab west of the Indus.
- Military Inclusion:
- Indian subjects were enlisted in the Iranian army.
Role in Greek War (Xerxes’s Reign):
- Xerxes, Darius’s Successor:
- Employed Indians in the long war against the Greeks.
- Continued Rule until Alexander’s Invasion:
- India appeared to remain a part of the Iranian empire until its invasion by Alexander.
Impact of Iranian Invasion on India
1. Political Impact:
- Exposure of Weakness:
- Invasion exposed the weakness of Indian defense in the region, paving the way for Alexander’s conquest.
- Satrap System:
- Persian Satrap system of administration served as a model for later dynasties, especially the Sakas and Kushanas.
- Lesson on Unity:
- Indians learned the necessity of a strong and united empire to repel foreign invasions.
2. Encouragement to Trade:
- Mutual Contacts:
- Growth of trade between the two countries.
- Indian traders reached distant places in the vast Persian Empire.
- Persian goods flowed into India.
3. Settlement of Foreigners:
- Migration:
- Large numbers of foreigners (Greek, Persian, Turks) settled in North-Western India.
- Integration:
- With time, foreigners were completely absorbed among the Indian population.
4. Impact on Art and Architecture:
- Iranian Influence on Indian Art:
- Ashoka adopted Iranian custom of inscribing ideals on stone pillars.
- Iranians influenced the art of polishing in India.
- Cultural Exchange:
- Indian scholars went to Persia, exchanging views with Persian intellectuals.
- Closer ties between the two cultures.
5. Indo-Persian Cultural Exchange:
- Philosophical Exchange:
- Indian scholars visited Persia, fostering an exchange of ideas.
- Change in Outlook:
- Contact with Persia brought a change in the outlook of Indian people.
6. Influence on Mauryan Rule:
- Ceremonies and Rituals:
- Mauryan rulers adopted certain Persian ceremonies and rituals.
- Asoka’s Edicts:
- Asoka’s architecture influenced by Persian architecture.
- Influence seen in preamble to Ashoka’s edicts and terms used.
7. Kharoshti Script:
- Development:
- Aramaic writing introduced by Persians developed into Kharoshti script in North-Western India.
- Asokan Inscriptions:
- Asokan rock inscriptions in North-West India were engraved in the Kharoshti script.
8. Coinage Impact:
- Refined Minting:
- Persian silver coins in circulation known for refined minting.
- Indian rulers adopted similar techniques for minting coins on the Persian model.
9. Greed for Indian Wealth:
- Learning from Iranians:
- Greeks learned about the great wealth of India through Iranians.
- This information fueled Alexander’s invasion of India.
