Persian Invasion
The Achaemenian rulers of Iran, who expanded their empire at the same time as the Magadhan kings, took advantage of the political disunity on the north-west frontier. The Iranian ruler, Darius, penetrated into north-west India in 518 BC and annexed Punjab, west of the Indus, and Sindh.
He divided the province in 20th Straphy, which was considered to be the richest and the most populous province of the Persian empire. According to Herodotus, Punjab and Sindh satrapy (province) was the twentieth in the Persian empire. It was considered to be the richest and the most popular province of the Persian empire. Its annual tribute amounted to 360 Euboic talents of gold-dust. The Kharosthi script was used on the north-western frontier since then uptil about 4th century AD. On the eve of Alexander's invasion, the hold of Persian emperors on their Indian provinces had become weak.
| Chronology of Foreign Invasions |
| 518-486 BC | King Darius or Darus invaded India |
| 326 BC | Alexander invaded India |
| 190 BC | Indo Greeks or Bactrians invaded India |
| 90 BC | Sakas invaded India |
| Ist century AD | Pahalavas invaded India |
| 45 AD | Kushanas or Yue-chis invaded India |
| Effects of Persian Invasion |
- Introduction into India the Araminc form of writing, which later developed into the Kharoshthi alphabet.
- Promotion of Indo-Iranian trade
- Geographical exploration of the Indus and the Arabian Sea, leading to opening of a new water route.
- Fusion of Iranian/Persian features in the Mauryan art.
- Impact of Buddhism on the Zoroastrian religion of ancient Persia.
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