6.1 Indo-Greek Relations

. Indo-Greek Relations The Beginnings India’s interaction with the Greeks began with the invasion of north-western India by Alexander ( – BCE) and his conquest of the Punjab region. When he began his return march to the West, he left the conquered territories under provincial governors. One of Chandragupta Maurya’s early military expeditions was against these foreign intruders. Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander’s most capable generals, succeeded in making himself the master of a vast territory from Phrygia (Turkey) to the river Indus after 311BCE. Within a few years, probably around BCE, Chandragupta waged a war against Seleucus and defeated him. However, this was not the savage defeat that happened to Alexander’s governors. Instead, Chandragupta made a peace treaty with Seleucus. Seleucus surrendered the land he had conquered up to the Indus and received war elephants in return. There is also mention of a marriage agreement. The treaty also led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Greeks and the Mauryan emperor. Megasthenes was sent to the Mauryan capital Pataliputra as the first Greek ambassador. Bindusara, Chandragupta’s son, continued to maintain friendly ties with the Greek kingdoms in West Asia. Greek historians refer to ambassadors sent by Ptolemy II of Egypt and to Bindusara’s correspondence with Antiochus of Syria. Ashoka also continued the tradition of friendly relations with the Greek Kingdoms. His Rock Edict ( ) mentions five yona kings,