Greek Invasion Archives

1. Which one of the following rivers in India was not crossed by Alexande

Which one of the following rivers in India was not crossed by Alexander and his army?

Hyphasis

Acesines

Hydraotes

Hydaspes

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2022

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Based on standard historical accounts, Alexander and his army crossed all four rivers listed: Hyphasis (Beas), Acesines (Chenab), Hydraotes (Ravi), and Hydaspes (Jhelum) during his eastward campaign in the Punjab region. Therefore, the question as stated appears to be factually incorrect or flawed, as all options represent rivers that *were* crossed. However, assuming there is an intended correct answer among the options, and lacking access to the original source or intended interpretation, selecting any single river as “not crossed” contradicts historical evidence. Without further clarification or context, providing a definitive answer is not possible based on historical facts. Given the constraints, and assuming a potential error in the question’s premise, this answer choice is selected arbitrarily as an example of how one *might* be chosen in a flawed question context, not based on historical accuracy. *Please note: Standard historical records indicate that Alexander and his army crossed all rivers mentioned in the options.*

Historical accounts of Alexander’s invasion of India detail his army crossing the Indus River, and subsequently the major tributaries of the Indus in Punjab, moving from west to east:
1. Hydaspes (Jhelum) – Site of the Battle of the Hydaspes against King Porus.
2. Acesines (Chenab) – A large river, crossed after the Jhelum.
3. Hydraotes (Ravi) – Crossed after the Chenab.
4. Hyphasis (Beas) – Reached as the easternmost point of his conquest where his troops mutinied and refused to proceed further east across this river towards the Ganges.
All four rivers listed were therefore crossed by Alexander’s army during their eastward advance.

Alexander the Great’s campaign in India took place between 327 and 325 BCE. His advance was halted at the Hyphasis (Beas) River due to the exhaustion and unwillingness of his troops to face potential further powerful kingdoms to the east (like the Nanda Empire). After turning back, he moved his army south along the Jhelum and Indus rivers towards the Arabian Sea. The Satluj River, another major tributary of the Indus, is located east of the Beas and was not reached or crossed by Alexander’s main army.

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2. Chronologically arrange the following events : 1. Invasion of Alexande

Chronologically arrange the following events :
1. Invasion of Alexander
2. Indo-Greek Rule in the North-West
3. Accession of Kanishka
4. Accession of Chandragupta Maurya
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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4-3-1-2

2-3-4-1

3-4-1-2

1-4-2-3

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2023

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The correct answer is (D) 1-4-2-3.

Let’s establish the approximate dates for each event:
1. Invasion of Alexander: 326 BCE.
2. Indo-Greek Rule in the North-West: Started around the late 3rd/early 2nd century BCE (after the decline of the Mauryas) and lasted until the 1st century BCE/1st century CE.
3. Accession of Kanishka: Debated, but commonly placed around 78 CE (start of Shaka Era) or mid-2nd century CE. Kanishka was a Kushan ruler.
4. Accession of Chandragupta Maurya: Founded the Mauryan Empire around 321 BCE, shortly after Alexander’s withdrawal from parts of India.

The chronological order is: Alexander’s invasion (326 BCE), followed immediately by Chandragupta Maurya’s rise to power (c. 321 BCE), then the establishment of Indo-Greek rule after the Mauryan decline (post 185 BCE), and finally the accession of Kanishka much later (1st/2nd century CE).
Thus, the correct order is 1 – 4 – 2 – 3.

Alexander’s invasion weakened some existing powers in the North-West, facilitating Chandragupta Maurya’s expansion. The Mauryan Empire declined around 185 BCE, after which the Indo-Greeks established kingdoms in the North-West. The Kushan Empire, to which Kanishka belonged, emerged later, replacing the Indo-Greeks and other regional powers.

3. The location of the ancient city of Taxila (Takshshila), mentioned in

The location of the ancient city of Taxila (Takshshila), mentioned in ancient Indian texts, was identified by

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Alexander Cunningham

R.D. Banerji

John Marshall

Daya Ram Sahni

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2021

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The correct answer is Alexander Cunningham.

Sir Alexander Cunningham, the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, played a pivotal role in identifying numerous ancient Indian sites. Using accounts from Chinese Buddhist pilgrims like Faxian and Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) and other ancient texts, Cunningham successfully located the ruins of Taxila in the 1860s. Later archaeological excavations were conducted at the site, most notably by John Marshall. However, the initial identification is credited to Cunningham.

R.D. Banerji is known for the discovery of Mohenjo-Daro. Daya Ram Sahni was the first to begin excavations at Harappa. John Marshall was the Director-General of the ASI during the period of major excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, confirming the existence of the Indus Valley Civilization, and also oversaw significant work at Taxila.