The Greek Connection

For over 400 years after the death of the Macedonian Empire Builder, the Great Alexander, large swathes of North West India remained under the influence of the Greeks. A corridor of land from the Punjab to Central Asia through the North West Frontier region acted as a melting pot of Greek and native Indian influences creating a melange of cultures.

After Alexander conquered the north western parts of India and decided to turn back, he handed over the administration of his newly conquered region to his general Selucus Nikator. Following Alexander’s death soon after, in 323 BC, Nikator took charge, only to lose a large chunk of his kingdom, to the east of the Indus river, to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. But large parts of Central Asian territories remained in Greek hands.