What if alexander the great had conquered india

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Find out more about page archiving. Now Alexander equipped a fleet to carry some of his troops from the mouth of the Indus River to the head of the Persian Gulf to learn the feasibility of sailing from Mesopotamia to India. In addition to experiencing and appreciating the fruits of the Silk Road, Alexander helped to shape its future through his policy of establishing settlements in regions the Macedonians had conquered.

Settlements in the easternmost region of his conquests endured to become Indo-Greek kingships in Bactria and northern India. Initially linked with the western empire, their culture was essentially Greek. Over the nearly two centuries as they were increasingly isolated from the west, eastern elements became more dominant. The Greek goddess Athena decorated the coinage of one of those kings, Menander, who ruled in the middle of the second century, even though Menander was a convert to Buddhism.

He would draw enemy troops toward one flank, then wait for a momentary gap to open up in the center of the enemy lines for a head-first cavalry charge. Just as he did with his father at Chaeronea, Alexander personally led the Macedonian cavalry charge at Issus, which cut right to the heart of the Persian defenses, just as planned.

A stunned Darius reportedly hopped on his horse and fled, with the rest of his army close behind. In the interim, Darius regrouped and called in reinforcements from the East, while Alexander marched his army South into Egypt.

Darius and his generals chose a battle site near the town of Gaugamela. But Alexander will not be outplayed. He camped the Macedonian army in the hills above the battle site to fuel up and rest while he drew up a game plan. The Persians, fearing a night attack, remained in ready formation all night, anxiously awaiting a charge that never came. At dawn, the Macedonians took the battlefield. Then he ordered the entire Macedonian line to march quickly to the right. Darius, fearing he was about to be overlapped on his left side, sent in 5, of his best cavalry.

Alexander counter-struck with a regiment of 1, mercenaries tasked with holding the right-hand position. Darius grew frustrated with the lack of progress, so he sent in another 10, cavalry, almost his entire left flank. At this point, Darius ordered a full-frontal charge on the rest of the Macedonian army, but it took time for his orders to reach his left flank. They told Alexander that a truly great leader knows when it is time to stop fighting.

Without the support of his army, Alexander had no choice but to turn back and begin consolidating and organizing his far-flung empire. On his way home, Alexander died from disease in B. First, his father was able to unite the Greek city-states, and Alexander destroyed the Persian Empire forever. Many historians see Alexander the Great in a different light. Although Alexander was both intelligent and handsome, he also had a darker side. He possessed a ferocious temper and from time to time would arbitrarily murder close advisors and even friends.

Also, toward the end of his many campaigns, he senselessly slaughtered thousands whose only crime was being in his way. Skip to main content.