Question

The forces of Alexander and Porus fought on the banks of the river ____________.
A) Ravi
B) Jhelum
C) Sutlej
D) Indus

Answer 1

Hint: Alexander was the son of Philip of Macedonia. He became king in 336 BC. Along with Iran and Iraq, Alexander had conquered Asia Minor. From Iran, he then marched into northwest India.

Complete Answer:
By defeating Persian King Darius III Alexander had annexed the whole of Persia (Babylon) in the Battle of Arbela (330 BC). Alexander was attracted to India’s wealth. There were many small rulers in northwest India like Ambhi of Taxila and Porus of the region of Jhelum (Hydaspes), just before Alexander’s invasion. Ambhi accepted Alexander’s sovereignty but Porus, on the other hand, put up a valiant but unsuccessful fight. Alexander was so impressed with Porus’s fight that he gave him his territory back. Porus might have accepted lordship.

The battle between him and Porus is known as the Battle of Hydaspes. Alexander’s army annexed the tribes between Ravi and Chenab after crossing the River Chenab. But his army revolted and refused to cross the River Beas. After years of battles, they were exhausted. In 326 BC, Alexander was forced to retreat. He died at Babylon on his way back in 323 BC aged 32. In 321 BC, the Greek Empire split after his death. Alexander left four of his generals in charge of four regions in northwest India, one of them being Seleucus I Nicator, who later trade his territories in the Indus Valley with Chandragupta Maurya. Eudamas was Alexander’s last General in India.

Thus, option (B) is correct.

Note:
After the battle, there was direct contact between Greece and India. In northern India, Alexander’s invasion augmented political unification under the Mauryas. There were Indo-Greek rulers in the northwest part of India, post the invasion.