Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Seleucus I Nicator
Invader / conqueror
Seleucid Empire (Indian satrapies)
c. 358–281 BCE
Hellenistic king who ceded the northwest to Chandragupta Maurya.
Their world
Move along the chart to see their age in any year, who ruled and what happened; click anything to open it.
The map shows Seleucid Empire (Indian satrapies) around their lifetime and where the events of their lifetime took place.
Hover a dot for the event; click it to open the full map in that year.
Rulers of the time
Pandukabhaya
King, Anuradhapura Kingdom · c. 437–367 BCE
Bimbisara
King, Haryanka Dynasty · c. 544–492 BCE
Ajatashatru
King, Haryanka Dynasty · c. 492–460 BCE
Udayin
King, Haryanka Dynasty · c. 460–444 BCE
Shishunaga
King, Shishunaga Dynasty · c. 413–395 BCE
Kalashoka
King, Shishunaga Dynasty · c. 395–367 BCE
Events in their lifetime
| c. 345 BCE | Mahapadma Nanda founds the Nanda dynasty |
| 327 BCE | Alexander crosses the Hindu Kush into Gandhara |
| 326 BCE | Battle of the Hydaspes Alexander won but restored Porus as a vassal king. |
| 326 BCE | Alexander's army mutinies at the Beas Alexander turned back and left India in 325 BCE. |
| 325 BCE | Alexander's army sails down the Indus |
| c. 321 BCE | Chandragupta Maurya overthrows the Nandas The Nanda dynasty ended and the Mauryan Empire was founded. |
| c. 317 BCE | Chandragupta takes the northwest from Alexander's satraps Greek garrisons east of the Indus were removed. |
| c. 303 BCE | Seleucid-Mauryan treaty Seleucus ceded the lands west of the Indus in return for 500 war elephants. |
| c. 302 BCE | Megasthenes at Pataliputra writes the Indica |
| c. 297 BCE | Chandragupta Maurya retires to Shravanabelagola |
Contemporaries
Sorted by how long their lives overlapped. The bar shows when, within Seleucus I Nicator’s life.
Chanakya (Kautilya)
Scholar / historian · active c. 320 BCE
Author of the Arthashastra and adviser to Chandragupta Maurya
Overlap: 60 years
Porus
General / commander · active c. 326 BCE
King who fought Alexander at the Hydaspes
Overlap: 60 years
Megasthenes
Traveller / envoy · active c. 300 BCE
Greek envoy to Pataliputra who wrote the Indica
Overlap: 49 years
Alexander the Great
Invader / conqueror · 356–323 BCE
Macedonian king who invaded the northwest in 326 BCE
Overlap: 33 years
📚 Recommended reading
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →