Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
Foreign imperial province
Level 2
c. 518–330 BCE
Satrapies of the Persian Achaemenid Empire in the Indus region.
- Region
- Northwest
- Duration
- 188 years
- Main period
- Mahajanapadas
Approximate extent.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 518 BCE | Achaemenid Persia annexes Gandhara Gandhara and Hindush appear in Darius I's inscriptions. |
Takshashila |
📚 Recommended reading on the Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
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.
Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush for a significant part of its history.
Magadha ★
East · c. 700–321 BCE
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Kuru
North · c. 1,200–350 BCE
Panchala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Kosala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–460 BCE
Matsya
West · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Vatsa
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,000–400 BCE
Avanti
Central · c. 1,000–345 BCE
Surasena
North · c. 800–350 BCE
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE
Assaka / Asmaka
Deccan · c. 700–350 BCE
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Vajji / Vrijji Confederacy
East · c. 600–468 BCE
Malla
Gangetic Plain · c. 600–400 BCE
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE