Understanding Foreign Invasions and the Mauryan Empire

The question asks about a specific foreign invader who clashed with Chandragupta Maurya and eventually surrendered territory to him. To answer this, we need to look at the historical interactions between the founder of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta Maurya, and the rulers of the Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged after the death of Alexander the Great.

Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus Nicator

Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the vast Mauryan Empire in ancient India. Following Alexander the Great's death, his large empire was divided among his generals, known as the Diadochi. Seleucus I Nicator became the ruler of the Seleucid Empire, which included large parts of the eastern territories previously conquered by Alexander, extending towards the borders of India.

Around 305 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya expanded his empire westward and came into conflict with Seleucus Nicator. The details of the military conflict are not fully clear, but it is generally accepted that Chandragupta Maurya was successful in pushing back Seleucid influence in the Indian subcontinent.

The Treaty and Cession of Territories

The conflict between Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus Nicator concluded with a treaty. This treaty was highly significant because it involved Seleucus Nicator ceding substantial territories to the Mauryan Empire. According to historical accounts, the territories surrendered by Seleucus Nicator are believed to include:

• Arachosia (modern Kandahar region in Afghanistan)
• Gedrosia (modern Balochistan region)
• Paropamisadae (modern area around Kabul)
• Possibly parts of Gandhara

In exchange for these territories, Chandragupta Maurya gifted 500 war elephants to Seleucus Nicator, which proved useful to Seleucus in his conflicts with other Diadochi in the west. The treaty also likely involved a marriage alliance, further solidifying relations between the two rulers.

Therefore, Seleucus Nicator is the foreign invader who surrendered territories to Chandragupta Maurya following their conflict.

Examining Other Options

Let's briefly look at why the other options are not correct:

• Menander: Menander I Soter was a prominent Indo-Greek king who ruled in the second century BCE, long after Chandragupta Maurya's reign. He expanded his kingdom but did not surrender territories to Chandragupta.
• Demosthenes: Demosthenes was a famous Greek orator from Athens, known for his speeches against Philip II of Macedon (Alexander the Great's father). He was not a military invader in India and lived before Chandragupta's time.
• Gondophernes: Gondophernes was the founder of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom, ruling in the first century CE. He is associated with the legend of Saint Thomas but is much later than Chandragupta Maurya.

Based on historical evidence, only Seleucus Nicator engaged in a conflict with Chandragupta Maurya that resulted in the cession of territories to the Mauryan Empire.

Conclusion on Foreign Invader and Territories

The historical interaction between Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus Nicator is a significant event in the history of both the Mauryan Empire and the Hellenistic world. Seleucus Nicator, one of the successors of Alexander the Great, was the foreign invader who ultimately surrendered vast territories in the trans-Indus region to the rising power of Chandragupta Maurya.

Revision Table: Chandragupta Maurya and Foreign Relations

Additional Information: The Mauryan Empire and Hellenistic World

The conflict and treaty between Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus Nicator highlight the interactions between the powerful emerging Indian empire and the Hellenistic kingdoms. This exchange led to increased contact, including the visit of Megasthenes, a Seleucid ambassador, to Chandragupta's court, resulting in valuable written accounts of the Mauryan Empire like the 'Indica'. The territories ceded by Seleucus Nicator significantly expanded the Mauryan Empire's western frontier, bringing culturally diverse regions under Mauryan rule and demonstrating the military strength of Chandragupta Maurya.