U.P.P.C.S. Mains 2013

Resistance to Alexander's Invasion

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The women of which Indian republic or kingdom had taken up arms against Alexander after a large number of its soldiers had been killed or wounded in the battlefield?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept Alexander's invasion of the north-west (326 BCE) was met with fierce resistance from various tribes and democratic republics.

Explanation Greek historian Diodorus Siculus records that during the siege of Massaga (Assakenoi tribe), after the king was killed, the women fought alongside the men with remarkable bravery.

Logical Breakup
Massaga (D): The capital of the Assakenoi. The resistance was so stubborn that Alexander reportedly ordered a massacre of the survivors, including the brave women.
Other Tribes: While many fought bravely, the specific incident of women taking up arms in mass is uniquely recorded for Massaga.

Active Recall

Question

Who were the Assakenoi people?

Answer

They were a powerful tribal group in the Swat valley of modern Pakistan who offered the fiercest resistance to Alexander's mountain campaigns.

Core Insight

The involvement of women in the defense of Massaga highlights the 'total war' nature of the tribal resistance against the Macedonian invasion.