Alexander the Great?

Question

I am asking this from a very basic perspective. I am no expert in history.

I understand Alexander, in his conquest, expanded his empire as far away as Punjab. India. However, during his attempted conquest of India, he had to crossed into Pakistan and Afghanistan where he faced stiff resistance. In fact, according to a historic account, he was also injured by an arrow or a dart during a bloody battle in the hills bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Who are those people that resisted Alexander and his troops? Are they the forefathers of the Taliban and the Northern Alliance ?

Answer 1

in a manner of speaking- yes.

Bear in mind however that between Alexander and the present times the area of Afghanistan/ Pakistan/ India and Iran has been invaded and conquered several times so the ethnic composition is highly unlikely to be the "original".

Since Alexander's times there has been an influx of Arabs, Mongols, Turks and probably a dozen other groups. So the "heritage" is more "spiritual" than physical

Answer 2

They would have very little to do with the Taliban - the Taliban are in effect a political group - not (anywhere near) all Afghanis are Taliban, and vice versa.  It's similar with the Northern Alliance.

The area that is now Afghanistan (it only has been called this in the last few centuries) was called by one historian "the roundabout of the ancient world", which means because of its location it had a lot of peoples passing through it.

Ethnic Afghanis are Pashtuns, who are an Eastern Iranian people, and may have occupied part of the areas you're referring too, however Alexander would have had to conquer several peoples to make the headway he did - you are talking about a number of different groups and tribes.

I checked and it seems the tribe in the battle you mentioned were a Pashtun tribe:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander%2... (under "Battle against the Ashvayanas")

But I think it's important to make the distinction between ethnic groups and the political groups like the Taliban.

Answer 3

To some extent, yes.  They are the ethnic forefathers of the modern Afghan people, but not the religious ones.  Islam only came to Pakistan and Afghanistan late in the first millenium.  Most of these groups were Zaraostrian, Hindu, or Pagan during Alexander's reign and resented being forced to adopt Greek or Macedonian religious practices.