Afridis mentioned in 500 BC by Sanskrit grammarian Panini

[jamahir]

View attachment 185010
View attachment 185011

good choice of images.

i am mohmand pathan and i am Muslim Alhumdulilah

do you know of abdul ahad mohmand??

 

[13 kumaon]

Wow so many dumb and totally unrelated comments by some people. And what's wrong with having hindu or buddhist ancestors? Abu Bakr, Ali, etc etc were all converts from a jaahilia religion.. South Asians really need to read and embrace history instead of romanticizing it and talking !@#$ all the time.

Back to the topic, I believe Yousafzai are also mentioned by Alexander's men, and were called "Aspasioi". The name "Aspa" is thought to have meant "horse riders" as sanskrit for horses is aspa, pronounced "asap" if I'm not mistaken. Alexander had a fight with those Aspasioi as well. And yes it's well possible that these people might be pashtunized.

Rightly said,but i think Aspasioi or Aspa (ashwa in sanskrit sources) was the part of greater Kamboj tribe and not distinct tribe as mentioned by contemptory sources --- Greek and Sanskrit.cassender even mentioned the ancient sati practices among them.

 

[Sugarcane]

Interesting...... Does this mean Pashtuns also have roots in IVC or it's predecessor Mehargarh?

@Samandri Keep in mind that author of book is Indian and Indians are notorious in inventing history.

 

[Menace2Society]

These texts are not verifiable. Indians have been known to fabricate history.

 

[Bang Galore]

Sanskrit is considered to be the mother of all languages.

Sanskrit historically is not related to Hinduism as is Rig veda not originally related to Hinduism but rather Indus valley religion,a monotheist religion

Rig veda monotheistic? Too little research and too much development........

 

[ghoul]

These texts are not verifiable. Indians have been known to fabricate history.

I agree. I almost never believe a single word from Indian historians and archaeologists. Like I don't believe the IVC sites they have unearthed to be legitimate except for Dholavira, which is near the Sindh border. They have supposedly found IVC sites as far east as UP even.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

You are a preacher of hinduism or what?

have u got yr today's doze of naswar or not?

 

[Kabira]

Rightly said,but i think Aspasioi or Aspa (ashwa in sanskrit sources) was the part of greater Kamboj tribe and not distinct tribe as mentioned by contemptory sources --- Greek and Sanskrit.cassender even mentioned the ancient sati practices among them.

Yeh lo ek aur joker, sati was never practiced in that region. Just because Afridis are mentioned by Panini does not make them like mainstream hindus of India who were in to sati.

Edit: Not to forget many so called hindu historians give reason for barbaric practice like Sati because muslims invaded. Yet some how Aspasiosi were in to sati 2500 years ago.

These texts are not verifiable. Indians have been known to fabricate history.

Unfortunatly Indians have hicjaked history of our region because we do not pay attention our selfs. So you are right, one have to verify what ever comes from Indians.

 

[Kabira]

Most of the tribes, even Ghilzais, tell their original homeland to be koh sulieman range from where they spread to other places. Then there are tribes of koh sufaid range, the karlanri tribes like Afridis etc, who are living in these mountains since very old times with their neighbors being the people of Gandhara of plain areas. The history of ethno-genesis of pashtuns is unknown, but it seems afridis evolved into pashtuns while gandharians descended into hindkowans.


The NWFP or KPK province, was most probably not populated by any pashtun tribe before 8th or 9th century AD. The first Pashtun tribe to settle in KPK, the dilazaks, were karlanris like Afridis and they descended from mountains of FATA and Eastren Afghanistan. They were once in possession of bajaur, swat, peshawer valley, hazara etc untill they were dispossessed by yousafzais and allied tribes in early 16th century. This once large tribe, is now reduced and have only few villages in haripur.

From that Alexander invasion thread on PDF, i don't have anyother source.

''The southern march didn't meet significant resistance.Moving through the Khyber pass,it took Peucalaotis(Pushkalavati) after brief resistance- North of current Peshwar.

(Charsadda in pic corresponds to Pushkalavati)

In the Peshawar valley ,most of the tribal chiefs preferred the alternative of submission, but one named Hasti (Astes) ventured to resist. His stronghold, which held out for thirty days, was taken and destroyed.Perdiccas and Hephastion proceeded to set up a bridge over the Indus at Hund and await the main army under Alexander.On the other side of the bridge lay the friendly territory of Taxila.''

Alexander in the SWAT valley - The Aspasians

Meanwhile alexander took the other part of the army on the mission he deemed more difficult.Subjugation of the tribes North of the cophen (kabul vally/river),so that when he entered taxila his LoC would be safe.Here however he was to face bitter resistance.He had with him - half the companion cavalry,four phalanx battalions,the hypaspists(now called the silver shields),the archers and agrianians,the dahae horse archers and mounted lancers(including persian cavalry).The first tribe on his path were the aspasians,they were still mustering their forces near their capital when Alexander with his habitual stunning speed crossed the river and arrived to surprised them with all the cavalry and 800 mounted infantry racing ahead of the main body.The aspasians caught unprepared were driven into their walls.The next day the rest of the army arrived and the siege engines got to work.The siege was brief but hotly contested.A number of the indians managed to escape,but were pursued and savaged by the macedonian cavalry who slew many.Alexander was wounded in the shoulder in the siege and the enraged macedonian soldiers razed the town to the ground.As we shall see,the campaign in this region increasingly took on a genocidal character.The location of this town has not been identified.
Alexander moved on to the next large settlement called Andaca which surrendered. Alexander understood that the best way to control these valleys was to hold the openings and exits with strong garrisons.The macedonian cavalry would thus also be a persistent threat to the livelihood of the people of this areas,who were mostly herders and whose herds they could seize/slaughter with impunity by such measures-.As they were in valleys, there is nowhere they could take these herds in time to escape the vengeance of the Macedonians - thus ensuring their good behaviour.He left his second-in-command Craterus with sizeable garrisons to mop up the neighbouring tribes in the kunar valley region .(see alexander's movements in the early hand drawn map)

He then crossed the mountains and entered the valley now called Bajaur. Alexander's next destination was Euspla where the King of the Aspasians was. At this point, deeming their cause lost, the Aspasians burned this city and fled.In a skirmish between the vanguards an interesting combat took place between Ptolemy, The Aspasian King and Alexander. One of the barbarians with the Aspasian King thrust his spear right through Ptolemy's breast plate, but the spear did not make contact with him due to the armour stopping the severity of the blow. It was at this point that Ptolemy killed the King of the Aspasians himself by thrusting his spear through both of his thigh's. At this point, in a combat between Alexander, Ptolemy and the Aspasian Kings body guard they fought over the corpse of the fallen king.

Moving to Arigaeum which had been burnt and abandoned,Alexander rebuilt the town as a garrison city.At this point Craterus rejoined him,having executed his previous task.Ptolemy on a foraging expedition meanwhile brought news that the surviving aspasians had joined forces with the neighbouring tribes and were assembling for battle nearby.Alexander moved immediately to confront this new threat.

Battle of Arigaeum -

The Aspasians were deployed on the high ground with a considerable army.Alexander divided his forces into 3 parts.Ptolemy taking up the left, had a third of the hypaspists, the battalions of Philip and Philotas, two squadrons of horse archers(400), the Agrianians and half the other cavalry. Leonnatus was ordered to take up the right flank, with Attalus' and Balacrus' battalions.

Alexander took advantage of the adjoining vegetation to hide these 2 wings and sent them to their respective flanks through a circular route unseen by the aspasians due to the cover of terrain.Meanwhile he led his smaller and greatly outnumbered centre division and approached the main indian force baiting them.Encouraged by their large numerical superiority,these abandoned the high ground and attacked alexander head on.
Ptolemy and Leonnatus now revealed themselves and attacked from both flanks.Ptolemy encountered heavy resistance but Leonnatus broke through.Eventually with their flanks ruptured,the aspasians surrendered.This battle ended the resistance capability of the aspasians.

Visit to Nysa -

After arigeum ,the macedonians reached nysa slightly to the north.An attempt to take the town by assault having failed by reason of the depth of the protecting river, Alexander was preparing to reduce it by blockade when the speedy submission of the inhabitants rendered further operations unnecessary. They are alleged to have craved his clemency on the ground that they were akin to Dionysos and the Greeks, because the ivy and vine grew in their country, and the triple-peaked mountain which overshadowed their town was no other than Mount Meros. Alexander, who found such fancies useful as a stimulant to his homesick troops, did not examine the evidence for the kinship with Dionysos in too critical a spirit, but was glad to accept the Nysaian appeals and to exercise a gracious clemency.The macedonians celebrated and rested in drunken stupor for 10 days before resuming their campaign.(Note location of Nysa is given wrong in hand held map,which places it on perdiccas's route)

Campaign against the Assaceni -

Further east lay the tribal confederation of the Assaceni (Ashwaseni or horse soldiers).They could reportedly muster upto 20,000 infantry,2000 cavalry and 30 elephants though this might be exaggareted.Alexander again advanced rapidly by forced marches giving the tribal chieftains no time to assemble and they dispersed to their respective areas.He then proceeded to besiege Massaga,the capital of the Assaceni.It is identified with modern Chakdara.

Battle Report #13 - Battle of Jhelum/Hydaspes 326 BC

 

[punit]

Yeh lo ek aur joker, sati was never practiced in that region. Just because Afridis are mentioned by Panini does not make them like mainstream hindus of India who were in to sati.

Edit: Not to forget many so called hindu historians give reason for barbaric practice like Sati because muslims invaded. Yet some how Aspasiosi were in to sati 2500 years ago.


Unfortunatly Indians have hicjaked history of our region because we do not pay attention our selfs. So you are right, one have to verify what ever comes from Indians.

loool .. is that what they teach in Madarsas !

 

[s.k]

From that Alexander invasion thread on PDF, i don't have anyother source.

''The southern march didn't meet significant resistance.Moving through the Khyber pass,it took Peucalaotis(Pushkalavati) after brief resistance- North of current Peshwar.

(Charsadda in pic corresponds to Pushkalavati)

In the Peshawar valley ,most of the tribal chiefs preferred the alternative of submission, but one named Hasti (Astes) ventured to resist. His stronghold, which held out for thirty days, was taken and destroyed.Perdiccas and Hephastion proceeded to set up a bridge over the Indus at Hund and await the main army under Alexander.On the other side of the bridge lay the friendly territory of Taxila.''

Alexander in the SWAT valley - The Aspasians

Meanwhile alexander took the other part of the army on the mission he deemed more difficult.Subjugation of the tribes North of the cophen (kabul vally/river),so that when he entered taxila his LoC would be safe.Here however he was to face bitter resistance.He had with him - half the companion cavalry,four phalanx battalions,the hypaspists(now called the silver shields),the archers and agrianians,the dahae horse archers and mounted lancers(including persian cavalry).The first tribe on his path were the aspasians,they were still mustering their forces near their capital when Alexander with his habitual stunning speed crossed the river and arrived to surprised them with all the cavalry and 800 mounted infantry racing ahead of the main body.The aspasians caught unprepared were driven into their walls.The next day the rest of the army arrived and the siege engines got to work.The siege was brief but hotly contested.A number of the indians managed to escape,but were pursued and savaged by the macedonian cavalry who slew many.Alexander was wounded in the shoulder in the siege and the enraged macedonian soldiers razed the town to the ground.As we shall see,the campaign in this region increasingly took on a genocidal character.The location of this town has not been identified.
Alexander moved on to the next large settlement called Andaca which surrendered. Alexander understood that the best way to control these valleys was to hold the openings and exits with strong garrisons.The macedonian cavalry would thus also be a persistent threat to the livelihood of the people of this areas,who were mostly herders and whose herds they could seize/slaughter with impunity by such measures-.As they were in valleys, there is nowhere they could take these herds in time to escape the vengeance of the Macedonians - thus ensuring their good behaviour.He left his second-in-command Craterus with sizeable garrisons to mop up the neighbouring tribes in the kunar valley region .(see alexander's movements in the early hand drawn map)

He then crossed the mountains and entered the valley now called Bajaur. Alexander's next destination was Euspla where the King of the Aspasians was. At this point, deeming their cause lost, the Aspasians burned this city and fled.In a skirmish between the vanguards an interesting combat took place between Ptolemy, The Aspasian King and Alexander. One of the barbarians with the Aspasian King thrust his spear right through Ptolemy's breast plate, but the spear did not make contact with him due to the armour stopping the severity of the blow. It was at this point that Ptolemy killed the King of the Aspasians himself by thrusting his spear through both of his thigh's. At this point, in a combat between Alexander, Ptolemy and the Aspasian Kings body guard they fought over the corpse of the fallen king.

Moving to Arigaeum which had been burnt and abandoned,Alexander rebuilt the town as a garrison city.At this point Craterus rejoined him,having executed his previous task.Ptolemy on a foraging expedition meanwhile brought news that the surviving aspasians had joined forces with the neighbouring tribes and were assembling for battle nearby.Alexander moved immediately to confront this new threat.

Battle of Arigaeum -

The Aspasians were deployed on the high ground with a considerable army.Alexander divided his forces into 3 parts.Ptolemy taking up the left, had a third of the hypaspists, the battalions of Philip and Philotas, two squadrons of horse archers(400), the Agrianians and half the other cavalry. Leonnatus was ordered to take up the right flank, with Attalus' and Balacrus' battalions.

Alexander took advantage of the adjoining vegetation to hide these 2 wings and sent them to their respective flanks through a circular route unseen by the aspasians due to the cover of terrain.Meanwhile he led his smaller and greatly outnumbered centre division and approached the main indian force baiting them.Encouraged by their large numerical superiority,these abandoned the high ground and attacked alexander head on.
Ptolemy and Leonnatus now revealed themselves and attacked from both flanks.Ptolemy encountered heavy resistance but Leonnatus broke through.Eventually with their flanks ruptured,the aspasians surrendered.This battle ended the resistance capability of the aspasians.

Visit to Nysa -

After arigeum ,the macedonians reached nysa slightly to the north.An attempt to take the town by assault having failed by reason of the depth of the protecting river, Alexander was preparing to reduce it by blockade when the speedy submission of the inhabitants rendered further operations unnecessary. They are alleged to have craved his clemency on the ground that they were akin to Dionysos and the Greeks, because the ivy and vine grew in their country, and the triple-peaked mountain which overshadowed their town was no other than Mount Meros. Alexander, who found such fancies useful as a stimulant to his homesick troops, did not examine the evidence for the kinship with Dionysos in too critical a spirit, but was glad to accept the Nysaian appeals and to exercise a gracious clemency.The macedonians celebrated and rested in drunken stupor for 10 days before resuming their campaign.(Note location of Nysa is given wrong in hand held map,which places it on perdiccas's route)

Campaign against the Assaceni -

Further east lay the tribal confederation of the Assaceni (Ashwaseni or horse soldiers).They could reportedly muster upto 20,000 infantry,2000 cavalry and 30 elephants though this might be exaggareted.Alexander again advanced rapidly by forced marches giving the tribal chieftains no time to assemble and they dispersed to their respective areas.He then proceeded to besiege Massaga,the capital of the Assaceni.It is identified with modern Chakdara.

Battle Report #13 - Battle of Jhelum/Hydaspes 326 BC

the oldest city of south Asia is Peshawar

 

[surya kiran]

the oldest city of south Asia is Peshawar

not really. it comes behind at-least Varanasi and Ujjain. Madurai too according to some accounts, but am not sure. @Joe Shearer would be a better person to answer this.

 

[s.k]

not really. it comes behind at-least Varanasi and Ujjain. Madurai too according to some accounts, but am not sure. @Joe Shearer would be a better person to answer this.

then why you replying if you not sure ? List of cities by time of continuous habitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Roybot]

LOl this clown has to really change his religion and become a mushrik!

@Samandri why dont u go to india and become a Hindu!

have u got yr today's doze of naswar or not?

And why have you got your knickers in a twist? Are you really that brain washed and bigoted that you can't even stand a historical reference of your region in pre islamic era? Imagine the Greeks discarding their pre christianity history!

And this guy is supposed to a research scholar or something!

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Humans have bee on earth for 40,000 Years !! Not that sure about Kalyug or other stuff but scintifically ,we have had 4-5 major extinctions with in few million year mark which is un imaginable in our mind , as our time frame is 60 years which is such a small time


So our mere 2000 year of history is nothing -

Modern day french were mere "disorganized tribes" back in day who the Romans noted as crazy folks who wear tight pants above the knee

So that is only few thousand years ago


Most of time people merely lived and died mere 50km range in their cities due to lack of water or ability to travel far distances

Our knowledge is limited by lack of written history beyond 2000-3000 years , we can't tell for sure who originated where or when but one thing is clear , people tried to move around for food- water - and goods