Alexander's Indian War: Porus and the Battle of the Hydaspes

The History of Greece: Philosophy, Empire, and Endless Reinvention — Fexingo History · Jul 28, 2026 · 7m · transcript

After conquering Persia, Alexander the Great pushed east into the Indian subcontinent. This episode follows his grueling campaign against King Porus at the Battle of the Hydaspes (326 BCE) — the last great set-piece battle of his career. We explore the tactical challenges of fighting war elephants, the monsoon conditions that nearly derailed the Macedonian army, and the legendary encounter between Alexander and the wounded Porus. Along the way, we also discuss the gymnosophists — the naked philosophers who baffled the Greeks — and Alexander's decision to turn back at the Hyphasis River…