Question

Megasthenes’ ‘Indica’ and Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’ are useful for the study of:
A)Mauryan empire
B)Kushan Kings
C)Gupta empire
D)Chalukya Kings

Answer 1

Hint: Megasthenes was a Greek historian, an explorer, and a diplomat. Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, was a teacher, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor in ancient India.

Complete answer:
The Mauryan Empire was formed in around 321 B.C.E. and ended in about 185 B.C.E. Kautilya was the Mauryan empire’s first ruler, Chadragupta Maurya’s Chief Minister. He contributed immensely in the expansion of the Mauryan Empire. Kautilya wrote the Arthashastra which is a treatise about leadership and government. Megesthenes was an Indian ethnographer and explorer who described India in his book Indica. He visited India during Chandragupta Maurya’s reign.

The Kushan empire was a nomadic people’s republic in ancient times. The golden age of the Kushanas was noted under the ruler named Kanishka the great. It was formed in 30 B.C.E and ended in 375 B.C.E. They were great patrons of Buddhism and played a vital role in spreading Buddhism all across central Asia.

The Gupta empire existed between the 3rd century C.E to 543 C.E. The most eminent rulers of Gupta age are Chandragupta I, Samudragupta and Vikramaditya. The founder of the dynasty was Sri Gupta. The Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana are said to have been written during the Gupta age. Fa hien, a chinese buddhist visited India during the Gupta age.

The Chalukyas existed between the 6th century to 12th Century C.E. Historians have strongly argued regarding their south indian origins which is still a matter under research. Most of their historical accounts found are in either Sanskrit or Kannada. The Chinese traveller and buddhist monk, Xuanzang had visited the court of Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty. His accounts suggest that the empire ruled over present day Karnataka, Maharashtra and coastal Konkan.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A)

Note: Indica is an ancient account of India under the Mauryan rule, written by Megesthenes. Though the original book is nowhere to be found, parts of it have been retrieved through Greek and Latin texts. The Arthashastra written by Kautilya covered a large scope which included government, law, civil and criminal court systems, ethics, economics, markets and trade, the methods for screening ministers, diplomacy, theories on war, nature of peace, and the duties and obligations of a king.