Ancient History of India - 1

Major Information of Foreign Travellers in Ancient Times

Greek Writers 

1. Theseus - Royalist of Iran

2. Herodotus - Father of history -Relation of India-Persia wrote in his book Historica but detail of this in rumours

3. Description of writers (Nearchus ,Onesicritus, Aristobulus)came with Alexander authentic.

4. Megasthenese - Ambassador of Selucus Nicator , who came in court of Chandragupta Maurya.- book authored "Indica".

5. Dimachos - Ambassador of Syrian ruler Antiochus I - Came in court of Maurayan King Bindusara

6. Dionysius - Ambassador of Egypt ruler Ptolemy Philadelphus - Came in court of  Ashoka.

7. Claudius Ptolmy - He wrote book "Geography of India" in 2nd Century.

8.Pliny the Elder - He wrote book "Natural History" in 1st Century- Description of Indian Animals,Plants,Minerals etc.

9. Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. - There is no description of author of this book.This author voyaged to Indian Ocean in 80 A.D. In this Book, information about Harbour and Business of India.

Chinese Writers

1. Fahiyan - He came in the court of Gupta Ruler Chandragupta II.

2. Song Yun - He came in India 518 A.D.

3. Heung Tsang - He travelled to India in the 7th Century during the era of King Harshavardhan.He travelled till the 1 year. He stayed in the India till the 15 year and then return to the China. Description of his excursion in the named book Si-Yu-Ki  and described of 138 countries.

4. Itsing - He came at the end of 7th Century.

Arabian Writer 

1. Al-Biruni - He came with Mehmood Ghaznavi - Book "kitab-e-hind (Discovery of India)"

2. Ibn-Battuta - Description of Excursion in book named Rihla in Arabic Language-Appointed as Qazi during the Empire of Sulatana Mohd. Bin Tughlaq in 1333 A.D.

Others

1. Taranath - Tibbetan Writer- Author of Kangyur & Tengyur - Described Indian History

2. Marcopolo - He came in Pandyan Empire in the 13th century - Description of Pandyan history in his Excursion book.         

Information from Archaeological Evidence

• The name of vedic deities (Mitra, Varun, Indra and Nasatya (one of the Ashvins)) found in the Inscription from Boghazkoi (Asia Minor, Turkey) in 1400 B.C.
• Evidence of Bhagwat Dharma being developed in central India comes from the Besanagar (Vidisha, M.P.) garuda pillar(stone column) inscription of Yavana Ambassador Heliodorus.
• First mention of 'भारतवर्ष ' in the Hathigumpha Inscription.
• First mention 'दुर्भिक्ष' ((Time of dearth, starvation) durbhikha's  information in Sohgaura Inscription. 
• First mention of Huns Invasion's information in Bhitari Pillar inscription.
• Written Evidence of Sati- Pratha in Eran Inscription of Bhanugupta.
• Category of Silk Weavers in Mandsaur Inscription.
• Evidence of 'गरतावास ' pit dwelling in Neolithic Culture of Kashmir in Burzahom archaeological site. There are stairs also to go down in the Pit dwell.
• In the ancient times coins known as Aahat (आहात )coins, This is called Kasharpan(काषार्पण) in literature.
• First inscription write on coins by Yavana Rulers.
• Depicts of Samudragupta playing lyre (वीणा) on coins showed proof that he was music lover.
• Roman Coins obtained from Arikamedu, Puducherry.
• Study of Inscription is known as Epigraphy.

Important Inscriptions with their emperor name

• Hathigumpha Inscription - Kalinga King Kharavela
• Junagadh Rock Inscription - Western satraps ruler Rudradaman
• Nashik Prashati Inscription - Satvahana Emperor Gautmiputra Satkarni
• Prayag Prashati Inscription - Gupta Ruler Samudragupta
• Aihole Inscription - Chalukya King Pulakeshin II
• Mandsaur Inscription - Malawa King Yashodharman
• Bhitari Pillar Inscription - Gupta Ruler Skandagupta
• Deopara Stone Inscription - Bengal King Vijaya Sena

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Prehistoric Age

Indus Valley Civilization

Vedic Civilization

Rise of Mahajanapadas