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R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1997

Mauryan Foreign Relations

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Famous Greek ambassador Megasthenes came to the court of which emperor?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Diplomatic relations between the Hellenistic West and the Mauryan East began with the exchange of ambassadors following the Seleucid-Mauryan treaty.

Explanation Megasthenes was sent by the Greek ruler Seleucus Nicator as an ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra (c. 302 BCE).

Logical Breakup
Chandragupta Maurya (C): The emperor at whose court Megasthenes lived and wrote his detailed account, 'Indica'.
Ashoka (A): Succeeded Chandragupta by two generations; he received ambassadors like Dionysius but not Megasthenes.

Active Recall

Question

What is the primary significance of Megasthenes' 'Indica'?

Answer

It provides a rare detailed, albeit sometimes exaggerated, eye-witness account of Mauryan administration, the caste system, and the city of Pataliputra.

Core Insight

Megasthenes serves as the first reliable bridge between Greek and Indian historiography, providing a fixed chronological landmark for the Mauryan period.

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