Indica
Quick Summary
The Indica was a four-book work by the ancient Greek historian and diplomat Megasthenes (born c. 350 BCE). He was sent by King Seleucus I on embassies to the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta. Megasthenes provided the most comprehensive account of India known to the Greek world at the time. His work served as a source for later historians such as Diodorus, Strabo, Pliny, and Arrian.1
However, the Indica had notable flaws, including factual errors, an uncritical acceptance of Indian folklore, and a tendency to idealize Indian culture through a Greek philosophical lens. Despite these shortcomings, it offered valuable insights into ancient India for a Western audience.1
- Megasthenes
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origins of agricultureEarly historic periodIn his four-volume Indica, he wrote:
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IndiaChandragupta Maurya…form of a book, the Indica. Although the original has been lost, extensive quotations from it survive in the works of the later Greek writers Strabo, Diodorus, and Arrian. A major treatise on political economy in Sanskrit is the Artha-shastra of Kautilya (or Chanakya, as he is sometimes called). Kautilya,…
Read More…form of a book, the Indica. Although the original has been lost, extensive quotations from it survive in the works of the later Greek writers Strabo, Diodorus, and Arrian. A major treatise on political economy in Sanskrit is the Artha-shastra of Kautilya (or Chanakya, as he is sometimes called). Kautilya,…
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