Question

State any three reasons used by the Historians to reconstruct the history of Mauryan Empire.

Answer 1

Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire.

• Things found in archaeological excavations, especially sculpture is regarded as an important source. 
• Contemporary works, such as the account of Megasthenes a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya, which survives in fragments, another source that is often used is the Arthashastra, which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya are important sources regarding that period. 
• The Mauryas are mentioned in later Buddhist, Jains, and Puranic literature, as well as in Sanskrit literary works gives an idea of the Mauryan administration. While these are useful, the inscriptions of Asoka on rocks and pillars are often regarded as amongst the most valuable sources.