Asoka 3rd Century b.c.

Megasthenes
Prinsep Erythrean Sea
Brahmi Ptolemy
Kharoshti Pliny
Prakrits
Mohenjo-Daro I.V.C. 2700-1200 b.c.
Harappa Marshall
Alberuni Bannerjee
Tawarika Lothal
Rupar
Herodotus Kalibangan
Ctesias

Recap
12th century AD- first historical text written

2) Historical Source- Archaeology

 Inscriptions
 Quality of buildings made
 People have barely scratched the surface of what’s available
 3 important sources within this source:
o inscription- due to so many languages, some cannot be
deciphered
 told us of 1st civilization living on Indus River
 Prinsep deciphered writings on Asoka, the Great
• Writings carved on stone/metal and were full of
Asoka’s edicts
• Written in Brahmi language (left to right) and in
North West, language was Kharoshti (right to
left)
• Over 100 rock edicts
o Numismatics
 Science of coins
 Coins were made of metal: copper, brick like coins
• Sometimes given in celebration
 Issued until 4th century b.c. by kings, petty rules,
merchants, cities, private businesses
 Had symbols and figures on it
 When India invaded by Alexander in 4th century it
brought a coinage system
• Coins give tons of info about Greeks in India
o Even contains dates
• Most coins have been melted down for the gold
o monuments
 No shortage of these
 Contain inscriptions with description of what it was for
 In 1920/1930s cities found:
o Mohenjo- Daro
o Harappa
 Both were part of Indus Valley Civilization

 3) Historical Source: Foreign Accounts

 Not all foreigners were bad; some came to learn about the culture,
language, religion
o Greek historians Herodotus and Ctesias
 Heard about India from Persians
 Exaggerated a lot
o Alexander’s successors couldn’t hold India but kept ties
there
 Sent ambassadors who kept accounts of everything
 Megasthenes wrote one of the most accurate
historical accounts
• We don’t have his original work
• Was respected by many scholars/historians
o Referred and quoted him
o Romans came wanting to trade not colonize
 Found Periplus of the Erythean Sea
• Book on Monsoons
 Geographer Ptolemy created 1st map of the world
 Writer Pliny (1st a.d.) wrote a book dealing with Indian
animals and plants and minerals

 5-7th century there was a flood of Chinese missionaries by land and

sea
 Their interest was in Buddhism
 Left elaborate accounts of what they saw
o Fa-Hsien 5th ad
o Hsuan-Tsang

 11th century Muslims came in