🏛️Indian History Part 2: Foreign Accounts and Literary Sources in Ancient India

Hello Learners!

Today’s topic covers how we know about ancient Indian history through foreign travelers and literary sources such as Vedic, Buddhist, and Jain texts. These sources help in understanding the socio-political, religious, and cultural life of ancient India — essential for exams like UPSC, SSC, Railway, and more.

📚 Topic Summary (100–150 words)

India’s past has been extensively documented by foreign travelers like Megasthenes, Alberuni, Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang, Ibn Battuta, and many others who visited or studied India. Their travel accounts describe India’s administration, religions, education systems, and society.

Literary sources are divided into:

  • Hindu texts: Shruti (Vedas) and Smriti (Epics, Puranas)

  • Buddhist texts: Tripitaka, Jataka

  • Jain texts: 12 Angas, Acharanga Sutra

  • Semi-historical & Biographical texts: Rajatarangini, Harshacharita

Foreign sources like Chinese (Fa-Hien, Hiuen Tsang) and Arab (Al Masudi, Al-Beruni) contributed valuable accounts. Many court poets such as Kalhana, Banabhatta, and Vakpati wrote about kings and their times.

These literary and foreign accounts are vital for constructing the history of ancient and medieval India.

❓MCQs Based on the Topic:

  1. Who is called the ‘Father of Indology’?
    A. Megasthenes B. Al-Beruni C. Fa-Hien D. Kalhana
    ✅ Answer: B. Al-Beruni
    📝 He wrote Tahqiq-i-Hind and is considered the first real Indologist.

  2. Who wrote Indica, describing Chandragupta Maurya’s court?
    A. Curtius B. Justin C. Megasthenes D. Ptolemy
    ✅ Answer: C. Megasthenes

  3. Who was the Chinese traveler who visited Nalanda and wrote Si-Yu-Ki?
    A. Sung Yun B. Hiuen Tsang C. I-Tsing D. Matwa Lin
    ✅ Answer: B. Hiuen Tsang

  4. Which Arab scholar wrote Kitab-ul-Hind?
    A. Ibn Battuta B. Al Masudi C. Al-Beruni D. Al Idrisi
    ✅ Answer: C. Al-Beruni

  5. Which traveler never visited India but wrote Masalik al-Absar?
    A. Ibn Battuta B. Shihab al-Din al-Umari C. Abdurrazzak D. Al Masudi
    ✅ Answer: B. Shihab al-Din al-Umari

  6. The text ‘Harshacharita’ was written by:
    A. Kalhana B. Banabhatta C. Rajasekhara D. Patanjali
    ✅ Answer: B. Banabhatta

  7. Who is the author of Rajatarangini, the history of Kashmir?
    A. Bilhana B. Kalhana C. Harisena D. Vishakhadatta
    ✅ Answer: B. Kalhana

  8. Which Buddhist text is part of the ‘Tripitaka’?
    A. Jataka B. Abhidhamma Pitaka C. Arthashastra D. Neetisara
    ✅ Answer: B. Abhidhamma Pitaka

  9. ‘Gaudavaho’ was written by court poet Vakpati in the court of:
    A. Bhoja B. Harsha C. Yashovarman D. Pulakeshin
    ✅ Answer: C. Yashovarman

  10. I-Tsing visited India and wrote about:
    A. Political administration B. Trade relations C. Buddhist practices D. Music and dance
    ✅ Answer: C. Buddhist practices

  11. Who wrote Malwa Samgraha on Paramara rulers?
    A. Bilhana B. Ballala C. Padmagupta D. Rajasekhara
    ✅ Answer: C. Padmagupta

  12. Who wrote Tarikh-i-Hind and Tahqiq-i-Hind?
    A. Ibn Hawqal B. Al Idrisi C. Al-Beruni D. Shihabuddin
    ✅ Answer: C. Al-Beruni

  13. The 'Jataka' stories belong to which religion?
    A. Jainism B. Hinduism C. Buddhism D. Zoroastrianism
    ✅ Answer: C. Buddhism

  14. ‘Rajatarangini’ gives the history of:
    A. Kashmir B. Gujarat C. Malwa D. Delhi
    ✅ Answer: A. Kashmir

  15. Which language was used by Fa-Hien in his travel accounts?
    A. Sanskrit B. Pali C. Chinese D. Arabic
    ✅ Answer: C. Chinese

  16. Which court poet wrote Bhojaprabandha?
    A. Kalhana B. Ballala C. Banabhatta D. Vakpati
    ✅ Answer: B. Ballala

  17. Which Jain text describes rules for monks?
    A. Jataka B. Acharanga Sutra C. Neetisara D. Arthashastra
    ✅ Answer: B. Acharanga Sutra

  18. Which Veda focuses on melodies and chants?
    A. Rigveda B. Yajurveda C. Samaveda D. Atharvaveda
    ✅ Answer: C. Samaveda

  19. Which traveler visited Vijayanagar during Devaraya II’s rule?
    A. Ibn Battuta B. Abdurrazzak C. Al Masudi D. Ptolemy
    ✅ Answer: B. Abdurrazzak

  20. Who among the following wrote on the Gupta period in Chinese sources?
    A. Sung Yun B. Hiuen Tsang C. Matwa Lin D. Fa-Hien
    ✅ Answer: C. Matwa Lin

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