Historians have used which of the following sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire?
I. The account of Megasthenes (a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya), which survives in fragments.
II. The Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya.

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Both I and II

Explanation:

To reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire, historians rely on a variety of sources, including literary accounts and archaeological findings. Among these:

 I The account of Megasthenes:

• Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus I Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
• His observations were compiled in a work titled "Indica", although the original text is lost and survives only in fragments quoted by later classical writers like Strabo, Arrian, and Diodorus.
• These fragments provide detailed descriptions of the Mauryan administration, society, and urban planning, especially the city of Pataliputra.

II. The Arthashastra:

• The Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, traditionally attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya), the chief advisor and minister of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Though parts of the text may have been written later, its core sections are widely accepted by scholars to reflect the policies and administrative principles of the Mauryan state.
• Thus, both sources are crucial in reconstructing the history of the Mauryan Empire.

Information Booster:

Sources of the Mauryan Period (322–185 BCE)

• Literary Sources:
• Divyavadana and Ashokavadana – Buddhist texts that describe the life and reign of Emperor Ashoka, including his Dhamma and missionary activities.
• Sri Lankan Buddhist Chronicles – Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa record Ashoka’s role in spreading Buddhism and list Mauryan rulers.
• Puranas – Contain genealogical lists of Mauryan kings and dynastic information.
• Epigraphic Sources:
• Ashokan Inscriptions – Edicts on rocks and pillars across the Indian subcontinent detailing Ashoka’s policies, moral teachings (Dhamma), and governance.
• Archaeological Sources:
• Remains at Bulandi Bagh and Kumrahar (Pataliputra) – Excavations have revealed pillared halls, wooden palisades, and other structural remnants of the Mauryan capital.