question_answer

Historians have used avariety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire. State any four such sources.

Answer:

Historians have used following of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire. These include:

(i) Archaeological finds, especially sculpture.

(ii) The account of Megasthenes which survive in fragments.

(iii) The Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya.

(iv) Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic literature, as well as Sanskrit literary works.

(v) The inscriptions of Ashoka (c. 272/268-23) on rocks and pillars.