Who among the following was the first traveler to visit Bihar?a)Hiuen ...
Megasthenes-:
- He was the first and famous traveler to visit Bihar, who came to the court of Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya as an ambassador of Seleucus.
- Megasthenes in his book 'Indica' has given a detailed discussion of the city of Pataliputra and its administration.
IMPORTANT POINTS-:
- Details of foreign travelers - Information related to the historical sources of ancient Bihar, among many foreign travelers and writers in India, Greek, Chinese and Arabic Persian writers are especially notable.
- Among European travelers, Ralph Fitch, Edward Terry, Manrique, John Marshall, Peter Mundy Machuki, Tavinier, Bari and Bishop Hever have described Bihar in their travelogues.
- Megasthenes, Deimachus and Dionysius were sent by the Greek rulers to the Maurya court of Pataliputra.
Deimachus-:
- Deimachus came to Bindusara's court as the ambassador of the Syrian King Antiochus-I
Fahien-:
- Fahien was the first Chinese traveler to visit in 398 AD during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya II.
- He stayed in India till 414 AD and visited places like Nalanda, Patna, Vaishali etc.
Hiuen Tsang-:
- Hiuen Tsang came during the reign of the Chinese traveler Harshavardhana, who lived in India from 673-692 AD.
- He took education in Nalanda Bihar.
Mullah Takia-:
- Mulla Takia traveled from Jaunpur to Bengal during the reign of Akbar and studied the history of Bihar during the Sultanate period.
Abdul Latif-:
- The traveler in medieval Bihar was an Irani, who traveled from Agra to the palace via the Ganges River.
- It has glorified the live scene of Sasaram, Patna, Munger and Sultanganj.
Muhammad Sadiq-:
- In 1691 AD, his father was appointed as Diwan Khalifa in Patna.
Mulla Bahwahni-:
- This was an Iranian priest.
- He first came to Patna in 1807 AD.
- He used to call Patna as Jaitul Hind (Paradise of India).
Who among the following was the first traveler to visit Bihar?a)Hiuen ...
Introduction:
The first traveler to visit Bihar was Megasthenes, an ancient Greek ambassador and historian. He visited Bihar during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in the 4th century BCE. His detailed accounts of the Mauryan Empire provide valuable insights into the history, geography, and culture of ancient Bihar.
Explanation:
Megasthenes:
- Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador who visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, the capital of the Mauryan Empire, which is now modern-day Patna in Bihar.
- He was sent by Seleucus Nicator, the Greek ruler of the Seleucid Empire, to establish diplomatic and trade relations with the Mauryan Empire.
- Megasthenes spent several years in Pataliputra and closely observed the administration, society, and culture of the Mauryan Empire.
- He documented his observations in his book called "Indika," which is one of the earliest and most detailed accounts of ancient India.
Importance of Megasthenes' Visit:
- Megasthenes' visit to Bihar provides crucial historical evidence about the Mauryan Empire and its capital city, Pataliputra.
- His writings describe the grandeur and opulence of the Mauryan court, the efficient administration, the vast army, and the advanced infrastructure of the empire.
- Megasthenes also provides insights into the society, economy, and culture of ancient Bihar, including information about the caste system, religious practices, agriculture, and trade.
Other Travelers:
- Hiuen Tsang: Hiuen Tsang was a Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India during the 7th century CE. Although he traveled extensively in India and recorded detailed accounts of his journey, there is no evidence to suggest that he specifically visited Bihar.
- Fahyen: Fahyen, also known as Faxian, was another Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India in the 5th century CE. While he did travel to various parts of India, there is no mention of him visiting Bihar.
- Itsing: Itsing, also known as Yijing, was a Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India in the 7th century CE. Like Hiuen Tsang, there is no specific mention of him visiting Bihar.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Megasthenes was the first traveler to visit Bihar during the Mauryan Empire. His detailed accounts in the book "Indika" provide valuable historical information about the Mauryan Empire and the ancient society of Bihar. While other travelers like Hiuen Tsang, Fahyen, and Itsing also visited India, there is no evidence to suggest that they specifically visited Bihar.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed BPSC (Bihar) study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in BPSC (Bihar).