Assertion: Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct th...
Explanation:
Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan empire:
- Historians have utilized a diverse range of sources to piece together the history of the Mauryan empire. These sources include inscriptions, archaeological findings, Greek accounts, and ancient texts.
- Inscriptions found on pillars and rocks provide valuable information about Mauryan rulers, their achievements, and administrative policies.
- Archaeological discoveries, such as the remains of Mauryan cities like Pataliputra, help in understanding the urban planning and architectural advancements of the empire.
- Greek accounts by foreign travelers like Megasthenes offer insights into the political structure, society, and culture of the Mauryan empire.
- Ancient texts, including Buddhist and Jain literature, also provide details about Mauryan rulers like Ashoka and their contributions to the empire.
Arthashastra composed by Kautilya was one of the main sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan empire:
- The Arthashastra, attributed to the scholar Chanakya (Kautilya), is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy. It offers valuable insights into the governance and administration of the Mauryan empire.
- Kautilya's Arthashastra outlines the duties of a king, the functioning of the state machinery, and strategies for maintaining law and order within the empire.
- By studying the Arthashastra, historians can glean information about the political strategies employed by Mauryan rulers and the principles that guided their decision-making processes.
- While the Arthashastra is a critical source for understanding the Mauryan empire, historians have also relied on a combination of other sources to reconstruct a comprehensive history of this ancient Indian dynasty.
Therefore, both the assertion that historians have used a variety of sources and the reason that Arthashastra composed by Kautilya was a main source are true, but the reason alone does not fully explain the breadth of sources utilized in reconstructing the history of the Mauryan empire.
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