Historical sources of ancient India

India is a vast peninsula, which is surrounded by sea on three sides. It is also known as Aryavrata, Barhavrata, Hindustan ka India. Probably the name of the country as India was done in the name of Bharata, a prominent person of Rigvedic period. The main three sources for the study of ancient Indian history are –

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Literary Evidence

Under literary evidence, Vedas, Vedangas, Upanishads, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Smriti texts and Buddhist and Jain literature are included.

Chronicles of Foreigners

The accounts of foreigners can be placed in three categories – Greek-Rome writers, Chinese writings and Arab writers. Herodotus and Tesius were the oldest Greek historians. In his works, fictional stories have been given place.

Tisius was the physician of Iran. Megasthenes was Seleucus' ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He composed Indica. It gives details of Mauryan society and administrative system. Ptolemy composed the Geography (140 AD). Pilney composed Natural Historica, Phrahan composed Pho-Kyun-ki and Si Yu in Hesong.

Travel abroad in ancient India

archaeological evidence

Archaeological evidence is of special importance for the study of ancient Bharat. Inscriptions, coins, monuments, buildings, sculptures and paintings are prominent in the archaeological evidence. The study of records is called epigraphy and the study of coins is called numismatics. Bogjakoi inscription (Asia Minor) 1400 BC. is of. There is evidence of Aryans coming from Iran to the east. The inscription mentions the Vedic gods Indra, Mitra Varuna and Nasatya.