Foreign Travellers

Question 1

When and During Whose rule did Megasthenes (Greek) and travel to India as Ambassador Whose?
What was the name of the books he wrote accounting His Visit?

Answer 1

• 5years (302-298 BC) in 3-4th Century
• ambassador of Selecus I of Syria
• came to court of Sandrokattes ( Mauryan Chandragupta ) - - Described Social and administrative conditions under the Mauryas in book Entitled “INDIKA”

Question 2

When and during whose rule did FA HIEN travel to India?
What was the name of the books he wrote accounting his visit?

Answer 2

• Visited India during Chandragupta II “Vikramaditya”
• visit to Lumbini,** the birth place of **Buddha
• journey described in his travelogue described as ‘Record of Buddhist kingdoms’
• Travelled India in 4-5th Century(399 and 414 CE,

He indicates clearly the importance of the seven precious substances for Buddhist worship, the widespread practice of stupa veneration, and his aquaintance with several of the jataka tales about the previous lives of the Buddha Sakyamuni, tales which are illustrated in the paintings at the Dunhuang caves.

Question 3

HIUEN TSANG (Chinese) [629-645]

Answer 3

• Visited the court of Harshavardhana - Came through Tashkent and Swat Valley -his book Si-yu-ki or the ‘Records of Western World

Question 4

AL BERUNI (Persian) [1000-1025]

Answer 4

• Came along with Mahmud of Ghazni -First Muslim scholar to study India - Known as Founder of Indology - Wrote Tarikh al Hind

Question 5

IBN BATTUTA (Morrocan) [1333]

Answer 5

• Ibn Battuta was appointed a Qadi, or judge, by Muhammad bin Tughluq.

Question 6

MARCO POLO (Italian) [b.1254-d.1324]

Answer 6

• Visited the Kakatiya state under Rudrmadevi.-well known European travellor who visited many eastern countries

Question 7

NICOLO CONTI (Italian) [1420-1421]

Answer 7

• Came during the rule of Devaraya I of Sangam dynasty of Vijayanagar empire.

Question 8

ABDUL RAZZAK (Persian) [1442-1445]

Answer 8

• Ambassador of Shahrukh of Timurid Dynasty - Came during the rule of Devaraya II of Sangam dynasty of Vijayanagar empire.

Question 9

AFANASY NIKITIN (Russian) [1469-1472]

Answer 9

• A Russian merchant who documented his Indian visit in a narrative, ‘The Journey beyond Three Seas’. - He had visited the Bahmani Sultanate.

Question 10

DOMINGO PAES (Portuguese) [1520-1522]

Answer 10

• Came during the rule of Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529) of Tuluv Dynasty of Vijayanagar empire.

Question 11

FERNAO NUNES (Portuguese) [1535-1537]

Answer 11

• He was a chronicler and horse trader. - Came during the rule of Achutya Deva Raya (1529-1542) of Tuluv Dynasty of Vijayanagar empire.

Question 12

WILLIAM HAWKINS (British) [1609-1611]

Answer 12

• He was an ambassador of King James I. - Visited the court of Jahangir

Question 13

THOMAS ROE (British) [1615]

Answer 13

• He was the ambassador of King James I. - Arrived at Jahangir’s court. By 1618, he succeeded in obtaining two farmans confirming free trade.

Question 14

PIETRO DELLA VALLE (Italian)[1623-1624]

Answer 14

• Pietro Della Valle visited the King Vekatappa Nayaka of Keladi in India.

Question 15

SIR WILLIAM NORRIS (British)

Answer 15

• He was the Company’s ambassador to the Mughal Empire. - Visited during Aurangzeb’s reign.