Who sent the Greek ambassador Megasthenes to the court of Chandragupta Maurya?

The correct answer is Seleucus.Key Points

• Megasthenes was sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya by Seleucus I Nicator.
• Seleucus I Nicator was one of the generals of Alexander the Great who, after Alexander's death, took control of the eastern part of his empire, which included territories in Asia Minor, Persia, and parts of India.
• Seleucus I Nicator and Chandragupta Maurya signed a treaty, following which Megasthenes was sent as an ambassador from the Seleucid Dynasty to the Mauryan Empire.
• Megasthenes is known for his important work "Indica," a record of his observations about India's geography, culture, and society.

Additional InformationMegasthenes wrote an account of his observations about India in his book named "Indica"..

• Geographical Details: Megasthenes provided an account of India's geography, including its mountains, rivers, flora and fauna, and climatic conditions.
• Description of Society: "Indica" included distinct details about social divisions, including the caste system and occupations of various groups.
• Urban Centers: Megasthenes described the city of Pataliputra (modern Patna), capital of the Maurya empire, in detail. This gave us information about city life, architecture, and administration.
• Administration and Military: The book portrayed the organized administrative structures and gave an account of the Mauryan army, with descriptions of elephants in warfare.
• Customs and Practices: "Indica" included information about contemporary customs, diets, festivals, and religious practices, and reported that India had no slavery.
• Megasthenes also provided an account of Chandragupta Maurya’s reign and wrote about the prosperity and peace within the empire.
• It is important to note that "Indica" had some inaccuracies or exaggerations possibly due to misunderstandings or cultural differences. For example, Megasthenes reported on creatures such as giant ants that dug up gold dust and humans with no mouths, which are widely considered to be based on misunderstandings or myths.

Chandragupta Maurya (ruled c. 321–c. 297 BCE) was the founder of the Maurya Empire in India. His reign was noted for its significant expansion, political unity, administration and development of infrastructure.

• Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nanda Dynasty in Magadh with the help of his advisor, Chanakya (Kautilya), and began his rule.
• He had a vast empire that included large parts of India, extending to Persia and parts of Afghanistan in the west.
• Chandragupta's administration was centralized. The Mauryan administration, as described in Kautilya's Arthashastra, had a highly organized bureaucratic structure with a council of ministers.
• He had a standing army and implemented an efficient revenue collection system.
• Chandragupta is said to have embraced Jainism towards the end of his life and undertook a fasting ritual until death, as per Jain tradition, at a place called Shravanabelagola in present-day Karnataka, India.
• Chandragupta's rule was succeeded by his son Bindusara, and then by his famous grandson, Ashoka.