Arrange the given list of foreign travellers in the correct chronological order:
(a) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
(b) I-tsing (Itsing)
(c) Fa-Hien (Fa Tsien)
(d) Megasthenes
- A(a), (b), (c), (d)
- B(a), (d), (b), (c)
- C(d), (c), (a), (b)
- D(d), (c), (b), (a)
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
Let's look at the historical timelines when these famous foreign travelers visited India:
1. Megasthenes (d): Visited India during the Mauryan Period (~300 BCE) as a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
2. Fa-Hien (c): Visited India during the Gupta Empire (~400 CE) during the reign of Chandragupta II.
3. Xuanzang / Hiuen Tsang (a): Visited India during the 7th century CE (~630 CE) during the reign of King Harshavardhana.
4. I-tsing / Itsing (b): Visited India later in the 7th century CE (~670 CE), arriving shortly after Xuanzang left.
Therefore, the correct chronological order is (d), (c), (a), (b).
1. Megasthenes (d): Visited India during the Mauryan Period (~300 BCE) as a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
2. Fa-Hien (c): Visited India during the Gupta Empire (~400 CE) during the reign of Chandragupta II.
3. Xuanzang / Hiuen Tsang (a): Visited India during the 7th century CE (~630 CE) during the reign of King Harshavardhana.
4. I-tsing / Itsing (b): Visited India later in the 7th century CE (~670 CE), arriving shortly after Xuanzang left.
Therefore, the correct chronological order is (d), (c), (a), (b).