Rattibha

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚'𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐨-𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 structure as per Megasthenes 302-288 BC. He was a companion of Alexander lived with Sibyrtius, satrap of Arachosia, and often speaks of his visiting Sandracottus (Chandraketu?). He is said to have 𝐦𝐞𝐭 '𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐬' 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞.
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Megasthenes travelled All the way from Kabul and Punjab through ROYAL ROAD to reach PATALIPUTRA. U͟t͟t͟r͟a͟p͟a͟t͟h͟ ͟n͟o͟w͟ ͟k͟n͟o͟w͟n͟ ͟a͟s͟ ͟G͟r͟a͟n͟d͟ ͟T͟r͟u͟n͟k͟ ͟R͟o͟a͟d͟ was the trade route connecting India with Rome, Greek, Middle East & Iran.
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India in Greek terminology was called by as Indus. Indians use to call Greeks 'YAVANAS' Tibet as 'Uttarakuri'
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As per Mega., Indian produced Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Tin, in huge quantity to make Ornaments as well as armaments. The farming output was mainly rice, millets, bosporum, cereals. India never saw femine as per him. He noted that India had m̲u̲l̲t̲i̲ ̲c̲r̲o̲p̲ in an year
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Megasthenes mentions that Indian army was trained for war. Indian army comprised 4000 largest elephants in the 'world' equiped and trained for war. A͢l͢e͢x͢a͢n͢d͢e͢r͢ ͢c͢o͢u͢l͢d͢n͢'͢t͢ ͢c͢r͢o͢s͢s͢ ͢G͢a͢n͢g͢a͢ ͢d͢u͢e͢ ͢t͢o͢ ͢f͢e͢a͢r͢ ͢o͢f͢ ͢l͢o͢s͢s͢.͢
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There was 𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 in India as noted by Megasthenes.
India had 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 system. This system existed untill 18th century AD as noted by Adams in his research
jstor.org
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jstor.org/stable/3632125

Slavery in the Mauryan Period (C. 300 B.C. - C. 200 B.C.) on JSTOR

Rekha Rani Sharma, Slavery in the Mauryan Period (C. 300 B.C. - C. 200 B.C.), Journal of the Economi...

Megasthenes, in his travelogues mentioned how 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜. In this relief, elephant is seen enjoying music.
Bengal India, c.1st century bce
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Magsthenese mentions the huge population of Indians very diversed and apparently indigenous people. He tells that 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠
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There was 𝐍𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 as per Arrian (CE 86-160). As soon as girls attained age of marriage, their parents would marry them to the victors in wrestling, racing or other games. (contrast to current arranged marriage system)
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𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐎 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 is one of the prominent remarks by Magasthenese. He mentions that there was only one law that - No one among them shall be a slave under any circumstances and that civilians have equal rights not to dominate others.
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Mage. used word 'CASTE' to categorise Indians into SEVEN.
1. 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬) inferior to other classes but most dignified to others Exempt from public duties, neither Servant to or Master of any
Job to forecast and foretell
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2nd category-'𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧'
Exempted from fighting and other public services
They lived in villages and never go to Towns;
They paid 1/4 th of their tillage to the King;
No one was allowed to own property for all land belonged to King himself
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3rd cat. 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐬 & 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐬 living in camps outside Towns and Villages. Their prime responsibility was to remove wild beasts, birds which devour the husbandman agri produce.
4th cat. 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 produced armours
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5th Category was 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 2nd in terms of numbers of all categories (HUGE Army)
6th Cat. as mentioned was OVERSEARS (𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬)
7th Cat. was Counsellers and Assessors, most resptable class. This cat. included Advisors, Treasurers, Arbitrators
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The public at large was honest, disciplined, No-theft, No Written Law. The 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝. Truth and virtue they hold alike in esteem.
Respect was given to WISDOM rather than AGE.
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Woman had extra ordinary freedom.According to Meg. Woman may go outside the marital life unless compelled to be chaste.
King organised a sear competition with woman, and If woman kills king, she becomes bride of Prince rightfully.
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Mag. speaks high of Sages for their endurance. The learnt ones were able to voluntarily give up their life by taking samadhi in fire, water etc.
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Indians don't eat meat of domesticated/working animals. Fahian a Buddhist Monk and traveller in 4th CE says that Indians don;t eat meat except CHANDALAS (butchers)
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Src
degruyter.com
19/19

degruyter.com/document/doi/1…

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