Q. Consider the following statements: - Megasthenes states that he did not notice any slaves in India
- According to Arthasastra, slaves were engaged in the agricultural operations on a large scale
Which of the descriptions provided above is / are accurate?
Answer:
Both 1 and 2
Notes: Despite some potential inconsistencies, Megasthenes' 'Indica' and the Arthashastra both provide notable insights into the Mauryan Empire period. While Megasthenes mentions a lack of slavery, this does not mean that slavery did not exist in India - evidence of household slaves has been discovered dating back to the Vedic period. Furthermore, while India did not have a slave-based economy, slaves were employed in agriculture on a significant scale during the Mauryan period, as advocated by the Arthashastra. Therefore, both statements are correct.