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Of all the countries of the ancient world, it was India that attracted the utmost attention of ancient Greeks and Romans. The classical accounts of India is the best of all foreign accounts of ancient India that have come down to us.

This is a pioneering work in the field of the study of Greek and Roman accounts of ancient India. In this work, the author has brought to light the facts discovered by the classical writers regarding geography and ethnography of India, Indian society, economy, polity, religions and philosophies, foreign expeditions into and invasions of India, Magadha from the extinction of Nanda rule to the foundation of Maurya dynasty, accession of Candragupta called Sandrakottus and his political achievements, kingdoms and principalities of India, foreign rule and influence in India, Indian influence on Western culture and thought, relations between the East and the West-political relations between India and Persia, diplomatic and friendly relations of the Mauryas with the Hellenic rulers of Syria and Egypt, and relations between India and the Roman Empire-, towns and cities in India, artistic heritage of India, educational, paleographical and chronological systems of India, and other aspects of Indian history, culture and civilization. This work is no doubt of inestimable value.

Contents: Preface. Volume I: 1. Introductory. 2. Geography and ethnography. 3. Society and economy. 4. Political system: polity and administration. Volume II: 5. Religions and philosophies. 6. Foreign expeditions and invasions. 7. Kings and kingdoms. 8. Foreign rule and influence. 9. Relations between India and the West. 10. Towns and cities. 11. Splendour of art. 12. Education, palaeography and chronology. Index.