Who Needs Megasthenes?!

An Authentic Account of Ancient India

(Retold by Mrs. Desler's Students)

    Do other cultures see us as we see ourselves?  The Indian scholar K.C. Khanna recently asked himself the same question about his ancient culture and history.  He was particularly interested in how the Greeks who followed Alexander the Great into India viewed the country and its people.  Through his research, you will be able to travel back in time to about 305 B.C. when the mighty ruler Chandragupta lead India into its Golden Age.  You will see India through the eyes of the Greek scholar Megasthenes, who lived and traveled throughout India for a number of years. But was Megasthenes account of India accurate?

Task:

You will choose, retell, and illustrate an event from ancient India.  But unlike Megasthenes, yours will be an "authentic" account, based on research.  It's your job to to decide what to keep and what to throw out from Megasthenes' journal. Using a similar journal format, you will create a first-hand account of your travels (time travel) through the rich culture and history of India - where you were fortunate to have the unique opportunity of revisiting a particular historical event.  Your illustrations should reflect Indian art styles. You are limited to one event (2500 B.C. - 300 B.C.), so choose carefully!
 Process:

 STEP 1: Begin your research by

• reading Chapter 8 in A Message of Ancient Days, an excellent source for general background information
• checking at least two other sources (books, magazines, CDs, videos) for information on the event you plan to "witness" and describe.
• reading, discussing - and challenging -  Megasthenes and India (K.C. Khanna, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 1971). Organize your findings by creating and completing a chart with the following headings:

STEP 2:  Add to your sources and understanding of India, yesterday and today, by visiting and evaluating at least three of the following Internet sites. Do any of these sites present information that conflicts with or confirms what you have what you written on the chart you completed in Step 1?

• Harappa and the Indus Civilization http://www.harappa.com/
• Art Treasures of India http://sgwww.epfl.ch/berger/First/english/start_india.html
• Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro  http://www.harappa.com/har/har1.html
• Indiatime History http://www.indiatime.com/history/history.htm
• India: A Celebration  http://www.asianart.org/news/india.htm
• Madhubani Painting  http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/gthursby/rc/catalog.htm
• A Walk Through Harappa  http://www.Harappa.com/har/har1.html
• Alamkara: 5000 Years of Indian Art  http://www.ncb.gov.sg/nhb/alam/
• Celebrating 50 Years of India's Freedom  http://www.freeindia.org/
• Ancient India http://eawc.evansville.edu/inpage.htm
• Indian Culture http://www.indiagov.org/culture/overview.htm

STEP 3:  Create your journal.  The more authentic your journal looks, the more points you will score.
 

Extra Credit:  Create a mural of what you saw during your travels to ancient India. Or, if you prefer, create a mural based on the accounts of Megasthenes. You may do the mural by yourself or with partners.

Due date: