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21 Ancient Travellers

The Indian subcontinent is one of the oldest civilisations in the world. In ancient times, Indian
civilisation attracted many travellers and scholars. A number of travellers from Greece, the Arab
region, western Asia, and China visited India.
Read the descriptions and write the names of famous travellers using the Help Box.

1. He was an Italian explorer, navigator, and coloniser. During his voyages,
he claimed to have discovered North and South America, where millions
of native people already lived. ______________________________

2. He was an Iranian scholar who arrived in India along with Mahmud
Ghaznavi. He was an astronomer, mathematician, and philosopher,
studying physics and natural sciences.
______________________________

3. He was the first traveller from China who visited India. He studied
the Sanskrit language for nearly three years in the city of Patliputra.
______________________________

4. He was a Greek ambassador who travelled to Kerala in 302 BCE.
His work ‘Indica’ introduced India to the rest of the world.
______________________________

5. He was an Italian trader and explorer who travelled around the
world in the 13th century and arrived in India between 1292–94.
______________________________

Fact File
Help Box
The Portuguese explorer Fernao de
Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Magellan is often credited as being the first
Fa-Hien, Megasthenes, Al-Biruni person to have circumnavigated the globe.

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