The accounts of the Chinese and Arab travelers are treated as one of the most authentic sources of reconstructions of the history of India.
While the Chinese travelers visited India predominantly during the 5th to 7th century AD when Buddhism was flourishing in the country &
Most Arab travelers visited India during the 8th to 14th century AD when the sub-continent was under Islamic rule.
Accounts of Chinese travelers like Fa-Hien, Sung Yun, Hiuen Tsang, and I-Tsing provide a non-biased account of the rulers of the time as well as the socio-economic conditions that prevailed during the time.
- Fa-Hien gives an excellent geographical account of the silk route.
- Ma Huan gives important information about fifteenth-century India.
- The accounts of Arab travelers provide meticulous details of various ports and towns and major items of merchandise exchanged between far-off lands.
- Al Masudi’s accounts describe the history of north India during the reign of Mihira Bhoja.
- Al-Biruni gives first-hand information about the plundering by Mahmud of Ghazni.
The information provided in these accounts on the basis of their personal experiences and direct contacts with people has helped historians to reconstruct the history of the ancient and medieval periods.