Megasthenes was the ambassador of Seleukos Nikator, a General of Alexander.

When Seleukos invaded India, he was defeated by Chandra Gupta Maurya, who made a treaty of friendship with the former.

Megasthenes was in Pataliputra, in the court of Chandra Gupta for almost five years from 302 BC.

He wrote Indica, the account of India that is available today only in parts. It throws light on the political and social conditions of that age.