Islamic Sources for Ancient Indian History
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Islamic travelers made a thorough study of the social institutions of ancient India.
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 Alberuni's work, "Tehqiqi-Hindi" is very precious for furnishing an account of Hindu fashion, science and literature. He came in the time of Mahmud of Ghazni,. Being well-read himself in Sanskrit, Hindu social and religious ethnicities, his book is of exceptional significance. After Alberuni the other later Muslim writers worth mentioning are Ibn-Batuta, Al-Masudi, Nizamuddin and Hasan-Nizami.
Besides the above-mentioned foreign writers who have helped readers in restructuring the early history of India, there are some other writers who are of no less importance and a brief mention of their names will not be inappropriate. Tibetan writer, Tara Nath also generates constructive information about India in his book, "History of Buddhism". The Arabian books also incorporate references about India. Important Arab Works include- 'Kitab-al-Fihrist', 'Kitab-FotuV, 'Dictioneries of Countries' by Yakut and Atar-al-Bilad, and 'Monuments of Countries' by Al-Kazwin. Lastly, the traveller who also deserves mention among the foreigners is Marco Polo, 'the Venetian traveller', who visited India in 1294 A.D.
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