KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS EARLY STATES AND ECONOMIES

KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS

EARLY STATES AND ECONOMIES

(C. 600 BCE - 600 CE)

OTQ (1 MARKS )

Q1. Name the two sacrifices / performed by kings during the Vedic times?

Ans:-.(a) Rajasuya Yagyna (b) Ashvamedha Yagnya

Q2. What is Megalith?

Ans:-Megalith was elaborate stone structure in central and south India in first Millennium

B.C These were kept on burials.

Q3: In the Mauryan inscriptions Piyadassi word is used for Which king?

Ans: Ashoka

Q4: Composed Sanskrit text by Brahamanas from 600 B.C.E onwards were known as

by which name?

Ans: Dharmasutras.

Q5: Who describe the committee system in Mauryan administration.

Ans : Megasthenese .

Q6: How many subcommittee were found for the military activities .

Ans : Six

Q7: How many major political centers in the Mauryan empire ?

Ans: Five

Q8: Write name of any two political centres of the Mauryan Empire ?

Ans : 1 – Pataliputra – capital

2- Taxila

3- Ujjayini

4- Tosali

5- Suvarnagiri

Q9. Name the two sacrifices / performed by kings during the Vedic times?

Ans:-. (a) Rajasuya Yagya (b) Ashvamedha Yagya

Q10. What is Megalith?

Ans:-Megalith was elaborate stone structure in central and south India in first Millennium

B.C These were kept on burials.

Q11.Who deciphered Ashokan inscriptions?

Ans. James Princep.

Q 12.which dynasty issued first Gold coins?

Ans.Kushanas

Q.13.Who was Gahapati?

Ans:-The Owner, master or head of household.

Q14. Write any two sources of Mauryan History.

Ans:-Arthashastra of Kautilya.

- Ashoka's Inscriptions.

Q15. Who were Dhamma Mahamata?

Ans:-Special Officer appointed by Ashoka

- Appointed to spread the message of Dhamma.

Q16. Who were Kushanas?

 Ans:-Important dynasty of ancient India.

- First to issue gold coins in India.

Q17. In which language and script Ashoka's scripts were written?

Ans:-Language - Prakrit, Aramaic, Greek,

- Script - Brahmi, Greek, Aramaic and Kharosthi

Q18. Why is six century B.C.E often considered as a major turning point in Indian

History?

Ans:- >Emergence of early states, cities growing use of iron.

>Use of coin.

>New Religion- mainly Buddhism, Jainism.

Q.19.What were Mahajanpadas? Name a few important Mahajanpadas?

Ans:- -(i) Big states in 600 B.C in Northern India

(ii) Important Mahajanpada - (a) Magadh (b) Koshala (c) Avanti (d) Panchal (e) Vajji (f)

Gandhar

Q.20.What is Manusmriti? What advice has been given to the king through it?

Ans:- - Legal book, written in Sanskrit, complied between 200 B.C to 200 A.D.

- Advice to king - Border security.

Q.21- what  is inscriptions?

Ans    The writing engraved  on hard surface like stone ,metal or pottery  known as inscriptions.

Q 22- what  is janapada?

Ans –The land where a jana (a people .clan or tribe) settles is known as janapada.

Q 23- who was ashoka?

 Ans -Ashoka was grand son of the Chandragupta maurya . He was the most famous ruler of mauryan empire.

Q 24- who was Harishen?

Ans -Harishena  was the court poet of the king samudra gupta. Who composed prayag prashasti.

Q2 5-.When and who built Sudarshan lake?

Ans -Sudarshan lake was artificial reservoir built by a local maurayan  governor .

Q 26-what is Sangam Texts?

Ans -Sangam Texts  are a kind of poem written in Tamil language.

Q-27. What do you mean by agrahar?

Ans -Agrahar means the land donated to  the Brahmans .No land revenue or any kind of taxes was collected?

Q2 8-.Who was Grihapati?

Ans - Grihapati  was the head of the family. He was the owner , master or head of a house hold.

Q 29-What was a guild? What was its  work ?

Ans -An organisation of  producers  ,manufactures, and   traders was called guild or shreni. These classes bought the raw material and after preparing finished goods they sold it in the market.

Q 30-What is Manusmriti ? Write its two main  features .

Ans-Manusmriti is the most popular legal book  written in early India.It was in Sanskrit .It was complied between 200  BCE to 200 CE .

Q 31-Why the relationship between  king and a rural population could often be strained ?

Ans-Rural population was generally  farmers .Kings frequently demanded high taxes .Taxes

Were also collected strictly .Thats relationship between a king rural population could often

Be  strained .

Q 32 –Briefly describe the earliest gold coins.

Ans –The first gold coins  were  issued  by the Kushanas in first century CE. The size and weight of these coins were identical to the coins  its used by contemporary Roman emperors and Parthian

Rulers  of  Iran.

Q-33-Name  the two scripts deciphered by James Prinsep.

Ans-Kharoshti and Brahmi

Q-34. _______________is known as golden temple in Karnatka.

Ans- Suvarngiri

Q-35. What is Prashasti?

Ans-Any thing written on inscription in praise of king is called as prashasti.

Q-36.Wich rulers made colossal statues.

Ans-Kushana

Q-37. What was Guilds or Shrins.

Ans- Organisation of craft producers and merchants was called as shrins.

Q-38. Fine pottery of this time in north India was called by which name?

Ans- NBPW- Northern Black Polished Ware

Q-39. Give two examples of Popular Folk Tales?

Ans- Jataka And Panchtantra

Q-40. Name the place wher Ashoka Inscriptions found.

Ans- Girnar, Sopara, Sanchi, Sarnath, KAlsi, Topara, Kaushambi

Q-41. Meaning of Piyadassi-

Ans- Pleasant to Behold

Q-42. Tribals republics of Punjab were

Ans- Yaudheyas

Q-43. Prabhwati Gupta married to which dynasty?

Ans- VAkatakas.

Q-44. Tell the meaning of these peasants- Vellalar, Uzhavar, Adimai

Ans- Vellalar-large landowners

         Uzahavar-ploughman

         Aimai-slaves

Q-45.Two capital of Magadha-

Ans- Rajgah and Patliputra

S A. (3 Marks)

Q.1.The Inscription of land grants help us to understand rural society in

ancient times "How?

Ans:-- It - shows the relationship between the state and the farmers.

- Hunters, fisherman, sculptors and nomadic farmer were not under the control of

feudal lord᷇

Q.2.List some of the problems faced by epigraphists?

Ans:-- Epigraphists - persons who study inscription

- Sometimes the words are engraved very lightly, so it is very hard to describe them.

- The inscriptions reflect the views of those who write them. So it may be biased

Q.3 Describe briefly the sources for reconstructing the history of the Gupta rulers?

Ans:-- Literary sources

- Description by foreigners - e.g.Fahiyan.

- By Prashastis - Harisena prashastis in Prayag.

- With the help of coins issued by various Kings.

- With the help of Inscriptions.

Q.4 What is the significance of the inscription of Ashoka in the Indian History?

Ans: -- It helps to determine the extent of Ashoka's Empire.

- It tells about his religion and his thought

- It tells us about his policy

- This inscription throws light on the work done by Ashoka - These are the

beautiful specimen of Mauryan Art.

Q.5.James Princep provided a new direction to Indian political history how?

Ans:-- He deciphered two scripts - Brahmi, Kharoshti.

- These inscriptions were used earliest inscriptions and coins

- He throws light on Mauryan ruler Ashoka

- The research of James Princep gave a new direction to Indian political history

- Scholars - (both Indian and Europeans) used the inscription and coins to draw

information about the major dynasty.

Q.6. What method did the Kushanas adopt to attain upper social status?

Ans:-- They represented themselves as a divine figure (Explanation).

- They prefixed the title Devaputra before their name which means the son of God.

- They show themselves as Divine Kings.

- They constructed their vast statues.

Q7. The Inscription of land grants help us to understand rural society in ancient times

"How?

Ans:- It - shows the relationship between the state and the farmers.

- Hunters, fisherman, sculptors and nomadic farmer were not under the control.

- And many other such type of informations we have got.

Q.8. Why did the Kings or Powerful people donate land?

Ans:-- It was an expansion policy of Agriculture in new fields.

- Kings donated land to find new supporters.

- To spread their power and glory by donating land.

Q-9. What factors were responsible for the Growth of Magadh from Mahajanpada to

powerful Empire?

Ans:-- Powerful ruler - Bimbisara and Ajatassattu, Mahapadma Nanda.

- Availability of Iron

- Fertile soil

- Availability of elephants in forest.

- Role of River - Ganga , Son, Punpun; important for communications

Q-10. Describe any five features of Mahajanpada?

Ans:-Ruled by Kings, some were ruled by Ganas or Sanghas.

- Fortified Capital

- Permanent Army

- Functions of King to collect taxes and Tributes from people - Dharmasutras laid

down norms for Kings and other People.

Q-11. Ashoka's Dhamma is fruitful even today. How?

Ans: - Because it teaches to respect elders, love for young and kindness to

subordinate/servants.

- Religious tolerance to other religions.

- Liberal policies towards Brahmanas and learned persons.

- Non- Violence.

Q-12 How does inscription help in reconstruction of history?

Ans: -

- Knowledge about the rulers and their achievement ( By prashasti )

- Script and language of that time

- Land grand and economic condition

- Extent of the empire

- Social and Religious conditions of Kingdom.

L. A. (8 Marks)

Q-1. What were the main features of Mauryan Administration?

Ans:-- Central administration -King had Control over legislative, executive and Judiciary.

Actually he was the most powerful person in empire.

- Providence Administration - the Empire was divided into many provinces governed

by governor.

- Local Government - There was a committee of 3 members to maintain rules and

regulations in Patliputra.

- Existence of cabinet to give advice and to help for running of Administration

- Five major political centers in empire

- Organized Army -a Committee with six subcommittees for coordinating military

activity.

- To spread Dhamma Mahamattra.

- Officers for the land revenue, irrigation and road.

- Strict Law and Order system was set up.

- Institution of spies was very strong and working effectively.

-

Q.2-Analyse the character of Ashoka the Great.

Ans-Ashoka was a great king of the World. Following things made Ashoka the Great.

-Service of Humanity.

-Great administration.

-Lover of peace.

-Non-violence.

-Public welfare works.

-Ashokas Dhamma.

-Religious Tolerance.

-Large Empire.

Q.3-What is the importance of emergence of Gupta age in Indian  history ?

Ans-- End of Darkness.

-Peace and prosperity.

-Political unity.

-Re-emergence of Hinduism.

-Progress in Literature.

-Progress in Fine Arts.

-Foreign Relation.

-Foreign powers in country.