KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS

Question 1

WHAT IS EPIGRAPHY?

Answer 1

STUDY OF INSCRIPTIONS.

Question 2

WHEN DID THE PRACTICE OF ERECTING MEGALITHS STARTED?

Answer 2

IT EMERGED IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH INDIA FROM THE 1ST MILLENNIUM BCE.

Question 3

JAMES PRINCEP DECIPHERED WHICH SCRIPT AND WHEN?

Answer 3

HE DECIPHERED BRAHMI AND KHAROSTHI SCRIPT IN 1838.
HE FOUND THAT MOST OF THESE MENTIONED A KING REFERRED TO AS PIYADASI- MEANING PLEASANT TO BEHOLD; THERE WERE A FEW INSCRIPTIONS WHICH ALSO REFERRED TO THE KING AS ASOKA.

Question 4

WHAT IS PALAEOGRAPHY?

Answer 4

STYLES OF WRITING WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF PRECISION.

Question 5

WHAT DOES WORD JANAPADA MEAN?

Answer 5

IT MEANS WHERE A JANA (A PEOPLE, CLAN OR TRIBE) SET A FOOT OR SETTLES. IT IS A WORD USED BOTH IN PRAKRIT AND SANSKRIT.

Question 6

WHAT WERE OLIGARCHIES?

Answer 6

MOST MAHAJANAPADAS (6TH CENTURY BCE) WERE RULED BY KINGS, SOME, KNOWN AS GANAS OR SANGHAS WERE OLIGARCHIES, WHERE POWER WAS SHARED BY A NUMBER OF MEN, OFTEN COLLECTIVELY CALLED RAJAS.
BOTH MAHAVIRA AND BUDDHA BELONGED TO SUCH GANAS.
IN VAJJI SANGHA, THE RAJAS PROBABLY CONTROLLED RESOURCES SUCH AS LAND COLLECTIVELY.

Question 7

WHAT IS OLIGARCHY?

Answer 7

IS A FORM OF GOVERNMENT WHERE POWER IS EXERCISED BY A GROUP OF MEN.

Question 8

WHAT WERE DHARMASUTRAS AND THEIR ROLE?

Answer 8

FROM c. SIXTH CENTURY BCE ONWARDS, BRAHMANS BEGAN COMPOSING TEXTS KNOWN AS THE DHARMASUTRAS.
● THEIR ROLES
1 THEY LAID DOWN NORMS FOR RULERS (AS WELL AS OTHER SOCIAL CATEGORIES), WHO WERE IDEALLY EXPECTED TO BE KSHATRIYAS.
2 RULERS WERE ADVISED TO COLLECT TAXES AND TRIBUTE FROM CULTIVATORS, TRADERS AND ARTISANS.
3 RAIDS ON NEIGHBOURING STATES WERE RECOGNIZED AS A LEGITIMATE MEANS OF ACQUIRING WEALTH.

Question 9

LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT OF ASHOKAN INSCRIPTIONS?

Answer 9

MOST ASHOKAN INSCRIPTIONS WERE IN PRAKRIT LANGUAGE WHILE THOSE IN THE NORTHWEST OF THE SUBCONTINENT WERE IN ARAMAIC AND GREEK.
MOST PRAKRIT INSCRIPTIONS WERE WRITTEN IN THE BRAHMI SCRIPT HOWEVER SOME IN THE NORTHWEST WERE WRITTEN IN KHAROSHTHI.
THE ARAMAIC AND GREEK SCRIPTS WERE USED FOR INSCRIPTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.

Question 10

GROWTH OF MAGADHA CULMINATED IN THE EMERGENCE OF THE_________ EMPIRE?

Answer 10

MAURYAN EMPIRE.

Question 11

WHICH LITERARY TEXTS TELLS US ABOUT MAURYAS?

Answer 11

1 ARTHASHASTRA.
2 ACCOUNT OF MEGASTHENES.
3 BUDDHIST, JAINA AND PURANIC LITERATURE (BJP).
4 SANSKRIT LITERARY WORKS.

Question 12

FIVE MAJOR POLITICAL CENTRES OF MAURYAN EMPIRE?

Answer 12

1 PATALIPUTRA (CAPITAL)
PROVINCIAL CENTRES OF
2 TAXILLA (PAKISTAN)
3 UJJAYINI (MADHYA PRADESH)
4 TOSALI (ODISHA) &
5 SUVARNAGIRI (KARNATAKA) ALL MENTIONED IN ASHOKAN INSCRIPTIONS.

Question 13

GOLDEN MOUNTAIN IN ASHOKAN EMPIRE?

Answer 13

SUVARNAGIRI- IMPORTANT FOR TAPPING THE GOLD MINES OF KARNATAKA.

Question 14

IN WHICH ROCK EDICTS ASHOKA MENTIONS KERALAPUTRAS AS PEOPLE LIVING ON THE BORDER, OUTSIDE HIS KINGDOM REALM?

Answer 14

IN HIS 3RD AND 13TH ROCK EDICTS.

Question 15

WHICH SOUTHERN PEOPLE ARE CLEARLY MENTIONED IN ASHOKAN INSCRIPTIONS?

Answer 15

1 CHOLAS
2 PANDYAS
3 KERELAPUTRAS (CHERAS)
4 SATYAPUTRAS
NOTE* PALLAVAS ARE NOT MENTIONED.

Question 16

COMMITTEES IN MAURYAN EMPIRE AS PER MEGASTHENES?

Answer 16

HE MENTIONS A COMMITTEE WITH 6 SUBCOMMITTEES FOR COORDINATING MILITARY ACTIVITY.
SUBCOMMITTEES FOR:-
1 NAVY
2 TRANSPORT AND PROVISIONS
3 FOR FOOT SOLDIERS
4 HORSES
5 CHARIOTS
6 ELEPHANTS
EACH OF THESE WINGS WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF ADYAKSHAS OR SUPERINTENDENTS.
ACTIVITIES OF TRANSPORT AND PROVISIONS SUBCOMMITTEE WERE RATHER VARIED: ARRANGING FOR BULLOCK CARTS TO CARRY EQUIPMENT, PROCURING FOOD FOR SOLDIERS AND FODDER FOR ANIMALS, AND RECRUITING SERVANTS AND ARTISANS TO LOOK AFTER THE SOLDIERS.

Question 17

WHAT IS TAMILAKAM?

Answer 17

IT WAS THE CHIEFDOM OF THE CHOLAS, CHERAS AND PANDYAS (THE NAME OF ANCIENT TAMIL COUNTRY).
IT INCLUDED PARTS OF PRESENT DAY ANDHRA PRADESH AND KERELA IN ADDITION TO TAMIL NADU.

Question 18

HOW WERE CHIEFS THEIR CHIEFDOMS WERE DIFFERENT FROM KINGS AND THEIR EMPIRES?

Answer 18

1 A CHIEF IS A POWERFUL MAN WHOSE POSITION MAY OR MAY NOT BE HEREDITARY.
2 CHIEF DERIVES SUPPORT FROM HIS KINFOLK.
3 FUNCTIONS MAY INCLUDE PERFORMING SPECIAL RITUALS, LEADERSHIP IN A WARFARE, AND ARBITRATING DISPUTES.
4 HE RECEIVES GIFTS FROM HIS SUBORDINATES (UNLIKE KINGS WHO USUALLY COLLECT TAXES) AND OFTEN DISTRIBUTES THESE AMONGST HIS SUPPORTERS.
5 THERE ARE NO REGULAR ARMIES AND OFFICIALS IN CHIEFDOMS.

Question 19

AS PER SILAPPATHIGARAM SENGUTTUVAN WAS A _______ CHIEF?

Answer 19

PANDYA.

Question 20

HOW DID KUSHANAS CLAIMED HIGH STATUS?

Answer 20

ONE MEANS OF CLAIMING HIGH STATUS WAS TO IDENTIFY WITH A VARIETY OF DEITIES. THIS STRATEGY IS BEST EXEMPLIFIED BY THE KUSHANAS.
KUSHANAS CONSIDERED THEMSELVES GODLIKE.
MANY KUSHANA RULERS ALSO ADOPTED THE TITLE DEVAPUTRA OR SON OF GOD POSSIBLY INSPIRED BY THE CHINESE RULERS WHO CALLED THEMSELVES SONS OF HEAVEN.
COLOSSAL STATUE OF KUSHANA RULERS HAVE BEEN FOUND INSTALLED IN A SHRINE AT MAT NEAR MATHURA (UTTAR PRADESH).

Question 21

PRAYAGA PRASHASTI IS COMPOSED BY?

Answer 21

ALSO KNOWN AS THE ALLAHABAD PILLAR INSCRIPTION COMPOSED IN SANSKRIT BY HARISHENA, THE COURT POET OF SAMUDRAGUPTA.

Question 22

SUDARSHANA LAKE WAS BUILT AND REPAIRED BY?

Answer 22

SUDARSHAN LAKE- AN ARTIFICIAL RESERVOIR IN GIRNAR (GUJARAT) WAS BUILT BY A LOCAL GOVERNOR DURING THE RULE OF THE MAURYAS.
SHAKA RULER RUDRADAMAN GOT THE LAKE REPAIRED USING HIS OWN RESOURCES, WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY TAX ON HIS SUBJECTS.

Question 23

JATAKAS WERE WRITTEN IN WHICH LANGUAGE?

Answer 23

PALI.

Question 24

WHAT DOES GAHAPATI MEANS?

Answer 24

TERM GAHAPATI WAS USED IN PALI TEXTS FOR SMALL PEASANTS AND AS WELL AS LARGE LANDHOLDERS.
THEIR POSITIONS WERE OFTEN HEREDITARY.

Question 25

FUNCTIONS OF GAHAPATI?

Answer 25

1 HE WAS THE OWNER, MASTER OR HEAD OF A HOUSEHOLD, WHO EXERCISED CONTROL OVER THE WOMEN, CHILDREN, SLAVES, AND WORKERS WHO SHARED A COMMON RESIDENCE.
2 HE WAS ALSO THE OWNER OF THE RESOURCES- LAND, ANIMALS AND OTHER THINGS.
3 SOMETIMES THE TERM WAS USED AS A MARKER OF STATUS FOR MEN BELONGING TO THE URBAN ELITE, INCLUDING WEALTHY MERCHANTS.

Question 26

WHO WAS PRABHAVATI GUPTA?

Answer 26

1 SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF CHANDRAGUPTA 2.
2 SHE WAS MARRIED INTO VAKATAKAS FAMILY (RUDRASENA 2) WHO WERE POWERFUL IN THE DECCAN.
3 ACCORDING TO SANSKRIT LEGAL TEXTS, WOMEN WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE INDEPENDENT ACCESS TO RESOURCES SUCH AS LAND BUT PRABHAVATI HAD ACCESS TO LAND.

Question 27

WHAT IS AGRAHARA IN ANCIENT TERMS?

Answer 27

IT WAS THE LAND GRANTED TO A BRAHMANA, WHO WAS USUALLY EXEMPTED FROM PAYING LAND REVENUE AND OTHER DUES TO THE KING, AND WAS OFTEN GIVEN THE RIGHT TO COLLECT THESE DUES FROM THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

Question 28

WHAT WERE GRAMAKUTUMBINAS IN GUPTA EMPIRE?

Answer 28

HOUSEHOLDERS/PEASANTS LIVING IN THE VILLAGE.

Question 29

LAND GRANTS PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTIVATORS AND THE STATE. HOWEVER THERE WERE PEOPE WHO WERE OFTEN BEYOND THE REACH OF OFFICIALS OR SAMANTAS: WHO WERE THEY?

Answer 29

PASTORALISTS, FISHERFOLK AND HUNTER GATHERERS, MOBILE OR SEMI-SEDENTARY ARTISANS AND SHIFTING CULTIVATORS.
GENERALLY SUCH GROUPS DID NOT KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF THEIR LIVES AND TRANSACTIONS.

Question 30

WHICH CHINESE PILGRIM VISITED PATALIGRAMA?

Answer 30

PATALIPUTRA AKA PATALIGRAMA WAS VISITED BY CHINESE PILGRIM XUAN ZANG IN SEVENTH CENTURY AND HE FOUND IT IN RUINS.

Question 31

SOVANIKA MEANING?

Answer 31

GOLDSMITH.

Question 32

PAITHAN PRESENT DAY LOCATION?
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE?

Answer 32

MAHARASHTRA.
HISTORICALLY IT WAS CALLED PRATISTHANA.
IT WAS THE 1ST CAPITAL OF SATAVAHANA KING SIMUKA.

Question 33

DHANYAKATAKA PRESENT DAY LOCATION AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE?

Answer 33

AKA DHARANIKOTA IS LOCATED IN ANDHRA PRADESH.
IT WAS THE CAPITAL OF SATAVAHANA DYNASTY.

Question 34

KODUMANAL PRESENT DAY LOCATION AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE?

Answer 34

TAMIL NADU.
IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ANCIENT INDUSTRIAL CENTRE IN CHERA DYNASTY.

Question 35

VIDISHA PRESENT DAY LOCATION AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE?

Answer 35

FORMERLY KNOWN AS BHELSA (BHILSA) OR BESNAGAR IN ANCIENT TIMES IS LOCATED IN MADHYA PRADESH.
IT BECAME AN IMPORTANT TRADE CENTRE IN THE 6th AND 5th CENTURIES BCE, UNDER THE SHUNGAS, NAGAS, SATAVAHANAS, AND GUPTAS, AND WAS MENTIONED IN THE PALI SCRIPTURES.

Question 36

MAHASTHAN PRESENT DAY LOCATION?

Answer 36

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN BANGLADESH.

Question 37

CHANDRAKETUGARH PRESENT DAY LOCATION?

Answer 37

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE IN WEST BENGAL.

Question 38

GUILD OR SHRENIS MEANING?

Answer 38

ORGANIZATIONS OF CRAFT PRODUCERS AND MERCHANTS.

Question 39

VOTIVE INSCRIPTION MEANING?

Answer 39

BY SECOND CENTURY BCE, WE FIND SHORT VOTIVE INSCRIPTIONS.
THESE RECORD GIFTS MADE TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
THESE MENTION THE NAME OF THE DONOR, AND SOMETIMES SPECIFY HIS/HER OCCUPATION AS WELL.
SOMETIMES GUILDS OR SHRENIS ARE MENTIONED AS WELL.

Question 40

TERM GANDHIKAS MEANS?

Answer 40

PERFUMERS OR MERCHANTS WHO SELL PERFUMES.

Question 41

WHAT DOES PERIPLUS AND ERYTHRAEN MEAN?

Answer 41

PERIPLUS= SAILING AROUND.
ERYTHRAEN= RED SEA.

Question 42

WHAT IS MALABATHRUM?

Answer 42

POSSIBLY CINNAMON IN ANCIENT/MEDIEVAL INDIA.

Question 43

WHAT WERE THE TERMS USED FOR SUCCESSFUL MERCHANTS IN TAMIL AND PRAKRIT?

Answer 43

MASATTUVAN IN TAMIL.
SETTHIS AND SATTHAVAHAS IN PRAKRIT.

Question 44

THE FIRST COINS TO BEAR THE NAMES AND IMAGES OF RULERS WERE ISSUED BY?

Answer 44

INDO-GREEKS.

Question 45

WHAT IS NUMISMATICS?

Answer 45

IT IS THE STUDY OF COINS INCLUDING VISUAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS SCRIPTS AND IMAGES, METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS AND THE CONTEXTS IN WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND.

Question 46

WHO WERE YAUDHEYAS?

Answer 46

THEY WERE THE TRIBAL REPUBLICS OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA (c. 1ST CENTURY CE).
THEY ISSUED COPPER COINS.

Question 47

TERM PATIVEDAKA MEANS?

Answer 47

THEY WERE REPORTERS OF KING ASHOKA.

Question 48

TERM DEVANAMPIYA PIYADASSI WAS USED BY?

Answer 48

ASHOKA.
DEVANAMPIYA= BELOVED OF THE GOD.
PIYADASSI= PLEASANT TO BEHOLD.

Question 49

LIMITATIONS OF INSCRIPTIONAL EVIDENCES?

Answer 49

1 LETTERS ARE VERY FAINTLY ENGRAVED, THUS RECONSTRUCTIONS ARE UNCERTAIN.
2 INSCRIPTIONS MAY BE DAMAGED OR LETTERS MISSING.
3 IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BE SURE ABOUT THE EXACT MEANING OF THE WORDS.
4 ROUTINE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF DAILY EXISTENCE FIND NO MENTION IN INSCRIPTIONS.