LATER VEDIC PERIOD

Question 1

WHAT WAS ASHVAMEDHA IN ANCIENT TERMS?

Answer 1

HORSE SACRIFICE.
1 A HORSE WAS LET LOOSE TO WANDER FREELY AND IT WAS GUARDED BY RAJA’S MEN.
2 IF THE HORSE WANDERED INTO THE KINGDOMS OF OTHER RAJAS AND THEY STOPPED IT, THEY HAD TO FIGHT.
3 IF THEY ALLOWED THE HORSE TO PASS, IT MEANT THAT THEY ACCEPTED THAT THE RAJA WHO WANTED TO PERFORM THE SACRIFICE IS STRONGER THAN THEM.
4 THESE RAJAS WERE THEN INVITED TO THE SACRIFICE WHICH WAS PERFORMED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED PRIESTS WHO WERE REWARDED WITH GIFTS.

Question 2

VARNA SYSTEM?

Answer 2

1 FIRST VARNA- BRAHMIN- STUDY AND TEACH VEDAS, PERFORM SACRIFICES AND RECIEVE GIFTS.
2 SECOND VARNA- KSHATRIYAS- EXPECTED TO FIGHT BATTLES AND PROTECT PEOPLE.
3 THIRD VARNA- VAISHYAS- FARMERS, HERDERS AND TRADERS.
BOTH KSHATRIYAS AND VAISHYAS COULD PERFORM SACRIFICES.
4 FOURTH VARNA- SHUDRAS- SERVE OTHER THREE GROUPS AND COULD NOT PERFORM ANY RITUALS. OFTEN WOMEN WERE ALSO GROUPED WITH SHUDRAS.
BOTH WOMEN AND SHUDRAS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO STUDY THE VEDAS.
PRIESTS SAID THAT THESE GROUPS WERE DECIDED ON THE BASIS OF BIRTH.
LATER THEY CLASSIFIED SOME PEOPLE AS UNTOUCHABLES WHICH INCLUDED CRAFTS PERSONS, HUNTERS AND GATHERERS AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO HELPED PERFORM BURIALS AND CREMATIONS.
IN NORTHEAST SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIFFERENCES WERE NOT VERY SHARP, AND WHERE THE INFLUENCE OF THE PRIESTS WAS LIMITED.

Question 3

WHAT ARE LATER VEDICS?

Answer 3

SAMAVEDA, YAJURVEDA AND ATHARVAVEDA WERE COMPOSED AFTER THE RIGVEDA HENCE CALLED LATER VEDICS.
THEY WERE COMPOSED IN NORTH INDIA ESPECIALLY IN AREAS DRAINED BY GANGA AND THE YAMUNA.
THEY ARE COMPOSED BY PRIESTS.

Question 4

POTTERY OF LATER VEDIC PERIOD?

Answer 4

PAINTED GREY WARE.
EXTREMELY FINE TO TOUCH WITH A NICE SMOOTH SURFACE.
HAD PAINTED DESIGNS USUALLY SIMPLE LINES AND GEOMETRIC PATTERNS.

Question 5

SETTLEMENT PURANA QILA IS IN?

Answer 5

DELHI.

Question 6

SETTLEMENT HASTINAPURA LOCATION?

Answer 6

NEAR MEERUT UTTAR PRADESH.

Question 7

SETTLEMENT ATRANJIKHERA LOCATION?

Answer 7

NEAR ETAH, UTTAR PRADESH.

Question 8

HOUSES AND CROPS IN JANAPADAS?

Answer 8

1 PEOPLE LIVED IN HUTS.
2 KEPT CATTLE AND OTHER ANIMALS.
3 GREW SUGARCANE, SESAME, MUSTARD, RICE, WHEAT BARLEY AND PULSES.
4 EARTHEN POTS- SOME GREY OTHERS WERE RED.
5 PAINTED GREY WARE- SPECIAL TYPE.

Question 9

DID ALL MAHAJANAPADAS HAD A CAPITAL CITY?

Answer 9

EACH MAHAJANAPADAS HAD A CAPITAL CITY, MANY OF THESE WERE FORTIFIED. HUGE WALLS OF WOOD, BRICK OR STONE WERE BUILT AROUND THEM.

Question 10

CAPITAL OF GANDHARA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 10

TAXILLA.
PRESENT DAY IN RAWALPINDI.
PUSHKALAVATI WAS ALSO ITS CAPITAL.

Question 11

CAPITAL OF KURU (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 11

INDRAPRASTHA (MEERUT AND SOUTHEASTERN HARYANA).
IN NCERT HASTINAPURA (NEAR MEERUT).

Question 12

CAPITAL OF AVANTI (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 12

UJJAYINI OR MAHISHMATI (MALWA AND MADHYA PRADESH).

Question 13

CAPITAL OF KOSALA OR KOSHALA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 13

SHRAVASTI (EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH).

Question 14

CAPITAL OF PANCHALA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 14

AHICHHATRA AND KAMPLIYA (WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH).

Question 15

CAPITAL OF VAJJI OR VRIJJI (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 15

VAISHALI (BIHAR).

Question 16

CAPITAL OF MAGADHA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 16

GIRIVRAJA AND RAJAGRIHA PRESENT DAY RAJGIR (GAYA AND PATNA IN BIHAR).
LATER IN 4TH CENTURY BCE THE CAPITAL SHIFTED TO PATALIPUTRA PRESENT DAY PATNA.
NOTE RAJGAHA OR RAJGIR WAS A FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT LOCATED AMONGST HILLS.

Question 17

CAPITAL OF ANGA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 17

CHAMPA (MUNGER AND BHAGALPUR IN BIHAR AND WEST BENGAL).

Question 18

CAPITAL OF KASI OR KASHI (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 18

KASI (BANARAS).

Question 19

CAPITAL OF VATSA (VAMSA) (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 19

KAUSHAMBI (ALLAHABAD IN UTTAR PRADESH).
FORTIFICATION WALL BUILT 2500 YEARS AGO.

Question 20

CAPITAL OF SAURASENA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 20

MATHURA (WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH).

Question 21

CAPITAL OF MATSYA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 21

VIRATNAGAR (JAIPUR).

Question 22

CAPITAL OF CHEDI (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 22

SOTHIVATI (JAIPUR).

Question 23

CAPITAL OF KAMBOJA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 23

POONCH (RAJOURI AND HAZARA IN KASHMIR).

Question 24

CAPITAL OF ASHMAKA OR ASSAKA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 24

PRATISHTHAN OR PAITHAN (ON BANKS OF GODAVARI- TELANGANA AND MAHARASHTRA).

Question 25

CAPITAL OF MALLA (MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 25

KUSINARA (DEORI AND UTTAR PRADESH).

Question 26

RAJAS OF LATER VEDIC PERIOD
(MAHAJANAPADA)?

Answer 26

1 MAINTAINED ARMIES.
2 SOLDIERS WERE PAID REGULAR SALARIES AND MAINTAINED BY THE KING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
3 SOME PAYMENTS WERE MADE USING PUNCH MARKED COINS.
4 BUILD HUGE FORTS.

Question 27

REVENUE GENERATION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAJAS OF JANAPADAS AND MAHAJANAPADAS?

Answer 27

RAJAS OF JANAPADAS WERE DEPENDENT ON OCCASIONAL GIFTS BROUGHT BY PEOPLE.
RAJAS OF MAHAJANAPADAS STARTED COLLECTING REGULAR TAXES.

Question 28

TAX SYSTEM IN MAHAJANAPADAS?

Answer 28

1 TAXES OF CROPS- BEACUSE MOST PEOPLE WERE FARMERS.
FIXED AT 1/6th OF WHAT WAS PRODUCED. THIS WAS KNOWN AS BHAGA OR A SHARE.
2 TAXES ON CRAFTS PERSON IN FORM OF LABOUR- A WEAVER OR SMITH MAY HAVE HAD TO WORK FOR A DAY EVERY MONTH FOR THE KING.
3 HERDERS- PAY TAXES IN FORM OF ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCE.
4 TAXES ON GOODS THAT WERE BOUGHT AND SOLD.
5 HUNTERS AND GATHERERS HAD TO PROVIDE FOREST PRODUCE TO THE RAJA.

Question 29

CHANGES IN AGRICULTURE DURING MAHAJANAPADAS?

Answer 29

1 GROWING USE OF IRON PLOUGHSHARES- MORE PRODUCTION.
2 PADDY TRANSPLANTATION- SAPLINGS WERE GROWN.- INCREASED PRODUCTION.
3 SLAVE MEN AND WOMEN (DASAS AND DASIS) AND LANDLESS AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS (KAMMAKARAS) HAD TO DO THIS WORK.

Question 30

WHY MAGADHA BECAME THE MOST IMPORTANT MAHAJANAPADA?

Answer 30

1. MANY RIVERS SUCH AS GANGA AND SON FLOWED THROUGH MAGADHA WHICH WAS IMPORTANT FOR
   ● TRANSPORT
   ● WATER SUPPLIES
   ● MAKING THE LAND FERTILE
   ● CHEAP AND CONVENIENT COMMUNICATION
2. FORESTED AREA- PROVIDED ELEPHANTS, WOOD FOR BUILDING HOUSES AND CARTS AND CHARIOTS.
3. IRON ORE MINES- TO MAKE TOOLS AND WEAPONS.
4. RUTHLESSLY AMBITIOUS KINGS LIKE BIMBISARA, AJATASATTU AND MAHAPADMA NANDA.
5. THE UNORTHODOX CHARACTER OF THE MAGADHAN SOCIETY HELPED IT TO EXPAND.

Question 31

IMPORTANT RULERS OF MAGADHA?

Answer 31

1 BIMBISARA
2 AJATASATTU WERE TWO VERY POWERFUL RULERS.
MAHAPADMA NANDA WAS ANOTHER IMPORTANT RULER. HE EXTENDED HIS CONTROL UPTO NORTHWEST PART OF THE SUBCONTINENT.

Question 32

HE CAME TO INDIAN SUBCONTINENT REACHING UP TO THE BANKS OF THE BEAS. WHEN HE WANTED TO MARCH FURTHER EASTWARDS ,HIS SOLDIERS REFUSED. THEY WERE SCARED, AS THEY HAD HEARD THAT THE RULERS OF INDIA HAD VAST ARMIES OF FOOT SOLDIERS, CHARIOTS AND ELEPHANTS. WHICH RULER IS BEING ADDRESSED IN THIS?

Answer 32

ALEXANDER FROM MACEDONIA IN EUROPE MORE THAN 2300 YEARS AGO.

Question 33

WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT WAS IN VAJJI MAHAJANAPADA?

Answer 33

GANA OR SANGHA.

Question 34

RULERS OF GANA OR SANGHA?

Answer 34

1 THERE WERE NOT ONE, BUT MANY RULERS.
2 EVEN WHEN THOUSANDS OF MEN RULED TOGETHER, EACH ONE WAS KNOWN AS A RAJA.
3 RAJAS PERFORMED RITUALS TOGETHER.
4 RAJAS MET IN ASSEMBLIES TAKE DECISIONS THROUGH DISCUSSION AND DEBATE.
5 WOMENS, DASAS AND KAMMAKARAS COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THESE ASSEMBLIES.
BOTH BUDDHA AND MAHAVIRA BELONGED TO GANAS OR SANGHAS.

Question 35

WHAT IS DIGHA NIKAYA?

Answer 35

A FAMOUS BUDDHIST BOOK WHICH CONTAINS SOME OF THE SPEECHES OF THE BUDDHA. THESE WERE WRITTEN DOWN ABOUT 2300 YEARS AGO.

Question 36

VASSAKARA WAS MINISTER OF?

Answer 36

AJATASATTU WANTED TO ATTACK THE VAJJIS SO HE SENT HIS MINISTER VASSAKARA TO THE BUDDHA TO GET HIS ADVICE ON THE MATTER.

Question 37

BUDDHA’S REPLY TO VASSAKARA ABOUT THE QUESTION TO ATTACK VAJJIS?

Answer 37

VAJJIS WOULD CONTINUE TO PROSPER AS LONG AS:
1 THEY HELD FULL AND FREQUENT PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES.
2 THEY MET AND ACTED TOGETHER.
3 THEY FOLLOW ESTABLISHED RULES.
4 THEY RESPECTED, SUPPORTED AND LISTENED TO ELDERS.
5 VAJJI WOMEN WERE NOT HELD BY FORCE OR CAPTURED.
6 CHAITYAS (LOCAL SHRINES) WERE MAINTAINED IN BOTH TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
7 WISE SAINTS WHO FOLLOWED DIFFERENT BELIEFS WERE RESPECTED AND ALLOWED TO ENTER AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY FREELY.
THIS IS MENTIONED IN DIGHA NIKAYA.

Question 38

LAST OF THE GANAS OR SANGHAS WERE CONQUERED BY?

Answer 38

GUPTA RULERS AROUND 1500 YEARS AGO.

Question 39

THE FIRST DEMOCRACY?

Answer 39

AROUND 2500 YEARS AGO PEOPLE OF ATHENS SET UP DEMOCRACY WHICH LASTED FOR ABOUT 200 YEARS.
1 ALL MEN OVER 30 WERE RECOGNIZED AS FULL CITIZENS.
2 ASSEMBLIES MET ATLEAST 40 TIMES A YEAR.
3 ALL CITIZENS COULD ATTEND THESE MEETINGS.
4 APPOINTMENTS THROUGH LOTTERIES.
5 CITIZENS EXPECTED TO SERVE IN ARMY AND NAVY.
6 WOMEN, FOREIGNERS AND SLAVES WERE NOT CONSIDERED CITIZENS.

Question 40

NEW KINDS OF RAJAS APPEARED AROUND?

Answer 40

ABOUT 3000 YEARS AGO.

Question 41

MAHAJANAPADAS WERE FORMED AROUND?

Answer 41

ABOUT 2500 YEARS AGO.

Question 42

ALEXANDER INVASION AND COMPOSITION OF DIIGHA NIKAYA. TIMELINE?

Answer 42

ABOUT 2300 YEARS AGO.

Question 43

END OF GANAS OR SANGHAS. TIMELINE?

Answer 43

ABOUT 1500 YEARS AGO.