Political Organisation In Ancient And Mediaeval India

Question 1

Political organization of early vedic period

Answer 1

Kingdom(many janas)- Rajan
Jana or tribe ( group of visu).
Visu(group of villages). - Vishayapati
Grama(village). - Gramani
Kula(family) - grahapati

King assisted by purohit senani
Sabha(selected individuals) and samiti (entire tribe)

Question 2

Political organization in later vedic period

Answer 2

Same as previous.. additional
Janas formed janapada or rashtra

Purohit senani gramani tax collector treasury officer royal messanger

Sabha samiti lost importance

Question 3

Organisation of Jainism

Answer 3

Sangha had
- monks
-Lay followers
Both men and women

Question 4

Organisation of Buddhism

Answer 4

Sangha
- monks(bhikshuks)
-lay followers (upasikas)
Sangha formed on democratic lines

Question 5

Adminstration of Mauryans
Central

Answer 5

King’s council - Purohit, mahamantri senapati yuvraj

Question 6

Adminstration of Mauryans
Provincial

Answer 6

Province (head- royal family member)
Districts (rajukas- assisted by yuktas(collector)
Village(gramani), various villages under gopa
Nagar(Nagarika)

Question 7

Adm of patliputra

Answer 7

6 committees for-
Trade and commerce
Manufacture and sale of goods
Sales tax
Industries
Foreigners
Registration of birth and deaths

Question 8

Revenue and commerce adm of Mauryans

Answer 8

Revenue dept- head samharta
* 1/6 of produce

Dept of commerce and industry
*controlled retail and wholesale price
* “ Weight and measures
*Levy custom duty
*Regulated foreign trade
*Adhyakshas to ensure supply of goods

Question 9

Census adm of Mauryans

Answer 9

By municipal officials
With caste and occupation
Foreign and indigenous

Question 10

Army adm of Mauryans

Answer 10

Senapati (head)

6 wings of army
* Cavalry
*Infantry
*Elephant
*Chariot
*Navy
*Transport and supply

Each headed by adhyaksha
Board of five members each control wings

Question 11

Judiciary and police administration of Mauryans

Answer 11

Judiciary
SC at capital - Dharmathikarin (head)
Subordinate court at capital of each province
Sub courts at district under amatyas

Police
Police station in all centres+ jails
Remission

Question 12

Adm in sangam period

Answer 12

Monarch assisted by 5 councils
- ministers( amaichar)
- priests (anthanar)
- military commander (senapati)
- envoy (thuthar)
- spies ( orrar)

        \+ Minister  Court poet Imperial court was called avai

Question 13

Significance of tutelary tree in sangam period
What was tutelary tree called during sangam age?

Answer 13

• believed to be a protector
• if tree dies… destruction of king
• kodimaram

Question 14

Adm under guptas
(300-800AD)
What was foreign minister called under guptas?

Answer 14

King assisted by council
- chief minister
- Senapati (commander in chief)
- impt official
- sandivigraha

Question 15

Provincial adm under guptas
Under which officers entire provincial adm was kept?

Answer 15

-Bhukti(bhuktis) under uparika(prov governor)
-vishyas( districts) under vishyapati
-city under nagara sreshti
- village under gramikas

• Kamaramatyas and ayuktas

Question 16

Civil adm under guptas
What is the source of info of civil adm of gupats?

Answer 16

Personal freedom
Punishment not severe(fine etc)
No spy system
Efficient no thieves
Liberal than Mauryans

Fahien’s account

Question 17

Adm under Harsha ( 606- 647AD)
What was nilopitu

Answer 17

Same as guptas
Maintenance of public record in account called nilopitu
Cruel punishments
Army
-foot, horse, chariots, elephant

Question 18

How was civil administration under harsha?

Answer 18

Caste system prevalent
Women’s position deteriorate
- swyamvara decline, sati, no widow remarriage, dowry system

Question 19

Adm of chalukyas( 543-755)

Answer 19

Centralised
No village autonomy
Maritime trade flourished

Question 20

Adm of rashtrakutas(755- 975)

Answer 20

Empire
Rashtra(rashtrapati)
Vishayas(vishyapati)
Bhukti-50-70 villages(bhoga pati)
Each village-headman and assemblies -not centralised adm

Question 21

Adm of imperial chola ( 9th-13th century)

Answer 21

Empire
Mandalams( head- princes or official)
Valanadus(periyanattar)
Nadus(nattar)
Autonomous village &. Nagarm(Nagarattar)

Officials were called - perundanam and sirudanam

Question 22

Village adm of cholas

Answer 22

sabha(village council)
Village divided into ward- each ward nominate one member to village sabha
-sabha divided into
* 6 variyams
* Thotta v
* Pancha v
* Eri v
* Pon v
* Puravuvari v
* Samvatsara v

Village sabha had committees
Members called variyapperumakkal

Question 23

By which system village council members were alloted each ward in chola adm?

Answer 23

Kudavolai system( chit system)

Question 24

Revenue adm of cholas

• what was revenue dept called?
• what was ur nattam?
• on what goods and services tax was imposed in chola empire?

Answer 24

• puravuvarithinaikkalam
• resident and temple land on which tax was not imposed
• tolls and custom on goods, duties on marriages, judicial fines, professional taxes

Question 25

Adm of vijaynagar empire
(1336-1672)

Answer 25

Empire
Mandalam(provinces)-mandaleshwara
Nadus (districts)
Sthalas (group of villages and towns)
Gramas

Question 26

Administration of sur Dynasty (1540-1555)

Answer 26

Empire
Sarkar
Pargana
Iqtas

Question 27

Central administration of sur dynasty

Answer 27

King and ministries
Diwan i wizarat(revenue and finance)
Diwan i ariz(military)
Diwan i rasalat(foreign ministry)
Diwan i insha(m of communication)

Question 28

Sarkar adm of sur Dynasty

Answer 28

Chief shiqdar(law and order)
Chief munsif(judge)
Adm incharge

Question 29

Adm of pargana(sur Dynasty)

Answer 29

Shiqdar
Amin(land revenue)
Fotedar(treasure)
Karkuns (acct)