[Topic wise IAS Ancient Indian History Question Bank (1979-2015)]: (8) Post – Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas)

Post – Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas): Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage, development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science.

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1. Brief out the salient features of the religious development in the Post-Maurya period. How was contemporary art influenced by it? [1988, 60m]

2. Write a short essay on “Indian participation in the silk trade through Central Asia.” [1990, 20m]

3. Write a short essay on: “Origins, chronology, characteristics and geographical spread of Gandhara art.” [1991, 20m]

4. Write a brief essay on: “Buddhist writing in Sanskrit in the post-Maurya period.” [1993, 20m]

5. “The centuries between c. 200 B.C. and c. A.D. 300 constitute a landmark in the socio-religious history of India.” Analyses the proposition. [1995, 60m]

6. Furnish a critical and comparative account of various schools of art in the Post -Mauryan period (c. 200 B.C. – c. 300 A.D.) [1998, 60m]

7. How justified are we in characterizing the post-Mauryan five centuries as the ‘Dark Period’ of Indian History? Give reasons in support of your answer. [2008, 60m]

8. Examine the significance of the deities depicted on coins of the Kushanas. [2010, 30m]

9. Explain  as  to  how  the  early  Buddhist  Stupa  art,  while  using  folk  motifs  and narratives  and  common  cultural  symbols,  succeeded  in  transforming  these  themes  for expounding the Buddhist ideals. [2013, 20m]

10.  Review  critically  the  evolution  of  different  schools  of  art  in  the  Indian  subcontinent between  the  second  century  BCE  and  the  third  century  CE,  and  evaluate  the  socio-religious factors responsible for it.  [2014, 20m]