Ancient India: Previous Years’ Questions with Solutions
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1. Sources |
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(i) Archaeological sources: Exploration, excavation, epigraphy, numismatics, monuments (ii) Literary sources: Indigenous: Primary and secondary; poetry, scientific literature, literature, literature in regional languages, religious literature. (iii) Foreign accounts: Greek, Chinese and Arab writers. |
Q. Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in the better understanding of literary sources? Comment.
Q. “Art and culture are reflected to a far greater extent than political history in the epigraphic sources.” Comment.
Q.. How did early Indian historical tradition, as reflected in Itihasa-Purana, emerge? What are the distinctive features of this genre? [UPSC- 2018]
Q.. “While using the accounts of foreign writers, historians must distinguish between statements based on hearsay and those grounded in perceptive observations.” Elaborate with examples. [UPSC- 2014]
Q.. Foreign accounts as a source of ancient Indian history may have some advantages also have a few shortcomings. Citing appropriate examples, example the statement. [UPSC- 2022]
“Ancient Indians had no taste for historiography; their scholars cared more for religious, spiritual and philosophical studies. Indian historiography is essentially an Islamic heritage.” Comment upon this statement with special reference to the contemporary writers and their works which help us in the reconstruction of history of the early medieval period of Indian history.
Discuss the changing approaches to the study of early Indian history.
“Reconstruction of Early Indian history is hardly possible without the help of inscriptions and coins.” Discuss.
On the basis of contemporary sources assess the nature of banking and usury in ancient India.
Evaluate the ownership of land in ancient India on the basis of literary and epigraphic sources.
How far can the ancient Indian Sruti literature be used as historical sources?
Extra Questions and answers
On the basis of literary and inscriptional sources, give the description of types of land, land measures, and land tenure prevalent in ancient India.
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2. Pre-history and Proto-history |
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(i)Geographical factors; hunting and gathering (paleolithic and mesolithic); Beginning of agriculture (neolithic and chalcolithic). |
Q.. “The Neolithic Age represents a revolution due to significant changes that took place during this period.” Examine. [UPSC- 2023]
Q. Delineate and account for the regional characteristics of the Neolithic period in India.
Q.. To what extent archaeological materials are useful in understanding the progress of Neolithic man in India?
In the absence of a written script Chalcolithic pottery gives us a fascinating insight into the culture and life styles of the people of those times. Comment critically.
“The emergence of Non-Harappan Chalcolithic cultures in Central India and the Deccan mark a change not only in the subsistence pattern of people but an overall transition from pre to proto historic period.” Critically analyze.
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3. Indus Valley Civilization |
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(i) Origin, date, extent, characteristics, decline, survival and significance, art and architecture. |
Q.. How do the comparative study of languages, archaeological sources and vast corpus of Vedic literature help to determine the Aryan problem in Indian history? Discuss. [UPSC- 2023]
Q. Do you agree that ecological factors influenced the flow and ebb of the Harappan Civilization? Comment. [UPSC- 2021]
Q.. The urban character of the Harappan Civilization was a result of neither of any outside influence nor a sudden act but a gradual evolution of regional socio-economic factors. Comment. [UPSC- 2021]
Q. The Indus-Saraswati cultural zone exhibited both homogeneity and diversity. Discuss. [UPSC- 2023]
Q.. “Archaeological evidence does not give direct access to the possible social and political dimensions of the decline of the Harappan civilization. What it does indicate very clearly is that the Harappan culture underwent a gradual process of de-urbanization”? Comment. [UPSC- 2018]
Q. “There is no literary sources for the Harappan culture and no archaeological evidence for the Vedic period.” Comment.
Q. Did the mastery over agriculture act as a leverage for the rise of Harappan towns and cities? Discuss.
“On circumstantial evidence Indra stands convicted.” Explain, and discuss briefly different views about a sudden end of the Indus Valley civilization. How would you explain the presence of those elements in Indian culture and civilization which are found to have existed in the Indus Valley period?
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“The Indus Civilization had an abrupt end.” Discuss the statement and explain how the Indus Civilization could influence Indian culture in its later history.
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“The Indus civilization did not have an abrupt appearance.” Discuss the statement. How does the Indus civilization stand, in view of its geographical expansion and chronology, in relations to the Vedic civilization?
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Write a brief essay on: “The burial customs in the Indus Civilization.”
Write a short essay on: “The Religion of the Indus Civilization.”
“The continuity of the Indus Civilization into later ages was not confined to the religious and spiritual fields alone.” Analyse the statement.
Give an appraisal of town planning of the Indus cities and evaluate the various reasons for their decline.
Analyze the elements of urban civilization in the Harappan Culture. What factors were responsible for its decline?
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Was India civilized before the advent of the Aryans? State briefly the extent and striking features of the earlier civilization, if any.
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How do you account for the decline of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Discuss salient features of the Indus Valley Civilization. Mention important places from where relics of civilization have been recovered so far. Examine causes of its decline.
Write a short essay on: “External trade of the Harappans.”
Evaluate the significance of seals and sealings in the reconstruction of socio-economic and religious life of the Harappan people.
Discuss the water management and its conservation planning in the Harappan (Indus-Saraswati) cities.
Do you think the Harappan civilization had a diversity of subsistence base?
The decline of Harappan civilization was caused by ecological degradation rather than external invasion. Discuss.
Extra Questions and answers
Q.. “On circumstantial evidence Indra stands convicted.” Explain.
With the help of historical sources, give an account of Harappan trade while mentioning trade centres, traded goods and trade routes.
“Though script of Harappa has not been deciphered, nature and uses of writing gives us several insights into the Harappan culture.” Comment.
| 4. Megalithic Cultures |
| (i) Distribution of pastoral and farming cultures outside the Indus, Development of community life, Settlements, Development of agriculture, Crafts, Pottery, and Iron industry. |
Discuss the extent, settlement patterns and subsistence economy of the megalithic cultures.
In what ways can the Megalithic culture be considered a foundational phase of the history of peninsular India?
Q.. Will it be proper to consider the Megaliths to represent a single, homogenous or contemporaneous culture? What kind of material life and culture system is revealed in the megalithic cultures? [UPSC- 2021]
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5. Aryans and Vedic Period |
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(i) Expansions of Aryans in India. (ii) Vedic Period: Religious and philosophic literature; (iii) Transformation from Rig Vedic period to the later Vedic period; (iv) Political, social and economical life; (v) Significance of the Vedic Age; Evolution of Monarchy and Varna system. |
Q. Throw light on nature of religion and classification of gods mentioned in Rigveda.
Q.. In what way was the egalitarian character of the early Vedic society changed during the later Vedic period?
Q.. Puranas were the innovative genre of literature to popularise and revive Vedic religion. Elaborate with examples. [UPSC- 2020]
Q.. Examine how the transformation of the Varna system from the Rigvedic to the Later-Vedic period affected the position of women.
Compare the economic, social and religious life of the Indus Valley (Harappan) people with that of the early Vedic people and discuss the relative chronology of the Indus and the early Vedic cultures.
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Discuss briefly the development of religious ideas and rituals in the Vedic age. Do they show any parallelism with the religion of the Indus Civilization?
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Examine the contribution of Vedic culture in the sphere of social institutions and religion. Was there any continuity between the Indus and the Vedic cultures in this respect?
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Analyse the differences and similarities between Indus Valley and Vedic Cultures.
Write a short essay on: “Vedic literature”
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Write a short essay on: “Vedic rituals”
Give a brief account of the social and economic conditions of the Later Vedic Aryans.
Describe the social life of the later Vedic people. How was it different from the Rig Vedic life?
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Write a short essay on: “The formulation of social system in the later Vedic period.”
Write a short essay on: “Position of women in the Rig Vedic society”
What was the position of Varuna in the Vedic system of Gods?
Q.. Write a brief essay on: “The Vedic Gods of the terrestrial region.”
Evaluate the various approaches to the understanding of Vedic religion.
Examine the view that sacrifice was a ritual and a form of social exchange in Vedic India.
Evaluate the conceptual basis of the Vedic deities.
Q.. Write a short essay on: “Democratic elements in the political system of the early Vedic period.”
Give an account of the geography of the Vedic texts and describe the social life during the Vedic times.
Discuss the political pattern and the major religious ideas and rituals of the Vedic age.
Evaluate various views regarding human settlements as gleaned from the Vedic sources.
Discuss the geographical area known to the Rig Vedic people. Were they familiar with the sea?
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Evaluate the contribution of the Puranas in disseminating secular knowledge among the masses in ancient India.
“The Varna concept may always have been largely a theoretical model and never an actual description of society.” Comment in the context of Ancient India.
“The Upanishadic principles embody the epitome of the Vedic thought.” Discuss.
Q.. Do you consider that the Upanishadic principles embody the high point of Vedic religious thought? Comment. [UPSC-2021]
“Archaeology knows of no Aryans; only literature knows of Aryans.” Examine critically.
Extra Questions and Answers
“Over the time it became difficult for individual to upgrade in the social order, but social mobilization was always evident in Indian society.” Critically Examine.
Why do historians generally regard the Harappan Civilization and the Rig Vedic Culture as representing two different Societies ?
| 6. Period of Mahajanapadas |
| (i) Formation of States (Mahajanapada) : Republics and monarchies; Rise of urban centres; Trade routes; Economic growth; Introduction of coinage;
(ii) Spread of Jainism and Buddhism; Rise of Magadha and Nandas. (iii) Iranian and Macedonian invasions and their impact. |
Q. Discuss the factors that played an important role in the process of urbanisation after the Later-Vedic period. [UPSC, 2020]
Q. A number of scholars considered Alexander as ‘The Great’, although long term impacts of Alexander’s invasion on India need to be re-evaluated. Comment. [UPSC, 2020]
Q.. “The political and economic needs of rulers, combined with economic and status needs of the merchant class, together provided the receptive cultural milieu in which Buddhism flourished,” Comment. [UPSC- 2021]
Q.. Buddha’s teachings to a large extent could be helpful in understanding and resolving the problems of today’s society. Analyse critically.
Q. Examine the relationship among economic growth, urbanization and State formation from c. 7th century to 3rd century BCE.
Q. How far is it correct to say that changes in the post-Vedic economy gave birth to new religious movements in India?
Q. Buddhism and Jainism were social movements under the umbrella of religion. Comment.
The concept of Shramanic religions, with particular reference to Buddhism, had their roots in Upanisadic ideas. Discuss.
Write a short essay on: “Social and economic conditions of North India during the Pre-Mauryan period (600-325 B.C.).”
Write a short essay on: “Essence of early Jainism”
Q. What were the causes of the origin of the heterodox sects in the sixth century BC?
“The Sixth century B.C. was a period of religious and economic unrest in India.” Comment.
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Write a short essay on: “The intellectual revolution in the Sixth Century B.C.”
Q.. Discuss the social & economic factors for the rise of Buddhism. How far was it influenced by Upnisadic thought?
Give an account of the republics in the pre-Maurya period. Discuss the factors which contributed to their decline.
What role did iron play in changing their political and economic life?
OR
Evaluate the introduction of iron technology in the development of human history of ancient India.
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Extra Questions and Answers
On the basis of contemporary sources, explain the existence of the republics in the pre-Maurya period. Were they truly democratic? What were the factors which contributed to their rise and decline?
“Though Alexander failed to plant his Greek civilization in India, nor could his invasion produce any direct consequences of permanent nature yet his invasion cannot be called a ‘non-event’ in the Indian history.” Elucidate.
“Some of the hypotheses regarding the impact of iron technology on the history of ancient India is not supported by evidences and need to be discarded.” Comment.
With the help of textual evidence, discuss the emergence of socioeconomic classes like Gahhapati and Settis, with significant wealth, status, and control over productive resources in north India during 600-300 BCE.
Q.. Examine the various views regarding the role of iron technology in ushering Second Urbanisation in Ancient India.
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7. Mauryan Empire |
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(i) Foundation of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta, Kautilya and Arthashastra; (ii) Ashoka; Concept of Dharma; Edicts; Polity, Administration; Economy; Art, architecture and sculpture; External contacts; Religion; Spread of religion; Literature. (iii) Disintegration of the empire; (iv) Sungas and Kanvas.
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Q.. How would you characterize the nature of Mauryan state on the basis of Kautilya’s Arthashastra? [UPSC- 2021]
Q. Do you agree with the popular view that Mauryas established a unitary and highly centralized if not monolithic state system?
Q. “The concept of Ashoka’s Dhamma as found through his inscriptions had its roots in Vedic—Upanishadic literature.” Discuss.
Q.. Social norms for women in the Dharmasastra and Arthasastra tradition were framed in accordance with the Varnashrama tradition. Evaluate critically. [UPSC- 2013]
Write a brief essay on: “Similarities and differences between the Maurya columns and Achaemenian pillars.”
Write a short essay on: “Mauryan municipal administration.”
Write a short essay on: “The architectural and artistic features of the great stupa at Sanchi”
Examine sources of information for Mauryan dynasty. Throw light on historical significance of Ashoka’s inscriptions.
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Discuss the comparative merit of the Arthasastra, the Indica and Ashokan Inscriptions as sources for the administration, socio-economic conditions and religious life in the Mauryan period.
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Critically examine the sources for the study of Mauryan dynasty. How are they useful in understanding the Mauryan administration?
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Discuss critically the relative importance of the different source for the history of the Mauryan period.
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Write a short essay on: “Inscriptions of Ashoka”
Write a short essay on: “Mauryan court art as an alien grafting”
Write a short essay on: “The Maurya policy of regulating and controlling economic activities.”
Determine the extent of the Mauryan empire.
Examine the role of adhyaksha in the Mauryan administration.
Examine the administrative system of the Mauryas and discuss briefly the causes of disintegration of the Mauryan Empire.
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Examine the nature of the Mauryan State. Bring out the features of their administrative system.
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Do you think that the economic factors were alone responsible for the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire?
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Determine the veracity of Megasthenes’ descriptions of Indian society and economy with the help of other contemporary evidences.
Q. Explain how Ashoka used religion as a tool of political aggrandizement.
Discuss different interpretations of historians about the nature of Asoka’s ‘Dhamma’. Did his principle of ‘Dhamma-vijaya’ render the Mauryan Empire militaristically weak?
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Discuss the nature of Ashoka’s Dhamma. Was it responsible for the downfall of his empire?
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Write a short essay on: “Contents of Asoka’s dhamma and reasons for Asoka’s keenness to propagate dhamma.”
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Analyze Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma and account for its failure.
Delineate the nature and impact of India’s contact with Western Asia and the Mediterranean world during the Maurya period.
The development of art and architecture during the Sunga period belies the belief that they were anti-Buddhist. Discuss.
Extra Questions and Answers
“Mauryan art was not only unique in itself but also influenced by others.” Illustrate.
On the basis of inscriptions, explain what Ashoka’s dhamma meant for the people and for the king?
With the help of Ashokan inscription and Arthasastra, discuss the justice system of Mauryan Empire.
What Arthasastra says about the defence and army administration of Mauryan State and how it is borne out by other sources?
On the basis of non-literary sources, analyse the relation between Ashoka’s Dhamma and Buddhism.
| 8. Post – Mauryan Period (Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas) |
| (i) Contact with outside world; growth of urban centres, economy, coinage,
development of religions, Mahayana, social conditions, art, architecture, culture, literature and science. |
Q. Evaluate the significant political features of the Post Mauryan Northern India. What are the main sources of it? [UPSC, 2020]
Q. What was the impact of trans-regional and trans-continental trade in the post Mauryan period on social and cultural life of India?
Q. The flourishing international trade during the Kushana period gave tremendous impetus to the development of art. Discuss.
Q… “The changes in the field of art from the Kushana period to early medieval period are mere reflection of changing outlook.” Comment. [UPSC, 2016]
Write a short essay on “Indian participation in the silk trade through Central Asia.”
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Write a short essay on: “Origins, chronology, characteristics and geographical spread of Gandhara art.”
Furnish a critical and comparative account of various schools of art in the Post -Mauryan period (c. 200 B.C. – c. 300 A.D.)
Write a brief essay on: “Buddhist writing in Sanskrit in the post-Maurya period.”
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“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.
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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.
Examine the significance of the deities depicted on coins of the Kushanas.
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.
How does numismatic evidence of the period reflect the political and economic outlook of the Kushanas and the Satavahanas?
Extra Questions and Answers
With the help of contemporary sources, explain the expansion of trade activity in the period c. 300 BCE-300 CE in ancient India.
On the basis of contemporary sources, give an account of different kind of functions performed by guilds in ancient India from c. 200 B.C. to c. 300 A.D.
In the realm of religious doctrines and practices, the period c. 200 BCE to 300 CE reflects several continuities with the earlier centuries, but also some striking new developments.
How does the coins of the Kushan provide clues regarding trends in economy, polity, religion and society?
| 9. Early State and Society in Eastern India, Deccan and South India |
| (i) Kharavela,
(ii) The Satavahanas, (iii) Tamil States of the Sangam Age; (iv) Administration, economy, land grants, coinage, trade guilds and urban centres; Buddhist centres; Sangam literature and culture; Art and architecture |
Q. How far the Sangam literature acts as a window into the social and cultural traditions of ancient South India? [UPSC- 2023]
Q. The accurate picture of the complex socio-cultural milieu of Peninsular India is presented in the early Sangam literature. Delineate. [UPSC, 2016]
OR
Discuss the salient features of cultural traditions of South India as reflected in Sangam Literature. [UPSC, 2020]
Q. The discovery of monsoons by Hippalus gave a new direction to Indo-Roman trade during the Satavahana period. Comment.
Discuss the military activities of Kharavela of Kalinga. Do you think that his reign is significant for military expeditions alone?
Assess the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy.
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Trace the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy.
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Examine the role of guilds in the economic life of ancient India.
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Write a short essay on: “The role of guilds in the economic life of India from c. 200 B.C. to c. A.D. 300.”
Justify Pliny’s statement the Rome was being drained out of its gold by India during the first century of the Christian era.
“Not only does ancient Tamil literature furnish an accurate picture of widely disparate classes; it also describes the social condition of Tamil country as it was.” Discuss.
Extra Questions and Answers
With the help of contemporary sources, discuss the political and economic development in Sangam age.
“Sangam literature reflects a society with its distinctive cultural traditions, one which celebrated war and love.” Explain.
On the basis of literary sources, give an account of religious belief and rituals of Sangam age.
| 10. Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas |
| (i) Polity and administration, Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants,
Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women, Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture. |
Polity and administration
Write a short essay on: “The significance of the policy of matrimonial alliances for the expansion and consolidation of the Gupta Empire.”
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Write a short essay on: “Factors that led to the rise and fall of the Gupta Empire.”
Write a short essay on: “Skandagupta’s war with the Hunas”
Examine the information of Fa Hien about the political, religious, social and economic conditions of India. Make a comparative study of his account with that of Yuan Chawang.
What are the salient features of the administrative system of the Guptas?
Describe the expansion of the Gupta Empire under Samudragupta.
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Describe the expansion of the Gupta Empire under Samudragupta with the help of the Allahabad pillar inscription.
Discuss the provincial and district administrative units of the Gupta Empire with the designations and functions of the officers.
Economic conditions, Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism, Caste system, Position of women
Q.. The economic achievements of the Guptas were the culmination of a process which began during the Kushanas. Comment. [UPSC- 2022]
Q. What were the privileges granted to the donees in land-grant charters of early India? How far were these charters responsible for integration or disintegration socio-political milieu?
Q. Do you agree that the system of land grants from the Gupta-Vakataka period was connected with the decentralisation of state in any way?
How far do the coins of the Gupta’s provide clues regarding trends in economy, polity, religion and arts? Discuss them in the light of corroborating evidence from archaeology and literature.
Examine the development of religion, literature and fine arts under the Guptas.
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“The Gupta period stands at the center of Indian history.” Discuss the development of arts and literature in that Gupta period in the light of this statement.
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Discuss the conditions of economic life in the age of the Guptas.
OR
Write a short essay on “The economic prosperity in the Gupta period.”
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Write a short essay on: “Origins and meaning of the samanta system.”
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Extra Questions and Answers
How foreign elements had influences on Gupta’s coins? Discuss with examples.
On the basis of contemporary sources, give an account of Royal land grant in ancient India.
With the help of literary and archaeological sources, critically evaluate the hypothesis that there was urban decay during c. 300-600 CE.
Throw light on the condition of women during the Gupta period with the help of contemporary sources.
Q.. How did the Varnashrama Dharma manifest the increasing social complexities in the Gupta and post-Gupta period arising from social and economic developments? [UPSC- 2021]
Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture
Q.. Sanskrit literature of classical Gupta age set standards for the early medieval India. Evaluate the statement with representative examples. [UPSC- 2020]
Q. Discuss the experimentations with art and architecture during the Gupta-Vakataka period.
Write a short essay on: “Nalanda Mahavihara”
Highlight the achievements of the Gupta period in the field of literature, science and technology.
Vardhanas
Critically examine the sources of information for the study of Harshavardhan and discuss his religious policy.
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Harsha is described as ‘the lord of the whole of north India’. Determine the extent of his empire and discuss his political relations with Sasanka, Bhaskaravarman and Pulakesin II.
Write a short essay on “The Maukharis paving the way for the glory of Harshavardhana”
OR
Who were the Maukharis? Discuss their political relations with the Later Guptas of Magadha.
Give an account of the Society in Northern and Central India since the death of Harsha to the Muslim conquest of North India.
“Harsha owes his greatness largely not to any real achievements but to formulate descriptions by two famous men.” Discuss.
OR
“Harshvardhan was himself great, but he has been made greater by Ban and Yuan Chiang.” Critically examine the statement.
“Of all the events that had a singular being on the history of India, Harsha’s death in 647 A.D. is significant.” Why? Explain.
Discuss critically the role Harsha played in the history of his times.
| 11. Regional States during Gupta Era |
| (i) The Kadambas, Pallavas, Chalukyas of Badami;
(ii) Polity and Administration, Trade guilds, Literature; growth of Vaishnava and Saiva religions. (iii) Tamil Bhakti movement, Shankaracharya; Vedanta; Institutions of temple and temple architecture; Palas, (iv) Senas, Rashtrakutas, Paramaras, Polity and administration; Cultural aspects. (v) Arab conquest of Sind; Alberuni, (vi) The Chalukyas of Kalyana, Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas; (vii) Polity and Administration; local Government; Growth of art and architecture, religious sects, Institution of temple and Mathas, Agraharas, education and literature, economy and society. |
Q. “Utpanna dravide bhaktih, Karnate vriddhimagata I Sthita kinchit maharashtre gurjare jirnatam gata II” – Padmapurana. Account for the emergence of bhakti in Dravida desa.
Polity and administration
Discuss critically the main aspects of polity and society under the Pallavas.
Give an account of the struggle for supremacy in South India between the Chalukyas of Badami and the Pallavas.
OR
Trace briefly the history of the struggle between the Chalukyas and the Pailavas. Analyze its causes and bring out its importance.
Give an account of the rise of the Chalukyas of Vatapi and their struggle with other rulers. Write a note on their patronage of arts.
Q. “Doubtless it was not a free state; it was any rate a state” (K A N Sastri). Reflect upon the nature of local self government institutions in the Chola country.
How could the local self-government under the Cholas adjust with their centralized administration structure?
Extra Questions and Answers
Write about the different views on the nature of South Indian states with the special reference to the Chola state.
Art and architecture
Q. Describe the evolution and development of regional temple architecture of South India with special reference to Pallavas. [UPSC, 2020]
Q. Kailasa Temple built at Ellora marks the culmination of rock-cut architecture in India. Elucidate.
Q. Trace the origin and development of the political authority of the Chalukyas of Badami and discuss their contribution to religion and architecture.
OR
What was the contribution of the Chalukyas of Badami to Indian architecture?
Evaluate the importance of the contributions of the Pallavas in the history of the development of art and administration in South India.
Assess the achievements of the Pallavas in administration and art.
OR
Write a short essay on: “The contributions of the Pallavas to Indian architecture.”
OR
Evaluate the importance of the contributions of the Pallavas in the history of the development of art and administration in South India.
OR
Who were the Pallavas? Review briefly their contribution to art and administration.
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Discuss the contribution of the Pallavas to South Indian art. Was this art wholly indigenous?
Bring out the regional variations in the early South Indian Temple’s architectural styles.
Assess Ellora as a unique art centre of the different cultural streams.
How far is it true to say that the strength and vigour of Indian history during c. A.D. 500-750 lay in the south of the Vindhyas?
Arab conquest of Sind
Write a short essay on: “Historical significance of the advent of the Arabs in India”
| 12. Themes in Early Indian Cultural History |
| (i) Languages and texts, major stages in the evolution of art and architecture, major
philosophical thinkers and schools, ideas in Science and Mathematics. |
Q. Trace and identify the changing pattern of Tantrism in Ancient India with examples. [UPSC, 2020]
How far is it correct to say that the Indians of the ancient period indulged only Metaphysical things and not in the development of pure sciences?
Discuss the cultural impact of India of the South-East Asia during the ancient period.
Assess the educational system in early India and identify important educational institutions of the period.
In ancient India, what was the impact of western world and India on each other?
Discuss the major mathematical and astronomical development in ancient India?
Extra Questions Answers
“Dharma in ancient time was a broad concept which regulated all aspects of life.” Elucidate.
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