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Solution: Daily Problem Practice for 2021 History Optional [Ancient India: Day 28]

Solution: Daily Problem Practice for 2021 History Optional [Ancient India: Day 28]

Q. Identify the following places marked on the map and write a short note of about 30 words each. Locational hints for each of the places marked  on the map are given below seriatim. [2.5×6= 15]

(i) Ancient commercial and education centre

Taxila

  • In Rawalpindi district, Pakistan.
  • Ancient political, commercial and cultural centre.
  • Commercial centre:
    • At junction of 3 major trade routes: West Asia, northern India and Central Asia.
    • Centre of artisanal production.
  • Centre of education:
    • Amongst the earliest universities.
    • Many do not consider it a university as:
      • teachers did not have official membership of particular colleges, and
      • there was no purpose-built lecture halls and residential quarters, like Nalanda University.
    • Charaka, Chanakya, Jivaka, Panini etc are related to Taxila University.
  • Political centre:
    • Capital of Gandhara satrapy, under Achaemenian.
    • Alexander received submission of ruler of Taxila, Ambhi.
    • Taxila became a provincial capital of Mauryas.
    • Capital of Indo-Parthian Kingdom, and one of the capitals of Kushanas.
  • The Chinese pilgrims Fa Hian (5th century) and Hieun Tsang (7th century) visited Taxila. In ruin during Huen Tsang.

(ii) Ancient capital city

Kapilvastu

  • In Kapilvastu ditrict, Nepal (25 km northwest of Lumbini).
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Capital of the Shakya kingdom.
  • King Suddhodana and Queen Mayadevi of Shakya kingdom gave birth to Gautam Buddha.
  • Chinese pilgrims Faxian and Xuanzang made pilgrimages to the site .
  • Ancient trade centre.

(iii) Famous inscription and temple site

Aihole

  • In Bijapur district, Karnataka.
  • It is east of Pattadakal, while Badami is to the west of both.
  • First capital of western Chalukyas (later moved to Badami).
  • Chalukyan architecture, with many stone temples dating from 5th century CE.
    • Earliest structural temples.
    • Among the seventy temples found at Aihole, four are important.
      • Ladh Khan temple is flat-roofed structure consisting of a pillared hall.
      • Durga temple resembles a Buddha Chaitya.
      • Huchimalligudi temple.
      • The Jain temple at Meguti.
  • Caves: 
    • Ravana Phadi cave- rocks cut temples.
    • Jain cave temple
    • A Buddhist Chaitya Cave- partly rockcut structure.
  • Aihole inscription:
    • Aihole Prasasti in Meguti Temple
    • Composed by Ravikirti, the court poet of Pulakesin II in 634 A.D.
    • In Sanskrit language and old Karnataka script
    • Detailed account of Pulakesin II’s exploit against his neighbouring kingdoms like the Pallavas.
    • Describes the victory of Pulakesin II against Harshavardhana.

(iv) Terracotta centre

Chandraketugarh

  • In North 24 parganas district, West Bengal.
  • Archaeological site:
    • NBPW found,
    • Silver and copper punch marked coins,
      • Some of the punch marked coins having ship motif indicate that Chandraketugarh might have been a port-town.

      Stone and terracotta beads.Semi-precious stone beads and items of ivory and bone found.Terracotta art:

      • Unusual degree of precision and craftsmanship.
      • Terracotta plaques are comparable to those found at other sites such as Kaushambi and Ahichhatra.
      • Terracotta plaques from these sites often carry similar motifs executed in nearly identical fashion.
    • A temple structure of Gupta or post-Gupta period found.
  • Stone and terracotta beads.Semi-precious stone beads and items of ivory and bone found.Terracotta art:
    • Unusual degree of precision and craftsmanship.
    • Terracotta plaques are comparable to those found at other sites such as Kaushambi and Ahichhatra.
    • Terracotta plaques from these sites often carry similar motifs executed in nearly identical fashion.
  • A temple structure of Gupta or post-Gupta period found.

(v) Chalcolithic site

Inamgaon

  • In Pune district, Maharashtra.
  • Post-Harappan Chalcolithic site.
  • Multiple cultural phases:- Jorwe culture and Malwa Culture found.
  • Habitation:
    • Early chalcolithic:
      • Mud and circular houses.
      • Storage pits.
      • Biggest houses with five room was of the ruling chief.
      • Granary.
    • Later Chalcolithic:
      • Fortified wall around the settled area.
  • Pottery:
    • Red with black designs.
  • Artefacts:
    • Stone tools for cutting plants, meat etc.
    • Few coppers tools and ornaments found.
      • Ornaments:- beads, bangles, and anklets. Later gold also.
      • Tools and weapons such as drills, fish hooks and arrowheads.
    • Beads of terracotta, semi-precious stones ivory, sea shells.
    • Terracotta figurines:-  toys, bull, female goddess etc.
  • Trade with other parts of the country.
  • Agriculture:
    • Wheat, barley, lentils, peas, gram and beans.
  • Bones of wild and domesticates.

(vi) Early Harappan site

Kot Diji

  • In Sind, Amri, on bank of Indus.
  • Early and mature Harappan level.
  • Settlement:
    • Fortified with a massive wall made of limestone rubble and mud-brick
    • a citadel complex and a lower residential area
    • House walls of stone and mud-brick.
  • Artefacts:
    • Objects of stone, shell, and bone;
    • terracotta figurines (including a bull figurine),
    • bangles, and beads;
  • Pottery:
    • Wheel-made and decorated.
    • a short-necked ovoid pot, painted with designs such as the ‘horned deity’, pipal leaves and ‘fish scales’.
  • At Kot Diji and Gumla, a burnt deposit between early Harappan and mature Harappan levels suggests a major fire.

NOTE:

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