THEME 2

KINGS, FARMERS AND TOWNS

Q1. Identify the developments in India from 6th Century BCE after the fall of Harappa.
OR
th
Why is the 6 Century BCE regarded as a major turning point in early Indian History? P29.

It is an era associated with early states, cities, the growing use of iron, the
development of coinage, etc.

It also witnessed the growth of diverse systems of thought, including

Buddhism and Jainism.

The Rise of Mahajanpadas

Q2. Elucidate the key features of Mahajanpadas. How did Magadha emerge as the most powerful
Mahajanapada between 6th and 4th centuries BCE. (4+4=8)

Most important ones-

Magadha, Each Mahajanpada had
Salient features of
Vajji,Koshala,Kuru, a capital city which was
Mahjanpadas(16)
Panchala, gandhara, fortified.
Avanti

Some
Mahajanpadas
Most
RAJAS controlled known as
Mahajanpadas
resources such as Ganas/Sanghas
were ruled by
land. Eg. Vajji Sangha were ruled by
kings
number of men
called RAJAS.

Some rulers
Brahmanas composed maintained large Sometimes raids
Dharmasutras which laid down standing armies, were conducted
rules for RAJAS.RULERS were others depended on neighbouring
advised to collect taxes and on militia states for
tribute from traders, artisans. recruited from acquiring wealth
peasantry.

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Q3. Why was Magadha considered the first among the sixteen Mahajanapadas?
OR
What are the different explanations offered by early writers and present-day historians for the
growth of Magadhan power?
MIGHTY MAGADHA
FIRST AMONG THE
SIXTEEN MAHAJANPADAS

MAGADHA, in present day Bihar was the most powerful Mahajanpada. Rajagaha(Present day
Rajgir was its capital). Rajgaha meant "house of King". It was a fortified (walled) settlement.
Later the capital was shifted to Pataliputra Present day Patna)The reasons attributed by
historians for the rise of Magadha are as follows:-

Agriculture-It was Situated in an area where agriculture was productive.

Mines/Minerals-Iron Mines were located here which provided resources to make tools and
weapons

River Ganga-and its tributaries provided cheap amd convenient transportation.

Policies of Kings-Ambitious kings like Bimbisara, Ajatasattu, Mahapadma Nanda devised

policies along with their ministers that made Magadha extremely powerful.

Elephants-An important componen of Army were found in huge number in the forest regions in
the area.

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Q4. Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire.
Explain with suitable examples.

Archaeological
finds,eg Sculpture

ARTHASHASTRA
A book on statecraft
composed by
chanakya/Kautilya, Buddhist,
minister/advisor of SOURCES TO Jaina and
Chandragupta Puranic
STUDY MAURYAN
Maurya EMPIRE literature

INSCRIPTIONS-of
Account of
Ashoka on rocks MEGASTHENES(Foreign
and pillars Account) , Greek
Ambassador to the court of
Chandragupta Maurya

Q5. How do epigraphists and historians work?

1. The epigraphists examine different inscriptions and if they match in content , style, language and
palaeography( style of writing) , they conclude that they were issued by the same ruler.

2.Eg. In an inscription , the name of Asoka has not been used . His titles -Devanampiya and Piyadassi have
been used . But in other inscription his name as well as titles have been mentioned.

3. Thus it can be concluded that both inscriptions belong to Ashoka.

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Q6. Describe the notions of kingship that developed during the post Mauryan period.

1. Chiefs and kings in South-New kingdoms emerged in the Deccan including the chiefdoms of Cholas,
Cheras and pandyas in Tamilkam (present day Andhra Pradesh, Kerala). We know about them through
Tamil Sangam texts that contains poems about their power and resources.

2. Satvahanas in Western and Central India-Many kings ruled over parts of western and central India
Called Satvahanas during 2nd century .

3. Shakas-People from Central Asian origin established kingdoms in north western and western parts of
India . They derived resources from trade.

4. Kushanas-created a vast kingdom from Central Asia to north western India during 1st century BCE-1st
century CE. They evolved many ways to project their notion of kingship.

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Q.How did kings of ancient India claim divine status and why? P35,36. 3

5. Rulers identified themselves with deities-Rulers claimed a high status by identifying with deities. Eg.
Kushanas of Central India and North West India.

6. Building of statues-Kushana rulers built colossal(Massive)statues such as the one built at a shrine near
Mathura ,statues built at Afghanistan to project themselves godlike.

7. Adoption of titles- Kushana rulers adopted titles like Devaputra /Son of god to exalt themselves to a
high status.

8. Gupta rulers and Samantas(Who were Samantas?)- By 4th century a large empire was carved by the
Gupta rulers . They depended on Samantas, men who provided military support to rulers and were paid in
return through land grants. Powerful Samantas at times overthrew weak kings.

9. Composition of Prashastis- Prashastis (means in praise off) were composed in praise of kings and
patrons(Supporter) . Eg. The Prayaga Prashasti/Allahabad Inscription was composed in Sanskrit in praise
of Samudragupta(Gupta king) by Harishena.

CAN PRASHASTIS BE
CONSIDERED A
RELIABLE SOURCE OF
HISTORY?

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10. Coinage/ What light can coins throw on the economy of the state? How are they an important source of
information? Pg 44

Coins were issued by specific ruling dynasties and also likely that merchants, bankers and
townspeople issued some of these coins.

Punch-marked coins made of silver and copper (c. sixth century BCE onwards) were
amongst the earliest to be minted and used.

The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by the Indo-
Greeks, who established control over the north-western part of the subcontinent
second century BCE.

The first gold coins were issued c. first century CE by the Kushanas. These were
virtually identical in weight with those issued by contemporary Roman empires.

Coins were also issued by tribal republics such as that of the Yaudheyas of Punjab and
Haryana (c. first century CE).

Some of the most spectacular gold coins were issued by the Gupta rulers. The earliest issues
are remarkable for their purity. These coins facilitated long-distance transactions

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Q7. Explain the system of land grants and trade from 600BCE TO 600CE.

I. LAND GRANTS
1. The grants of lands were given in the early centuries of Common Era.
2. The grants of land have been recorded in the inscriptions on stones, copper plates , to maintain a
record of transactions.
3. Land grants were given in several parts of the country and varied in size and kind of land.
4. Land grants were given by ruling families to extend agriculture.
5. Some grants of lands were given to religious institutions or the Brahmanas.
6. Some historians claimed that land grants could indicate the weakening of the political power of the
king. They suggested that the king was losing control over Samantas , so they tried to win them over
by giving land grants.
7. Some historians claimed that kings tried to project themselves powerful by making land grants. By
doing so they tried to show their power.
8. Exceptions-According to sources women were not given land grants. However Prabhavati Gupta ,
daughter of Chandragupta II was granted a land because she was a Queen. It was an exception.

II. TRADE
1. There were land and river routes between Sub continent and Central Asia & West Asia.
2. These trade routes were controlled by the rulers to monitor the price of goods.
3. Peddler, merchants used these routes
4. Sea farers also ventured on these routed and earned profits.
5. A wide range of goods were carried through these routes such as timber. Spices etc.
6. Introduction of coinage facilitated the exchange among traders.
7. Roman coins have been found in South India suggesting trade links between the two places.

Q8.Explain the agricultural practices followed by the cultivators to increase productivity from
600BCE to 600 CE.

Those living in
hilly tracts in the
The iron-tipped
Production of northeastern
ploughshare Use of
paddy was and central parts
was used to irrigation,
dramatically of the
Shift to plough turn the through wells
increased by subcontinent
agriculture. alluvial soil in and tanks, and
the practised hoe
areas which less commonly,
introduction of agriculture,
had high canals.
transplantation which was much
rainfall.
better suited to
the terrain.

Q9.“There are limits to what epigraphy(inscriptional evidence ) can reveal about political and
economic history”. Critically examine the statement. (BOARD QUESTION 2019) 8
OR
Epigraphy alone does not provide a full understanding of political and economic history. Cite reasons
in support of your answer.
OR
List some of the problems faced by epigraphists.

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 Technical limitations: letters are very faintly engraved, and thus reconstructions are uncertain.
Also, inscriptions may be damaged or letters missing.

It is not always easy to be sure about the exact meaning of the words used in inscriptions,
some of which may be specific to a particular place or time.

Many inscriptions have not survived the ravages of time.

Not everything that we may consider politically or economically significant was

necessarily recorded in inscriptions.

Content of inscriptions almost invariably projects the perspective of the person(s) who
commissioned them.

Routine agricultural practices and the joys and sorrows of daily existence find no mention
in inscriptions, which focus, more often than not, on grand, unique events

Thousand inscriptions have been discovered, not all have been deciphered, published and
translated.

HOW TO GET A BALANCED VIEW

1. Thus epigraphy alone does not provide a full understanding of political and economic history.
2. Also, historians often question both old and new evidence.
3. Scholars in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were primarily interested in the histories
of kings. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, issues such as economic change, and the ways in
which different social groups emerged have assumed far more importance.
4. Recent decades have seen a much greater preoccupation with histories of marginalised groups.

Q10. How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people? Pg38 3

Anthologies such as the Jatakas(Pali) and the Panchatantra.

One story known as the Gandatindu Jataka.
Many of these stories probably originated as popular oral tales that were
later committed to writing.

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Q11. Why did King Ashoka proclaim the Dhamma?
OR
How did the battle of Kalinga transform King Ashoka’s life and thinking?

Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his subjects and officials on stone surfaces –
natural rocks as well as polished pillars.
He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to be dhamma.
This included respect towards elders, generosity towards Brahmanas and those who renounced worldly
life, treating slaves and servants kindly, and respect for religions and traditions other than one’s own.
The principles of which, as we have seen, were simple and virtually universally applicable. This, according
to him, would ensure the well-being of people in this world and the next. Special officers, known as the
dhamma mahamatta.