14 important questions on history of india with answers

1. Essays on the Mehrgarh civilization was transformed to the Harappan civilization.

At Mehrgarh evidences of all the stages have been found whereby it can be said that the Mehrgarh civilization was transformed into the Harappan civilization.

For example: (1) Material remai indicate beyond doubt that the people of Mehrgarh knew the art of the pottery. But the Harappans produced pottery that was mu superior in quality to those produced by the Mehrgarh people.

(2) Likewise the seals produced by the Harappans were an improved version of the simple seals manufactured by the people Mehrgarh.

2. What are the social and the economic features of the Harappan civilization?

a. Social:

As regards the social features it may be said that important aspect of the Harappan social system was the class-divided society.

It has been pointed out by Gordon Childe that the Harappan society was mainly divided into three classes such as: Wealthy ruling class, the rich merchants or businessmen.

Poor laborers or artisans. The social division has been determined the basis of the dwelling houses, quantity of wealth discovered the houses and similar other things.

b. Economic:

Harappan civilization was definitely an urban or But the mainstay of the Harappan economy was agriculture.

Besides agricultural products like wheat, rice, barley and similar other things, commercial crops like cotton were produced in huge quantity.

Another important feature of the Harappan economy was trade and commerce. The Harappan merchants were engaged both in inland and overseas trade.

3.Essays on about Harappa’s foreign contacts.

Discovery of different Harappan articles in centers of civilizations outside India prove beyond doubt that Harappans had foreign contacts.

There is little doubt that this foreign contact was largely due to movement .of articles to and from different foreign trade centers. Articles moved between Harappa and Iran, Bahrain, Oman peninsula and Sumer.

Very recently a good number of articles have been unearthed at the site of Oman-i-Ras al Junaij, near the Gulf of Oman. It has been established that those articles were brought from the Indus region.

Again, in Sumer a number of Indus seals have, been discovered. Further it may be said that an inscription discovered in Sumer refers to the fact that there was movement of ships between lower Indus and Mesopotamia.

4. Where was the original home of the Aryans?

Historians are not unanimous regarding the original home of Aryans. Till very recently strong difference of opinion was noticeable among these scholars.

Some referred to India as original home of the Aryans while others were sure about their foreign origin.

However according to the latest theory put forward by Brandestine the original home of the Aryans was at Krygzstan, in Central Asia. From there the Aryans moved out in different directions.

One of the branches entered India crossing the Hindukush via Iran.

5. What economic changes had taken place in the Later Vedic period?

When the Aryans came to India they were semi-nomadic and pastoralists, agriculture being their secondary occupation. But there was a complete change of this economic scenario.

There was a change-over from pastoral to agricultural economy. With his economic transformation several new arts and crafts also develop large scale use of iron was also responsible for the rise of dive crafts.

Weaving was practiced on a wider scale, though it was confined to the womenfolk. Leather-work, pottery, etc. made great progress.

The period also saw the gradual introduction of coins medium of exchange.

6. What was the social position (status) of women in the Rig-Vedic period? What changes took place in the Later Vedic period?

Womenfolk, in the Rig-Vedic period, had a high status in the society. There was no example of child marriage.

Widow Remarriage was in practice. Women were allowed to attend tribal assemblies. A woman, in Rig-Vedic times, offered sacrifices along with their husbands.

There are instances of women composer of Rig-Vedic hymns. But in the Later Vedic period there was a degeneration the status of women is society.

Women now could not attend tribal assemblies. They had no power to choose their husbands.

In she in the Later Vedic period women were thought to be inferior and subordinate to men.

7. Essays about the social life of the Aryans in the Later Vedic period.

In the Later Vedic period the social life of the Aryans had undergone a sea-change compared to the condition in the Rig-Vedic period.

First, in the Later Vedic period the fourfold division of society was crystallized. In the Later Vedic period the class division in society became a rigid one and inter-caste marriage was not permitted.

Second, the three so-called upper castes: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas were required to pass through four stages of life, together called Chaturashrama.

Third, members of the higher vernas could marry Shudra women, but marriage between men of the lower orders and women of the higher classes was prohibited.

Fourth, family now became more and more patriarchal; the birth of a son was more welcome than that of a daughter.

Fifth, the status of women in society diminished considerably. Women were now debarred from attending tribal assemblies.

8. What were the causes of the growth of towns in the Ganga Valley in the period of second urbanization?

Several factors account for the growth of urban centers or towns in the Ganga Valley in the Sixth Century BC.

First, the improved knowledge of cultivation and the use of improved implements led to the production of surplus crops which were essential for the growth of towns.

Second, particularly the use of iron became extensive. It was now possible to clear the deep forests with the help of iron implements that increased the area of cultivation.

Third, the emergence of business communities like the setties, gahapatis, sarthavahas etc. was also an important factor behind the growth of towns in the Ganga Valley.

Fourth, growth of trade and commerce in the sixth century BC was another important cause for the growth of towns.

Fifth, growth of towns was also associated with the large scale use of coin which was so essential for trade and commerce. These are in short the causes that led to the growth of towns in the Ganga Valley.

9. What kind of social relationship is indicated by the word jati?

Usually the terms varna and jati are used synonymously. Yet by the term jati altogether a different kind of social relationship is understood which is different from varna.

For example, there are four varnas -Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. But jati or caste may be many, unrestricted by number.

This is but natural. For, one cannot change his or her varna during his or her lifetime. But marriage between two different varnas gave rise two different castes.

But in reality this could not be maintained strictly thus inter-caste marriage gave rise to varnasankaras or mixed castes. These varnasankaras gave rise to jati.

Further, the need to accommodate foreigners in the fourfold society also increased the number of caste or jati.

10. What led to the rise of new religious movements in sixth century BC?

In North India around sixth century BC as many as 63 new religious movements emerged. The causes of the religious movements were as follows:

(1) In the Later Vedic period the varna- divide society became rigid and became related to birth. In such a society the Brahmanas enjoyed the highest position followed by the Kshatriyas.

(2) Though the Brahmanas occupied the highest position they were dependent on the Kshatriyas. Thus the predominance of the Brahmanas was re sent to by the Kshatriyas. Thus it is seen that all the religious movement of the sixth century were led by the Kshatriyas.

(3) Vedic Brahman cal religion gradually became more ritualistic, cow sacrifice being an essential part of it. But for the growth of agriculture preservation of cattle-stock became essential. And hence non-violence was preached by all the new religions.

(4) The prevalent social inequality coupled with economic disparity also created a condition that helped the rise of the religious movement.

11. What did Gautama Buddha mean by ‘Aryasatyas’?

The central theme of Buddha’s religion is that the cause of human suffering is birth, and it is within the power of man to get rid of rebirth and the consequent suffering.

The Buddhist Nirvana is the release from rebirth. For the attainment of Nirvana or salvation Gautama Buddha has prescribed the realization of four Noble Truth or Aryasatyas.

These are: (a) Life is full of sorrow (b) The sorrow is caused by desire for earthly things (c) Cessation of this desire brings salvation and (d) Cessation of the desire can be achieve by following the Noble Eight-fold Path, that is Astangikamarga By Astangikamarga Gautama Buddha meant eight types of behavior that one should follow to attain nirvana or salvation

These are: (1) proper vision (2) right aim (3) right speech (4) proper action (5) proper livelihood (6) right effort (7) correct awareness and (8) meditation.

The Noble Eight-fold Path or Astangikamarga is also known as the Middle Path or Madhyapantha, because it avoids two extremes-sensuality on the one hand, and extreme asceticism on the other.

12. What are the similarities between Buddhism and Jainism?

Jainism and Buddhism are two contemporary religions. While there are certain features common to Jainism and Buddhism, one may notice sharp differences between the two as well.

First, as regards the similarities it may be said that both the religions laid stress on the doctrine of Ahimsa or non-injury to living things.

Secondly, both the founders of Jainism and Buddhism belonged to the same Kshatriyas caste.

Thirdly, both the religions denied the authority of priests and were opposed to animal sacrifice,

fourthly, caste- distinction in the society and the ritual of worship were denied by both the religions. Despite all these similarities there are points of dissimilarities too between Jainism and Buddhism.

13. What are the dissimilarities between Jainism and Buddhism?

There are many points of dissimilarities between Jainism and Buddhism. Besides, the appeal of Buddhism was much more wide­spread than that of Jainism.

Again, compared with Jainism, Buddhism was moderate in its stress on the doctrine of ahimsa. But the most important difference between Jainism and Buddhism that while the Jainas believed in the renunciation of the world nirvana or salvation, the Buddhists, on the other hand, consider attainment of nirvana possible even for a family man.

Jainism never spread outside India, but Buddhism was popular in foreign country as well. Lastly, the Jainas were mostly associated with the business community of India.

Because of this Jaina merchants are seen even now in different business centers of India. But the Buddhist presences are not to be found in a similar way.

14. What is meant by the Eight-fold Path or Astangikamarga?

By Astangikamarga Gautam Buddha meant right behaviors the one should follow to attain nirvana or salvation.

These are:(1) prop vision (2) right aim (3) right speech (4) proper action (5) prop livelihood (6) right effort (7) correct awareness and (8) meditation.

The Noble Eight-fold Path or Astangikamarga is also known as to Middle path or Madhyapantha, because it avoids two extremes- sensuality on the one hand, and extreme asceticism on the other.