28 frequently asked questions on Society, Economy, Religion and Culture in Ancient India

1. When power of the king increased in ancient India?

The power of the king of the earliest days increased due to the emergence of the Mahajanapadas in the 6th century BC. The power of the king increased in the Later Vedic period as there was the surplus agricultural production. The king now used to receive a portion of the surplus crop from the people.

2. Where was the Kali age described? What was the crisis of the Kali age?

The Kali Age has been described vividly in the Puranas. The crisis of the Kali age was that the Vaishyas and the Sitdras became reluctant to perform the primary task of production. Another crisis of the Kali age constituted the violation of marriage rules.

3. What were the two most important features of the economic life of the Mauryan period?

The two important features of the economic life of the Mauryan period were: (a) State control over the economic activities of every kind (b) Beginning of new areas of settlement. Emphasis is on internal trade. External trade was not very important.

4. What was known as the Silk-Route?

The route through which the Chinese silk moved from China to the markets of the Roman Empire was known as the Silk-Route. The overland route started from China to West Asia through Taklarcakan desert in Central Asia, the Pamirs and Iran. From West Asia the Chinese silk reached different markets in Rome and its empire.

5. What are the two busiest ports of the ancient period.

Simulla and Calieano were the two busy ports of ancient India. Simulla correspond Choul in present Maharashtra. Calieano corresponds to Kalyara near present Mumbai.

6. What are the two urban centers that declined during the post-Gupta period.

In the post-Gupta times trade and commerce languished in India. This is reflected in the decline of urban centers which were places of trade. Sohagaura, in present Uttar Pradesh, and Sonepur, present Gaya district of Bihar were the two urban centers that declined during the post-Gupta period.

7. What was Agraliara?

Agrahara was a type of land-grant. The system of land-grant prevailed from towards the end of the Gupta rule. Agrahara was a land grant through which revenue was assigned to a Brahmana pries or a teacher or to a temple. State had no share in the revenue thus assigned.

8. What was the economic basis of feudalism in ancient India?

The economic basis of feudalism as prevailed, according to some scholars in India during the Gupta period, were as follows:

(a) Decline in trade and commerce

(b) Shortage in the circulation of money

(c) Large scale land-grants by which revenue was assigned to individuals or temples.

9. What are the two major sets into which the Buddhists came to be divided.

It was at Kundalban near Kashmir that the Fourth and the last Buddhist Council was held. The Council was convened under the initiative of Kanishka, the greatest of the Kushanas. In this Council the Buddhists came to be divided in two sects namely: Mahayan and Hinayana.

10.What are the chief feature of the Gandhara art.

Under the Kushanas the new style of art that developed in sculpture came to be known as the Gandhara School of art. In this style there was the fusion of Greco-Roman and Indian styles. The more important feature of the Gandhara art was that the images of Lord Buddha were made in the Greco-Roman style.

11. What are the two characteristics of the Chola art.

The Chola artist were much influenced by the Pallava style of are one feature of the Chola art was the construction of huge structure and to decorate these with minute sculpture. Another characteristic of the Chola art was the construction of the holy place (Garbhagriha) within the temple complex.

12. What was the reason for the economic advancement under the Guptas?

The most important factor that was responsible for the progress of economy under the Guptas was flourishing, trade and commerce. India had close trade relations with the Roman Empire at that time. There used to be huge inflow of gold and silver from the export of goods.

13. What led to the progress of agriculture in the post-Gupta period?

In the post-Gupta period when there was the decline of the trade and commerce agriculture flourished. Various factors were responsible for this: (a) Use of big plough helped to clear deep soil (b) Use of fertilizer and good quality of seeds account for the progress of agriculture.

14. What led to the decline of the urban centers in the post-Gupta period?

In a word, it was because of the emergence of feudal economy in which there had been decline of trade and commerce that there was the decay of urban centers in India. The urban centers that developed centering trade and commerce decayed in the absence of trade and commerce. Ancient cities like Kosambi, Mathura, etc., were reduced to military and administrative centers.

15. What is feudalism?

There was no universally accepted definition of feudalism. However, feudalism may be said to have emerged when there was a decline in trade and commerce, decline of urban centers and decline in the circulation of coins. Hegemony of the feudal lords instead of king or central power and development of regional tendencies also are the features of feudalism.

16. Where were the Buddhists divided into two sects? Influence of what on Buddhism gave rise to Tantric Buddhism?

In the Fourth Buddhists Council held in the first century AD, under the initiative of Kanishka, that the Buddhist came to be divided into two sects, namely Mahayana and Hinayana. The influence of Mother Goddess or Shakti on Buddhism gave rise to Tantric Buddhism.

17. What is the example of the Gupta architecture per excellence Name the king whose image is engraved in coins as playing on an Indian lyre.

The treasures of Ajanta cave are among the most important Gupta architecture. The coins of Samudragupta bear the figure of him playing on an Indian lyre.

18. What are the two characteristic features of the Pallav art.

One of the features of the Pal lava sculptures was the curving c enormous granite holders. Another aspect of the Pallava sculpture was to work out details of figures with jeweler’s precision.

19. What are the two features of the Gandhara art.

The two characteristic features of the Gandhara art were: (i) The Gandhara artists used to choose Indian theme or subject, and (ii) The form of art was foreign. In a word, the images of Lord Buddha resembled the Greek God Apollo.

20. What are the two features of the Pallava art?

The pallavas were great builders. The two characteristic features of the Pallava art were the rock cut temples, and the walls of the temples decorated with figures. The rock cut rathas of Mahabalipuram reflect the features of the Pallava style of art.

21. What are the two Major changes that occurred in the economy of the country in the 6th century B.C.

Of the two major changes in the economy in the 6th century BC one was the growth of new agricultural economy with the help of iron implements. Another economic change was the use of coins that facilitated the growth of trade and commerce. These were the two major changes in the economy.

22. Essays on the principal religion text of the Budhist. In what language was in written?

Tripitaka, that is to say the three Pitakas was the principal text of the Buddhist. The three Pitakas were: Benoy, Sutta and Dhamma Pitakas. The Buddhist religious text was written in the Pali language.

23. What is the Sangam literature? When was it composed?

Sangam literature is a collection of Tamil poems made by several poets in assemblies which met from time to time. Sangam literature was composed between 300 and 600 AD.

24. Why is Brahmagupta important?

Brahmagupta is recognized as the greatest astronomer-mathematician of the period between 7-8th centuries. He explained the natural phenomenon of eclipse.

25. What caused the emergence of regional cultures between 7-12th centuries?

In the post-Harshavardhana period when political fragmentation became the political order of the day the regional cultures flourished. In fact, in the absence of central authority regional consciousness became very strong. This consciousness gave rise to regional cultures.

26. Why was Nagarjuna famors? Write the name of a book written by him.

Nagarjuna was a Buddhist philosopher and a great scholar. He is the author of the Madhyamikasutra.

27. In whose court did Kalidasa take a seat? Name a book written by him.

Kalidasa adorned the court of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya of t Gupta dynasty. Kumarasambhava is written by him.

28. What were the achievements of the Gupta period in science? Name the book written by Aryabhatta on mathematics.

It was during the Gupta period that the Indian scientists like Aryabhatta and others made their appearance. It was Aryabhatta who put forward the cause of the eclipse. Aryabhattiyam written by Aryabhatta, was a book on arithmetic and algebra.