Question : Determine the veracity of Megasthenes’ descriptions of Indian society and economy with the help of other contemporary evidences.
(1994)
Answer : Megasthenes was a Greek historian who came to this country in the fourth century B.C. as a representative or ambassador of Selukus Nector. He lived in the court of Chandragupta Maurya for about five years (302-298 B.C.). He has written an account of India and also that of Chandragupta’s reign in his book entitled “Indika”. This book is not at present available but most of its passages are found in the form of quotations in ....
Question : Delineate the nature and impact of India’s contact with Western Asia and the Mediterranean world during the Mauryan an period
(2015)
Answer : External trade during the Maurya period was carried on with foreign countries, particularly with the Hellenic (Greek) world and west Asia. The main exports were different spices, pearls, diamonds, cotton textiles, ivory works, conch shells, etc.
The main imports consisted of horses, gold, glass, linen, etc. Balance of trade was very much in favour of India. Trade was an important source of revenue which became a major earner in the post-Mauryan period. Trade was organised in ....
Question : Discuss different interpretations of historians about the nature of Asoka’s ‘Dhamma’. Did his principle of ‘Dhamma-vijaya’ render the Mauryan Empire militaristically weak?
(2014)
Answer : Till very recently, historians were confused as to the true nature of Asoka’s Dhamma. Some pointed that Buddhism and Asoka’s Dhamma are one and the same. But after a deep analysis of Asokan Edicts on Dhamma, it has been found that these are two different things and one should not be confused with the other. Indeed, Asoka embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga war. According to Romila Thapar, Dhamma was Asoka’s own invention.In his Dhamma,Asoka had ....
Question : 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.
(2013)
Answer : Stupas began in ancient times as dome-shaped mounds of earth or brick constructed to mark the passing of a great monarch.
Stupas found in the Buddhist tradition are of four types: those built over the remains of the Buddha or his disciples; those containing objects used by the Buddha; those marking an important event in the Buddha’s life, and those simply consecrated as shrines.
More than their physical structure, it is what they represent that makes stupas ....
Question : Examine the role of adhyaksha in the Mauryan administration.
(2012)
Answer : Mauryan central administration was conducted by several highly skilled secretariat divided into several departments, each headed by an Adhyakasha or a superintendant. Kautilya in the second book of his Arthasasthra gives an account of the working of nearly thirty two Adhyakshas, viz. those of: Account General (Akshapaladhyaksha), mines (Akara), Gold (suvarna), stores (kosthagara), commerce (panya), forest products (Kupya), Armoury (Ayundhagara), weight and measures (Turamanapantana), spinning and wearing industry (sutra), Agriculture (sita), excise (sura), shipping (nau), ....
Question : Examine the significance of the deities depicted on the coins of Kushana.
(2010)
Answer : The depiction of deities on Kushana coins are significant in understanding of society and religion during the Kushana period. The deities depicted on coins are related to Indian religion.
For example the coins of Vima Kadphesis bear image of Shiva with Nandi and trident. The coin of Kanishka bear image of Buddha, Shiva and Nandi.
The images of Shiva, Nandi etc pertain to Brahmanical religion and society and the significance of such coins indicate the predominance of ....
Question : Determine the extent of the Mauryan Empire.
(2005)
Answer : In the history of India the Mauryan Dynasty is the first historical dynasty, about which some definite historical material is available. Chandragupta Maurya founded this dynasty with the help of his minister Chanakya or Kautilya. It is said that while Chandragupta was still in the Punjab he met Alexander at Taxila and induced him to invade Magadha. But the boldness of his speech offended Alexander and he had to run for safety. It was during ....
Question : Examine the nature of the Mauryan State. Bring out the features of their administrative system.
(2002)
Answer : Mauryan paramountacy which was established by Chandragupta was based on the ideal of enlightened and benevolent despotism. This idea prevails in the entire text that we know as Arthasastra and which no doubt is the first compedium on India’s statecraft. Ashoka who was the greatest despot of this dynasty has very explicitly depicted on Dhauli inscription that all of his subjects are his sons and daughters. His ideal was purely philanthropic and truly altraistic are ....
Question : Analyse the causes of the success of the Magadhan Imperialism up to the reign of Ashoka the Great.
(2001)
Answer : Magadha was one of the sister maha-janapadas which flourished shortly before the time of Gautam Buddha. Magadhan imperialism was the result of the efforts of enterprising and ambitious rulers like Bimbisara, Ajatshatru and Mahapadma Nanda.
Bimbisara, contemporary of Buddha, laid the foundation of the Magadhan imperialism. He started the policy of conquest and aggression which ended with kalinga war of Ashoka. He also strengthened his position by matrimonial alliances. His first wife was a sister ....
Question : How did Ashoka contribute to the moral and administrative welfare of his people?
(2000)
Answer : It was against this background that Ashoka expanded his famous policy of Dhamma to eliminate social tension and sectarian conflicts and to promote a harmonious relationship between the diverse elements of the Empire. Ashoka's private beliefs and his own perceptions of how he should respond to the problems of his Empire were responsible for the formulation of the policy of Dhamma. Dhamma is the Prakrit equivalent of the Sanskrit word Dharma, translated as religion in ....
Question : Examine sources of Information for Maruyan dynasty. Throw light on historical significance of Ashoka's inscriptions.
(1999)
Answer : There is not one, but there are several sources combined together which provide sufficient information about Maruyan dynasty. Infact, Mauryan dynasty can be called as the first historical dynasty in India. As pointed out by Dr. V.A. Smith. 'With the establishment of Maruyan dynasty, the history of ancient Indian emerges from darkness to light.' The Puranas of the Hidnus, Buddhist texts like Dipavanasa, Mahabodhivansa and Mahavansa, and Jain texts like Kaplasutra of Bhadrabhahu, Parisista-Parva of ....
Question : Mauryan municipal administration.
(1996)
Answer : Megasthenes has given us a detailed account of the municipal administration of Patliputra, the Mauryan capital. From this account we can easily infer that the administration of other big towns must have been carried on similar lines. There was a committee or commission of thirty members to carry on the day-to-day administration of Patliputra. This commission was further divided into six Boards of five members each. Each board had been assigned special assigned special duties ....
Question : Inscriptions of Ashoka.
(1995)
Answer : Ashoka’s edicts and inscriptions are an invaluable source of Indian history. They throw a good deal of light on all aspects of Ashoka. Perhaps, without them we would not have been able to know so much about that great monarch. There were 14 major rock edicts, two separate Kalinga edicts, 7 pillar edicts, and many other inscriptions engraved separately in areas such as Maski, Bhabru, Samapa etc. In the north-west the Ashokan scripts were in ....
