Question : Trace the role of guilds and trade organizations in the development of early Indian economy.
(2015)
Answer : Ancient Indian guilds are a unique and multi-faceted form of organisation, which combined the functions of a democratic government, a trade union, a court of justice and a technological institution. The institution of the Guilds can be traced in four time brackets: (1) The Vedic period, (2) Buddhist/Jain period, (3) Mauryan period and (4) and the Post-Mauryan period. Guilds had three components: (a) the General Assembly, (b) the Guild Chairman or the Head, and (c) ....
Question : Kailasa temple built at Ellora marks the cultivation of rock-cut architecture in India. Elucidate
(2015)
Answer : Rock-cut architecture occupies a very important place in the history of Indian Architecture. This differs from ‘building up’ in many important ways. Firstly, the art is more akin to sculpture than architecture, in that a solid body of material (rock) is taken, the final product visualized and cutting/carving starts.
Secondly, the mason is not overly concerned with spans, forces, beams, columns, and all the other architectural features - these can be carved, but are seldom playing ....
Question : How could the local self-government under the Cholas adjust with their centralized administrative structure?
(2015)
Answer : As in the earlier Gupta age in the North, villages formed the administrative unit in the Chola kingdom. However, in the nature of the village administration, there were significant differences: the Chola villages were remarkably autonomous for their times. The role of the Chola officials in the village administration was more like that of an adviser and observer than that of a controller and superintendent.
Consequently, there was continuity in growth and development at the local ....
Question : Assess the educational system in India and identify important educational institutions of the period.
(2012)
Answer : Education in ancient India had a deep impact in the upliftment and advancement of the early society and over all development. India is pregnant with a rich tradition of knowledge and learning from the earliest days of Indian civilization. There are several literary sources, such as Vedas and the other Hindu texts and scriptures, which have references about education system of the ancient societies. The Mahabharata, some Dharma sutras particularly those of Gautam Buddha and ....
Question : Discuss the types of lands and the science of agriculture mentioned in the literature and epigraphs of ancient India.
(2011)
Answer : Land was divided into many types in ancient times according to contemporary literature and epigraphs. The land was divided according to their use, utility and location. Various types of land in ancient india were:-
Earlier agriculture was practised ....
Question : Assess Ellora as a unique art centre of the different cultural streams.
(2011)
Answer : Ellora is a world heritage site situated at a distance of 30 km from Aurangabad. It was built by the Rashtrakuta Kings. It represents the epitome of Indian rock cut architecture. The 34 caves actually structures excavated out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills.
Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples and viharas and mathas were built between the 5th century and 10th century. The 12 Buddhist (caves 1-12), 17 Hindu (caves 13-29) and 5 ....
Question : Give an account of the rise of the Chalukyas of Vatapi and their struggle withother rulers. Write a note on their patronage of arts.
(2004)
Answer : The decline of the Gupta Empire led to a period of confusion and political flux in the northern part of India. With the exception of the reign of Harshavardhan, the entire north India witnessed a continuous struggle, as there were a number of small states, each one of them fighting with the others to gain the upper hand. However, the situation in the Deccan and south India was different from that in the north. Unlike ....
Question : Did the regular conflict between the Rashtrakutas, Gurjara Pratihara and Palas create a political vacuum in northern India which facilitated the invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni?
(2001)
Answer : By the middle of the 10th century India witnessed the decay of three of the most powerful states which had dominated east, north and central India during the two preceeding centuries. These were the pala empire with its capital at Mongyr, the Gurjara Pratihara empire with its capital at Kanauj and the Rashtrakuta empire with its capital at Manyakhet.
The pala empire was founded by the elected ruler Gopal in 750. He was succeeded by his ....
Question : Assess the achievements of the Pallavas in administration and art.
(1997)
Answer : The Pallavas was the first well-known dynasty which came into power in the South after the fall of the Andharas. For about two hundred years from 550 to 750 A.D., the Pallavas were the dominant power in the South. Their rule extended over a vast region including the modern territories of the Madras, Arcot, Trichnopoly and Tanjore but the whole of the South was under their influence.
The Aryanization of South India was completed during the ....
Question : “Achieving dominance in south of the Vindhyas did not satisfy the ambitions of the Rashtrakutas, they also wanted to achieve dominance over the Gangetic Plains.” Elaborate and comment.
(1997)
Answer : The new power which rose into prominence after the fall of the Chalukyas of Badami in the south was that of the Rashtrakutas. Manyakhet was their capital from where they ruled for about two centuries (from 753-973 A.D.). Dantidurga, Krishna I, Govinda III, Amonghvarsha and Indra III were some of great rulers of this dynasty. They tried to exploit their position as a bridge to dominate banks, the northern and the southern. By the time ....
Question : How far is it true to say that the strength and vigour of Indian history during c. A.D. 500-750 lay in the south of the Vindhyas?
(1995)
Answer : With the passing of the power and influence of the Guptas and their immediate successors in northern India, the centre of interest shifts southwards against to the western Deccan and even further south to Tamil Nadu. Until the rise of Harsha in the early seventh century the political scene is confused, and there are few records to illuminate it. The large-scale displacement of peoples continued for some time. This was a period when petty kingdoms ....
Question : Historical significance of the advent of the Arabs in India.
(1995)
Answer : Arabs in India: The Arabs, no doubt, conquered Sind but this conquest did not prove permanent. Neither they could retain their hold on Sind for long nor could they take any practical step towards the permanent conquest of India. But still the Arabs conquest of Sind left some effects. By conquering Sind the Arab exposed the weakness of India to the world and thus India became a prey to the foreign invaders one after the ....
