History & Civics
Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follows:
"A lengthy eulogy to Samudragupta (who ruled until c. 375) was inscribed on an Asokan pillar at Allahabad that provides detailed information about his military achievements and lists the names of the states and people conquered by him." (Source: https://zh.unesco.org/si/kroad/sites/default/fi/es/know/edgebankarticle/vollll%20si/k%20roadthe%20gupta%20kingdom.pdf)
(a) Who was Harisena, and what does his work reveal about Samudragupta's conquests?
(b) Why is this inscription considered a critical source for understanding the Gupta Empire?
(c) Compare the importance of inscriptions with other sources, such as coins and foreign accounts, for studying ancient history.
Gupta Age
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Answer
(a) Harisena was the court poet of Samudragupta. Harisena wrote the Allahabad Pillar Inscription in Sanskrit. It provides detailed information about his military achievements and lists the names of the states and people conquered by him.
(b) This inscription provides a firsthand knowledge of Samudragupta's reign. It describes the reign of the Guptas and provides an impressive list of kings and tribal republics that were conquered by Samudragupta.
(c) Inscriptions, coins, and foreign accounts are key sources for studying ancient history, each offering different insights:
- Inscriptions are official records that provide reliable, detailed accounts of rulers achievements, laws, and administration. They are invaluable for understanding political and military history but may be biased.
- Coins offer insights into the economy, royal iconography, and cultural symbolism, though they don't provide detailed narratives like inscriptions.
- Foreign accounts give an outsider's view of society, especially regarding culture, religion, and international relations. However, they can be biased or inaccurate.
- Together, these sources complement each other: inscriptions for official records, coins for economic and cultural insights, and foreign accounts for external perspectives.
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Related Questions
Fa-Hien documented the social and economic conditions of India during the Gupta period. With reference to this, answer the following questions:
(a) Why is Fa-Hien's account considered a valuable source for understanding the Gupta period?
(b) How did his accounts highlight the religious and cultural tolerance of the time?
(c) What role did such foreign accounts play in reconstructing Indian history?
Read the lines given below and answer the question that follows:
"With fertile lands in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and abundant iron ore in Central India, the Gupta Empire thrived economically, fostering remarkable advancements in literature, art, architecture, science, and culture."
(a) Explain how the geographical advantages contributed to the economic prosperity of the Gupta Empire.
(b) Discuss the cultural and intellectual achievements during the Gupta period, highlighting why it is called the "golden age" of Indian history.
(c) How did the stable administration of the Gupta rulers influence trade and commerce?
The Guptas achieved remarkable advancements in art and culture. With reference to this, answer the following questions:
(a) What are the main characteristics of Gupta sculpture?
(b) How do the Ajanta paintings reflect the artistic excellence of the Gupta period?
(c) Compare the Bagh and Ajanta paintings in terms of style and themes.
With reference to the picture given below answer the following questions:
(a) Identify the monument shown in the image and describe its historical significance during the Gupta period.
(b) Name some of the foreign countries from which students came to study at Nalanda.
(c) What were the names of the three great libraries? Discuss the importance of these libraries in preserving and advancing knowledge during the Gupta period.