The Mahabharata was composed over approximately ___ years, starting around ___ BCE.

1,000 years; 500 BCE

What was the role of charioteer-bards in the composition of the Mahabharata?

They composed poems celebrating the victories and achievements of Kshatriya warriors.

The project to create a critical edition of the Mahabharata was initiated in ___ under the leadership of ___ .

1919; V.S. Sukthankar

True or False: The critical edition of the Mahabharata was completed in 20 years.

False; it took 47 years to complete.

Fill in the blank: The Mahabharata reflects the complex processes that shaped early and later social histories through dialogues between ___ traditions and ___ ideas.

Dominant; local

What significant transition in Indian society does the Mahabharata's composition reflect?

The transition from chiefdoms to kingdoms.

What did the critical edition project reveal about the Mahabharata?

It revealed both common elements and significant regional variations in the text.

What does the term patriliny refer to in social organization?

Patriliny refers to the practice of tracing descent from father to son, grandson, and so on, emphasizing male lineage in inheritance and social status.

Fill in the blank: The Mahabharata reinforced the value of ___ succession through its central story.

Patrilineal

True or False: Exogamy was uncommon among high-status families in early Indian society.

False. Exogamy, or marrying outside one's kin group, was common among high-status families to forge alliances.

List the eight forms of marriage outlined in the Manusmriti and describe their significance.

Fill in the blank: Women were expected to adopt their husband's ___ upon marriage in the Brahmanical practice.

Gotra

How did the practice of metronymics reflect the status of mothers in early Indian society?

Metronymics, or names derived from the mother, indicate the importance of mothers in naming conventions, suggesting that while succession was generally patrilineal, mothers held a significant role in social identity.

What role did the Satavahana rulers' practice of polygyny play in kinship structures?

Polygyny, the practice of having more than one wife, among Satavahana rulers indicated variations in family structures and highlighted the complexities of kinship and social alliances in early Indian society.

What were the prescribed ideal occupations for the four varnas according to the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras?

True or False: Only Kshatriyas were historically recognized as kings according to Brahmanical texts.

False. Historical evidence shows that many rulers, including the Mauryas and Shakas, did not fit the ideal of being Kshatriyas.

Fill in the blank: The emergence of numerous ___ allowed for social mobility within specific professions beyond the four varnas.

Jatis

What role did guilds (shrenis) play in the organization of jatis?

Guilds organized jatis based on occupation, reflecting a structured and collaborative approach to economic activities.

Describe the social status and responsibilities assigned to chandalas in Brahmanical texts.

Chandalas were assigned degrading tasks and faced severe discrimination, with duties such as living outside villages, using discarded utensils, wearing clothes of the dead, and disposing of bodies.

Fill in the blank: Forest-dwellers and nomadic pastoralists were often labeled as ___ by Brahmanical texts.

Mlechchhas

What insights do historical texts like Fa Xian's accounts provide regarding untouchables?

Fa Xian's accounts provide insights into the lives of untouchables and their social exclusion, highlighting the complexities of social hierarchies and the discrimination they faced.

True or False: The classification of new groups into jatis by Brahmanical authorities illustrates the rigidity of the varna system.

False. It illustrates the fluidity and adaptability of social categories in response to new social realities.

What limitations did women face in terms of property rights according to the Manusmriti?

Women had limited property rights, with broader access to land, cattle, and money generally controlled by men, despite being able to retain gifts received at marriage.

Fill in the blanks: The Vakataka queen Prabhavati Gupta exemplifies that wealthy women had some access to resources, but overall, land, cattle, and money were primarily controlled by ___.

Men

True or False: The Brahmanical texts portrayed all varnas as having equal access to wealth.

False. Brahmanical texts assigned different occupations and privileges to each varna, indicating unequal access to wealth.