Short Questions: Traders, Kings & Pilgrims | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: Write a short note on the Satavahanas of the western India.
Answer: Around 200 years later (of the muvendar or three new dynasties of the south India) a dynasty known as the Satavahanas became powerful in western India.
The most important ruler of the Satavahanas was Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni. We know about him from an inscription composed by his mother, Gautami Balashri. He and other Satavahanas rulers were known as lords of the dakshinapatha, literally the route leading to the south, which was also used as a name for the whole southern region. He sent his army to the eastern, western and southern coasts.

Q2: Write a short note on Nalanda.
Ans: Nalanda was a unique centre of learning when Xuan Zang, the Chinese pilgrim visited the subcontinent. He and other pilgrims spent time studying in Nalanda, (Bihar) the most famous Buddhist monastery of the period. This is how he describes it.

• The teachers of Nalanda are men of the highest ability and talent. They follow the teachings of the Buddha in all sincerity.
• The rules of the monastery are strict, and everyone has to follow them.
• Discussions are held throughout the day, and the old and the young mutually help one another.
• Learned men from different cities come here to settle their doubts.
• The gate keeper asks new entrants difficult questions. They are allowed to enter only after they have been able to answer these. Seven to eight out of every ten are not able to answer.

Q3: Who were Nayanars?
Ans: The honourable worshippers known as Nayanars were blessed by Lord Shiva.

Q4: Discuss in short the Xuan Zang’s visit to India.
Ans: Xuan Zang came to India about 1400 years ago. He came to visit places associated with the life of the Buddha as well as famous Buddhist monasteries. He took the land route back to China (through the north-west, and Central Asia). He carried back with him statues of the Buddha made of gold, silver and sandalwood, and over 600 manuscripts on the backs of 20 horses. Over 50 manuscripts were lost when the boat on which he was crossing the Indus capsized. Xuan Zang spent the rest of his life translating the remaining manuscripts from Sanskrit into Chinese.

Q5: Where did the Jesus Christ born?
Ans: Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Roman Empire included Bethlehem.

Q6: What is Buddhacharita?
Ans: Buddhacharita is the title of a biography written on Gautam Buddha's life. The biography of Buddha was written by Ashvaghosha.

Q7: What were the incomes of Kushanas and their form of tax collection?
Ans: The Kushana Empire spanned most of North-West India and Central Asia. Around 2000 years ago, they ruled over this enormous plain. These individuals used to collect revenue from traders passing through their routes in the form of taxes. This method of producing revenue aided the Kushanas in becoming wealthy and building a great empire.

Q8: Who was Ashvaghosa?
Ans: Ashvaghosa was a poet and composer of considerable renown. He is regarded as the first Indian poet and dramatist. He is regarded as more extraordinary than the famous poet Kalidasa. Saundarananda Kavya was also written by Ashvaghosa. He is thought to have lived during the first and second centuries AD. Ashvaghosa also wrote Gautam Buddha's biography.

Q9: Who were the Christians of Syria?
Ans: Kerala's Christians were Syrian Christians.

Q10: Why were the gold coins used?
Ans: Traders along the silk route used gold coins to do business.

Q11: What was the reason behind the increased demand of silk in the European Markets?
Ans: Before entering the silk markets for business, Chinese traders had to travel across mountains, deserts, and perilous routes. The paths were hazardous due to the presence of dacoits and wild animals. People who lived in the traders' way began begging for money in order for them to pass. The demand in European markets surged as a result of this situation.

Q12: Why the trading of silk was important in ancient time?
Ans: Silk trading was once quite important. Silk was more expensive to purchase due to its scarcity and increased use. In most societies, silk was a highly prized cloth. Raw silk was extracted from silk cocoons that were still warm. Because silk trading was done from China, it was expensive. It was taken all the way from China to India to trade and sell at greater prices.

Q13: What did Xuan Zang carried while returning from India?
Ans: Xuan Zang was a Chinese traveller who journeyed to India to learn about Buddha. He gathered a great deal of information from various Buddha-related places and monasteries. He gathered 600 scrolls and Buddha statues made of gold, sandalwood, and silver and rode them to China on horses. However, some of the texts shrank when he was crossing a river.