Short Questions: New Empires & Kingdoms | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: Who was Samudragupta? What is main source of history about him?
Ans: Samudragupta was a famous ruler of a dynasty known as the Guptas. We know about Samudragupta from a long inscription actually a poem in Sanskrit, composed by his court poet, Harisena. This was inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. This inscription is of special kind known as prashasti, a Sanskrit word, meaning ‘in praise of. The poet praised the king in glowing terms – as a warrior, as a king who won victories in battle, who was learned and the best of poets. He is also described as equal to the gods.

Q2: Describe in short about Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita.
Ans: Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita:

• Harshavardhana ruled nearly 1400 years ago. His court poet Banabhatta, wrote his biography, The Harshacharita in Sanskrit. This gives us the genealogy of Harsha and ends with his becoming King.
• Xuan Zang (the Chinese Buddhist Pilgrim) spent a lot of time at Harsha’s court and left a detailed account of what he saw.
• Harsha was not the eldest son of his father but became king of Thanesar after both his father and elder brother died. His brother-in-law was the ruler of Kanauj. When he was killed by the ruler of Bengal, Harsha took over the kingdom of Kanauj and then led an army against the ruler of Bengal.- Although he was successful in the east, and conquered both Magadha and Bengal he was not as successful elsewhere. He tried to cross the Narmada (river) to march into the Deccan, but was stopped by a ruler belonging to the Chalukya dynasty, Pulakashin II.

Q3: Discuss about genealogies of the Guptas. Write some sentences of Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty.
Ans: Genealogies of the Gupta Rules:

• Most prashastis mention the ancestors of the ruler. Allahabad—prashasti mentions Samudragupta’s great grandfather, grandfather, father and mother. His mother, Kumara Devi, belonged to the Lichchhavi gana, while father Chandragupta, was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of maharajadhiraja, a title that Samudragupta also used. His great grandfather and grandfather are mentioned simply as maharajas. It seems as if the family gradually rose to importance.
• Samudragupta in turn figures in the genealogies of later rulers of the dynasty, such as his son, Chandragupta II. We know about him from inscriptions and coins. He led an expedition to western India, where he overcame the last of the Shakas. According to later belief his court was full of learned people, including Kalidas the poet, and Aryabhata the astronomer.

Q4: Write a short note on the ‘Assemblies in the Southern Kingdoms’.
Ans:

• The Sabha: The inscriptions (prashasties) of the Pallavas mention a number of local assemblies. These included the Sabha, which was an assembly of Brahmin land owners. This assembly functioned through sub-committees, which looked after irrigation, agricultural operations, making roads, local temples, etc.
• The Ur: Second important assembly in the southern kingdom was the Ur. This was a village assembly found in areas where the land owners were not Brahmins.
• The Nagaram: Third main assembly in the Southern Kingdoms was the Nagaram. It was an organization of merchants. It is likely that these assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.

All above mentioned local assemblies continued to function in the southern kingdoms for centuries.

Q5: Why Abhijnana Shakuntlam was Famous?
Ans: Abhijnana Shakuntlam was popular because it was written by Kalidasa and was about a monarch and his marriage to a woodland girl.

Q6: What is Prashasti?
Ans: Prashsati, a Sanskrit term that means "in honour of," has a significant connotation.

Q7: Who was the Indian astronomer and mathematician of 5th century AD.
Ans: Chandrguupta 2 was the Indian astronomer and mathematician of 5th century AD.

Q8: Tell something about Chandragupta I.
Ans: In the year 305 A.D., Chandragupta-I was born. Kumaradevi was the name of a Lichchhavi princess he married. He gained considerable authority and exploited it for his great influence as a result of this nuptial relationship. He began a series of military campaigns aimed at pushing the kingdom's borders westward. He declared himself Maharaj-adhiraja about 320 A.D. Many historians believe the Gupta dynasty began in the year 320 A.D.

Q9: What was the political scenario after the fall of the Gupta Dynasty?
Ans: The kingdom was divided into many tiny kingdoms as the Gupta dynasty fell apart. The collapse of the Gupta Empire was marked by massive upheaval that lasted for a long time. Following the demise of the Gupta Dynasty, minor kingdoms fought each other to expand their kingdoms and become rich and powerful. They were finally conquered by King Harshavardhana. Harshavardhana went on to build a great and powerful empire.

Q10: What is the important teaching of Islam?
Ans: Everyone is equal before Allah, according to Islam, and Allah is supreme.

Q11: What are the names of different rulers described in Prashasti by Harishena?
Ans: Prashasti discusses the rulers of Aryavarta, Dakshinpatha, and all other monarchs who govern within or outside of Aryavarta and Dakshinapatha's territories.

Q12: Write a very short note on Harsha that was the ruler of Kannauj.
Ans: Harshvardhana is abbreviated as Harsha. Around 1400 years ago, Haarshga ruled. Banabhatta was a well-known poet who served in his court. Harsha's biography was written by Banabhatta. Harshacharitra was the title of the biography. Historians learned about Harsha via a biography written during the Gupta dynasty.

Q13: Tell something about Chandragupta-II.
Ans: Chandragupta-II is generally connected with the year 58 BCE. This is due to Chandragupta-victory II's over the Shakas, which earned him the title of Vikramaditya. Chandragupta II was a fifth-century A.D. Indian astronomer and mathematician. Kusumapura was his home and workplace. Kushumapura is located in Bihar, near the present-day city of Patna. In the year 476 A.D., Chandragupta II was born in Kerala. He was a brilliant mathematician as well. Aryabhatyam was his monograph.

Q14: Why Harshavardhana could not expand his empire beyond the Deccan?
Ans: Harshavardhana attempted to cross the Narmada River to conquer Deccan after conquering Magadha and Bengal. But he was halted by Pulakeshin-II, the Chalukya emperor. During this time, the Chalukyas were the most powerful monarchs in the south. The Chalukyas were affluent and strong. They possessed a large dynasty that spanned the Raichur Doad, which ran between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers. Harshavardhana was beaten by Pulakeshin-II.