Class 6 History Chapter 9 Case Based Questions - New Empires and Kingdoms

Case 1: Samudragupta's Prashasti

In the historical records, there is a famous inscription called the Samudragupta's Prashasti. It describes the reign of Samudragupta, a prominent Gupta dynasty ruler. The inscription mentions his conquests and policies towards different types of rulers.

Q1: What does the Samudragupta's Prashasti reveal about the character of Samudragupta?
Ans: Samudragupta is described in the Prashasti as a warrior, victorious king, learned, and the best of poets, even equal to the gods.

Q2: According to the inscription, how did Samudragupta treat the Aryavarta rulers, and what happened to their kingdoms?
Ans: According to the Prashasti, Samudragupta uprooted nine Aryavarta rulers, and their kingdoms became part of his empire.

Q3: Describe the relationship between Samudragupta and the Dakshinapatha rulers as mentioned in the Prashasti.
Ans: The Dakshinapatha rulers, marked with red dots, surrendered, were defeated, and allowed to rule again by Samudragupta.

Q4: Which regions paid tribute to Samudragupta and attended his court, and what does this reveal about his influence?
Ans: Outlying rulers, such as the descendants of Kushanas and Shakas, and the Sri Lankan ruler, submitted to Samudragupta and offered daughters in marriage.

Q5: How did the outlying rulers, like the descendants of Kushanas and Shakas, respond to Samudragupta's rule according to the Prashasti?
Ans: The outlying rulers submitted to Samudragupta and offered daughters in marriage.

Case 2: Genealogies and Ancestry

The Prashastis often included genealogies or lists of ancestors of the rulers, providing insight into their family history and rise to power.

Q6: Discuss the significance of genealogies in the Prashastis, using Samudragupta's genealogy as an example.
Ans: Genealogies in the Prashastis were significant as they provided a historical lineage for rulers, legitimizing their rule.

Q7: How did the adoption of the title "maharajadhiraja" by Chandragupta, Samudragupta's father, mark an important development in Gupta history?
Ans: The adoption of the title "maharajadhiraja" by Chandragupta marked an important development in Gupta history, signifying the family's rise to importance.

Q8: Explain how later Gupta rulers, such as Chandragupta II, incorporated Samudragupta into their genealogies.
Ans: Later Gupta rulers like Chandragupta II included Samudragupta in their genealogies to showcase the dynasty's illustrious lineage.

Q9: What role did genealogies play in legitimizing the rule of ancient Indian kings?
Ans: Genealogies played a vital role in legitimizing the rule of ancient Indian kings by connecting them to illustrious ancestors.

Q10: How did the knowledge of family history affect the perception of rulers in ancient India?
Ans: Knowledge of family history helped establish the continuity and legitimacy of rulers in ancient India.

Case 3: Harshavardhana and Harshacharita

Harshavardhana, a ruler from 1400 years ago, is known through historical records like the Harshacharita, a biography written by Banabhatta, and the accounts of Chinese traveler Xuan Zang.

Q11: Describe how Harshavardhana came to power, including the circumstances leading to his rule in Thanesar and Kanauj.
Ans: Harshavardhana came to power after the deaths of his father and elder brother, becoming the king of Thanesar, and later, he took over the kingdom of Kanauj following the death of his brother-in-law, the ruler of Bengal.

Q12: Analyze the role of Harsha's military campaigns in expanding his kingdom, including his conquest of Magadha and his conflict with the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II.
Ans: Harsha expanded his kingdom through military campaigns, conquering Magadha and possibly Bengal, although he couldn't advance beyond the Narmada river due to opposition from Pulakeshin II.

Q13: Explain the significance of biographies like the Harshacharita in providing insights into the lives and reigns of ancient Indian rulers.
Ans: Biographies like the Harshacharita provide valuable insights into the lives and reigns of ancient Indian rulers by offering detailed accounts of their actions.

Q14: Discuss the limitations of Harsha's military expansion, particularly his inability to cross the Narmada river.
Ans: Harsha's military expansion was limited by his inability to cross the Narmada river, which halted his advance into the Deccan.

Q15: Compare the accounts of Harsha's rule in the Harshacharita with those provided by Xuan Zang, highlighting any differences or contradictions.
Ans: Comparing the accounts of Harsha's rule in the Harshacharita with those provided by Xuan Zang reveals variations and different perspectives on certain events.

Case 4: The Pallavas and Chalukyas

During ancient times, the Pallavas and Chalukyas were prominent dynasties in South India. Their territories, conflicts, and rulers are described in historical inscriptions and prashastis.

Q16: Describe the geographical extent of the Pallavas' kingdom, including their capital, and their interactions with neighboring regions.
Ans: The Pallavas' kingdom extended around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta, while the Chalukyas' kingdom centered around the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra.

Q17: Explain the significance of Aihole as the capital of the Chalukyas and its role as a trading and religious center.
Ans: Aihole served as the capital of the Chalukyas and was an important trading and religious center with numerous temples.

Q18: Discuss the conflicts and rivalries between the Pallavas and Chalukyas, including their raids on each other's territories.
Ans: The Pallavas and Chalukyas engaged in conflicts, raiding each other's prosperous capital cities.

Q19: Analyze the information about Pulakeshin II provided in his prashasti and how it traces his lineage and achievements.
Ans: The Pallavas and Chalukyas engaged in conflicts, raiding each other's prosperous capital cities.

Q20: Summarize the ultimate fate of both the Pallava and Chalukya dynasties and the dynasties that succeeded them.
Ans: Both the Pallava and Chalukya dynasties were eventually replaced by the Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties.

Case 5: Administration and Society in Ancient Kingdoms

The administration of ancient Indian kingdoms was multifaceted, involving land revenue, local assemblies, and the role of influential individuals. Additionally, insights into the lives of ordinary people can be gleaned from various sources.

Q21: Explain the role of land revenue and the village as the primary administrative unit in ancient kingdoms.
Ans: Earlier kings relied on land revenue, and the village served as the primary administrative unit in ancient Indian kingdoms.

Q22: Provide examples of measures taken by kings to gain the support of influential individuals and how this impacted the administration.
Ans: Kings gained support from influential individuals through economic, social, and political means, with some administrative positions becoming hereditary.

Q23: Describe the hereditary nature of some administrative positions and its implications.
Ans: Hereditary positions meant that sons inherited key roles from their fathers, as seen with the poet Harishena.

Q24: Analyze the composition and significance of local assemblies like Sabha, Ur, and Nagaram in the southern kingdoms.
Ans: Local assemblies like Sabha, Ur, and Nagaram were controlled by influential landowners and merchants, contributing to the administration.

Q25: Discuss how the treatment of untouchables in society is observed in the accounts of Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian and the use of language in Kalidasa's plays to depict social hierarchies.
Ans: The accounts of Kalidasa's plays and Fa Xian's observations shed light on the treatment of untouchables in society and the social hierarchies prevalent during ancient times.