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Kings, Farmers And Towns
Write a short note on Chandragupta-I.
Chandragupta was a major king in the Gupta Empire around 320 CE and is generally considered as the founder of the Gupta dynasty. As the ruler of the Gupta Empire, he is known for forging alliances with many powerful families in the Ganges region region.
Chandragupta was the First was the son of Ghatotkacha and the grandson of Srigupta. Unlike his predecessors, who were known as maharaja(king), he came to be known as Maharajadhiraja (king of kings). He came to power in 320AD. However it remains unknown how he expanded 'small principality to the status of an important kingdom' by annexing neighbouring kingdoms. He also married a licchavi princess Kumaradevi indicating that the matrimonial connections between the two led to the 'political greatness' of the Gupta dynasty.
Although we are not sure how big was his empire as exact boundary is still not known.
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Discuss the evidence of craft production in early historic cities. In what ways is this different from the evidence from Harappan cities?
Describe the salient features of Mahajanapadas.
How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?
Compare and contrast the list of things given to the Pandyan chief (Source 3) with those produced in the village of Danguna (Source 8). Do you notice any similarities or differences?
List some of the problems faced by epigraphists.
Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?
This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture and activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions”. Discuss.
Discuss the notions of kingship that developed in the post-Mauryan period.
To what extent were agricultural practices transformed in the period under consideration?
Compare Maps 1 and 2, and list the Mahajanapadas that may have been included in the Mauryan Empire. Are any Asokan inscriptions found in these areas?
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