CBSE history
Sponsor Area
Who was John Marshall ? How did he mark a change in the Indian Archeology ?
John Marshall was an archaeologist
He announced the discovery of a new civilization i.e. Indus Valley Civilization/ Harappa culture
Sponsor Area
Mention any two changes that were observed after 1900 BCE in Harappan civilisation. What could have brought these changes ? Explain.
Changes observed after 1900 BCE in Harappan Civilization:
i. There is a decline in the material culture and disappearance of distinctive artefacts.
ii. Long distance trade disappeared along with craft specialisation.
Reasons for changes:
i. Climatic change and deforestation.
ii. Excessive floods and overuse of the landscape.
“The mid first millennium BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in world history.” Justify.
The reasons:
i. Emergence of various thinkers like Socrates, Buddha etc in different parts of the world
ii. Development of kingdoms and cities
iii. Changes in social and economic life
iv. Emergence of Upanishads in India and compilation of Rig Veda.
Explain the system of land grants and trade from C. 600 BCE to 600 CE.
OR
Explain any four sources to reconstruct the history of Mauryas. Examine the system of Mauryan administration.
System of Land Grants:
i. Grants made to religious institutions
iii. Grants called agrahara grants were made to Brahmanas
iii. Samantas were also given land. Prabhavati Gupta – example of agrahara grant made by a woman is an exception
iv. Land grants were a strategy to extend agriculture and Brahmanical practices in new regions
System of trade:
i. Introduction of punch marked coins encouraged trade
ii. Inland and overland trade existed. Inland trade connected various parts of the subcontinent.
iii. Various river routes in the sub-continent were used for trade
iv. Overland and maritime trade existed with C. Asia, North Africa, West Asia etc
OR
Sources:
i. Punch marked coins
ii. Archaeological finds like palace wall at Patliputra
iii. Account of Megasthenes.
iv. Kautilya’s Arthashastra and Asokan inscriptions – pillar inscriptions and rock edicts
Administration:
i. There were five major political centres- the capital Pataliputra and provincial centres of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri.
ii. Administrative control was strongest in areas around the capital and the provincial centres.
iii. Provincial centres were carefully chosen: Taxila and Ujjayini were situated on important long distance trade routes
iv. Suvarnagiri was important for tapping gold mines of Karnataka. Communication along both land and riverine routes was essential for the existence of the empire.
Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow :
A Tiger – Like Husband
This is a summary of a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata :
The Pandavas had fled into the forest. They were tired and fell asleep; only Bhima, the second Pandava, renowned for his prowess, was keeping watch. A man-eating Rakshasa caught the scent of the Pandavas and sent his sister Hidimba to capture them. She fell in love with Bhima, transformed herself into a lovely maiden and proposed to him. He refused. Meanwhile, the Rakshasa arrived and challenged Bhima to a wrestling match. Bhima accepted the challenge and killed him. The others woke up hearing the noise. Hidimba introduced herself, and declared her love for Bhima. She told Kunti; “I have forsaken my friends, my dharma and my kin; and good lady, chosen your tiger-like son for my man…whether you think me a fool, or your devoted servant, let me join you, great lady, with your son as my husband.”
Ultimately, Yudhisthira agreed to the marriage on condition that they would spend the day together but that Bhima would return every night. The couple roamed all over the world during the day. In due course Hidimba gave birth to a Rakshasa boy named Ghatotkacha. Then the mother and son left the Pandavas. Ghatotkacha promised to return to the Pandavas whenever they needed him.
Some historians suggest that the term rakshasa is used to describe people whose practices differed from those laid down in Brahmanical texts.
(14.1) How did the story from Adi Parvan play an important role in shaping the values and ethos of the society ?
(14.2) How was this story a unique example of exogamy ?
(14.3) How did Hidimba and Yudhisthira interpret dharma in their context ?
14.1 The story helped in shaping values and ethos of the society in the following ways:
i. Stories contained in the Ramayana and Mahabharata often reinforced the norms prescribed by the Brahmanas
ii. The story shows integration of the communities beyond the varnas into the varna order
14.2. Even though Hidimba’s community did not fall in the Brahmanical order, her marriage outside her family can be considered a unique example of exogamy
14.3 Hidimba and Yudhishthira interpretation of Dharma:
i. Hidimba challenged patriliny by going against her brother and held love to be above acceptable social norms.
ii. Yudhishthira was known as Dharmaraja, the upholder of Dharma who had upheld the patriarchal norms of society.
iii. He gave sanction to the unique marriage within the Brahmanical framework. He upheld dignity of Hidimba, marriage and love above the accepted social norms.
Sponsor Area
Mock Test Series
Mock Test Series