Table of Contents
Extra Questions – Traders, Kings, and Pilgrims
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Very Short Answer Type
Question 1.
Write two sentences about Puhar, as described in the San gam poems.
Answer:
- Puhar is a significant port on the eastern coast, according to reports.
- Traders and people from all over the world brought a variety of items to Puhar. Swift, prancing horses aboard ships and bags of black pepper in carts, for example.
Question 2.
For which articles of trade was South India famous during the ancient period?
Answer:
Gold, spices, particularly pepper, and valuable stones were all popular in South India.
Question 3.
Write two-three sentences about the Indo-Roman trade during the ancient age.
Answer:
- Black pepper from India was so highly valued in the Roman empire that it was dubbed “black gold.”
- Along with black pepper, traders brought numerous other Indian items to Rome on ships, across the sea, and in caravans.
- South India has a plethora of Roman gold coins.
Question 4.
Discuss in brief the contribution of traders and sailors in exploration and use of sea routes in the ancient age.
Answer:
Traders investigated a number of sea routes. The coasts were followed by some of these. Others sailed through the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, making use of the monsoon winds to get across the seas faster. They preferred to travel with the southwest monsoon if they intended to reach the western coast of the Indian subcontinent from East Africa or Africa.
Short Answer Type
Question 1.
Write a short note on the Satavahanas of western India.
Answer:
1. A dynasty known as the Satavahanas emerged prominently in western India around 200 years later (of the muvendar or three new dynasties of south India).
2. Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni was the Satavahanas’ most powerful monarch. His mother, Gautami Balashri, wrote an inscription about him, which we know about. He and other Satavahana rulers were known as lords of the dakshinapatha, which was a designation for the entire southern region and literally meant “road to the south.” He dispatched his troops to the coastlines of the east, west, and south.
Question 2.
Discuss in short the Xuan Zang’s visit to India.
Answer:
- Around 1400 years ago, Xuan Zang arrived in India. He traveled to areas associated with the Buddha’s life as well as well-known Buddhist monasteries.
- He returned to China by the land route (through the northwest, and Central Asia). On the backs of 20 horses, he brought back statues of the Buddha made of gold, silver, and sandalwood, as well as over 600 manuscripts.
- When the boat he was crossing the Indus capsized, he lost almost 50 manuscripts.
- The rest of Xuan Zang’s life was spent transcribing the remaining Sanskrit manuscripts into Chinese.
Question 3.
Write a short note on Nalanda.
Answer:
When Xuan Zang, a Chinese pilgrim, reached the subcontinent, Nalanda was a unique centre of learning. He and other pilgrims studied at the most famous Buddhist monastery of the day, Nalanda (Bihar). He describes it in this way.
- Nalanda’s professors are guys of exceptional ability and talent. They are sincere in their devotion to the Buddha’s teachings.
- The monastery’s rules are severe, and everyone is expected to respect them.
- Throughout the day, there are discussions, and the old and the young assist one another.
- Learned persons from all around the world come here to clear up their uncertainties.
- The gatekeeper grills newcomers with tough questions. They are only allowed to enter when they have answered these questions. Seven to eight out of every ten are not able to answer.
Question 4.
Mention important historical events against the following given dates:
- About 7000 years ago
- About 2300 years ago
- About 2000 years ago
- About 1900 years ago
- About 1600 years ago
- About 1400 years ago
Answer:
| Dates | Events |
| 1. About 7000 years ago | The art of silk production was discovered. |
| 2. About 2300 years ago | The Dakshinapatha, or far southern areas of India, was dominated by the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas. |
| 3. About 2000 years ago | In the Roman Empire, there was a growing need for silk. |
| 4. About 1900 years ago | The Kushana ruler Kanishka reigned. |
| 5. About 1600 years ago | Fa Xian arrived in India. |
| 6. About 1400 years ago | Xuan Zang made his way to India. In adoration of Lord Shiva, devotional poems were written. |
Question 5.
Give answer to each of the following only in one word or one sentence;
- Mehendra
- Sanghamitra
- The Third Sangam was held at
- The Capital of the Chalukyas
- The greatest ruler of the Chola dynasty
- The greatest ruler of the Satavahana dynasty
- The greatest religious event related to the lives of Mahendra and Sanghamitra.
Answer:
- Mehendra, son of the greatest Mauryan ruler, Ashoka.
- Sanghamitra, daughter of Ashoka
- Madurai
- Badami or Vengi
- Karikalp
- Gautiputra Satakarm,
- They went to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism during the reign of their father, Ashoka.
Long Answer Type
Question 1.
Describe the development of New Kingdoms along the coasts.
Answer:
New Kingdoms Emerging Along the Coasts:
1. The Indian subcontinent’s southern half is defined by a lengthy coastline, hills and plateaus, and river valleys, the most fertile of which is the Kaveri.
2. River valley and coast-controlling chiefs and monarchs became wealthy and powerful.
3. The muvendar is mentioned in Sangam poems. This is a Tamil name that means “three chiefs,” and it refers to the heads of three governing dynasties in south India, the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas, who rose to power around 2300 years ago.
4. Each of the three rulers controlled two power centres: one inland and the other on the seaside. Two of these cities were particularly important: Puhar or Kaveripattinam, the Cholas’ port, and Madurai, the Pandyas’ capital.
5. The new Kingdoms’ chiefs did not collect regular taxes. They requested and received gifts from their subordinates instead. Raids were also carried out, and tribute was collected from neighboring areas. They kept some of the money and gave the remainder to their supporters, who included kinsmen, warriors, and poets.
6. Many of the poets whose works are included in the Sangam collection wrote poems in celebration of the chiefs, who were usually awarded cash, horses, elephants, chariots, valuable stones, and line, as well as highly expensive fabric.
Question 2.
Discuss in short the story of the Silk making and Silk Route in your own words.
Answer:
The following is the history of silk production and the Silk Route:
- Silk is a highly valued fabric in most societies due to its rich, glossy colors and smooth texture.
- Silk production is a time-consuming procedure. Raw silk must be harvested from silkworm cocoons, spun into thread, and then stitched into fabric.
- Silk-making techniques were initially developed in China some 7000 years ago.
- For thousands of years, the techniques remained a well-guarded secret, yet certain Chinese people who traveled to faraway places on foot, horseback, or camels carried silk with them. The Silk Route was named after the routes they took.
- Chinese monarchs occasionally sent silk gifts to rulers in Iran and West Asia, and knowledge of silk went further west from there.
- Silk became fashionable among Rome’s kings and rich people over 2000 years ago.
It was extremely expensive since it had to be transported all the way from China, over treacherous highways, and through mountains and deserts. People living along the Silk Route frequently demanded payment in exchange for allowing traders to pass through.
Some monarchs attempted to exert control over vast swaths of the route. This was due to the fact that they could profit from the taxes, tributes, and presents delivered by traders along the route. In exchange, they often safeguarded traders passing through their kingdoms from robber attacks.
The Kushanas, who ruled across central Asia and northwest India circa 2000 years ago, are the most well-known of the kings who controlled the Silk Route. During their reign, a branch of the Silk Route traveled from Central Asia to the Indus Valley, from which silk was carried west to the Roman empire.
Question 3.
Describe new7 developments and the spread of Buddhism dining the Kanishka’s period and afterward.
Answer:
1. Kanishka, the most famous Kushana ruler, reigned roughly 1900 years ago. He convened a Buddhist council, which brought together intellectuals to address significant issues.
2. In Kanishka’s court lived Ashvaghosha, a poet who wrote the Buddhacharita, a biography of the Buddha.
3. During Kanishka’s reign, a new kind of Buddhism known as Mahayana (Big Ship) Buddhism emerged. There were two distinct features to this. Previously, the Buddha’s presence was depicted in sculpture through the use of specific signs. Sculptures of the peepal tree, for example, demonstrated his enlightenment.
4. Buddha sculptures have now been created. Many were made at Mathura (modern-day Uttar Pradesh), while others were made in Taxila (located in modern Pakistan).
5. The belief in Bodhisattvas was the second transformation. These were thought to be persons who had gained enlightenment but stayed in the world to aid others rather than giving up their worldly existence.
6. Bodhisattva worship grew in popularity and expanded throughout Central Asia, China, and eventually Korea and Japan.
7. Buddhism extended throughout western and southern India, where monks were housed in dozens of caves. Some were built by kings and queens, while others were built by merchants and farmers. These were frequently constructed along passes in the Western Ghats. These passes were crossed by roads connecting rich ports on the coastlines with cities in the Deccan. Traders most likely paused in these cave-monasteries on their journeys.
8. Buddhism moved south to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia. In these locations, the earlier version of Buddhism known as Theravada Buddhism was more popular.
Question 4.
Discuss the Quest of the Chinese Pilgrims.
Answer:
The Chinese Pilgrims’ Quest is as follows:
- Pilgrims usually accompanied traders and merchants on their journeys to distant lands in caravans and ships. Several Chinese pilgrims came to India from time to time.
- Fa Xian is the most well-known of the Chinese Buddhist pilgrims. Around 1600 years ago, he arrived on the Indian subcontinent.
- Xuan Zang is another well-known Chinese pilgrim in Indian history. Around 1400 years ago, he arrived on the Indian subcontinent.
- I-Qing is the third well-known Chinese pilgrim. He arrived approximately 50 years after Xuan Zang (or nearly 1350 years ago).
- All three Chinese pilgrims came to see areas related to the Buddha’s life as well as notable monasteries, as stated above.
- Each of these pilgrims left a detailed account of their voyage, including the perils they met along the way, the countries and monasteries they visited, and the literature they brought back with them.
Question 5.
Discuss the returning journey of Fa Xian to his country China from the subcontinent.
Answer:
- Fa Xian arrived in India some 1600 years ago, during Chandraguptall’s reign. He didn’t leave his court. He returned to China after a few years.
- He boarded a ship owned by a group of merchants and set off from Bengal. They hadn’t been on the journey for more than two days when they were caught in a storm.
- Merchants began dumping their goods overboard in order to lower the ship’s cargo and prevent it from sinking.
- Fa Xian tossed away his little possessions but clung to his literature and Buddha sculptures that he had amassed.
- After 13 days, the storm finally stopped. He took over 90 days to reach Java, where he stayed for five months before joining another trade ship bound for China.
Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the correct answer:
Question 1.
For what was south India famous for?
(a) Gold
(b) Spices
(c) Stones
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these
Question 2.
Where did the Romans find Gold?
(a) South India
(b) East India
(c) West India
(d) North India
Answer:
South India
Question 3.
Which river valley is the most fertile?
(a) Kaveri River Valley
(b) Yamuna River Valley
(c) Brahmaputra River Valley
(d) None of these
Answer:
Kaveri River Valley
Question 4.
Who controlled the river valleys?
(a) Chiefs and kings
(b) Poor men
(c) Ordinary people
(d) None of these
Answer:
Chiefs and kings
Question 5.
What does muvendar mean?
(a) Three chiefs
(b) Three kings
(c) Three groups of people
(d) None of these
Answer:
Three chiefs
Question 6.
When did Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas become powerful in South India?
(a) About 1,300 years ago
(b) About 2,300 years ago
(c) About 3,300 years ago
(d)About 4,300 years ago
Answer:
About 2,300 years ago
Question 7.
Who was the most powerful ruler of Satavahanas?
(a) Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni
(b) Krishna
(c) Sidhartha
(d) All of these
Answer:
Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni
Question 8.
Who was known as the lord of dakshanipath?
(a) Chandragupta
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Rai
(c) Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni
(d) None of these
Answer:
Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni
Question 9.
To whom did the Chinese rulers send gifts of silk?
(a) Rulers of Iran
(b) Rulers of Iraq
(c) Rulers of Pakistan
(d) Rulers of Kajakistan
Answer:
Rulers of Iran
Question 10.
Which tree was shown in the sculptures?
(a) Neem
(b) Tulsi
(c) Peepal
(d) Mango
Answer:
Peepal
Question 11.
Where were the statues of Buddha made?
(a) Mathura and Taxila
(b) Mumbai and Goa
(c) Bihar and UP
(d) Delhi and Haryana
Answer:
Mathura and Taxila
Question 12.
Men and women who undertook journeys to the holy places in order to offer worship are called
(a) Traders
(b) Pilgrims
(c) Buddhism
(d) Theravada
Answer:
Pilgrims
Question 13.
In what work did Xuan Zang spend his life?
(a) In translating manuscripts from Sanskrit to Chinese
(b) Moving here and there
(c) Sleeping
(d) All of these
Answer:
In translating manuscripts from Sanskrit to Chinese
Question 14.
From where did the term ‘India’ derive?
(a) River Indus
(b) River Ganga
(c) River Yamuna
(d) River Mahanadi
Answer:
River Indus
