ANCIENT HISTORY UPSC

ANCIENT HISTORY UPSC pinned «📕 SHORTNOTES BASIC LEVEL https://t.me/ancienthistoryhub/3 📕 SHORTNOTES ADVANCED…»

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🌿The Hinayanas believed that each being had to work out his own salvation, unlike the assistance of Bodhisattva available under the Mahayana.
🌿 The Mahayanas under which the Bodhisattva was thought of as one who would bide his time until even the smallest insect had reached the highest goal.
🌿The Vajra stands for magical power (thunderbolt, diamond) The followers of the Vajrayana taught that salvation could be best attained by acquiring magical power(MYSTICISM).

450. Consider the following statements with reference to the different schools of Buddhism:
1. Mahayana believed that each being had to find out his own salvation.
2. Hinayana believed that it was duty of Bodhisattva to ensure that others find salvation.
3. Vajrayana believed that salvation could be achieved through mysticism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

🌿The Pandya kingdom occupied roughly the region of the modern districts of Tirunelveli, Ramnad and Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The capital of the kingdom was Madurai. The Cholas occupied the delta of the Kaveri river and the adjoining region.
🌿 Under the Pandyas, the capital Madurai and port city Korkai were great centres of trade and commerce.
🌿 The Pandyan kingdom was very wealthy and prosperous. The traders profited from trade with the Roman Empire. Pandya kings even sent embassies to the Roman emperor Augustus and Trojan.

449. With reference to the history of ancient South India, consider the following statements regarding Pandya kingdom:
1. The Pandyas occupied the delta of the Kaveri river and the adjoining region.
2. Under the Pandyas, the capital Madurai and port city Korkai were great centres of trade and commerce.
3. Pandyan kings sent embassies to the Roman emperor.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

🌿Archaeologists have discovered thousands of seals, usually made of steatite, and occasionally of agate, chert, copper, faience and terracotta, with beautiful figures of animals,such as unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison,goat, buffalo, etc. 🌿The purpose of producing seals was mainly commercial. It appears that the seals were also used as amulets, carried on the persons of their owners, perhaps as modern-day identity cards. Some seals have also been found in gold and ivory.
🌿Statues have been found in stone, bronze or terracotta at Harappan sites.
🌿The bead industry seems to have been well developed as evident from the factories discovered at Chanhudaro and Lothal. 🌿Beads were made of cornelian, amethyst,jasper, crystal, quartz,
steatite, turquoise, lapis lazuli, etc. Metals like copper, bronze and gold, and shell, faience and terracotta or burnt clay were also used for manufacturing beads. 🌿Some beads were made of two or more stones cemented together, some of stone with gold covers.

448. With reference to Indus Valley Civilization, gold was utilized in the making of
1. Seals
2. Statues
3. Beads
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

🌿Harappan potters exhibited a great technical skill, which is evident from the shapes and designs of the pottery of this period. 🌿The pottery itself seems to fulfill both a utilitarian and decorative
function. Harappa pottery includes Red Ware, Black and Red Ware, Buff Ware and Grey Ware. 🌿Contemporary to the Harappa culture there existed another culture, the distinctiveness of which was based on the presence of an Ochre Coloured Ware (OCW). 🌿 The OCW pottery has a washed-out look, and is very porous in nature. The potters' craft does not show the advanced development of the Harappa potter.
🌿 Vedic Era saw the emergence of Painted Grey Ware (PGW) Culture. Painted Grey Ware (PGW) is a very fine grey coloured pottery. 🌿The existence of this highly specialised pottery suggests that it might have been made for either a ritualistic purpose or for the royalty. 🌿It is evident there were highly skilled and specialised craftsmen for making this type of pottery, as it forms only a part of the excavated pottery, the rest being Red Ware. 🌿Pottery resembling PGW has not been found in any earlier period or in any period thereafter.
🌿 Towards the very end of Later Vedic Age around 6th century BC, we see the emergence of 2nd phase of urbanization. This era marked the beginning of the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). 🌿Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) is a black pottery, the surface of which is strikingly lustrous in nature. NBPW has been located at nearly four hundred and fifteen sites all over India, which shows it had a much larger spread than the Harappa pottery.

447.With reference to ancient Indian history, arrange the pottery cultures in chronological order:
1. Painted Grey Ware
2. Northern Black Polished Ware
3. Black and Red Ware
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1-2-3
(b) 2-3-1
(c) 3-1-2
(d) 3-2-1

🌿Indians learnt the art of making well-shaped and beautifully designed gold and silver coins from the Greeks. 🌿 The Greeks had some influence on Indian astrology as well. Many valuable information about the social and economic condition of northern and north western India of that time are known from the Greek accounts left by Arrian, admiral Nearchus, and Megasthenes. 🌿They tell us about the developed condition of many crafts, existence of a brisk trade with the outside world, and about the general prosperous condition of the country. 🌿Much has also been said in these accounts of carpentary as a flourishing trade in India. It seems the fleet which Alexander sent along the western coast of India under Nearchus was built in India.
🌿Alexander’s invasion paved the way for political unification of north western India by conquering the warring tribes of this region. 🌿The influence of Greek art is found in the development of Indian sculpture as well. The combination of the Greek and the Indian style formed the Gandhara School of art.

446. Which among the following was/were the impacts of Greek invasion on Indian culture?
1. It influenced the coinage system in India.
2. It led to the political unification of north-western India.
3. It led to the evolution of Gandhara school of Art.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

🌿The Kanauj Assembly was followed by another spectacular assembly at Prayaga in the same year. 🌿While the Kanauj Assembly was a religious assembly to highlight Mahayanism, the Prayaga Assembly was an assembly of universal character for offerings of royal charities to all classes of people. 🌿It was known as the Maha Moksha Parishud. Harsha was at his best in the Prayaga Assembly as a generous monarch and an admirer of all the major faiths of his country.
🌿The Prayaga Assembly saw a huge gathering of people. The Emperor came there with Hiuen Tsang, and the kings of twenty countries. 🌿The site of the assembly was on the vast expanses of sands at the meeting place of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Half a million people, summoned from the distant corners of the Five Indies‘ attended this unique assembly to receive gifts from the king. 🌿The ceremonies lasted for 75 days. Every arrangement was made for the accommodation and food of such a big multitude.
🌿Harsha held this assembly every five years for donating gifts to people. The assembly which Hiuen Tsang saw at Prayaga in 643 A.D. was the sixth Moksha Paris had of Harsha‘s reign.
🌿 On the first day of the Prayaga Assembly, an image of Buddha was worshipped amidst distribution of valuables. 🌿On the second day was worshipped the image of Surya. And, on the third day, the image of Siva was worshipped.
🌿 There after followed the many days of gift making to thousands upon thousands of Buddhists, Brahmanas, Jainas, and the followers of other faiths. 🌿Next followed the giving of alms to the mendicants, to the poor, the orphans, and the destitute. The Prayaga Assembly finally closed after 75 days.

445. With reference to cultural history of India, Prayag assembly is associated with
(a) Samudragupta
(b) Ashoka
(c) PushyamitraSunga
(d) Harshavardhan

🌿Women of the Vedic period (circa 1500-1200 BCE), were epitomes of intellectual and spiritual attainments. The Vedas have volumes to say about these women, who both complemented and supplemented their male partners.
🌿Significant female figures of the Vedic period include- Ghosha, Lopamudra, SulabhaMaitreyi, and Gargi.
🌿Andal was a Bhakti saint who composed hymns in eighth-century Tamil. She was the only woman among the twelve Alwars – medieval Vaishnavite poets who took the scriptures to the masses, composing hymns in Tamil that are considered the equivalent of the Sanskrit Vedas.

444. Who among the following were prominent women scholars of the Vedic Era?
1. Lopamudra
2. Gargi
3. Andal
4. Maitreyi
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

🌿In India, four types of calendars are followed: Vikram Samvat (Hindu lunar calendar), Saka Samvat (Hindu Solar calendar), Hijri Calendar (Islamic lunar calendar), Gregorian Calendar (Scientific solar calendar)- followed universally.
🌿VikramSamvat: Dates back to 57 B.C. Introduced by King Vikramaditya to mark his victory over the Saka rulers.57 B.C. is the zero year. It is a lunar calendar as it is based on the movement of the moon.
🌿 Saka Samvat: The zero year of SakaSamvat is 78 A.D.It was started by Saka rulers to mark their victory over Kushanas.It is a solar calendar. It was adopted by the Government of India as the official calendar in the year 1957.
🌿Hijri calendar: It is a lunar calendar.The zero year is 622 A.D.It was initially started and followed in Saudi Arabia.Every year has 12 months and 354 days. The first month is called Muharram and Ninth month is called Ramzaan.

443. With reference to the Saka calendar starting in 78AD, consider the following statements:
1. The India national calendar is based on it.
2. It was started by Saka rulers to mark their victory over Kushanas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

🌿Ajivika sect emerged in India about the same time as Buddhism and Jainism and lasted until the 14th century. 🌿 A central idea of the Ajivika sect was that of niyati(fate), the principle that ultimately determined and controlled everything. Human effort was of no consequence in this strictly deterministic doctrine.
🌿Karma, and transmigration existed but human effort played no role in it, as paths for souls over thousands of years had already been mapped out.
🌿The Ajivikas practised severe asceticism, often eating very little food. The sect did not practise discrimination on the basis of caste or class, and its ascetics and their followers came from various sections of society.
🌿Inscriptions in the Barabar hills record Ashoka's dedication of some caves to Ajivika ascetics. In the nearby Nagarjuni hills, inscriptions record the dedication of three caves to them by Ashoka's successor, Dasharatha

442. With reference to the Ajivika sect, consider the following statements:
1. Idea of fate was central to the philosophy of this sect.
2. Ajivikas practised severe asceticism.
3. Caves in Barabar hills have inscriptions about Ajivika sect.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3