6th Standard, Social, History, Chapter 12
ANCIENT DYNASTIES OF NORTH INDIA
Exercises
Mauryas and the Kushans
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word:
1. An ambassador sent by Seleucus to the court of Chandragupta Maurya was Megasthenes.
2. The emperor who said ‘the subjects are like my children’ was Ashoka.
3. Our national emblem is the Lion Capital.
4. Kanishka began a new era called Shaka (Shalivahana Shaka), to commemorate his accession to the throne.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire.
2. Which city was the capital of Mauryan Empire?
Answer: Pataliputra (now Patna – the capital of Bihar) was the capital of Mauryan Empire.
3. Which book did Kautilya write?
Answer: Kautilya wrote the book ‘Arthashastra’ tells many facts related to politics.
4. Which book did Megasthenes write?
Answer: Megasthenes wrote the book called ‘Indica’ in which he has recorded his experiences in India.
5. What were the functions of Dharma Mahamatras?
Answer: The functions of Dharma Mahamatras are as follows.
- ‘Dharma Mahamatras’ were promoting good moral conduct among the people.
- They were also responsible for looking after the welfare of orphans, widows and the aged.
6. Where did Kanishka hold the ‘Boudha Maha Sabha’?
Answer: Kanishka held the ‘Boudha Maha Sabha’ in Kundalvana located in Kashmir.
III. Discuss in group and answer:
1. Write about the significance of Kalinga war.
Answer: Ashoka declared war on the state of Kalinga in the eighth year of his accession to power. This was a significant event in his life. Thousands of people lost their lives in the war. One lakh people were injured. One and a half lakh enemy soldiers were captured. Ashoka was moved by the gruesome scenes of death and pain in the battlefield. Ashoka felt painful and decided not to wage wars from then onwards. There is no other emperor in the history of the world who has changed his mind in this way. Ashoka is called Mahashaya out of respect, as he followed the path of Dharma instead of the path of war.
VI. Match the contents of list A with list B
A B
1 . Ashoka a) Kanishkapura
2 . Kanishka b) Buddha Charitha
3. Ashwagosha c) Kala Kendra
4. Gandhara d) Devanampriya
Answer:
A B
1 . Ashoka d) Devanampriya
2 . Kanishka a) Kanishkapura
3. Ashwagosha b) Buddha Charitha
4. Gandhara c) Kala Kendra
Activity
- Make a list of places where Ashokan inscriptions are found in Karnataka.
Answer: The places where Ashokan inscriptions are found in Karnataka were as follows.
Seventeen inscriptions of Ashoka are found in nine places of Karnataka.
1 . The Maski inscription of Raichur.
2 . Brahmagiri, Chitradurga district
3 . Siddapura, Chitradurga district
4. Jatinga-Rameshwara, Chitradurga district
5 . Gavimath and Palkigundu, Koppal district
6 . Nittur, Bellary district
7 . Udegolam, Bellary district
8. Sannati, Gulbarga district
9. Ashoka’s relief sculpture, Kanaganahalli
GUPTHAS
Exercises
I. Fill in the blanks with appropriate:
1. The capital of Gupta’s Pataliputra.
2. The Gupta king who hailed the title ‘Kaviraj’ was Samudragupta.
3. The work Mudrarakshasa was written by Vishakha Datta.
4. Mahakavi who had the title of ‘Kavikulaguru’ was Kalidasa.
II. Answer the following questions:
- Which emperor’s details are there in the pillar inscription of Allahabad?
Answer: The details of a great warrior Samudragupta are there in the pillar inscription of Allahabad.
- Who was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India during Gupta period?
Answer: Fa-hein was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India during Gupta period.
- Name any one play of Kalidasa.
Answer: ‘Abhijnana Shakunthalam’is the one of the great play of Kalidasa.
- Who wrote ‘Mricchakatika’?
Answer: Shudraka who wrote ‘Mricchakatika’.
- Which dictionary was composed by Amarasimha?
Answer: ‘Amarakosha’ dictionary was composed by Amarasimha.
- Who was the famous mathematician of Gupta period?
Answer: Aryabhata was the famous mathematician of Gupta period.
III. Discuss in group and answer:
- Describe the achievements of Samudragupta.
Answer: Samudragupta was a great warrior. Samudragupta defeated nine kings of North India. Realizing his great military power, many kings surrendered themselves. The Kushana rulers of distant Afghanistan and Satraps (Shakas) of Gujarat acknowledged Samudragupta’s supremacy. Later Samudragupta undertook an expedition to Southern India and defeated twelve kings of the South. Among them one of the kings was of Kanchi. He performed the Ashwamedha yaga (horse sacrifice) to commemorate this expedition. Himself a poet and musician, Samudra Gupta was accorded the title ‘Kaviraja’ (king of poets). Coins have been found depicting him playing the veena. Samudra Gupta’s coins reflects the power, prosperity and glory of Gupta dynasty.
- Explain the contributions of the Gupta’s to Sanskrit literature.
Answer: During the Gupta period Sanskrit language developed well due to royal patronage. Kalidasa was a great poet of the Gupta times. He is one of the best playwrights of the world. He was one of the nine Jewels men, the ‘Navaratna’ who adorned the court of Chandragupta II. Kalidasa had composed four epics and three dramas. ‘Abhijnana Shakunthalam’ is his great play. He has been hailed as ‘Kavikula Guru’.
Shudraka who wrote ‘Mricchakatika’ and Vishakha Datta who wrote ‘Mudrarakshasa’ were other famous dramatists of that time. Vishnu Sharma’s ‘Panchatantra’ belongs to this period. Amara Simha’s ‘Amarakosha’ a dictionary is a rare work. It is still in use today.
IV. Match the list of list A with B
A B
1) Kaviraj a) Fo-kwo-ki
2) Vikramaditya b) Astronomy
3) Fa-hein c) Samudragupta
4) Meharouli d) Chandragupta – II
5) Varahamihira e) Iron pillar
Answer:
A B
1) Kaviraj c) Samudragupta
2) Vikramaditya d) Chandragupta – II
3) Fa-hein a) Fo-kwo-ki
4) Meharouli e) Iron pillar
5) Varahamihira b) Astronomy
Activities
1. Collect pictures of ancient Indian architecture and sculpture with details.
2. Read about the lives of Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta, Vikramaditya, Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira and Vagbhata.
VARDHANAS
Exercises
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. The Chinese tourist who was very close to Harshavardhana was Hu-en-Tsang.
2. Hiuen Tsang’s travelogue was ‘Si-yu-ki’.
3. Nalanda University was in present Bihar state.
4. Harshavardhana was defeated on the banks of river Narmada by the king Pulikeshi II
II. Answer the following questions:
- Name Harshavardhana’s elder brother and younger sister.
Answer: Harshavardhana’s elder brother was Rajavardhana and younger sister was Rajyashree.
- Which was the capital of Harshavardhana?
Answer: Kanauj of Moukhari was the capital of Harshavardhana.
Answer: Banabhatta wrote ‘Harshacharita’, a biography of Harshavardhana.
4. Mention the plays written by Harshavardhana.
Answer: Priyadarshika, Ratnavali and Nagananda are the Sanskrit plays written by Harshavardhana.
5. Which is the most famous ancient Indian University and where?
Answer: Nalanda University is the most famous ancient Indian University and in Bihar State at present.
KARKOTA EMPIRE OF KASHMIR
Exercises
I. Fill in the blanks with a suitable word:
1 The prominent ruler of Karkota Dynasty was Lalithaditya.
2 The poet who composed Gita Govinda was Jayadeva.
3 Ahom Dynasty ruled over the parts of modern Assam.
4 The Arab traveller who visited the court of King Bhoja, the prominent ruler of Gurjara Pratihara was Sulaiman.
II. Answer the following questions:
1 State the qualities of the Rajputs.
Answer: Rajputs were well-known for their adventure and power. They claim to be Kshatriyas belonging to Surya vamsa and Chandra vamsa. They were the ones who fought bravely against the military march and facing boldly the Arabs, Turks and the Mughals.
In Indian history Rajputs have a distinctive place. They felt it was their bounden duty to protect the cows, orphans, weak and women. They defended those who sought protection. They sought inspiration from the songs composed over the heroic deeds of their ancestors.
The Rajput women were very brave. When women lost their husbands in war thinking that death would be better than living in disgrace, they would sacrifice themselves in mass. This pratice is called ‘Johar’.
2 Name any three famous architectural structures of the Rajput Age. Where are they located?
Answer: The famous architectural structures of the Rajput Age are as follows.
1 . The world famous Khandoraya Mahadeva temple is at Khajuraho.
This temple is located in Madhya Pradesh.
2 . Konarak (Odisha): The magnificent Sun Temple at Konarak is one of the grandest and largest temples in India.
3 . Dilwara (Rajasthan): The Marble temples at Dilwara on Mount Abu is world famous for its fascinating micro carvings.
4 . The Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar is 1000 years old. This temple is located in Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
5 . The gigantic Gwalior fort has been called as the ‘‘The pearl among the Indian forts’’. This fort is located in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
6 . The five-storeyed Hawa Mahal at Jaipur is an attractive structure.
7 . The palace in the scenic city of Udaipur, India is the largest in Rajasthan.
3 Write a short note on Prithviraj Chauhan.
Answer: Prithviraj III was the well-known ruler among the Chauhans. Delhi was his capital city. Prithviraj opposed the invasions of Muhammad Ghori. United many Rajput kings. However Jayachandra of Kannauj refused to join him. Prithviraj defeated Muhammad Ghori in the battle but pardoned him. The next year Prithviraj was defeated in a war between them. Prithviraj was known for bravery and valour. Prithiraj’s heroic deeds have been described in the Hindi poem called Prithviraj Raso by Chand Bardai. The fascinating story of Prithviraj Chauhan marrying Samyukta, the beautiful daughter of Jayachandra, the king of Kannauj, has been narrated in several literary works. Samyuktha was very beautiful.
4 Who was Bappa Rawal?
Answer: Among the Rajputs Guhilas (Guhilots) belong to a lineage of great warriors. Khommana, a ruler of the dynasty, defended his kingdom from the Arab military expedition and took the title of Bappa Rawal.
5 Write a short note on Rana Sangram Singh.
Answer: Rana Sanga or Rana Sangrama Simha was another famous ruler of the Guhilas. A hero of a hundred battles. He had 80 scars of war on his body. He constantly fought against the sultans of Delhi. He known for his courage, resilience, and resistance to foreign invasions, he is celebrated as one of the last great independent Hindu kings of northern India. His empire stretched over vast areas of present-day Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Write a note on the social conditions during the Rajput Age.
Answer: The social conditions during the Rajput Age are as follows.
1 . During the period of Rajputs social classes in society were based on their professions.
2 . Women were held in high esteem in the society. Women were experts in literature, dance, music, painting and embroidery work.
3 . Rajputs believed that taking bath in holy places was sacred. Pushkar, the centre of worship of Brahma near Ajmer, was an important place of pilgrimage. Every year a huge camel fair was held here and it is famous even now.
Activities
1 Collect the photos of Rajput temples, palaces and forts and write a short note on each.
2 Mark the centres of Rajput architecture on the map.
3 List the names of writers and poets of the ancient Kashmir and their works.
4 Read the biography of Lachit Borphukan.
