Download HISTORY- Earliest Times To 800Ad

ATTEMPT ANY 5 QUESTION
SECTION-A
Q1. What are the main features of the process of Urbanization in 6th century B.C.
Ans. The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC.
Map of the world in 500 BC
Pāṇini, in India, composed a grammar for Sanskrit, in this century or slightly later.[1] This is the
oldest still known grammar of any language.
In the Near East, the first half of this century was dominated by the NeoBabylonian or Chaldean empire, which had risen to power late in the previous century after
successfully rebelling against Assyrian rule. The Kingdom of Judah came to an end in 587
BC when Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem, and removed most of
its population to their own lands. Babylonian rule was toppled however in the 540s, by Cyrus, who
founded the Persian Empire in its place. The Persian Empire continued to expand and grew into
the greatest empire the world had known at the time.
In Iron Age Europe, the Celtic expansion was in progress. China was in the Spring and Autumn
Period.
Monument 1, an Olmec colossal head at La Venta

Mediterranean: Beginning of Greek philosophy, flourishes during the 5th century BC

The late Hallstatt culture period in Eastern and Central Europe, the late Bronze
Age in Northern Europe

East Asia: The Spring and Autumn Period. Chinese philosophy become
the orthodoxy of China. Confucianism, Legalism and Moism flourish. Laozi founds Taoism

Middle East: During the Persian empire, Zoroaster, aka Zarathustra, founded Zoroastrianism,
a dualistic philosophy. This was also the time of the Babylonian captivity of the ancient Jews

Ancient India: The Buddha and Mahavira found Buddhism and Jainism

The decline of the Olmec civilization in America
Q2. Explain the nature of the trading and exchange activities of the “Hardpans”.
Ans. Soil structure strongly affects its tendency to form a hard pan. One such common soil
condition related to hardpan is soil pH. Acid soils are most often affected due to the propensity of
certain mineral salts, most notably iron and calcium, to form hard complexes with soil particles
under acid conditions.
Another major determinant is the soil particle size. Clay particles are some of the smallest
particles commonly found in soils. Due to their structure the spaces between individual clay
particles is quite small and already restricts the passage of water, negatively affecting
infiltration[2] and hence drainage. Soils with a high clay content are also easily compacted and
affected by man-made discharges. Clay particles have a strong negative electrostatic charge and
will readily bond to positively charged ions dissolved in the soil-water matrix. Common salts such
as sodium ions contained in wastewater can fulfil this role and lead to a localized hardpan in
some soil types. This is a common cause of septic system failure due to the prevention of proper
drainage in field.
[edit]Problems
and workarounds
Hardpan can be a problem in farming and gardening by impeding drainage of water and
restricting the growth of plant roots. In these situations, the hardpan can be broken up by either
mechanical means such as digging or plowing,[3] or through the use of soil amendments.
The broadfork is a manual tool specifically designed for this task; a digging fork or a spade might
also be used. The chisel plow does a similar job with the help of a tractor.
The use of soil amendments can also be employed to alter the soil structure and promote the
dissolution of the hard pan. It has been observed that increasing the amount of soil organic
matter through the working-in of manure, compost or peat can both improve local drainage and
promote the proliferation of earth worms that can, over time, break relatively thin hardpan layers.
More difficult hardpans may be further improved through the action of both adjusting
the soil pH with lime if the soil is acidic, and with the addition of gypsum. This
combination can help loosen clay particles bound into a hardpan by the actions of hard
salts such as iron, calcium carbonate and sodium, by promoting their mobility through a
higher pH while proving a suitable source of exchanging minerals (the gypsum). This
works because gypsum salts, although not "soft", are still water permeable and have a
larger, more open structure, the results of which do not promote as hard a matrix as was
replaced. However, unlike when employing mechanical means, breaking a hardpan
through the use of amendments may require action over the course of years, and even
then one is by no means assured success. The results are primarily determined by how
extensive and / or intractable the hardpan is.
Q3. Briefly describe the administrative apparatus of the Maury am empire.
Ans. The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient
India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC. Originating from the kingdom
of Magadha in the Indo-Gangetic plains (modern Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bengal) in the
eastern side of the Indian subcontinent, the empire had its capital city
at Pataliputra (modern Patna).[1][2] The Empire was founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya,
who had overthrown the Nanda Dynasty and rapidly expanded his power westwards across
central and western India taking advantage of the disruptions of local powers in the wake of the
withdrawal westward by Alexander the Great's Greek and Persian armies. By 320 BC the empire
had fully occupied Northwestern India, defeating and conquering the satraps left by Alexander.[3]
With an area of 5,000,000 km2, it was one of the world's largest empires in its time, and the
largest ever in the Indian subcontinent. At its greatest extent, the empire stretched to the north
along the natural boundaries of the Himalayas, and to the east stretching into what is now Assam.
To the west, it conquered beyond modern Pakistan, annexing Balochistan, south eastern parts
of Iranand much of what is now Afghanistan, including the
modern Herat[3] and Kandahar provinces. The Empire was expanded into India's central and
southern regions by the emperors Chandragupta and Bindusara, but it excluded a small portion of
unexplored tribal and forested regions near Kalinga (modern Orissa), till it was conquered
by Ashoka. Its decline began 60 years after Ashoka's rule ended, and it dissolved in 185 BC with
the foundation of the Sunga Dynasty in Magadha.
Under Chandragupta, the Mauryan Empire conquered the trans-Indus region, which was under
Macedonian rule. Chandragupta then defeated the invasion led by Seleucus I, a Greek general
from Alexander's army. Under Chandragupta and his successors, internal and external trade,
agriculture and economic activities, all thrived and expanded across India thanks to the creation
of a single and efficient system of finance, administration, and security.
After the Kalinga War, the Empire experienced half a century of peace and security under
Ashoka. Mauryan India also enjoyed an era of social harmony, religious transformation, and
expansion of the sciences and of knowledge. Chandragupta Maurya's embrace
of Jainism increased social and religious renewal and reform across his society, while Ashoka's
embrace of Buddhism has been said to have been the foundation of the reign of social and
political peace and non-violence across all of India. Ashoka sponsored the spreading of Buddhist
ideals into Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, West Asia and Mediterranean Europe.[3]
The population of the empire has been estimated to be about 50-60 million making the Mauryan
Empire one of the most populous empires of the time.[4][5]
Archaeologically, the period of Mauryan rule in South Asia falls into the era of Northern
Black Polished Ware (NBPW).
The Arthashastra and the Edicts of Ashoka are the primary
sources of written records of Mauryan times. The Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath, has been
made the national emblem of India.
Q4. Describe the characteristics of trade and towns under the Mauryas.
SECTION-B
Answer any Four of the following Questions. Each question carriers 8 Marks.
Q5. Describe the main features of northern Black polished ware culture.
Ans. The Northern Black Polished Ware culture (abbreviated NBPW or NBP) of the Indian
Subcontinent (circa 700–200 BC) is an Iron Age culture, succeeding the Painted Grey Ware
culture. It developed beginning around 700 BC, or in the late Vedic period, and peaked
from circa 500–300 BC, coinciding with the rise of the Mauryan Empire.
Scholars have noted similarities between NBP and the much earlier Harappan cultures, among
them the ivory dice and combs and a similar system of weights. Other similarities include the
utilization of mud, baked bricks and stone in architecture, the construction of large units of public
architecture, the systematic development of hydraulic features and a similar craft industry.[1]There
are also, however, important differences between these two cultures; for
example, rice, millet and sorghum became more important in the NBP culture.[1] The NBP culture
may reflect the first state-level organization in the Indian Subcontinent.[1]
Some sites where Northern Black Polished Ware have been found are Mahasthan,
Chandraketugarh, Bangarh, and Mangalkot (all in West Bengal, India).
Q6. Discuss the salient features of the Paralytic culture.
Q7. Discuss the forms of city life in India 6th Century B.C.
Q8. Analyze the main features of later Vedic polity and economy.
Q9. Write a note on the literary development during Gupta period.
Q10. Write a note on the early state formation (Tamil ham) in South India.
Q11. Write a note on Slavism and vaishnavism.
Ans. Vaishnavism (Sanskrit: वैष्णव धर्म, IPA: [ʋəiˈʂɳəʋə ˈd̪ʱərmə]) is a tradition of Hinduism,
distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such
as Rama andKrishna, as the original and supreme God.[1]
This worship in different perspectives or historical traditions addresses God under the names
of Narayana, Krishna, Vāsudeva or more often "Vishnu", and their associated avatars.[2][3] Its
beliefs and practices, especially the concepts of Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga, are based largely on
the Upanishads, and associated with the Vedas and Puranic texts such as the Bhagavad Gita,
and the Padma, Vishnuand Bhagavata Puranas.[4][5][6][7]
The followers of Vaishnavism are referred to as Vaishnava(s) or Vaishnavites. The majority
of Hindus are Vaishnavas,[8] with the vast majority living in India. Awareness, recognition, and
growth of the belief has significantly increased outside of India in recent years. The Gaudiya
Vaishnava branch[9] of the tradition has significantly increased the awareness of Vaishnavism
internationally, since the mid-1900s, largely through the activities and geographical expansion of
the Hare Krishna movement and more recently, through several other Vaishnava organizations
such as Pure Bhakti Yoga Society of Bhaktivedanta Swami Narayana Maharaj, conducting
preaching activities in the West.[10]
Vaishnavism is, along with Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism, one of the four
primary denominations of devotional Hinduism.
Q12. Discuss the architecture of the stapes in India.
SECTION-C
Q13. Write short notes on any of the following. Each part carriers 4 marks.

Hardpan religion.
Stupas The stupa is the oldest Buddhist religious monument and was originally only a simple
mound of mud or clay to cover relics of the Buddha (cetiya). After the parinirvana of the Buddha,
his remains were cremated and the ashes divided and buried under eight stupas with two further
stupas encasing the urn and the embers. Little is known about these early stupas, particularly
since it has not been possible to identify the original ten monuments. However, some later
stupas, such as at Sarnath and Sanchi, seem to be embellishments of earlier mounds.
In the third century BC, after his conversion to Buddhism, the emperor Asoka had the original
stupas opened and the remains distributed among the several thousand stupas he had built.
Nevertheless, the stupas at the eight places associated with the life of the Buddha continued to
be of particular importance. Accordingly, the importance of a stupa changed from being a
funerary monument to being an object of veneration. As a consequence their appearance
changed also. Stupas were built inSri Lanka soon after King Devanampiyatissa converted to
Buddhism, the first stupa to be built was the Thuparamaya. Later on Sri Lanka went on to build
many stupas over the years, some like the Jetavanarama in Anuradhapura being one of the
tallest ancient structures in the world.[2] Sri Lanka also boasts construction of stupas, which have
used most advanced engineering techniques and knowledge, for example the use of 'lightning
conductors' and 'special shelters (vatadage)', which is the reason they have been standing
undamaged for thousands of years.[citation needed]
Ghalegay hosts one of the biggest stupas at Mohallah Singardar in district Swat, Pakistan.[citation
needed]
They evolved into large hemispherical mounds with features such as the torana (gateway),
the vedica (fence-like enclosure evolved from the vedic villages), the harmika(a square platform
with railings on top of the stupa), chattrayashti (the parasol or canopy) and
a circumambulatory around the stupa. From the third century BC onwards, stupas were
incorporated into the hall of the chaitya-griha.
One such stupa was discovered at Sopara, an ancient port near Mumbai, and is believed to be
one of the most ancient stupas in the world. The oldest known stupa is theDhamek
Stupa at Sarnath, India, while the tallest is the Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand,
at a height of 127 metres. The most elaborate stupa is the 8th century Borobudur monument
inJava, Indonesia. The upper rounded terrace with rows of bell shaped stupas contained buddha
images symbolizing Arupadhatu, the sphere of formlessness. The main stupa itself is empty,
symbolizing complete perfection of enlightenment. The main stupa is only the crown part of the
monument, while the base is pyramidal structure elaborate with galleries adorned with bas relief
of scenes derived from Buddhist text depicted the life of Siddharta Gautama. Borobudur unique
and significant architecture has been acknowledge by UNESCO as the largest buddhist
monument in the world. According to Brahmi, kharoshti , Pali and Sanskrit edicts Ashoka the
great founded 84,000 stupas all over the south Asia.
The stupa evolved into the pagoda as Buddhism spread to other Asian countries. The pagoda
has varied forms that also include bellshaped and pyramidal ones. Today, in the Western context,
there is no clear distinction between the stupa and the pagoda. But in general stupa is used for a
Buddhist structure of India or south-east Asia, while pagoda refers to a building in east Asia which
can be entered and which may be secular in purpose.

Main teaching of Jainism
Ans. Jainism ( /ˈdʒeɪnɪzəm/; Sanskrit: जैनधर्म - Jainadharma, Tamil: சமணம் - Samaṇam), is
an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy
and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine
consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved
the state of supreme being is called ajina ("conqueror" or "victor"). The ultimate status of these
perfect souls is called siddha. Jainism is also referred to as shramana dharma (self-reliant) or the
"path of the niganthas" (those without attachments or aversions) by ancient texts.
Jain doctrine teaches that Jainism has always existed and will always exist, [1][2][3] although
historians date the foundation of the organized or present form of Jainism to sometime between
the 9th and the 6th century BC.[4][5] Like most ancient Indian religions, Jainism has its roots from
the Indus Valley Civilization, reflecting native spirituality prior to the Indo-Aryan migration into
India.[6][7][8] Other scholars suggested the shramana traditions were separate and
contemporaneous with Indo-Aryan religious practices of the historical Vedic religion.[9]
Contemporary Jainism is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 4.2 million
followers in India,[10] and successful growing immigrant communities in North America, Western
Europe, the Far East,Australia and elsewhere.[11] Jains have significantly influenced and
contributed to ethical, political and economic spheres in India. Jains have an ancient tradition of
scholarship and have the highest degree of literacy for a religious community in India. [12][13] Jain
libraries are the oldest in the country.[14]

Contents of Asoka’s Dharma
Ans. Ashoka (Devanāgarī: अशोक, IAST: Aśoka, IPA: [aˈɕoːkə], ca. 304–232 BC), also known
as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of
the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC.[1] One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka
reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests. His empire stretched
from present-dayPakistan and Afghanistan in the west, to the present-day Bangladesh and the
Indian state of Assam in the east, and as far south as northern Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. He
conquered the kingdom named Kalinga, which none of his ancestors had conquered starting
from Chandragupta Maurya. His reign was headquartered in Magadha (present-day Bihar). He
embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the Kalinga War, which he himself had
waged out of a desire for conquest. He was later dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism
across Asia and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama
Buddha. Ashoka was a devotee
of ahimsa (nonviolence), love, truth, tolerance and vegetarianism. Ashoka is remembered in
history as a philanthropicadministrator. In the history of India, Ashoka is referred to
as Samraat Chakravartin Ashoka – the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka".
His name "aśoka" means "painless, without sorrow" in Sanskrit (the a privativum and śoka "pain,
distress"). In his edicts, he is referred to as Devānāmpriya (Pali Devānaṃpiya or "The Beloved Of
The Gods"), and Priyadarśin (Pali Piyadasī or "He who regards everyone with affection").
Along with the Edicts of Ashoka, his legend is related in the later 2ndcentury Aśokāvadāna ("Narrative of Asoka") and Divyāvadāna ("Divine narrative"), and in the Sri
Lankan text Mahavamsa ("Great Chronicle").
Ashoka played a critical role in helping make Buddhism a world religion. [2] As the peace-loving
ruler of one of the world's largest, richest and most powerful multi-ethnic states, he is considered
an exemplary ruler, who tried to put into practice a secular state ethic of non-violence. The
emblem of the modern Republic of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka.