FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2024
History of India: Shunga to Harshavardhana

Subject: History
Course No.: HISDSM-151T
Semester: 2nd Semester (FYUG)
Exam Year: 2024
Time: 3 Hours
Full Marks: 70

Section-A

(Answer any ten questions. Each question carries 2 marks.)

1. Who was the founder of Shunga dynasty? Name the last Maurya king killed by him. [2 Marks]

2. Mention the names of two inscriptions which give us information about the Satavahanas. [2 Marks]

3. Who was Menander? Name the book authored by him. [2 Marks]

4. Name two scholars who adorned the Court of Kanishka. [2 Marks]

5. Mention the two schools of arts patronized by Kanishka. [2 Marks]

6. Which dynasty did Kharavela belong to? Where was the capital of Kharavela located? [2 Marks]

7. Name the Chinese traveller who visited India during Gupta rule. Which Gupta ruler assumed the title of 'Vikramaditya'? [2 Marks]

8. Mention the name of two Sanskrit dramas composed by Kalidasa. [2 Marks]

9. Mention the names of two astronomers of the Gupta period. [2 Marks]

10. Who founded the Maukhari dynasty? Where was the capital of the Maukhari kingdom located? [2 Marks]

11. Mention the names of two prominent kings of the Maitrakas of Vallabhi. [2 Marks]

12. Name the two branches of Vakataka dynasty. [2 Marks]

13. Name the two States, the throne of which was adorned by Harshavardhana. [2 Marks]

14. Who was the Court poet of Harshavardhana? Name the book authored by him. [2 Marks]

15. Mention the names of two contemporary rulers of Harshavardhana. [2 Marks]

Section-B

(Answer any five questions. Each question carries 10 marks.)

16. Discuss the importance of the Shungas in the history of ancient India with special reference to the achievements of Pushyamitra Shunga. [10 Marks]

Pushyamitra Shunga, a general under the Mauryas, founded the Shunga dynasty in 185 BC. His reign is significant for several political and cultural reasons:

  • Revival of Brahmanism: His rise marked a resurgence of Brahmanical traditions after the Mauryan focus on Buddhism. He performed two Ashvamedha (horse sacrifices) to assert his imperial sovereignty.
  • Military Defense: He successfully defended India from Indo-Greek invasions, particularly those led by Demetrius and Menander.
  • Territorial Integrity: He maintained control over a large part of the Mauryan heartland, including Magadha, Ayodhya, and Vidisha.
  • Art and Architecture: Despite being labeled as a persecutor of Buddhism by some texts, his reign saw the expansion of the Sanchi Stupa and the Bharhut railings.

17. Review the career and achievements of Gautamiputra Satakarni. [10 Marks]

Gautamiputra Satakarni was the 23rd ruler and the most significant king of the Satavahana dynasty.

  • Victory over Shakas: His greatest achievement was the destruction of the Kshaharata dynasty. He defeated Nahapana and restruck Shaka coins with his own emblem.
  • Titles: In the Nasik inscription, he is described as the 'Ekabramhana' (unique Brahmin) and the 'Destroyer of the pride of Kshatriyas'.
  • Territorial Extent: His empire spanned across Central and South India, earning him the title 'Trisamudrapittoyavahana' (one whose horses drank water from three seas).
  • Social Reforms: He claimed to have stopped the contamination of the four castes (Varna-sankara).

18. Analyze the career and achievements of Kanishka. [10 Marks]

Kanishka was the greatest ruler of the Kushan Empire. His reign (starting c. 78 AD) is a turning point in Asian history.

  • Military Conquests: He expanded the Kushan empire from Central Asia to Pataliputra in India.
  • Patronage of Buddhism: He convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir, where Mahayana Buddhism was codified.
  • Art and Architecture: He patronized the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art. He built a massive stupa and monastery at Purushapura (Peshawar).
  • Silk Road: His control over Central Asian trade routes (Silk Road) brought immense prosperity to India.

20. Form an estimate of Samudragupta as a conqueror. [10 Marks]

Samudragupta, described as the 'Napoleon of India' by V.A. Smith, was the greatest military genius of the Gupta dynasty. Our primary source is the Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prasasti) composed by Harisena.

  • Aryavarta Conquest: He completely uprooted nine kings of North India (Aryavarta) and annexed their territories.
  • Dakshinapatha Campaign: He defeated twelve kings in South India but followed a policy of Grahana-Moksha-Anugraha (capturing, releasing, and showing favor), returning their kingdoms as vassal states.
  • Atavika and Border States: Forest tribes and border kingdoms (like Samatata, Nepal, and Kamarupa) were made to pay tribute and accept his supremacy.
  • Imperial Sovereignty: To celebrate his universal conquest (Digvijaya), he performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice and issued special gold coins.

21. Explain the factors leading to the decline of the Guptas. [10 Marks]

The Gupta Empire, after the peak of Skandagupta's reign, faced several internal and external pressures:

  • Huna Invasions: Repeated attacks by the Hunas (Hephthalites) drained the state treasury and weakened military defenses.
  • Rise of Feudatories: Powerful provincial governors (like the Maitrakas and Maukharis) began asserting independence.
  • Economic Decline: Foreign trade with the Roman Empire declined, and the quality of gold coins deteriorated in the later Gupta period.
  • Weak Successors: The later Gupta rulers lacked the administrative and military prowess of Samudragupta or Chandragupta II.

24. Analyze the administrative system of Harshavardhana. [10 Marks]

Harsha's administration was a transition between Gupta centralization and early medieval feudalism.

  • Monarchy: The King was the supreme head, working tirelessly. Harsha divided his day into three parts: one for state business and two for religious/charitable works.
  • Hierarchy: The empire was divided into Bhuktis (provinces), Vishayas (districts), and Pathakas (tehsils), with the village as the smallest unit.
  • Feudal Tendencies: Officers were often paid through land grants (Agrahara) rather than cash salaries.
  • Revenue: Tax was generally 1/6th of the produce. Hiuen Tsang noted that taxes were light and the public was not burdened.
  • Law and Order: Punishment was severe (mutilation and death), leading to low crime rates.

Exam Focus Enhancements

  • Exam Tips: For 10-mark questions on rulers (like Kanishka or Samudragupta), always divide your answer into subheadings: Early Life, Military Conquests, Cultural Contributions, and Conclusion.
  • Common Mistakes: Don't confuse the Shungas with the Satavahanas. Shungas ruled primarily in the North, while Satavahanas were dominant in the Deccan.
  • Frequently Asked: The 'Tripartite Struggle' involving the Maukharis and Pushyabhutis (Harsha) is a key theme for this paper.
  • Presentation Strategy: Use a simple table for the contemporary rulers of the Harsha period (Harsha in Kannauj, Shashanka in Bengal, Pulakeshin II in Badami).