Chapter 8 - States after the Maurya Empire
1. Can you tell?
(1) The kings who started the minting of gold coins in India.
Ans: Kushana Kings.
(2) The city established by Kanishka in Kashmir.
Ans: Kanishkapur.
(3) The king who played the veena.
Ans: Samudragupta.
(4) Another name for Kamrup.
Ans: Kirhadiya.
2. Observe the map in the lesson. List the names of the modern cities which were part of the Gupta Empire.
Ans: Delhi, Kannauj, Valabhi, Sopara, Bharuch, Ujjayani, Sanchi, Prayag, Kashi, Vaishali, Pataliputra, Champa, Bodhgaya and Tamralipti.
3. Discuss and write.
(1) Emperor Kanishka.
Ans:
(i) Emperor Kanishka’s empire extended from Kabul in the west to Varanasi in the east.
(ii) Gold and copper coins minted by him have been found in North India.
(iii) The fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir during his reign.
(iv) He established the city of Kanishkapur in Kashmir.
(v) He wrote the texts ‘Buddhacharita’ and ‘Vajrasuchi’.
(vi) The famous vaidya Charaka was also in Kanishka’s court.
(2) The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli.
Ans:
(i) There is an iron pillar at Mehrauli near Delhi.
(ii) It has not rusted even in the course of the last fifteen hundred years.
(iii) It is an excellent specimen of the metallurgical skill of the ancient Indian people.
(iv) The inscription on the pillar bears the name of a king called ‘Chandra’.
(v) It is on this basis that the iron pillar is assumed to be of the period of Chandragupta II.
4. Make a list of the various books and authors mentioned in the lesson.
Ans: The books and authors mentioned in the chapter are as follows:
(i) ‘Milind Panha’ by Menander
(ii) Buddhacharita’ and ‘Vajrasuchi’ by the poet Ashvaghosh.
(iii) ‘Harshacharita’, a biography of Emperor Harshavardhan by the court poet Banabhatta.
(iv) Book- ‘Periplus of the Erythrean Sea’
(v) Rajatarangini’ by Kalhan.
5. Make a comparative chart of the Vardhan and Gupta dynasties based on the followng points.
| Points | Gupta Dynasty | Vardhan Dynasty |
|---|---|---|
Founder | Shrigupta | Prabhakar Vardhan |
Expansion of the kingdom/empire | The Gupta empire spread from Assam upto the Punjab and eastern coastal region up to Kanchi in Tamilnadu. Chandragupta Maurya extended the Gupta empire towards the northwest. He also won Malwa, Gujarat and Saurashtra. | The Vardhan Empire up to Nepal in the north, up to the river Narmada in the south, Assam in the east and Gujarat in the west. |
Achievements | A pillar inscription at Prayag describes Samudragupta’s conquests and victories. He minted coins. The Administration of the Gupta rule is conducted in a proper and efficient manner. There is an iron pillar at Mehrauli near Delhi which has not rusted even after the course of last fifteen hundred, years. | Emperor Harshvardhan established friendly relations with the Emperor of China. Trade flourished. Nalanda University was present during Vardhan Dynasty. wrote three Sanskrit plays ‘Ratnavali’, ‘Naganand’ and ‘Priyadarshika’. |
6. What would you do if you met foreign travellers like Yuan Chwang?
Ans: If I meet a foreign traveller like Yuan Chwang, I will ask him about the lives of the people at that time and how people lived in their native areas as well. I will ask questions related to food, clothing, lifestyle, people, occupations, salary, entertainment, and many other things. I will try to understand how things were much different in those days than they are today.
7. Solve the puzzle.
Down
1. (A word for) King in Indian languages – RAJA
2. A Chinese traveller to India – FA-HIEN
3. A famous Indo-Greek King had discussions with this Bauddha bhikkhu – NAGASENA
4. A poet at the court of Emperor Harshavardhan, who also wrote his biography – BANABHATTA
6. Chandragupta II conquered this State neighbouring Gujarat – MALWA
Across
5. A Pali word that means question – PANHA
6. The most famous Indo-Greek King – MENANDER
7. Kanishka was the first Emperor to make this from gold – COIN
8. An ancient Indian University where the Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang stayed for two years – NALANDA
