10. Ancient India and World
Complete solutions to the Exercise. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six History and Civics.
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About the chapter
This chapter shows that ancient India had close relations with many countries. Trade, religion, art and language travelled between India and the world. The chapter describes Persian and Greek influence, Gandhara art and the Silk Route. It also shows how Indian culture spread to other parts of Asia.
Key points
- The Ashokan pillars show the influence of Persian art.
- Gandhara art developed in the Kushana period under Greek influence.
- The Silk Route was a land route through India, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
- Mahendra and Sanghamitra took Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
- Angkorwat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Indonesia show Indian influence.
- The Panchatantra was translated into more than fifty languages.
Words to remember
- Silk Route – an ancient land trade route linking India, China, Central Asia and Rome
- Chinanshuka – silk cloth from China
- Gandhara art – a realistic style of sculpture with Greek influence
- Capital (of a pillar) – the decorated top part of a pillar
- Cultural exchange – sharing of ideas, art and customs between countries
Exercise
(1) Which images of Gandhara style have been found in large numbers?
- a) Shiva
- b) Vishnu
- ✓ c) Gautama Buddha
(2) At which university in India did the Chinese monk Yuan Chwang pursue his studies for several years?
- a) Takshashila
- b) Vikramshila
- ✓ c) Nalanda
(3) In which country are dance-dramas based on stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata popular?
- ✓ a) Indonesia
- b) Thailand
- c) Cambodia
(4) Through which of the following countries did the ‘Silk Route’ pass?
- a) India – Sri Lanka – Cambodia
- ✓ b) India – Afghanistan – Central Asia
- c) India – Indonesia – China
(1) How is the influence of Persian art and architecture seen in the sculpture and architecture of the Mauryan Empire?
- The capitals of the Ashokan pillars show Persian style.
- They have figures of animals like the lion, horse and bull.
- They look similar to the pillars of Persepolis in Iran.
- Kharoshthi and Aramaic scripts in some Ashokan inscriptions show Persian influence.
- Mauryan administration was also influenced by the Persian system of provinces.
(2) Give examples showing the spread of Indian culture in other countries.
- Sri Lanka: Mahendra and Sanghamitra spread Buddhism there. The Sigiriya murals look like the Ajanta paintings.
- China: Indian monks translated Buddhist texts into Chinese. Buddhism then spread to Japan and Korea.
- Cambodia: The kingdom of Funan used Sanskrit. The Angkorwat temple shows Indian influence.
- Indonesia: The Borobudur Stupa is there. Ramayana and Mahabharata dance-dramas are popular.
- Myanmar and Thailand: Buddhism reached these countries. Temples of Shiva and Vishnu were also built.
(3) India had close relations with the countries in Southeast Asia. Explain.
- Indian traders went to Southeast Asia by sea. They took spices, cloth, gems and metals.
- Some traders settled there and set up kingdoms.
- Buddhist monks spread Buddhism there. Later, Hinduism also spread.
- Sanskrit was learnt in Cambodia and Indonesia.
- Temples like Angkorwat and Borobudur show Indian influence.
Thus, the relations were cultural and not only for trade.
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(1) The Silk Route
The Silk Route was a land route through India, Afghanistan and Central Asia. It connected India with China, Central Asia and Rome. It was named after Chinese silk, which was called Chinanshuka in India. Indian merchants bought this silk and sold it to western countries. In the Kushana period, the route was under Kushana control. Spices, cloth, metals and jewellery were traded on it. Buddhist monks like Fa Hien and Yuan Chwang came to India by this route.
(2) Influence of ancient Indian culture on cultures in other countries
Ancient India had close links with many countries like Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia. Buddhism spread from India to these countries. Sanskrit was studied in Cambodia and Indonesia. Indian influence is seen in Angkorwat, Borobudur and the Sigiriya murals. Ramayana and Mahabharata dance-dramas are still popular in Indonesia. The Panchatantra was translated into more than fifty languages.
(3) Gandhara Sculpture
Gandhara art developed in the Kushana period. It shows clear Greek influence. Human figures in this style are very realistic. The faces look like Greek faces. A large number of images of Gautama Buddha were made in this style. This art grew in the region of present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan and north-west India.
The fields of knowledge in which ancient India excelled. Yoga, Astronomy and Architecture are the ones already printed in the textbook.
Yoga, Astronomy and Architecture are already given. Fill the blank boxes with any of: Ayurveda, Mathematics, Grammar, Literature, Metallurgy, Music and Dance, or Sculpture and Painting.
The Activities (marking countries with Indian influence on a world map, and a note on the Bodhi Tree at Anuradhpura) and the Project (a chart of Indian exports to other countries, and a discussion on why Yuan Chwang took Indian texts to China) are to be done with your teacher’s guidance.