8. Kingdoms and Dynasties in Ancient India and Maharashtra
Complete solutions to the Exercise. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six History and Civics.
ShareAdvertisement
About the chapter
This chapter describes the kingdoms that ruled India after the Mauryas. It covers the Shunga, Kanva, Indo-Greek, Shaka, Satavahan, Kushana, Gupta and Vardhana dynasties. It also shows why the Gupta period is called the Golden Age of ancient India.
Key points
- Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga dynasty after the Mauryas.
- Gautamiputra Satakarni was the most powerful Satavahan king.
- The Shaka Samvat began in 78 CE.
- The Fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kanishka’s rule.
- Arts, literature and science flourished in the Gupta period.
- Pulakeshin-II stopped Harshavardhana’s expansion to the south.
Words to remember
- Dynasty – a line of rulers from the same family
- Samvat – a system of counting years
- Obverse – the front side of a coin
- Reverse – the back side of a coin
- Travelogue – an account written by a traveller
Exercise
(1) The Commander-in-Chief of the Mauryan army — Pushyamitra Shunga
(2) The founder of the Kanva dynasty — Vasudeva Kanva
(3) The treatise containing the dialogue between the Buddhist monk Nagasena and King Menander — Milindpanha
(4) An important Indian almanac — Shaka Samvat
(1) He was addressed as ‘Tri-samudra-toya-peet-vahana’ — Gautamiputra Satakarni
The title means ‘one whose horses drank the water of three seas’.
(2) The Fourth Buddhist Council was held during his rule — King Kanishka
(3) He is considered the founder of the Gupta dynasty — Shrigupta
(4) He used to give away all his personal belongings and wealth every five years — Emperor Harshavardhana
(5) He defeated Harshavardhana and stopped the southward expansion of the Vardhana Empire — Pulakeshin-II
Rulers of ancient India and the dynasties they belong to.
Pushyamitra – Shunga; Brihadratha – Maurya; Gautamiputra Satakarni – Satavahan; Vasudeva – Kanva.
Answer in the textbook order: 1, 3, 4, 2
Advertisement
(1) Coins of the Indo-Greek kings
The coins of the Indo-Greek kings are an important source of history. They have writing in two scripts. The front side (obverse) shows the face of the king with a helmet. The back side (reverse) shows the image of a god. From these coins we know the names and looks of the kings. The coins of the Greek kings of Bactria show clear Greek influence.
(2) The influence of various cultural trends on the Kushana rulers
The Kushanas came from Central Asia and ruled North India. Their coins show gods from three cultures: Heracles (Greek), Ardoksho (Iranian) and Shiva (Indian). This shows the influence of many cultures on them. King Kanishka supported Buddhism. The Gandhara style of art, with Greek influence, developed in their time. The Silk Route was under their control.
(1) Travelogues written by foreign travellers who visited India in the ancient period are important sources of history.
- Travellers wrote about what they saw with their own eyes.
- They described education, religion, customs and daily life.
- They help us know the period and the ruler of that time.
- Megasthenes wrote Indica about the Mauryan period.
- Fa Hien praised the peace and prosperity of the Gupta Empire.
Therefore, travelogues are important sources of history.
(2) The Gupta period is considered the ‘Golden Age’ of ancient India.
- The Gupta Empire was large and stable.
- It was most prosperous under Chandragupta-II.
- Art, literature, mathematics, astronomy and architecture flourished.
- Scholars like Kalidasa and Varahamihira lived in this period.
- The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli was made in this period. It has not rusted.
- Nalanda University was set up in the fifth century CE.
Therefore, the Gupta period is called the Golden Age.
The Projects — notes on a trip with your parents, marking Satavahan sites on a map, and noting the features of Indian currency notes — are to be done with your teacher’s guidance.