2 Marks Answer Question
Question 1. What Important Changes Took Place In Economic And Political Life During 600 BC To 600 AD?
Answer
(I) Agriculture Expanded In The Forest Area.
(Ii) A Distinct Social Group Of Craft Experts Emerged.
(Iii) Social Inequalities Increased Due To Unequal Distribution Of Wealth.
Question 2. Why Do Historians Use Literary Traditions?
Answer- (I) Some Texts Used To Set The Norms Of Social Behavior.
(Ii) Some Texts Depicted The Society.
(Iii) Some Texts Presented Their Commentary On The Various Customs Existing In The Society.
Question 3. Why Is A Careful Study Of The Available Texts Necessary To Write The History Of The Early Societies Of India?
Answer – Each Book Was Written From The Point Of View Of A Particular Community. Therefore, Due To Jealousy Or Any Other Reason, Some Communities Have Been Neglected Or Have Described Their Community In Exaggeration. Therefore, Careful Use Of These Scriptures Is Very Important.
Question 4. When And Under Whose Leadership Was The Work Of Critical Edition Of Mahabharata Started? When Was It Completed?
Answer- (I) The Work Of Critical Edition Of Mahabharata Started In 1919 AD Under The Leadership Of V.S. Sukthankar.
(Ii) This Work Was Completed In 1966 AD.
Question 5. What Two Important Things Came To The Fore While Preparing The Critical Version Of Mahabharata?
Answer- (I) Similarities Were Found In The Parts Of Many Sanskrit Texts.
(Ii) Several Regional Variations Were Seen In The Transmission Of The Mahabharata Over The Course Of A Few Centuries.
3 Marks Answer Question
Question 1. “The Mahabharata Is A Story Of Changing Relationships.” Discuss. How Did It Strengthen The Ideal Of Patriline?
Or
Describe How The Kinship Relations Changed With Reference To Mahabharata. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.)
Answer:In Reality, The Mahabharata Is A Story Of Changing Human Relations. It Depicts A Struggle And Clash For Land And Authority Between Two Parties Of Cousins Namely The Kauravas And The Pandavas. Both Sides Were Related To The Kuru Clan Which Ruled Over The Kuru Region. Their Conflict Resulted In A Full-Fledged War. The Pandavas Won This War. Thereafter, An Announcement Was Made About Patriline Inheritance.
Though the tradition of patrimony was vague even before the composition of this epic, yet, the content of the Mahabharata strengthened the ideal of patriline. According to the principle of patriline, the sons, after the death of their father, could claim their right to resources. In the case of the kings, this claim included even the throne.
Question 2. When And How People Were Classified Into Gotras By Brahmanas? Were These Rules Applicable To The Satavahana Clan?
Or
Mention Any Two Features Of Gotra As Per The Brahmanical Practice. What Evidences Do We Get From The Satavahana Inscriptions Regarding The Inheritance Of Gotra? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.D.)
Answer: From C. 1000 BCE Onwards, People Were Classified Into Gotras By Brahmanas. Each Gotra Was Named After A Vedic Seer As All The Members Of That Gotra Were Assumed As The Descendants Of That Seer. There Were Two Important Rules Of Gotras:
The woman had to adopt the gotra of her husband after her marriage.
Members of the same gotra could not marry each other.
Rules of Gotra and Satavahana kings: Some of the Satavahana rulers had more than one wife (polygamy). A study of the names of wives of Satavahana rulers reveals that few of them had names derived from gotras such as Gotama and Vashishtha which were their father’s gotras. They probably had retained these names instead of adopting the names of their husband’s gotras. Some women also belonged to the same gotra as their husbands. This fact was against the rules of exogamy. This fact actually exemplified an alternative practice that of endogamy or marriage within the kin group.
Question 3.What Was The Relationship Between The Varna System And Occupation According To Brahmanical Texts? Which Strategies Were Used By Brahmanas For L Enforcing These Norms? (From Sample Paper)
Or
What According To The Dharmashastras, Were The Ideal Occupations For The Four Varnas? Give One Way In Which The Brahmanas Tried To Enforce These Norms. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D)
Answer:The Relation Between The Varna System And Occupations According To Brahminical Texts.
1. Brahamanas: Study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices and get sacrifices performed as well as give and receive gifts.
2. Kshatriyas: Engage in warfare, protect people and administer justice, study the Vedas, get sacrifices performed, and give gifts.
3. Vaishyas: Study Vedas, perform yajnas, give gifts, agriculture, pastoralism, and trade.
4. Fourth Varna: Serving the higher three Varnas. Brahmanas used the following strategies to enforce these norms:
Asserting that the Varna order was of divine origin.
Advised kings to ensure that these norms were followed by their subjects.
Attempted to persuade people that their status was determined by birth.
Question 4. What Is Meant By Metronymics? Is This Concept Correct In The Case Of Satavahanas?
Or
What Evidences Do We Get From The Brahmanical Practice And Satvahana Lineage Regarding The Inheritance Of Gotra? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.)
Answer:The Meaning Of Metronymics Is That Most Importance Is Given To The Mother In Any Clan Or Dynasty. The Name Of That Clan Is Derived From The Name Of The Mother. This Social Custom Is Clearly Seen In The Society Of Satavahanas. Even Kings Used To Associate The Names Of Their Mothers With Their Names.
Gotami-puta Satakani and Vasithi-puta are evidence of this practice. Although more importance was given to females in the society still Satavahana dynasty was patrilineal as the successor to the throne was generally a male member.
Question 5.Who Was Gotami-Puta Satakani? Describe His Main Achievements.
Answer:The important leader of this dynasty was Nahapan. Whichever silver coins of Nahapan have been found, they indicate that they might have been minted again. This work could have been done after the defeat of Nahapan at the hands of Satakani. It has been believed that the empire of Satakani was spread from Malwa in the North and till Karnataka in the South. Probably Andhra Pradesh was also a part of his empire.
Question 6.What Was The Relation Between Varna And Property?
Answer:In other words, the only occupation prescribed for the Fourth Varna was servitude. In fact, the Brahmanas and the Kshatriyas performed a variety of occupations. So they were the wealthiest men. The kings and priests were also very rich people. However on some occasions, the BrahmAnswer: are depicted to be poor.
Question 7.Explain The Findings Of The Archaeologist B.B. Lai On Excavations At The Village Named Hastinapur (Distt. .Meerut, U.P.). (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
For the third phase, he also wrote that the houses of this period were built of mud bricks and burnt bricks. Soakage jars and brick drains were used for draining out refuse water, while terracotta ring wells may have been used both as wells and drainage pits.
Question 8.What Did The Buddhists Say About The Inequalities Prevalent In Society? What Does It Indicate?
Answer:However, this ideal state did not remain for long. There was a gradual deterioration in the peaceful stage. Most human beings became greedy, vindictive, and deceitful. So the people thought of electing a man who could set things in order. He would punish those who deserved to be punished. He would expel those who were fit to be expelled. In lieu of this job, he would be given a proportion of the produce. As he would be chosen by all people, he would be called as Mahasammata, i.e., the great elect.
From this, we come to know that the office of the king depended on the will of the people. In other words, the institution of kingship was based on human choice. People paid taxes for the services rendered to them by the king. This myth also indicates that human deeds play a great role in strengthening social and economic relations. For example, if human beings could create the system, they could also change it in the future.
Question 9.While Giving An Example Of Gotami-Puta Satakani, Clarify That Assimilation In The Caste System Was A Complex Social Process.
Answer:The Most Famous Ruler Of The Satavahana Dynasty, Gotami-Puta Satakani Claimed Himself As The Only Brahmana And Acted As A Destroyer Of The Prestige Of Kshatriyas. He Also Claimed That He Restricted The Marital Relations Between The Four Varnas But He Himself Established Marital Relations With The Family Of Rudradaman.
On the basis of this example, we can say that assimilation in the caste system was a complex social process. Satavahana kings claimed themselves as Brahamanas but according to Brahmanical shastras, Kshatriya should be the king. They claimed to maintain the integrity of the four-fold Varna system but established marital relations with those who were not the part of Varna system. Except for this, they followed the endogamous form of marriage which was not sanctioned by the Brahmanical texts.
Question 10.Explain The Factors That Should Be Kept In Mind By The Historians Were: While Handling Textual Traditions.
Or
Explain Any Five Elements Considered By The Historians Were: While Analyzing The Texts. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:While Analyzing A Book Or A Literary Source, The Historians Were: Should Keep Different Aspects In Their Mind Such As Follows:
1. They should examine in which language the book has been written. They should see if the book has been written in Pali, Prakrit, or Tamil which were usually spoken by the people. They should also see if the book has been written in Sanskrit which was used by a particular section of the society.
2. The historians were: also paid attention to the kind of text. They tried to analyze if the text contained mantras or the stories which could be read or heard by the people.
3. The historians were: also wanted to know the authors whose views and perceptions gave a concrete shape to the text.
4. The historians were: also examine the audience because every author keeps in mind the audience.
5. They also analyze the possible period of the creation of the book.
Thus, every historian completely analyses the issues involved in the text. By examining the subject- matter, he can recreate history. This task becomes all the more intricate and complicated in texts like Mahabharata.
Question 11.Write A Brief Note On The Language And Subject-Matter Or Content Of IVlahabharata.
Or
How Did The Historians Be: Classify The Content And The Language Of IVlahabharata? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Or
Describe Briefly How Do The Historians Usually Classify The Contents Of Mahabharata. Why Is The Text Described As An Itihas? (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Or
Explain The Language And Content Of Mahabharata. (C.B.S.E. 2017 (O.D.)
Answer: Language :The Epic Called Mahabharata Is Available In Many Languages But Was Actually Written In Sanskrit. Sanskrit Used In This Epic Is Far Simpler Than The Sanskrit Used In Vedas Or Prashastis. That Is Why We Can Say That It Was Probably Widely Understood.
Content: The content of this epic is generally classified under two heads—narrative and didactic. The narrative section contains stories and the didactic section contains prescriptions about social norms. But this division is not clear in itself because the didactic section includes stories and the narrative contains a social message. However, generally, historians were: agree with the fact that this epic was meant to a dramatic, moving story. Didactic portions could have been added later.
This epic is described as an ‘itihasa’ within earlySanskritic tradition. The literal meaning of this term is ‘thus it was.’ HistoriAnswer: have different views about the war of Mahabharata. Some historians were: believe that memory of an actual conflict among kinfolk was preserved in the narrative. While some historians were: believe that there is no other corroborative evidence of the battle.
Question 12.“The Mahabharata Is A Dynamic Book.” Explain.
Or
Describe The Mahabharata As A Dynamic Text. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.)
Answer:The Mahabharata Is A Great Dynamic Epic. It Contains Vivid Descriptions Of Battles, Forests, Palaces, And Settlements. Its Growth Was Not Hindered By Its Language, That Is, Sanskrit Over The Centuries, It Has Been Written In Many Languages Of The World. It Depicts An On-Going Dialogue Between The People And Communities On The One Hand And The Authors On The Other Hand.
As it incorporated many stories that originated in different regions, the Mahabharata became an epical text. At the same time, the main story of the epic was often retold in different ways. Many episodes of this text had been depicted in sculptures and paintings. They also provide a wide range of themes and performing arts like plays, dances, and narratives.
Question 13.Explain The Factors That Should Be Kept In Mind By The Historians Were: While Handling Textual Traditions. (Sample Paper)
Answer:
1. They should examine the language of the book. They should see if the text is in Pali, Prakrit, or Tamil language – the language of the common people or if it is in Sanskrit, the language of the priests of the distinct or the elite people.
2. The Form Of The Book Whether It Is In The Form Of The Mantras Changed By The Ritual Specialists Or Is
It In Narrative Form, That Is Stories Read, Heard, And Retold By The People.
3. To get information about the author of the book as his attitude and views, perspective and ideas affect the writing of the book.
4. For whom has the book been written as the author must have kept in his mind the taste and interest of the readers or audience.
5. To get information about the period of the creation or compilation of the book and to analyze its background.
Question 14.Describe The Position Of The Untouchables In Ancient Society. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
1. They were compelled to live outside the village.
2. They used discarded utensils. They wore clothes worn out by the dead at the time of their burial or cremation. They wore ornaments made of iron.
3. They were not allowed to move or walk in the village at night.
4. They had to perform the last rites of those dead persons who had no relatives. They also acted as the hang-man.
Question 15.“The Dharmasutras And Dharmashastras Also Contained Rules About The Ideal Occupations Of The Four Categories Of Varnas.” Critically Examine The Statement. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
1. The Brahmanas studied and taught the Vedas. They performed sacrifices and got sacrifices performed. They also gave and received gifts.
2. The Kshatriyas were engaged in warfare. They protected people and administered justice. They also studied the Vedas and gave gifts. They got sacrifices performed.
3. The Vaishyas were engaged in agriculture, pastoralism, and trade. They also studied the Vedas. They made gifts and got sacrifices performed.
4. The fourth varna was given only one occupation. Their prime duty was to serve the three higher varnas.
Question 16. How Are All Families Not Identical? Explain The Kind Of Variations That Occurred In Ancient Times. C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:All Families, In Ancient Times, Were Not Identical. They Vary In Terms Of The Number Of Members,
Their Relations With Each Other, And The Type Of Activities They Share. Generally, People Belonging To The Same Family Share Food And Other Resources, And They Live, Work And Perform Rituals Together. Families Are Generally Parts Of A Larger Network Of People Defined As Relatives Or Kinfolk. While Familial Ties Are Often Regarded As Natural And Based On Blood, They Are Defined In Many Different Ways.
Question 17.Describe Briefly The Ideas Found In Upnishadas About The Relationship Between Human Beings And The Cosmic Order.
Answer:
Other people, outside the Vedic tradition, asked whether or not there even was a single ultimate reality. People also started to speculate on the importance of the sacrificial tradition.
