Static Quiz 27 August 2024 (History)

Hiuen Tsang gives a very valuable account of the Nalanda University. The term Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”. It was founded by Kumaragupta I during the Gupta period. It was patronised by his successors and later by Harsha. The professors of the University were called panditas. Some of its renowned professors were Dingnaga, Dharmapala, Sthiramati and Silabadhra. Dharmapala was a native of Kanchipuram and he became the head of the Nalanda University.

Though it was a Mahayana University, different religious subjects like the Vedas, Hinayana doctrine, Sankhya and Yoga philosophies were also taught.

The pre-Gupta period in India witnessed a series of foreign invasions. Indian society had given way to those foreigners who had become permanent residents here. But during the Gupta period, the caste system became rigid. The Brahmins occupied the top ladder of the society. They were given enormous gifts by the rulers as well as other wealthy people. The practice of untouchability had slowly begun during this period.

The position of women had also become miserable during the Gupta period. They were prohibited from studying the religious texts like the Puranas. The subjection of women to men was thoroughly
regularized. But it was insisted that they should be protected and generously treated by men. The practice of Swyamvara was given up and the Manusmriti suggested the early marriage for girls.

The progress of Brahmanism led to the neglect of Buddhism and Jainism. Fahien refers to the decline of Buddhism in the Gangetic valley. But a few Buddhist scholars like Vasubandhu were patronized by Gupta kings. In western and southern India Jainism flourished. The great Jain Council was held at Valabhi during this period and the Jain Canon of the Swetambras was written.

All the statements are correct.

Researchers at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) found genetic evidence that sheep had been domesticated in the Indus Valley civilisation region in the 6th or 7th millennium BC.
• This research goes against the general belief that sheep were domesticated then in West Asia alone, and that they had arrived in the Indian subcontinent through migration.
• Till now genetic diversity and phylogeography of Indian sheep breeds remained poorly understood – however, this study provided strong genetic evidence that the Indian subcontinent was one of the domestication centres of the lineage A sheep.
• There is also evidence of hares and birds being eaten, although little evidence of chicken being a part of the diet. The study also talks of a diversity of plant products and regional variation in cropping practices. Both summer and winter-based cropping was practiced. It says that at Harappa, 90% of the cattle were kept alive until they were three or three-and-a-half years, suggesting that females were used for dairying production, whereas male animals were used for traction.

The second battle of Tarain was a decisive battle. The whole Chauhan kingdom now lay at the feet of the invader. The first Muslim kingdom was thus firmly established in India at Ajmer and a new era in the history of India began. After his brilliant victory over Prithiviraj at Tarain, Muhammad Ghori returned to Ghazni leaving behind his favourite general Qutb-uddin Aibak to make further conquests in India. Aibak consolidated his position in India by occupying places like Delhi and Meerut. In 1193 he prepared the ground for another invasion by Muhammad Ghori. This invasion was directed against the Gahadavala ruler Jayachandra. Muhammad routed Jayachandra’s forces. Kanauj was occupied by the Muslims after the battle of Chandawar.

The Battles of Tarain and Chandawar contributed to the establishment of Turkish rule in India. Battle of Karnal, (Feb. 24, 1739). The Battle of Karnal in 1739 was the supreme triumph of Nadir Shah, the great Persian king and military commander. At Karnal, in northern India, the Persians comprehensively crushed the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah’s larger army, going on to sack their capital, Delhi. Nadir Shah’s victory at the Battle of Damghan in 1729 had consolidated his control of Persia, and he became king in 1736.

Both the statements are correct.

Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545):

He was an Afghan leader who took over the Mughal Empire after defeating Humayun in 1540. Sher Shah occupied the throne of Delhi for not more than five years, but his reign proved to be a landmark in the Sub-continent. As a king, he has several achievements in his credit. He established an efficient public administration. He set up a revenue collection system based on the measurement of land. Justice was provided to the common man. Numerous civil works were carried out during his short reign; planting of trees, wells and building of Sarai (inns) for travellers was done. Roads were laid; it was under his rule that the Grand Trunk road from Delhi to Kabul was built. The currency was also changed to finely minted silver coins called Dam. However, Sher Shah did not survive long after his accession on the throne and died in 1545 after a short reign of five years.