Prelims High-Yield Explanations & Traps

• centres of the Gupta rulers
• Cities and Kingdoms
• ruling dynasties in south India during
• trading centre (see Map 7)
• for these rulers, and the
• administrative posts were now
• minister, and a sandhi-vigrahika,
• men probably had a say in local
• role in the sea trade between India and
• centres
• DATES
• happiness
• that sons succeeded fathers to these posts
• and avoid touching him or brushing against him
• a mound

Essential Definitions & Formulas

This map

based on the information provided in the prashasti.

BCE

traditionally associated with Gupta king, Chandragupta II, who had founded it as a mark of victory over the Shakas and assumed the title of Vikramaditya.

There

an interesting play of words in the poem.

Harsha

happiness.

This

that sons succeeded fathers to these posts.

It

likely that these assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.

Kalidasa

known for his plays depicting life in the king’s court.

An interesting feature about these plays

that the king and most brahmins are shown as speaking Sanskrit, while women and men other than the king and brahmins use Prakrit.

Although it

a desert, it was at the hub of communications for centuries.

Here

a verse from the Quran, the sacred book of Islam: “For Muslim men and women, for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast, for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah’s remembrance, for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward.

It

made of iron, 7.

We know the date because there

an inscription on the pillar mentioning a ruler named Chandra, who probably belonged to the Gupta dynasty (Chapter 10).

What is amazing

the fact that the pillar has not rusted in all these years.

The word stupa

a mound.

Related PYQs (3)