Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Past Chapter 10

Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10

History is the study of the past through the collection and arrangement of data. The study of people, behaviours, actions and other things is also included. This subject not only discusses our ancestors but also helps in the debate about our own existence. The study focuses on our political structures, social structures, economic conditions, and cultural contexts. The tenth chapter of Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts is New Empires and Kingdoms. Students will learn more about the Gupta Dynasty’s power by reading New Empires and Kingdoms. The Gupta Dynasty first appeared in the third century AD. Students shall learn about Samudragupta, Harshavardhana, and South Indian kingdoms in this chapter and their conquests and accomplishments. Chapter 10 Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Important Questions help students better understand the entire chapter in an interesting and engaging manner.. Students can easily access all this and more on the Extramarks website.

It is difficult for students to memorise everything in a subject such as History. At Extramarks, we completely understand the role of answering the important question for a chapter and we take our role seriously to provide the best resource to the students and help them get excellent grades. The NCERT Textbook, other reference books,  past years’ questions, and other materials were used to create the Social Science Our Pasts Class 6 Chapter 10 Important Questions by Extramarks specialists. Our Social Science specialists have created a list of step-by-step answers to help students comprehend each chapter. Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10 Important Questions are available to students who register with Extramarks.

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Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10- with Solutions

The faculty of Social Science at Extramarks have designed an entire list of Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10 using different sources. Reading New Empires and Kingdoms will teach students more about the influence of the Gupta Dynasty. In the third century AD, the Gupta Dynasty initially emerged. In this chapter, students will learn about Harshavardhana, Samudragupta, and South Indian kingdoms, as well as their conquests and achievements. These questions and solutions help students better comprehend New Empires and Kingdoms in an interesting and engaging manner.

Mentioned below are a few Important Questions from Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10 and their solutions:

Question 1. Do you think ordinary people would have read and understood the prashastis? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer 1. The prashastis were written in the scholarly language of Sanskrit. Or they would not have been accessible to the general public as they were familiar with Sanskrit reading or comprehension.

Question 2. What exactly were Prashatis, and how did they help?

Answer 2. An inscription style is known as prashastis meaning “in praise of.” They were written in tribute to the kings and queens. An example would be a “Prashasti of Samudragupta.” It is a piece of Sanskrit poetry by his minister and court poet Harisena. This inscription found on the Ashokan pillar in Allahabad describes Samudragupta. The king has received adoration from the poet. He is compared to God and is equal to God. It lists his victories. In the majority of Prashastis, the ruler’s ancestors are also listed. In the prashasti, Harisena describes Samudragupta’s great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and mother.

Question 3. Mention 3 authors who wrote about Harshavardhana.

Answer 3. The three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana were:

  • Ravikirti
  • Banabhatta
  • Xuan Zang

Question 4. How did the Guptas administer their empire? Justify briefly.

Answer 4. The administration was widely scattered. The king presided over the highest government levels and his council of ministers. The kingdom was divided into provinces. These were called Bhuktis, and governors administered them with the help of their subordinates. These provinces were further divided into different districts, or the Visayas, and were governed by the Ayuktas. The villages were at the bottom of the hierarchy and were administered by the village elders. At every level, people had the authority to take actions that would facilitate and improve administration.

Question 5. What do you think Arvind would have to do if he was acting as Samudragupta?

Answer 5. Arvind needs to be courageous and hold a sword with gusto.  As an artist, he would have to take up painting and enjoy playing music, especially veena if he were to be cast as Samundragupta.

Question 7. What changes do you find in the army at this time?

Answer 7. Some of these kings maintained an organised army with elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers, just like prior tyrants. The king also had access to military leaders who could send troops his way anytime he wanted them. They weren’t paid consistently. Some of them, however, received land concessions. They collected land revenue to pay for soldiers, horses, and military supplies. These individuals were referred to as Samantas. Every time the king was weak, Samantas attempted to become independent. .

Question 8. What information about Samudragupta does his Prashasti list?

Answer 8. The forefathers of the ruler are mentioned in the prashasti. Samudragupta’s military successes and accomplishments are also highlighted in the Prashasti. In addition, it establishes the lineage of Samudragupta. This is the precise knowledge that we possess. From descriptions of the customs of his acquired areas, it is possible to infer information about his state policy from these inscriptions. They also provide information on his court and the participants. In this prashasti, Samudrgupta is also equated with God. There were several lengthy sentences in this Prashasti.

Question 9. Describe the assemblies that were held in the southern kingdoms.

Answer 9. Numerous municipal assemblies are mentioned in the inscriptions of the Pallavas. It indicates that wealthy and powerful landowners and businessmen organised these events. Sabha was a gathering of Brahmin landowners. It performed several tasks and was divided into subcommittees that looked after local temples, irrigation, agricultural development, and roads, among other things. There was a village assembly where the proprietors were not Brahmins known as ur. The Nagaram was a commercial organisation of merchants. These assemblies controlled powerful merchants and these assemblies continued for centuries.

Question 10. What were the new administrative arrangements during this period?

Answer 10. The King adopted a number of steps to win the support of men who had become socially and economically powerful. The new administrative arrangements during that time were as follows:

  • A few important administrative positions had become inherited. For example, Harishena became maha-danda-nayaka or the chief judicial officer after the death of his father.
  • Occasionally, one person could hold many offices, for instance, maha-danda-nayaka or the chief judicial officer besides being kumar-amatya or an important minister as well as a sandhi-vigrahika or the minister of war and peace..
  • Powerful men frequently influenced local governance.For example nagara-shreshthi or chief banker or the merchant of the city, the sarthavaha or leader of the merchant caravans etc.

Question 11. Discuss the situation of the ordinary people in India during the time period covered in this chapter.

Answer 11. Position of India’s Ordinary People:

  • Plays and trip accounts from this era’s literature give us a look into the daily lives of India’s ordinary people. For instance, plays (dramas) describing life in the King’s court are famous works by Kalidas, a renowned Sanskrit poet and author of the Gupta era. In these plays, the ruler and most of the Brahmins are depicted as speaking Sanskrit, while the ladies and men around them spoke  Prakrit.
  • The most well-known play of Kalidasa Abhijanan is Shakuntalam, which is a  romance between the young girl Shakuntala and the king Dushyanta. In this piece, we discover an intriguing and impressive account of a struggling fisherman’s plight (condition). The fisherman in the play found a pricey ring that the king (Dushyanta) had gifted to Shakuntala but that the fish had unintentionally swallowed. The gatemen (of the palace) accused him of robbery when he entered with that ring, and the top police officer was not very polite. However, the King was happy with the ring and the fisherman was rewarded. .
  • The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa Xian observed the misery of individuals who were treated as untouchables by the rich and powerful during Chandragupta II’s reign. They were supposed to reside outside the city (Fa Xian referred to as the capital city-patliputra). “If such a man enters a town or a marketplace, he strikes a piece of wood to keep himself apart. Hearing this sound, people know what it implies and avoid touching or brushing against him,” the author writes.

Question 12. During the era of Gupta and Harshavardhana, how were the northern Indian kingdoms governed?

Answer 12. The following are the ways the northern Indian kingdoms were governed during the era of Gupta and Harshavardhana:

  • The following are the two primary outdated administrative features: These kings (of the Gupta and Vardhan dynasties) continued to place a high value on land revenue, just like earlier kings, and the village continued to serve as the fundamental administrative unit.
  • Administration-related developments. There were also some new developments: Support for lords or feudal lords. Kings took various actions to gain the support of the wealthy and powerful, whether due to their economic or social influence or due to their political and military might. Some significant administrative positions could be inherited. Like his father, the poet Harishena (author of Allahabad-prashasti) was appointed chief judge.

One person has occasionally held several offices. Harishena, for instance, was not only a maha-danda-nayaka but also a Kumar-amatya, which is  Sandhi -vigrahika, or a minister of war and peace.

Furthermore, influential men undoubtedly had a say in local government. These included the Prathama-Kulika, the main craftsman, the Nagara-shreshthi, the top banker or merchant of the city, the Sarthavaha, and the head of the Kayasthas, or scribes.

  • Rise of independent kingdoms: The administrative adjustments stated above were largely successful, but some of these strong men eventually found separate kingdoms.

Question 13. What do you know about Pulakeshin II? Mention his most notable accomplishments as outlined in his prashasti.

Answer 13. Prashasti and Pulakeshin II:

  • Pulakeshin II was the Chalukya king who is most well-known in South India. We are familiar with him thanks to a prashasti. The court poet for Pulakeshin (II), Ravikirti, wrote this prashasti. This describes his forefathers traced back to four generations from father to son.
  • Evidently, Pulakeshin II inherited the Kingdom from his uncle. He oversaw excursions on both the west and east coasts, claims Ravikirti.
  • Pulakeshin II stopped Harsha’s advance. Harsha is Sanskrit for joy. According to the poet Ravikirti, Harsha was no longer Harsha following his defeat. .
  • Pulakeshin II also attacked the Pallava king, who hid behind Kanchipuram’s defences. However, the Chalukyas’ victory over their political opponents was fleeting. The Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties took over after the Chalukyas.

Question 14. Describe a few of the Pallavas’ and the Chalukyas’ most significant achievements.

Answer 14. The following are some of the most significant achievements of Pallavas and Chalukyas:

  • During this time (the Harash’s rule in north India), the Pallavas and Chalukyas were the two most significant kingdoms in south India. The Pallava kingdom extended from the area surrounding their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta. In contrast, the Chalukya kingdom was centred on the Raichur Doab, which is located between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
  • The Pallavas and the Chalukyas regularly invaded each other’s territories, especially the capital cities, which were affluent towns.
  • The Chalukyas’ capital city of Aihole was a significant trading and commercial hub. This town began its development as a temple-filled religious hub.
  • The Chalukyas defeated Thaneswar and Harsha of Kanauj during Pulkashin II’s reign. But this victory didn’t last long.
  • In the end, new kings from the Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties replaced the Pallavas and the Chalukyas.

Question 15. Present a short note on Samudragupta as a warrior.

Answer 15. Samudragupta led the Gupta dynasty who won many battles, and is known through Samudragpta’s prashasti. He removed nine of Aryavarta’s kings. Their Kingdoms were integrated into his rule. After being defeated, twelve Dakshinapatha kings surrendered themselves and later he gave them another chance to rule. The kings of Assam, Bengal, Nepal, and other countries paid tribute to Samudragupta and obeyed his orders. They occasionally showed up in his court. The rulers of Sri Lanka, who submitted to him and offered their daughters in marriage, as well as the rulers of the outlying areas of the subcontinent, maybe the descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas.

Question 16. Give a brief description of Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita.

Answer 16. Nearly 1400 years ago, Harshavardhana was in power. His biography, The Harshacharita, was written in Sanskrit by his court poet Banabhatta. This finishes with Harsha becoming king and provides his family history. The Chinese Buddhist Pilgrim, known as Xuan Zang, spent a lot of time at Harsha’s court and wrote down all he observed. Although Harsha was not his father’s eldest child, he succeeded to the throne of Thanesar after the passing of both his father and older brother. The ruler of Kanauj was his brother-in-law. After being assassinated by the king of Bengal, Harsha seized control of the kingdom of Kanauj and raised an army to battle the king of Bengal. He conquered Bengal and Magadha and was successful there but wasn’t as successful elsewhere. He attempted to march across the Narmada River into the Deccan, but Pulakashin II, the king of the Chalukya dynasty, stopped him.

Question 17. Why couldn’t Harshavardhana extend his kingdom past the Deccan?

Answer 17. After capturing Magadha and Bengal, Harshavardhana attempted to cross the Narmada River to take control of Deccan. However, Pulakeshin-II, the Chalukya ruler, stopped him. The Chalukyas were the most powerful dynasty in the south during this time. The Chalukyas were powerful and well-off. The Raichur Road, which was located between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, was covered by a sizable dynasty that belonged to them. Pulakeshin-II defeated Harshavardhana.

Question 18. Present details about Chandragupta II.

Answer 18. The year 58 BCE is typically associated with Chandragupta II. This is because Chandragupta II defeated the Shakas, earning him the title of Vikramaditya. Chandragupta II was an Indian mathematician and astronomer from the fifth century AD. He lived in Kusumapura and worked there. Bihar’s Kushumapura is situated close to the modern metropolis of Patna. Chandragupta II was born in Kerala in the year 476 AD. He was also an outstanding mathematician. His thesis was Aryabhatyamz

The above section of Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10 covers all the chapter’s important concepts.

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Q.1 Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:

“A fisherman found a precious ring, which the king had given to Shakuntala, but which had been accidentally swallowed by a fish. When he went to the palace with it, the gatemen accused him of theft, and the chief police officer was rather rude. However, the king was happy when he saw the ring and sent a reward for the fisherman. Then, the police officer and the gatemen decided to take a share of the reward, and went along with the fisherman to have a drink.”

1. This story of fisherman is found in which play?
2. Who wrote this story?
3. What is the name of the king mentioned in this story?
4. What was the reaction of the king when he saw the ring?

Ans-

1. This story is from the famous play Abhijnana Shakuntalam.
2. Kalidasa wrote this story.
3. King Dushyanta is mentioned in this story.
4. The king was very happy to see the ring and sent a reward for the fisherman.

Q.2 Briefly describe assemblies in the Southern kingdoms.

Ans-

A number of local assemblies were mentioned in the inscriptions of the Pallavas. Most probably these assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.

1. Sabha was an assembly of brahmin land owners. It performed various roles and functioned through subcommittees, which looked after irrigation, agricultural operations, making roads, local temples, etc.

2. The Ur was a village assembly found in areas where the land owners were not brahmins.

3. The nagaram was an organisation of merchants.

Q.3 Read the following passage and answer the question given below:
“The king travelled with an enormous amount of equipment. Apart from weapons, there were things of daily use such as pots, pans, furniture, golden footstools, food, including animals such as goat, deer, rabbits, vegetables, spices, carried on carts or loaded on to pack animals such as camels and elephants. This huge army was accompanied by musicians beating drums, and others playing horns and trumpets. Villagers had to provide hospitality along the way. They came with gifts of curds, gur and flowers, and provided fodder for the animals. They also tried to meet the king, and place their complaints and petitions before him.”

1. What all did the army carry with them?

2. What did the villagers bring to the king? [2 + 2 =4]

Ans-

1. Apart from weapons, the army carried things of daily use such as pots, pans, furniture, golden footstools, food including animals such as goat, deer, rabbits, vegetables, spices. These things were carried on carts or loaded on to pack animals such as camels and elephants.

2. The villagers brought gifts of curds, gur and flowers to the king. They provided fodder for the animals. They also tried to meet the king and place their complaints and petitions before him.

Q.4 Mention three authors who wrote about Kings and the lives of the ordinary people.

Ans-

Kalidasa, Fa Xian and Banabhatta wrote about the lives of the ordinary people in the kingdom.
1. In his plays, Kalidasa has shown the king and most brahmins speaking Sanskrit, while women and men other than the king and brahmins use Prakrit. There is a remarkable description of the plight of a poor fisherman in his play Abhijnana Shakuntalam.
2. The Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian has given a detailed account of the plight of the untouchables. They were mistreated by the high and mighty and were expected to live on the outskirts of the city.
3. Banabhatta provides us with a vivid picture of the king’s army on the move.

Q.5 What changes did the army undergo after the Gupta period?

Ans-

The protection of an empire required huge and strong army. Thus, special attention was paid to maintain a huge and efficient army.

1. Infantry, cavalry and elephants were the main divisions of the army.

2. Besides, there were military leaders known as samantas, who provided troops to the king whenever required.

3. Samantas were not paid regular salaries. Instead, some of them received grants of land. They collected revenue from the land and used this to maintain soldiers, horses and provide equipments for warfare.

Q.6 What were the new developments in the field of administration during the Gupta period?

Ans-

During the Gupta period, there were some new developments in the administrative field. Kings adopted numerous measures to win the support of powerful men such as:
1. Some important administrative posts now became hereditary. For example, the poet Harishena was a maha-danda-nayaka, or chief judicial officer, like his father.
2. At times, one person held many offices. For instance, besides being a maha-danda-nayaka, Harishena was a kumar-amatya, and a sandhi- vigrahika.
3. Besides, important men probably had a say in local administration.

Q.7 Who was Pulakeshin II? How have we come to know about him?

Ans-

Pulakeshin ll was one of the famous Chalukyan rulers. A prashasti, composed by his court poet Ravikirti, is an important source of information regarding his early life and his expeditions. This provides us with the information about his ancestors for four generations. It tells us that Pulakeshin ll evidently got the kingdom from his uncle. According to Ravikirti, he led expeditions along both the west and east coasts. He also checked the advance of Harsha.

Q.8 Write a short note on the Pallavas and Chalukyas.

Ans-

The most important ruling dynasties in South India were the Pallavas and Chalukyas. The realm of the Pallavas spread from the region around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta. The kingdom of the Chalukyas was centred on the Raichur Doab between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas. It was an important trading centre as well as a religious centre. The Pallavas and Chalukyas frequently attacked each other’s lands, especially the capital cities, which were prosperous towns.

Q.9 Who was the famous ruler of the Gupta dynasty?
Ans-

Samudragupta was the famous ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
Q.10 Mention an important source of information about Samudragupta.
Ans-

An important source of information about Samudragupta is a long inscription in the form of poem written in Sanskrit by his court poet, Harisena nearly 1700 years ago.
Q.11 Mention four different kinds of rulers as described by Harisena. What was Samudragupta’s policy towards them?
Ans-

Harisena, the court poet of Samudragupta has mentioned the four different rulers in the prashasti. Samudragupta’s policy toward them is as follows:

1. The rulers of Aryavarta (Kanauj, Pataliputra, Prayaga, Mathura and Nalanda) were some nine rulers. These kingdoms were made part of Samudragupta’s empire.

2. The rulers of Dakshinapatha were twelve rulers. These rulers were defeated by Samudragupta and then allowed to rule their kingdoms.

3. The neighbouring states such as Assam, coastal Bengal, Nepal and a number of gana sanghas brought tribute, followed his order and attended his court.

4. The rulers of north-west and the ruler of Sri Lanka submitted to him and offered daughters for marriage.

Q.12 What is a Prashasti ?

Ans-

Prashasti is a special kind of inscription meaning “in praise of”. They were composed in praise of the rulers.

Q.13 How did the poet of Prashastis praise Samudragupta?

Ans-

The poet praised the king as warrior and as a king who won victories in battle. He was learned and the best of poets. He is also described as equal to the Gods.

Q.14 What was the title adopted by Chandragupta, the father of Samudragupta?

Ans-

Chandragupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty who adopted the grand title of maharaj-adhiraja. Later on, this title was also adopted by Samudragupta.

Q.15 Who was the father of Chandragupta II?
Ans-

Samudragupta was the father of Chandragupta II.
Q.16 Write about the kingdom of the Chalukyas.
Ans-

The Chalukyas were one of the important dynasties in south India during 3rd -5th A.D. The kingdom of the Chalukyas centered around the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. Their capital city was Aihole. It was an important trading centre. It was also an important religious centre, with a number of temples. Pulakeshin II was the famous Chalukya ruler.
Q.17 What is the meaning of kumar-amatya and sandhi-vigrahika?
Ans-

Kumar-amatya means an important minister and sandhi-vigrahika means a minister of war and peace.

Q.18 What was the Ur during the Pallava period?
Ans-

The Ur was a village assembly found in areas of southern India where the land owners were not brahmins.
Q.19 Who controlled the local assemblies such as Sabha, ur, and nagaram?
Ans-

These assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.
Q.20 Which is the most famous play of Kalidasa?
Ans-

Kalidasa’s most famous play is Abhijnana Shakuntalam, which is the story of the love between a king named Dushyanta and a young woman named Shakuntala.

Q.21 What does the plays of Kalidasa say about the language spoken by the people?

Ans-

According to the plays of Kalidasa, the king and brahmin spoke Sanskrit whereas women and common people spoke Prakrit.

Q.22 What was the old name of Allahabad?
Ans-

Prayaga was the old name of Allahabad.

Q.23 What were the names of Samudragupta’s parents?

Ans-

According to inscriptional sources, Samudragupta’s mother was Kumara Devi who belonged to Lichchhavi gana, while his father, Chandragupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty.

Q.24 Who was the court poet of Chandragupta II?

Ans-

Kalidasa was the court poet of Chandragupta II.

Q.25 Who was the famous astronomer in the court of Chandragupta II?

Ans-

Aryabhata was the famous astronomer in the court of Chandragupta II.

Q.26 Where do we get information about King Harshavardhana from?

Ans-

We get information about Harshavardhana from his biography titled Harshacharita in Sanskrit, written by his court poet, Banabhatta.

Q.27 In whose court did Xuan Zang stay for a long time?

Ans-

Xuan Zang stayed a lot of time in the court of Harshavardhana.

Q.28 Which Gupta ruler led an army against the ruler of Bengal?

Ans-

Harsha led the army against the ruler of Bengal.

Q.29 Who stopped Harsha’s march into the Deccan?

Ans-

Harsha’s march into the Deccan was stopped by Pulakeshin II.

Q.30 What was the dynasty to which Pulakeshin II belonged?

Ans-

Pulakeshin II belonged to the Chalukya dynasty.

Q.31 Write about the kingdom of the Pallavas.

Ans-

The kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the region around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta. They were one of the most important ruling dynasties in south India during the 3rd to 5th A.D.

Q.32 What was the capital of the Chalukyas?

Ans-

Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas.

Q.33 Who was the best known ruler of the Chalukya dynasty?

Ans-

Pulakeshin II was the famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty.

Q.34 How do we get information about Pulakeshin II?

Ans-

We get information about Pulakeshin II from a prashasti, composed by his court poet Ravikirti.

Q.35 Name the Chalukya king who got the kingdom from his uncle.

Ans-

Pulakeshin was the king who got the kingdom from his uncle.

Q.36 What is the meaning of Harsha?

Ans-

Harsha means happiness.

Q.37 Who was known as maha-danda-nayaka?

Ans-

Harishena was known as maha-danda-nayaka meaning chief judicial officer.

Q.38 Write the meaning of these terms: nagara-shreshthi, Sarthavaha, Prathama-kulika.

Ans-

Nagara-shreshthi: Chief banker or merchant of the city

Sarthavaha: Leader of the merchant caravans

Prathama-kulika: Chief craftsman and head of the then kayasthas or scribes.

Q.39 Who were samantas?

Ans-

Samantas were military leaders who provided the king with troops whenever he needed them. For their service, they were not paid regular salaries. Instead, they received the grants of land from the king. They collected revenue from the land and used it for the maintenance of soldiers and horses and to provide war equipments. Whenever the king was weak they tried to become independent.

Q.40 What was the Sabha during the Pallavas rule?

Ans-

A number of local assemblies have been mentioned in the inscriptions of the Pallavas. The Sabha was one of the local assemblies. It was an assembly of brahmin land owners. This assembly had sub-committees that looked after irrigation, agricultural operations, making roads, and local temples, etc.

Q.41 What was the nagaram in the Pallava kingdom?

Ans-

The nagaram was an organisation of merchants.

Q.42 This is a picture of a coin of Gupta period in which a king is playing a musical instrument. Answer the following questions related to this picture:

1. Which King was shown in this coin?
2. This coin was made of which metal?
3. What instrument was the king playing?
4. The king depicted in the coin belonged to which dynasty?

Ans-

1. King Samudragupta is shown in this coin.
2. This coin was made of gold.
3. Samudragupta is playing Veena.
4. Samudragupta belonged to the Gupta dynasty.

Q.43 What do you mean by prashastis and how did they help in recreating history?

Ans-

Prashasti is a special kind of inscription meaning “in praise of”. They were composed in praise of the rulers.

An important example is a prashasti of Samudragupta. It is a poem in Sanskrit, composed by his court poet Harisena, nearly 1700 years ago. It is inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. The poet has praised the king in glowing terms. He is described as equal to God. It tells about his conquests.

Most prashastis also mention the ancestors of the ruler. Samudragupta’s great grandfather, grandfather, father and mother are mentioned by Harisena in the prashasti.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The chapter begins with -Prashastis and what they tell us,  Samudragupta as a warrior are topics covered in Chapter 10  of Class 6 History. Additionally, it discusses Harshavardhana, Harshacharita, Genealogies, and Samudragupta’s Prashasti. The administration of the Pallava, Chalukya, and Pulakeshin’s Prashasti kingdoms is also covered. Following that, information about assemblies in the Southern Kingdoms is provided, and the chapter concludes with a discussion on the lives of the common people in the Kingdoms. To grasp the whole chapter in an interesting manner, students can refer to Extramarks Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10.

Samudragupta was a well-known ruler of the Gupta dynasty. We learned about Samudragupta’s details from a lengthy inscription that is basically Sanskrit poetry. Harisena, the court poet of Samudragupta, wrote the poem. It was written on the Ashokan pillar in Allahabad. The name of this inscription is Prashasti. A Sanskrit term with the meaning “in honour of” is prashasti. As a result, the court poet Harisena lauded the king here, praising him as a warrior, a ruler who had won many battles and was a wise man. To know more about Samudragupta, students can easily click on Extramarks Important Questions Class 6 Social Science Our Pasts Chapter 10.

The court poet Ravikirti, who wrote a prashasti, gave us information about Pulakeshin II, he was the best-known Chalukya ruler.  According to the prashasti, Pulakeshin had inherited the kingdom from his uncle. Pulakeshin II headed excursions to the west and the eastern shores. He also stopped Harshavardhana’s march into the Deccan when he attempted to bridge the Narmada. Additionally, according to the prashasti, Pulakeshin is supposed to have attacked the Pallava king, who sought refuge behind the Kanchipuram walls.