S.ST NOTES-INDIA AND THE WORLD

INDIA AND THE WORLD

EXTRA QUESTION/ANSWERS:

Q1. What do you know about Milinda?

Ans. The important ruler of the Bactrians was Menander, also known as Milinda. He extended his rule up to Mathura and made Sakala, present day Sialkot, his capital. He converted to Buddhism and his dialogues with the Buddhist monk Nagasena were recorded in the book, Milinda Panho or (Questions of Milinda).

Q2. Name the five different groups of Shakas.

Ans. There were five different groups of Shakas – one from Taxila; second in Punjab, third in Mathura, fourth in Western India and fifth in the Deccan.

Q3. Who was the famous Parthian king?

Ans. Gondophernes was the famous Parthian king.

Q4. Who were the first to use the term Hindustan?

Ans. The Sassanians, were the first to use the term Hindustan in their inscription in 226 CE.

Q5. How did Kanishka support Buddhism?

Ans. Mahayana Buddhism became popular during the reign of Kanishka.

-       He sent missionaries to Central Asia and China for propagation of Buddhism and built chaityas and viharas in different places.

-       He supported Buddhist scholars such as Vasumitra and Asvagosha.

-       The Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir was organized by Kanishka.

Q6. What was the Silk Road?

Ans. The Silk Road was a trade route that connected East Asia to the Mediterranean.

Q7. What goods were transported with the help of the Silk Road?

Ans. Silk, porcelain, furs, perfumes, spices, medicine, jewels, glassware, slaves, and horses

Q8. Which goods were imported to China?

Ans. Goods such as dates, saffron powder, pistachio nuts, frankincense, and myrrh, gold, silver and ivory were imported to China.

Q9. Name the Chinese pilgrims who came to India? Why did they come to India?

Ans. The Chinese pilgrims such as Hsuan Tsang, Fa-hsein and It-sing travelled from

China to India in search of Buddhist scriptures.

Q10. What does the book Kautilya informs us through his book Arthashastra?

Ans. Kautilya, in his book the Arthashastra informs us of the Board of Shipping and the

Commissioner of Port who supervised sea traffic. The Arthashastra has an entire

chapter on the state department of waterways under navadhyaksha. Shoreline

trade was carried out not only between different parts of India but also with

Eastern and Western world.

Q11. What information does Harivamsa gives us?

Ans. The Harivamsa informs that the first geographical survey of the world was performed during the period of Vaivasvata.

Q12. The Indians played a major part as middlemen between the Chinese and the

Romans. Explain.

Ans. The Chinese traded their silk with the Indians for precious stones, gold and silver and then the Indians would trade silk with the Romans.

Q13. What is the term “Greater India’ used to denote?

Ans. The term ‘Greater India’ is used to denote the historical spread of the culture of India beyond the Indian subcontinent.

Q14. How the cultural relationship between South East Asia and India can be

established?

Ans. The cultural relationship between South East Asia and India can be established through the transmission of ancient Vedic and Buddhist culture and philosophy into Myanmar, Thailand, Malaya, Laos and Cambodia. Indian scripts were found in South East Asian islands such as Sumatra, Java, Bali, South Sulawesi and parts of the Philippines.

Q15. What subjects were taught in the Nalanda University?

Ans. Various subjects such as theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, metaphysics and philosophy were taught here.

Q16. Name the Buddhist monk with whom Milinda discussed about Buddhism.

Ans. The Buddhist monk is Nagasena.

Q17. Name the book which shows a record of their dialogues.

Ans. Milinda Panho or (Questions of Milinda)

Q18. Who was the most important ruler of the Shakas? What did he issue in

Sanskrit?

Ans. The important ruler of the Shakas was Rudradaman I. He was a great patron of Sanskrit and issued the fi rst ever long inscription in Sanskrit.

Q19. Who visited during the reign of Gondophernes to propagate Christianity?

Ans. St. Thomas visited India to propagate Christianity.

Q20. Describe the empire of Kanishka.

Ans. The empire of Kanishka was a vast one extending from Gandhara in the west to Benares in the East and from Kashmir in the North to Malwa in the South. His capital was Purushapura or modern day Peshawar. Mathura was another important city in his empire.

Q21. State two reasons why the Silk Road was important.

Ans. It served as the primary path of commerce for the states from 200 BCE till the 14th century. It enabled people to transport goods such as silk, porcelain, furs, perfumes, spices, medicine, jewels, glassware, slaves, and horses.

Q22. Between whom was the Shoreline trade carried out?

Ans. Shoreline trade was carried out not only between different parts of India but also with Eastern and Western world.

Q23. Describe the Nalanda University

Ans. Nalanda University, the ancient seat of learning, was founded in the middle of fifth century CE. According to one account, there were 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students at Nalanda. Various subjects such as theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, metaphysics and philosophy were taught here.

The University was maintained by the revenue collected from the villages granted by the rulers of that period. Emperor Harshavardhana was one of its most famous patrons. Nalanda attracted many foreign students including Hsuan Tsang and It-sing from China. Hsuan Tsang had studied here and described the excellence of education system,

ascetic life practised as well as the ambiance and architecture of the university.