RBSE IMPORTANT POINTS AND QUESTIONS - 6

Glorious India- From the Beginning to 1206 CE

1.      According to the Buddhist text, 16 Mahajanapadas existed in ancient time. Several republics also existed in the Buddhist period of 6^th century BCE.

2.      With the help of his guru Chanakya, Chandragupta ascended the royal throne of Magadha at the age of 25, by defeating Dhana Nanda who was the last Nanda ruler.

3.      In 305 BCE, Chandragupta defeated the then Greek ruler Seleucus Nicator.

4.      Seleucus also got his daughter married to Chandragupta and sent Megasthenes as his ambassador in Chandragupta's court. Megasthenes has divided the Indian society into seven castes in his book 'Indica'.

5.      Ashoka occupied Magadha's rule against the wish of Bindusara the son of Chandragupta.

6.      Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 261 BCE, in which 1 lakh people died.

7.      According to Kalhana's Rajatarangini, Ashoka was a worshipper of Shiva before adopting Buddhism.

8.      Ashoka established ideals for the moral development of mankind. These were called dhamma.

9.      In the fourteenth year of his coronation, Ashoka appointed Dhamma Mahamatras-whose major responsibility was to propagate Buddhist religion.

10.  Ashoka was the first Indian ruler to address his subjects through edicts which were written in Brahmi script and Kharoshti script.  James Princep was the first person to successfully interpret the edicts of Ashoka. Ashoka died in 232 BCE.

11.  Brihadratha was the last Mauryan ruler. His Brahman minister Pushyamitra Shunga assassinated him and founded the Shunga dynasty in Magadha.

12.  A person named Simuka laid the foundation of Satavahana dynasty in around 60 BCE in Andhra (the valley of rivers Godavari and Krishna). This dynasty is known by the name of Andhra as well as Satavahana dynasty.

13.  Sri-Gupta was the founder of Gupta dynasty in 275 CE. Chandragupta became the Gupta ruler in 320 CE. He married the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi.

14.  Samudragupta’s (335 CE - 380 CE) court poet Harisen has described about his victorious military expeditions in his records in Allahabad Prashasti. Historian Smith has rightly called him 'The Napoleon of India'.

15.  Chandragupta II (380 CE - 412 CE) after gaining victory on Shakas, took on the title of 'Vikramaditya'.

16.  Skandagupta (455 CE - 467 CE) defeated the Hunas.

17.  Great mathematician Aryabhata, Varamihira and Brahmagupta gave their significant contribution in the development of mathematics and astrology during the Gupta period. The decimal system was invented in this period.

18.  Pushyabhuti was the founder of Vardhan Dynasty in 6^th century CE. Harshvardhan was the last great Hindu ruler of North India. He was a worshipper of Shiva and the Sun god. Later, he was largely inclined towards Mahayana Buddhism. Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited India during his period.

19.  Banabhatta composed of Kadambari and Harshacharita.

20.  Gopala founded Pala dynasty in around 750 CE in Bengal. Dharmapala is considered to be the most powerful ruler of this dynasty.

21.  Rashtrakuta dynasty was founded by Dantidurga in 736 CE in Maharshtra region.

22.  Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was founded by Nagabhatta in 725 CE. Bhoja I was the greatest ruler of this dynasty. He is also known as Mihira Bhoja.

23.  Rajaraja I (985 CE - 1013 CE) was the almighty ruler of south India(Tamil region). He built a Shiva temple named Rajarajeshwara (Brihadeshwara) temple in his capital Tanjore.It is an is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture.

24.  Rajendra I (1016 CE - 1044 CE) the son of Rajaraja I  possessed a strong naval power. He conquered the regions of Ganga. In order to commemorate this victory, he gained the title of 'Gangaikonda'.

25.  Chola administration was based on the Gram Panchayat system i.e is Local sel government.

26.  Temples of Chidambaram and Tanjore are the best among Chola temples. The copper statues of Nataraja Shiva built during Chola period are regarded to be the best.

27.  Pulakeshin II- is the most famous Chalukya ruler.

28.  Kushans are also known as Yuezhis. Vima Kadphises II (65 CE - 75 CE) of Kushan dynasty circulated golden coins in his name for the first time in India.

29.  Kanishka is regarded as one of the important rulers of India. According to the tradition, Fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kundalvana of Kashmir under the presidentship of Acharya Parshva in Kanishka's time. Kanishka enforced a new era in 78 CE which is known by the name of Saka era.

30.  Saka, Huna and Kushan- all these three were foreign tribes.