PSEB 6th Class Social Science Solutions Chapter 15 The Gupta: Empire

Punjab State Board PSEB 6th Class Social Science Book Solutions History Chapter 15 The Gupta: Empire Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 15 The Gupta: Empire

SST Guide for Class 6 PSEB The Gupta: Empire Textbook Questions and Answers

I. Answer the following questions :

Question 1.
Write about the conquests of Samudragupta.
Answer:
Samudragupta was a great conqueror. His conquests can be described as under :

1. Samudragupta first of all defeated three North Indian kings of Aryavarta, namely Nagsen, Achyut and king of the Kot dynasty.
2. While Samudragupta was busy in the South, Nagsen, Achyut and other kings of North raised a joint front against him. Samudragupta defeated all the kings of this front.
3. He defeated twelve kings of the South. But he did not annex their territories to his kingdom. He returned their kingdoms to them after their acceptance of his subordination.
4. Some jungle tribes of Orissa created a disturbance in his area. He defeated these tribes and established peace.
5. He annexed the areas captured by him in the North but returned the areas in the South to their rulers. He collected taxes from these rulers.

Question 2.
What do you know about Chandragupta Vikrama- ditya?
Answer:
Chandragupta, Vikramaditya was the son of Samudragupta. He is also known as Chandragupta-II. He conducted a victorious campaign in Western India against the Shakas who had been troubling the Guptas. He also maintained friendly relations with the kings of the Deccan and the South by marital alliances. The most important of such marital alliances was with the Vakataka kingdom of the Deccan.

Chandragupta Vikramaditya is best remembered for his patronage of learning and art. He had in his court some of the wisest and most learned men of the country, known as the ‘Nine Gems’. He was a devotee of Vishnu but respected all other religions. He issued a large number of coins in gold, silver and copper. A Chinese traveller Fa-hein came to India in his time. He adopted the title of Vikramaditya that means ‘Sun of Valour’.

Question 3.
Write a note on Kalidasa.
Answer:
Kalidasa was the most famous among ‘Nine Gems’ in Chandragupta Vikramaditya’s court. He was a famous Sanskrit poet. He wrote books on various subjects in Sanskrit. He had written the world famous books Kumar Sambhava, Raghuvamsa, Meghaduta and Abhigyan Shakuntalam. Abhigyan Shakuntalam is famous all over the world.

Question 4.
What do you know about economic life during the Gupta period?
Answer:
The economic life during the Gupta period was very prosperous.

1. Taxes were light and the articles of daily need were cheap. The common people used only cowries or copper coins to buy these articles. The largest number of gold coins were issued during this period. Such coins were called Dinaras.
2. Agriculture was the main profession of the people. Besides food crops of various types, fruits and oil seeds were also grown.
3. Both internal and external trade were developed. India had trade relations with South-East Asia, China, Central Asia and the European countries.
4. There were unions of bankers, merchants and manufacturers, known as guilds.
5. Cattle rearing and artisanship were other famous professions.

Question 5.
Why is the Gupta period called the Golden Age of India?
Answer:
The Gupta period was very advanced in every sphere of life. That is why it is called the Golden Age of India.

1. The people enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity. They enjoyed a high standard of living.
2. Both inland and international trade was carried on. Trade with other countries brought a lot of wealth and the people became rich and prosperous.
3. There was. great advancement in the field of education.
4. The people were honest and devoted to religion.
5. Caste system prevailed. But the different sections of the people lived in harmony.
6.  Though the Gupta rulers were patrons of Hinduism, yet they showed tolerance towards other religions. Buddhism was allowed to flourish.
7. There was a great development in literature. Nine learned men known as ‘Nine Gems’ adorned the Gupta court.
8. Art and architecture were encouraged. Several pillars of artistic beauty and a number of temples were built.
9. Science and technology made tremendous progress. Two of the famous scientists of this age were Aryabhatta and Varahamihira. Both of them were astronomers and mathematicians.
10. Indian culture and civilisation spread in foreign lands in the Gupta period.

II. Fill in the blanks :

Question 1.
Samudragupta was a great ________ and ________
Answer:
great warrior, ruler

Question 2.
Chandragupta II issued a very large number of coins in ________ and ________
Answer:
gold, silver, copper

Question 3.
Gupta empire was divided into many provinces which were called ________
Answer:
Bhakti

Question 4.
The districts were called ________
Answer:
Vishayas

Question 5.
________and ________ poem written by Kalidasa are very famous.
Answer:
Sakuntala, Meghaduta.

III. Match the columns :

Question 1.

A	B
(1) Aryavarta	(a) Punjab
(2) Madrakas	(b) Northern India
(3) Iron Pillar	(c) Officers
(4) Kumaramatyas	(d) Delhi

Answer:
Correct columns :

A	B
(1) Aryavarta	(b) Northern India
(2) Madrakas	(a) Punjab
(3) Iron Pillar	(d) Delhi
(4) Kumaramatyas	(c) Officers

IV. Write ‘true’ or ‘false’ in the brackets given after each

Question 1.
Maharaja Gupta was the first Gupta king.
Answer:
True

Question 2.
Vikramaditya was the title of Samudragupta.
Answer:
False

Question 3.
Yaudheyas were ruling in South India.
Answer:
False

Question 4.
Fa-hein was a Greek writer.
Answer:
False

Question 5.
Guptas issued gold coins.
Answer:
True

Question 6.
Aryabhatta was a famous scientist.
Answer:
True

V. Activities (Something To Do) :

Question 1.
Show the extent of the Gupta empire on the map of India.
Answer:
Do it yourself.

Question 2.
Collect pictures of the works of the art of Gupta age and paste them in your scrapbook.
Answer:
Do it yourself.

PSEB 6th Class Social Science Guide The Gupta: Empire Important Questions and Answers

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Who founded the Gupta empire?
(A) Maharaja Gupta
(B) Samundragupta
(C) Chandragupta
(D) Chandragupta II.
Answer:
(A) Maharaja Gupta.

Question 2.
Who is known as the greatest conqueror of the Gupta Dynasty?
(A) Sri Gupta
(B) Samudragupta
(C) Maharaja Gupta
(D) Chandragupta.
Answer:
(B) Samudragupta.

Question 3.
Horse sacrifice means
(A) Ashvashodha
(B) Ashvashloka
(C) Ashvamedha
(D) None of those.
Answer:
(C) Ashvamedha.

Question 4.
Chandragupta Vikramaditya was the son of
(A) Samudragupta
(B) Sri Gupta
(C) Chandragupta II
(D) Maharaja Gupta.
Answer:
(A) Samundragupta.

Question 5.
Fa-hein was a Chinese traveller who visited India during empire.
(A) Mughal
(B) Mavryan
(C) Gupta
(D) Kushana.
Answer:
(C) Gupta.

Question 6.
Shakuntala and Meghaduta were written by
(A) Chanakya
(B) Kalidasa
(C) Charaka
(D) Arujabhatta.
Answer:
(B) Kalidasa.

Question 7.
Aryabhata was a famous of the Gupta period.
(A) Scientist
(B) Mathematician
(C) Astronomer
(D) All of these.
Answer:
(D) All of these.

Question 8.
Chandragupta issued many coins of ________
(A) Gold
(B) Silver
(C) Copper
(D) All of these.
Answer:
(D) All of these.

Question 9.
Abhigyan Shakuntalam was written by
(A) Tulsidas
(B) Kalidas
(C) Aryabhatta
(D) Varahamihira.
Answer:
(B) Kalidas.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Who was the first great king of the Gupta dynasty?
Answer:
Chandragupta-I.

Question 2.
For how long did Samudragupta rule?
Answer:
Samudragupta ruled for about thirty-five years.

Question 3.
Who was Harishena?
Answer:
Harishena was a court poet of Samudragupta. He recorded a detailed account of Samudragupta’s achievements on a stone pillar at Allahabad.

Question 4.
Which was the biggest conquest of Chandragupta-II, and why?
Answer:
The biggest conquest of Chandragupta-II was over the Sakas of Western India. It brought an end to the foreign rule in India.

Question 5.
Who was Skandagupta?
Answer:
Skandagupta was the grandson of Chandragupta-II. He ruled from 454 A.D. to 467 A.D.

Question 6.
Who were Uparikas?
Answer:
The Governors of provinces in the Gupta administration were called Uparikas or Maharajas.

Question 7.
Name the capital of the Guptas.
Answer:
Patliputra.

Question 8.
What were Dinaras?
Answer:
Dinaras were the gold coins issued by the Gupta kings.

Question 9.
Name some famous writers of the Gupta period.
Answer:
Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Sudraka, Dandin, etc.

Question 10.
Where are the world famous Ajanta Caves situated?
Answer:
The world famous Ajanta Caves are situated near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

Question 11.
What is meant by Ashvamedha?
Answer:
The meaning of Ashvamedha is a horse sacrifice. Ashvamedha was a symbol of universal rule.

Question 12.
What, were Bhuktis and Vishayas?
Answer:
Provinces within Gupta administration were called Buktis and districts within Gupta administration were known as Vishayas.

Question 13.
Who was Fa-hein?
Answer:
Fa-hein was a Chinese traveller who came to India in the Gupta period and wrote an account of his stay in India.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
What is the main source of our information about Samudragupta’s conquests?
Answer:
The main source of our information about Samudragupta’s conquests is an inscription engraved on a pillar at Allahabad. This inscription has been written by Harishena and it describes Samudragupta’s achievements and conquests.

Question 2.
Who were Hunas? How did they affect the Gupta’s kingdom?
Answer:
The Hunas was a savage tribe that lived in Central Asia. Stories about India’s wealth attracted them, and they attacked the northern border of India in the fifth cenutury A.D. Their first invasion was repulsed by Skandagupta. But soon after they conquered Punjab and Kashmir. Their invasions shook the Gupta Empire which soon fell into pieces.

Question 3.
What does Fa-hein write about the society in the Gupta period?
Answer:
Fa-hein was a Chinese traveller, who visited India during the rule of Chandragupta-II. He writes that in the Gupta period, people were happy and honest. There was no crime or theft. People did not even lock their houses when going out. Taxes were light. Most of the people were vegetarians. The caste system had become rigid and one could not change one’s caste.

Question 4.
Name the countries with which India had trade and cultural relations in the Gupta period.
Answer:
In the Gupta period, India had trade and cultural relations with the countries of South-East Asia, such as Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. India had trade relations even with China and Central Asian and the European countries.

Question 5.
Describe the achievements of the Gupta period in science and technology.
Answer:
There was an advance in science and technology in the Gupta period.

• Aryabhatta and Varahamihira made new discoveries. Aryabhatta wrote Aryabhattiyam. He explained that the earth moves around the sun. He also told how solar and lunar eclipses occur.
• Indian mathematicians used the decimal system and knew about zero.
• Books on medicines and other sciences were also written during this period.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Describe the administration of the Guptas.
Answer:
The administration of the Guptas can be described in the following ways :

• The king was the highest authority. He administered the country with the help of ministers and several high officials.
• The empire was divided into provinces. The provinces were called Bhuktis and were governed by officials called Uparikas or Maharajas.
• The provinces were divided into districts, known as Vishayas.
• The districts were further divided into cities and towns.
• The punishments were not severe.
• The officials were allotted jagirs instead of cash salaries during the later period of the Guptas.

Question 2.
Describe the achievements of India in the field of art and literature during the Gupta period.
Answer:
The Guptas were great patrons of art and literature. They paid great attention to the development of art and literature in India.
1. Art. Mathura became the famous centre of art during the Gupta period. It produced the most beautiful statues of the Buddha, Jain and Hindu gods and goddesses. Sarnath near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh was also famous for good sculptures. Many beautiful temples were also made. The temples of Deogarh in Madhya Pradesh and Bhitari near Kanpur are very famous. The world-famous Ajanta Caves near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, with beautiful paintings in them, were also made. The kings made these caves for the residence and worship of the Buddhist monks. The famous Stupa of Sanchi was also rebuilt.

2. Literature. Best pieces of literature were produced during the Gupta period. The famous Sanskrit poet Kalidasa wrote several dramas and poems. His play Shakuntala and his poem Meghaduta are very famous, Other writers of the Gupta period were Amarasimha, Sudraka, Dandin, etc.

Question 3.
Give a brief description of the progress of science and technology under the patronage of the Guptas.
Answer:
Science and technology made huge progress under the patronage of Gupta rulers. “Aryabhata was the famous scientist of this age and he wrote a book called Aryabhattiyam”. In this book, he wrote that the earth moves around the sun and how solar and lunar eclipses occur. In the field of mathematics, the use of decimal systems was also given by this period. Arabs borrowed it from India and then Europeans borrowed it from Arabs. A number of books on astronomy, mathematics, and other sciences were written in this age.

This age also made huge progress in the field of technology. The iron pillar standing near Qutab Minar in Delhi is one of the finest examples of technological advances of this age.