Deciphering Ancient Indian Scripts

The deciphering of Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts by James Prinsep.

Pleasant to behold.

The broad contours of political history were in place by the early decades of the twentieth century.

<p>A shift from reconstructing lineages to investigating connections between political changes and economic and social developments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sixth century BCE.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It was one of the major developments associated with this era, along with the development of early states and cities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are considered valuable sources of information and the first instances of a ruler addressing his subjects directly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Respect towards elders, generosity towards Brahmanas and those who renounced worldly life, treating slaves and servants kindly, and respect for religions and traditions other than one's own.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The capital Pataliputra, and the provincial centers of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali, and Suvarnagiri.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because the regions within the empire were too diverse, making uniform administration impractical.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They were situated on important long-distance trade routes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To manage transport and provisions, procure food for soldiers and fodder for animals, and recruit servants and artisans to look after the soldiers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Propagating dhamma, or the principles of respect, kindness, and generosity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To spread the message of dhamma and ensure the well-being of people in this world and the next.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because it represented an early example of a unified Indian empire, and Asoka's message of dhamma was seen as inspiring.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>About 150 years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mahajanapadas</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Oligarchy</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They laid down norms for rulers and other social categories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Productive agriculture, accessible iron mines, and convenient communication via the Ganga and its tributaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rajagaha, which means 'house of the king'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the empire.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Archaeological finds, the account of Megasthenes, the Arthashastra, and later Buddhist, Jaina, and Puranic literature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It commanded routes of communication along the Ganga.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They helped implement the policies of the rulers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It marked a significant expansion of the Mauryan Empire.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They demonstrated that control was not uniform within the empire and that the empire did not encompass the entire subcontinent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They were chiefdoms that emerged in Tamilakam, which included parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They derived revenues from long-distance trade.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They identified with a variety of deities, and their rulers also adopted the title 'devaputra', or 'son of god'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They suggest that the Kushanas considered themselves godlike.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They maintained themselves through local resources, including control over land, and offered homage and military support to rulers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is a composition that praises the king, but its value lies in its poetic quality rather than its factual accuracy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They provide insights into popular perceptions of kings and the experiences of ordinary people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It describes the plight of the subjects of a wicked king, including elderly women and men, cultivators, herders, village boys, and even animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ordinary people rarely left accounts of their thoughts and experiences, and inscriptions often do not provide all the answers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They were being attacked by robbers at night and by tax collectors during the day.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The shift to plough agriculture with the use of iron-tipped ploughshare.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The use of irrigation through wells, tanks, and canals, organized by communities and individuals, including powerful men and kings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gahapati.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Large landowners or vellalar, ploughmen or uzhavar, and slaves or adimai.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The grants were made to religious institutions or to Brahmanas, and were recorded in inscriptions, mostly in Sanskrit, on stone or copper plates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some inscriptions used a combination of Sanskrit and a local language such as Tamil or Telugu.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Prabhavati Gupta was the daughter of Chandragupta II, one of the most important rulers in early Indian history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The production of paddy was dramatically increased, but it meant back-breaking work for the producers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The iron ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in areas with high rainfall, leading to a growth in agricultural productivity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The limitation of inscriptions is that they often focus on grand, unique events and project the perspective of the person(s) who commissioned them, potentially omitting routine practices and daily existence. This can be addressed by juxtaposing inscriptions with other perspectives to arrive at a better understanding of the past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Many inscriptions have not survived the ravages of time, and many more may have existed but have not been discovered or deciphered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Routine agricultural practices and the joys and sorrows of daily existence are often missing from inscriptions, which is significant because it provides a biased view of the past.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Considering multiple perspectives is important because inscriptions often project the perspective of the person(s) who commissioned them, which may not be representative of the entire population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Relying solely on epigraphy is limited because it may not provide a comprehensive view of the past, omitting important aspects of daily life and routine practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Prabhavati's access to land was significant because it defied the provisions of Sanskrit legal texts, which stated that women were not supposed to have independent access to resources such as land.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Land grants reveal that rural populations included Brahmanas and peasants, who were expected to provide a range of produce to the king or his representatives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historians debate whether land grants were part of a strategy to extend agriculture to new areas or indicative of weakening political power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>These cities were located along routes of communication, such as riverine routes, land routes, and coastal routes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Artefacts include fine pottery bowls and dishes, ornaments, tools, weapons, vessels, figurines, made of materials like gold, silver, copper, bronze, ivory, glass, shell, and terracotta.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>These inscriptions reveal the occupations and social status of people, including washing folk, weavers, scribes, carpenters, potters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, officials, religious teachers, and merchants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Iron tools enabled craftspersons to meet the growing demands of urban elites.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Trade networks extended overland into Central Asia and beyond, and overseas, from ports on the Arabian Sea to East and North Africa and West Asia, and through the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia and China.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>These cities were centres of commercial, cultural, and political activity, and were often capitals of mahajanapadas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Guilds procured raw materials, regulated production, and marketed the finished product, facilitating the growth of crafts and trade.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>on foot</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>kings, merchants and bankers, and tribal republics</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They were the first coins to bear the names and images of rulers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>silver and copper</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They were the largest hoards of gold coins and were virtually identical in weight to those issued by Roman emperors and Parthian rulers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some believe that the collapse of the Western Roman Empire led to a decline in trade, while others argue that new trade networks emerged during this time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is the script used in most Asokan inscriptions and is the basis for modern Indian languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They worked together to compare Brahmi letters with older specimens, aiding in the deciphering of the script.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They indicate close connections between the Roman Empire and south India through trade.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They indicate the interest and participation of tribal republics in economic exchanges.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary challenge was the lack of understanding of the script, which was overcome after decades of painstaking investigations by several epigraphists, leading to James Prinsep's decipherment of Asokan Brahmi in 1838.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The finds of coins of Indo-Greek kings with names written in Greek and Kharosthi scripts facilitated the decipherment, and it helped in reading longer inscriptions by identifying the symbol for 'a' and other letters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The titles used are 'devanampiya' and 'piyadassi', which signify the ruler's relationship with the gods and his pleasant nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historians assess statements by judging whether they are true, plausible, or exaggerations, and they face challenges such as the limitation of epigraphic evidence, technical limitations, and uncertainty about the exact meaning of words used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The limitations include technical limitations, damage or missing letters, and uncertainty about the exact meaning of words used, and scholars deal with these limitations by debating and discussing alternative ways of reading inscriptions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The inscription is significant as it marks a change in the ruler's attitude towards warfare, and historians raise questions about why it is missing in the region that was conquered, and whether the ruler's anguish was too painful to address in the region.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historians evaluate the evidence by examining the content, style, language, and palaeography of inscriptions, and they face challenges such as the limitation of epigraphic evidence, technical limitations, and uncertainty about the exact meaning of words used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The addition of words in brackets helps to make the meaning of sentences clear, but epigraphists need to exercise caution to ensure that the intended meaning of the author is not altered.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historians raise questions about whether passers-by would have stopped to read these orders, whether people throughout the subcontinent understood the Prakrit used, and whether the orders would have been followed, and these questions have implications for our understanding of the effectiveness of the king's governance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The claim is significant as it highlights Asoka's reform initiatives, and historians question the veracity of this claim by considering the political history of the subcontinent prior to Asoka.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The significant development was the organization of agricultural production through the use of iron tools and the emergence of a pastoral population. This led to the growth of towns and the emergence of early states and economies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The new modes of disposal of the dead were the making of elaborate stone structures known as megaliths. These reveal that the people who built them had a rich culture and were skilled craftsmen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sources used by historians include inscriptions, texts, coins, and visual material. The limitations of these sources are that they do not provide a complete picture of the past and may be biased or incomplete.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The significant trends that emerged were the emergence of early states, empires, and kingdoms, and the growth of new towns. These trends imply that there was a growth in population and an increase in trade and commerce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The developments included the composition of the Rigveda, the emergence of agricultural settlements, and the growth of new towns. These developments reveal that the people who lived during this period were skilled in agriculture, architecture, and craftsmanship.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The emergence of early states, empires, and kingdoms led to the growth of a complex social hierarchy, an increase in trade and commerce, and the growth of new towns. This impacted the lives of people by providing new opportunities for social mobility and economic growth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Coconuts, mangoes, medicinal plants, fruits, onions, sugarcane, flowers, areca nut, bananas, baby tigers, lions, elephants, monkeys, bear, deer, musk deer, fox, peacocks, musk cat, wild cocks, speaking parrots, etc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It was an artificial reservoir built by a local governor during the rule of the Mauryas, which was later repaired by Rudradaman and another ruler of the Gupta dynasty.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To prevent controversies due to ignorance of boundaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Spade culture, due to the difficulty of ploughing the sparsely scattered fields covered with grass.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It records the donation of a village to the Acharya Chanalasvamin, and commands the villagers to obey his commands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A settlement on the outskirts of a forest in the Vindhyas, with people engaged in agricultural activities, gathering forest fruits, and trading goods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It presents the ruler as a supreme being, possessing compassion, kindness, and goodness, and compares him to the gods Kubera, Varuna, Indra, and Yama.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It highlights the ruler's ability to provide public services without imposing taxes on his subjects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Various goods, including rice, threshing ground, arable land, bundles of bark, sacks of plucked flowers, loads of flax and hemp, honey, peacocks' tail feathers, and wreaths of wax.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They are used to prevent disputes and controversies over land ownership.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The major political and economic developments in India from 600 BCE to 500 CE include the rise of the mahajanapadas, the invasion of Alexander of Macedon, the reign of Asoka, the end of the Mauryan empire, the rule of the Satavahanas in the Deccan, and the rise of the Guptas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Asoka's inscriptions provide valuable information about his reign, the spread of Buddhism, and the administrative system of the Mauryan empire. They also reveal his efforts to promote non-violence, tolerance, and social welfare.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Satavahanas and Shaka rulers made land grants to Brahmanas and temples, which were recorded in inscriptions. These grants reveal information about rural populations, including their social and economic conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Samudragupta was a powerful Gupta ruler who expanded the empire, conquered several regions, and restored the prosperity of the empire. He also patronized the arts and promoted Hinduism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The rise of the Chalukyas and Pallavas in south India marked a significant shift in the regionalization of power, as they established powerful kingdoms and promoted local cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Roman trade and the Indo-Greek rule in the northwest of the subcontinent introduced new trade routes, cultural exchange, and architectural styles, which had a lasting impact on Indian history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The development of coinage in ancient India facilitated trade and commerce by providing a standardized medium of exchange, which promoted economic growth and urbanization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historians assess the statements made in inscriptions by evaluating their authenticity, context, and reliability. They face challenges such as deciphering scripts, dating inscriptions, and interpreting the biases of the writers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A great quantity of coin, topaz, antimony, coral, crude glass, copper, tin, and lead</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Asiatic Society and epigraphists like James Prinsep and Alexander Cunningham made significant contributions to the study of Indian epigraphy by deciphering scripts, publishing inscriptions, and promoting the field of epigraphy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The exemptions suggest that the village was granted autonomy and was not subject to royal interference, and was also exempt from providing certain goods and services to the royal authorities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Janapadas were territorial states that emerged in ancient India, which contributed to the formation of larger states and empires. They were characterized by a distinct identity, economy, and polity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The pativedakas were responsible for reporting to the king about the affairs of the people at all times and in all places.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The conquest of the Kalingas led to massive destruction and loss of life, and subsequently, the king devoted himself to the study and promotion of Dhamma.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A bead-making industry using precious and semi-precious stones</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The charter was written in the thirteenth regnal year, indicating the year of the king's reign when the charter was issued.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A chief derives support from his kinfolk, while a king collects taxes. Chiefs receive gifts from their subordinates, unlike kings, and often distribute these amongst their supporters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Transplantation ensures a higher ratio of survival of saplings and higher yields by replanting them in waterlogged fields after they have grown.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A gahapati was the owner, master, or head of a household, exercising control over women, children, slaves, and workers, and owning resources like land and animals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An agrahara was land granted to a Brahmana, exempting them from paying land revenue and other dues to the king, and often giving them the right to collect these dues from the local people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pataliputra began as a village, was renamed by the Magadhan rulers, and became the capital of the Mauryan Empire, eventually declining in importance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The gift of an image reveals the donor's piety and generosity, and often provides information about the donor's identity and social status.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Periplus is a Greek word meaning 'sailing around', and it relates to the study of numismatics, which involves the study of coins, including visual elements, metallurgical analysis, and contexts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Arthashastra is a significant text that lays down minute details of administrative and military organization, including the capture of elephants using a complex process involving guards, trainers, and female elephants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Greek accounts provide valuable information about the Mauryan Empire, but historians consider them to be exaggerated, and therefore, evaluate their reliability with caution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Silappadikaram is an epic written in Tamil that reveals the forest dwellers' way of life, including their gifts to the victorious king, such as ivory, fragrant wood, and other items.</p> Signup and view all the answers