Takht-i-Bahi Inscription and Parthian Rule in Pakistan

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Questions and Answers

Where did the Satavahana kingdom extend to in the south?

River Indus

River Godavari

River Ganges

River Krishna (correct)

What was the capital of the Satavahana kingdom?

Pratishthana (modern Paithan) (correct)

Krishna (modern Amaravati)

Godavari (modern Dhulia)

Pratishthana (modern Aurangabad)

When was the Satavahana kingdom wiped out?

First quarter of the second century AD

First quarter of the third century AD (correct)

First quarter of the fourth century AD

First quarter of the fifth century AD

Who succeeded the Satavahana kings?

Kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty Signup and view all the answers

What were the lowest levels of administration in the Satavahana kingdom?

Gramas or villages Signup and view all the answers

How was revenue collected in the Satavahana kingdom?

Both in cash and kind Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Satavahana kings make tax-free land grants?

To gain religious merit Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary duty of the Satavahana kings according to their claim?

To uphold the varna system Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of the guilds in the post-Mauryan period?

To regulate the business of artisans and merchants Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the sreshthi in the post-Mauryan period?

The head of a guild of merchants Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the inscriptions in the post-Mauryan period?

They referred to the donations made by artisans to monasteries Signup and view all the answers

What was the characteristic of art in the post-Mauryan period?

It was predominantly religious Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of the Jyestha in the post-Mauryan period?

The headman of a craft vocation Signup and view all the answers

What was the function of the guilds in addition to regulating business?

They served as banks and received deposits from the public Signup and view all the answers

Between which years was the Sangam literature believed to have been composed?

300 BC and 300 AD Signup and view all the answers

What is a remarkable feature of the Sangam literature?

Its vivid portrayal of the contemporary society and culture of Tamilaham Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Parthian ruler mentioned in the Takht-i-Bahi inscription?

Gondophernes Signup and view all the answers

What was the system of governance in Tamilaham during the Sangam Age?

Hereditary chieftainship Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT one of the important chieftains that dominated Tamil region during Sangam Age?

Vakatakas Signup and view all the answers

Which region did the Shakas originate from?

Unknown, but not from India Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of Kanishka's rule?

He integrated central Asia with north India as part of a single empire Signup and view all the answers

What was the capital of the Cheras during the Sangam Age?

Vanji Signup and view all the answers

What was the first royal inscription of early India composed in?

Chaste Sanskrit Signup and view all the answers

What is the geographical extent of Tamilaham?

Between the hills of Tirupati and the tip of Kanyakumari Signup and view all the answers

Who succeeded Kujula Kadphises?

Wema Kadphises Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the collections in which the Sangam literature was later put together?

Ettutogai Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the famous Buddhist text that mentions an Indo-Greek king?

Milindapanho Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the interaction between Tamilaham and the northern Aryan culture during the Sangam Age?

Peaceful and harmonious Signup and view all the answers

What was the social structure of Tamilaham during the Sangam Age?

Hereditary chieftainship with numerous subordinate chiefs Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the era started by Kanishka?

Shaka era Signup and view all the answers

Where did the Kushanas originally belong to?

Western China Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the region shown in Map 6.3?

Deccan and South India Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the growth of trade in the Tamil region?

The discovery of monsoons and the use of direct sea route Signup and view all the answers

What was Vanji, identified with the present day Karur in Tamil Nadu?

The capital of the Cheras and an important centre of trade and craft Signup and view all the answers

What was Muzris, i.e., Cranganore on the south-west coast, famous for?

Its large amounts of pepper Signup and view all the answers

What was Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, described as in the Sangam poems?

A large city enclosed by a wall Signup and view all the answers

What was Korkai, in the Tirunnelveli district of Tamil Nadu, famous for?

Its pearls Signup and view all the answers

What was Uraiyur, the capital of the Cholas, described as?

A grand city with magnificent buildings Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the interaction between north Indian and south Indian traditions in the field of religion?

A close and peaceful interaction between the two traditions Signup and view all the answers

What was the local deity worshipped by the people of the hills?

Murugan Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Post-Mauryan Developments in Ancient India

The Takht-i-Bahi inscription, dated 45 AD, is an important inscription indicating Parthian rule in northwestern Pakistan.
The inscription refers to Gondophernes or Gondophares as a Parthian ruler.
Gondophernes is associated with St. Thomas, who converted him and his brother to Christianity.

The Kushanas

The Kushanas originally belonged to western China and were also called Yueh-chis.
They defeated the Shakas and Pahlavas and created a big empire in Pakistan.
The first prominent ruler of the Kushana dynasty was Kujula Kadphises.
He was succeeded by his son Wema Kadphises, and then Kanishka, who is the most famous of the Kushanas.
Kanishka probably ascended the throne in 78 AD and started a new era, now known as the Shaka era.
Under Kanishka, the Kushana empire reached its maximum territorial limits, extending from Central Asia to north India.
The empire included Varanasi, Kaushambi, and Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh.

The Satavahanas

The Satavahanas had their capital at Pratishthana (modern Paithan) near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
The Satavahana kingdom was divided into subdivisions called aharas or rashtras, meaning districts.
The lowest level of administration was a grama, which was under the charge of a Gramika.
There were also officers called amatyas who were perhaps ministers or advisors of the king.
Revenue was collected both in cash and kind.
The Satavahanas were the first in Indian history to make tax-free land grants to Buddhists and Brahmanas to gain religious merit.
The Satavahana kings claimed to be Brahmanas and considered it their primary duty to uphold the varna system.

Guilds and Artisans

The communities of merchants were organized into groups known as Shreni or guilds under the head called sreshthi.
Another type of mercantile group was called sartha, which signified mobile or caravan trading corporation of interregional traders.
The leader of such a guild was called sarthavaha.
Like merchants, almost all craft vocations were also organized into guilds, each under a headman called Jyestha.
These included weavers, corn dealers, bamboo workers, oil manufacturers, potters, etc.
The guilds were basically associations of merchants and craftsmen following the same profession or dealing in the same commodity.
They elected their head and framed their own rules regarding prices and quality, etc., to regulate their business on the basis of mutual goodwill.

Art and Architecture

Art in the post-Mauryan period was predominantly religious.
The Sangam literature, composed between 300 BC and 300 AD, is a remarkable feature of this period.
It vividly portrays the contemporary society and culture of Tamilaham, or Tamil region, and its peaceful and harmonious interaction with the northern (Aryan) culture.

The Tamil Region

Tamilaham stretches between the hills of Tirupati and the tip of Kanyakumari.
It was divided amongst large number of chieftains, and the chieftainship was hereditary.
The important chieftains who dominated the Tamil region during the Sangam Age were the Cholas, with their capital at Uraiyur, the Cheras with their capital at Vanji, and the Pandyas with their capital at Madurai.
The Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras had several subordinate chiefs.
The discovery of monsoons and the use of direct sea routes between Indian coasts and the western world led to the growth of trade in this region.
It led to the rise of important towns and craft centers in the Tamil region.
Vanji, identified with the present-day Karur in Tamil Nadu, was the capital of the Cheras and an important center of trade and craft.
Muzris, i.e., Cranganore on the south-west coast, was the foremost port of the Cheras.
Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, is described in the Sangam poems as a large city enclosed by a wall.
It was an important center of fine textile and ivory working.
Korkai, in the Tirunnelveli district of Tamil Nadu, was an important Pandya port.
It was famous for its pearls.
Uraiyur (Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu), the capital of the Cholas, was a grand city with magnificent buildings.
Kaveripattinam or Puhar was the main Chola port.
The Sangam poems refer to the busy markets guarded by soldiers.

Religion

The Sangam period witnessed a close and peaceful interaction between north Indian and south Indian traditions.
The Brahmanas who performed religious ceremonies popularized the worship of Indra, Visnu, Siva, etc., in south India.
There are also references to the presence of Buddhists and Jainas in the Tamil region.
The local people, particularly those of the hills, worshipped a deity called Murugan, which in northern India came to be identified with Kartikeya, a war god.

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Description

This quiz is about the Takht-i-Bahi inscription, a significant artifact from 45 AD, that indicates Parthian rule in northwestern Pakistan. The inscription refers to Gondophernes, a Parthian ruler, and his possible connection to St. Thomas and Christianity.