Harshavardhan & the Southern Dynasties: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Ancient History)

Explanation

Hoysala Dynasty: Originating from the Indian subcontinent, the Hoysala Empire held sway over a significant portion of present-day Karnataka from the 10th to the 14th centuries. While the Hoysalas initially established their capital at Belur, it was later relocated to Halebidu. Gahadavala Dynasty: Following the dissolution of the Pratihara empire, several Rajput states emerged in northern India. Among these, the Gahadavalas of Kanauj (12th to 13th century), the Paramaras of Malwa, and the Chauhans of Ajmer were the most prominent. Kakatiya Dynasty: The Kakatiya dynasty ruled the region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the 12th and 14th centuries. Their capital was Warangal in Telangana. The distinct style of Kakatiya-era architecture is seen in the Thousand Pillar Temple and Ramappa Temple near Warangal. Yadava Dynasty: The Yadava dynasty ruled in the 12th-14th -century and comprised the Hindu kingdom of central India in what is now the Indian state of Maharashtra. Originally a feudatory of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, the dynasty became paramount in the Deccan under Bhillama (c. 1187-91), who founded Devagiri (later Daulatabad) as his capital.

Explanation

Yuan Chwang, the Chinese traveler, provided a detailed account of India during the 7th century, noting its thriving culture, well-organized society, and vibrant Buddhist institutions. He described India’s cities, roads, and religious life.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Roads and river routes were not completely robbery-free. He described the condition of roads as generally safe, but he also noted that there were occasional dangers and robberies on certain routes. Hiuen-Tsang himself was looted a couple of times.

Statement 2 is correct: Criminal law was very severe. He mentioned that the judicial system in India involved ordeals by fire, water, and poison as a way to determine guilt or innocence.

Statement 3 is correct: Duties were to be paid at trade barriers without fail. It was a source of income for the kingdom.

Explanation

Statement (a) is correct: Yukti Kalpataru, written by the Indian scholar Bhoja in the 11th century CE, is a work of great significance that discusses a wide range of topics, including shipbuilding. This text does provide evidence of the advanced shipbuilding techniques of the time, offering insight into how ships were constructed and used for trade and warfare. Indian maritime history of Shipbuilding dates back to the Harappan civilization. India had a well-developed maritime tradition, but other civilizations, like China, also had advanced shipbuilding. Statement (b) is correct: The South Indian rulers always patronized traders and monks due to their knowledge and wisdom. Heavy grants and lands were issued for their knowledge about the outside world. The Cholas, Pallavas, and Srivijaya kingdom had strong maritime links due to royal patronage of trade and cultural exchanges. Statement (c) is correct: Indians have been familiar with the monsoon winds since the Gupta era. Although the Bay of Bengal’s monsoon winds made sea travel easier, this was not the only factor in India’s early commerce and cultural connections with Southeast Asia. Note: Although all the statements seems correct but UPSC has given option (c) as the most convincing correct answer.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Amoghavarsha I (814-878 CE) was one of the greatest rulers of the Rashtrakuta Empire, he was known for his negotiations and peace treaty with the Gangas and other southern powers and for his immense contributions to literature. He authored Kavirajamarga, the earliest known Kannada literary work, and shifted the capital to Manyakheta.

Option (b) is correct: Dantidurga is considered to be the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire in the Deccan region of India, during the late 8th century. He overthrew the rule of the Chalukya dynasty and laid the foundation for what became a powerful empire in India.

Option (c) is incorrect: Dhruva was also a ruler of the Rashtrakuta Empire, notably crushing the revolt in Gujarat and effectively dealing with invasions from the Arab world.

Option (d) is incorrect: Krishna I was another significant ruler from the Rashtrakuta dynasty, known particularly for the construction of the Kailasanatha Temple at Ellora.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Pulakeshin-I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty and ruled in the early 6th century, i.e. before Harsha’s time.

Option (b) is correct: Emperor Harsha (606-647 CE) expanded his empire across North India, ruling from Kannauj and influencing regions like Punjab, Bengal, Odisha, and Central India. Seeking to extend his control southward beyond the Vindhyas, he invaded the Deccan but was defeated by Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya ruler (c. 610-642 CE), around 618-619 CE at the Narmada River. This defeat established the Narmada as the boundary between Harsha’s northern empire and the Chalukyan kingdom, preventing further expansion into the south.

Option (c) is incorrect: Vikramaditya-I was a later Chalukya king, ruling after Pulakeshin-II.

Option (d) is incorrect: Vikramaditya-II ruled even later than Vikramaditya-I and his reign did not overlap with Harsha’s.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Cholas were successful in defeating the Pandya and Chera rulers, establishing a stronghold in peninsular India, and significantly expanding their territorial control in South India during the early medieval period. For example, under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, the Cholas defeated these rulers and extended their empire across peninsular India.

Statement 2 is correct: The Cholas were also known for their naval power and maritime trade, which led them to conduct expeditions to South-East Asia. Their naval campaigns extended the Chola influence to regions like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia, where they challenged the Sailendra Empire. For instance, Rajendra Chola I led a successful naval expedition (1025 CE) against the Srivijaya Empire (modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand). The Cholas temporarily conquered some areas, demonstrating their naval supremacy in the region.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: The Prayag Assembly was convened by Harshavardhana around AD 643. This assembly is a significant historical event where Harshavardhana gathered numerous scholars, monks, and dignitaries. Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), was also present at the assembly and provided a detailed account of it. While it is true that Harshavardhana promoted Mahayana Buddhism during his reign, the assembly was not solely focused on promoting this form of Buddhism. Reason (R) is false: Harshavardhana organized the Prayag Assembly not just to promote Mahayana Buddhism but also to strengthen his rule and encourage religious discussions. The assembly was open to different beliefs.

Explanation

Rajendra I was a notable ruler of the Chola dynasty in South India. He succeeded his father, Rajaraja I, and further expanded the Chola Empire through extensive military campaigns.

Option (c) is correct: Among Rajendra I significant achievements was the invasion and annexation of Ceylon in the early 11th century. This conquest marked the incorporation of Ceylon into the Chola realm for a substantial period.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Aditya I was son of Vijayalaya Chola, Aditya I maintained diplomatic relations with Cheras but did not conquer Ceylon. Rajaraja I expanded the Chola empire significantly but did not conquer Ceylon. His major conquests were in the South Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean region. Vijayalaya Chola founded the Chola dynasty in the 9th century but did not conquer Ceylon. He focused on establishing Chola power in Tamil Nadu, not Sri Lanka.

Explanation

The Saka Era is a historical calendar that begins in 78 A.D., marking its epoch in Indian history. The Vikrama Samvat is another significant calendar system in India, which starts from 58 B.C.. To convert a Saka year to Vikrama Samvat, 136 years are added to the Saka year. Therefore, adding 136 years to 465 (Saka year) results in 601, which corresponds to a Vikrama Samvat year.