NCERT solutions for History - Themes in Indian History [English] Class 12 chapter 2 - Kings, Farmers And Towns: Early States and Economies [Latest edition]

Answer in 100-150 words

Discuss the evidence of craft production in Early Historic cities. In what ways is this different from the evidence from Harappan cities?

Answer in 100-150 words

Describe the salient features of Mahajanapadas.

Answer in 100-150 words

How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?

Answer in 100-150 words

Compare and contrast the list of things given to the Pandyan chief (Source 3) with those produced in the village of Danguna (source 8). Do you notice any similarities and differences?

Source 3 :- (The Pandya chief Senguttuvan visits the forest)

This is an excerpt from the Silappadikaram, an epic written in Tamil:-

(When he visited the forest) people came down the mountain, singing and dancing ... just as the defeated show respect to the victorious king, so did they bring gifts – ivory, fragrant wood, fans made of the hair of deer, honey, sandalwood, red ochre,
antimony, turmeric, cardamom, pepper, etc. ... they brought 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. ...

Source 8 :- (Prabhavati Gupta and the village of Danguna)

This is what Prabhavati Gupta states in her inscription:- Prabhavati Gupta … commands the gramakutumbinas (householders/peasants living in the village), Brahmanas and others living in the village of Danguna ...

“Be it known to you that on the twelfth (lunar day) of the bright (fortnight) of Karttika, we have, in order to increase our religious merit donated this village with the pouring out of water, to the Acharya (teacher) Chanalasvamin … You should obey all (his) commands ...

We confer on (him) the following exemptions typical of an agrahara …(this village is) not to be entered by soldiers and policemen; (it is) exempt from (the obligation to provide) grass, (animal) hides as seats, and charcoal (to touring royal officers); exempt from (the royal prerogative of) purchasing fermenting liquors and digging (salt); exempt from (the right to) mines and khadira trees; exempt from (the obligation to supply) flowers and milk; (it is donated) together with (the right to) hidden treasures and deposits (and) together with major and minor taxes ...”

This charter has been written in the thirteenth (regnal) year. (It has been) engraved by Chakradasa.

Answer in 100-150 words

List some of the problems faced by the epigraphists.

Write a short essay (about 500 words) on the following:

Discuss the main features of the Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?

Write a short essay (about 500 words) on the following:

This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture, activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions.” Discuss. 

Write a short essay (about 500 words) on the following: 

Discuss the notions of kingship that developed in the post-Mauryan period.

Write a short essay (about 500 words) on the following:

To what extent were agricultural practices transformed in the period under consideration?

Compare the given Maps, and list the mahajanapadas that might have been included in the Mauryan Empire. Are any Asokan inscriptions found in these areas?