Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas: History Optional PYQs

Polity and administration. Economic conditions. Coinage of the Guptas, Land grants, Decline of urban centres, Indian feudalism. Caste system. Position of women. Education and educational institutions; Nalanda, Vlkramshlla and Vallabhl, Literature, scientific literature, art and architecture.

PYQs: Guptas, Vakatakas and Vardhanas [1985-2024]

1. ‘The Gupta period stands at the centre of Indian history. Discuss the development of arts and literature in that Gupta period in the light of this statement. (1985)
2. Write short essay of not more than 200 words: The significance of the policy of matrimonial alliances for the expansion and consolidation of the Gupta empire. (1986)
3. Harsha is described as ‘the lord of the whole of north India*. Determine the extent of his empire and discuss his political relations with Sasanka, Bhaskaravarman and Pulakesin II. (1986)
4. ‘Harsha owes his greatness largely not to any real achievements but to formulate descriptions by two famous men.’ Discuss. (1987)
5. Write short essay of not more than 200 words: The Maukharis paving the way for the glory of Harshavardhana. (1988)
6. Discuss critically the role Harsha played in the history of his times. (1989)
7. Write short essay of not more than 200 words: The economic prosperity in the Gupta period. (1990)
8. Write brief essay on Origins and meaning of the samanta system. (1991)
9. Analyse the characteristic features of the Gupta art and compare them with those of the Mauryan art. (1992)
10. In what ways does religion as reflected in the Vedic texts differ from the religion of the Gupta period? (1991)
11. Write brief essay: Factors that led to the Rise and Fall of the Gupta Empire. (1996)
12. “Of all the events that had a singular being on the history of India, Harsha’s death in 647 A.D. is significant.” Why? Explain. (1996)
13. Write brief essay on Skandagupta’s war with the Hunas. (1997)
14. Write brief essay on Nalanda Mahavihara. (1997)
15. How did Indian culture spread in the South-east Asiatic countries during the Gupta Age? (1997)
16. Highlight the achievements of the Gupta period in the field of literature, science and technology. (1998)
17. ‘Harshvardhan was himself great, but he has been made greater by Ban and Yuan Chiang.’ Critically examine the statement. (1999)
18. Who were the Maukharis? Discuss their political relations with the Later Guptas of Magadha. (2000)
19. Examine the information of Fahien about the political, religious, social and economic conditions of India. Make a comparative study of his account with that of Yuan Chwang. (2003)
20. Assess the status of women in India from 4th century BC to AD 6th century. (2005)
21. What are the salient features of the administrative system of the Guptas? (2005)
22. Describe the expansion of the Gupta empire under Samudragupta. (2006)
23. Throw light on the condition of common man in the Gupta period. (2007)
24. Give an account of the use of gold coins by commoners in the Gupta period. (2009)
25. Trace the development of urbanization from the third millennium B.C.E. to 6^th century B.C.E. (2011)
26. Assess Ellora as a unique art centre of the different cultural streams.  (2011)
27. Assess the educational system in early India and identify important educational institutions of the period. (2012)
28. Discuss the provincial and district administrative units of the Gupta Empire with the designations and functions of the officers. (2014)
29. What were the privileges granted to the donees in land-grant charters of early India? How far were these charters responsible for integration or disintegration of socio-political milieu? (2014)
30. Critically evaluate the theory and practice of land revenue system in ancient India. (2016)
31. The second urbanization gave rise to the organized corporate activities that reached their zenith during the Gupta period. Discuss. (2017)
32. Discuss the experimentations with art and architecture during the Gupta-Vakataka period. (2018)
33. “Do you agree that the system of land grants from the Gupta- Vakataka period was connected with the decentralization of state in any way?” (2019)
34. ‘Sanskrit literature of classical Gupta Age set standards for the early medieval India’. Evaluate the statement with representative examples. (2020)
35. The economic achievements of the Guptas were the culmination of a process which began during the Kushanas. Comment. (2022)
36. Evaluate the status of women in the Gupta period as compared to the pre–Gupta era. (2023)
37. Highlight the contributions of Aryabhatta, Varahamihira, and Brahmagupta in the fields of Astronomy and Mathematics. (2024)