Monday, 5 September 2011
Warfare & Rebellion .
Ancient India was united as a single empire only thrice in its history – during the Mauryan (c. 322-185BCE), Gupta (c. 320-550 CE) and Chola (850-1267 CE ) dynasties . For much of its ancient period , India was troubled by frequent wars between rival kingdoms.
Warfare in Ancient India
à Frequent warfare among indian kingdoms had two important impacts on ancient Indian society .
1. Ancient Indian society was divided into groups that were concerned with increasing their own powers. Most people at that time accepted and believed that there would always be warfare because of the existence of the kshatriya or warrior class.
2. Most ancient Indians continued to be loyal to the different kingdoms that they were from. During ancient times , the present-day idea of India as a single country was not known. Hence , only a few rulers in ancient times were able to unite India as a whole.
However , there were two features that were adopted throughout ancient India – the caste system and Hinduism – that created cultural unity.
posted by Maryam Nolza (= on 01:47
Natural disasters were a constant threat to the people of ancient India. Here are a few of the internal threats that ancient india faced.
Floods
à A major natural disaster that threatened Indus people . (Flooding of Indus River)
à The floods destroy homes and crops , and killed many humans and animals.
à Indus Valley Cities had to be rebuilt several times . Cause : The floods.
à Through archaeological evidence, Mohenjo-daro was rebuilt six times and Harappa , five times.
àThe Indus valley Civilisation was probably wiped out by a series of great floods c. 1500 BCE.
Famines
à Definition : A period of severe food shortage .
à Often occurs after a drought. Effects of drought : Crops die , resulting in food shortage .
à Can also be caused by a flood . ( Crops and plants are washed away by the waters.)
à Kautilya wrote a textbook on government , the Arthashastra . He wrote that Indian kings should help their people during a famine. The kings were expected to distribute food stored in the government’s grain stores to the people.
*Drought : A period of little or no rain. * Kautilya : the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya , the first emperor of the Mauryan dynasty (c. 322-185BCE)
posted by Maryam Nolza (= on 00:38
posted by Maryam Nolza (= on 00:31
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