UPSC – CSE Prelims 2023
HISTORY – ANCIENT – THE DAWN OF HISTORY IN THE DEEP SOUTH
1. With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well-known as-
(a) Capital cities
(b) Ports
(c) Centres of iron-and-steel making
(d) Shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Answer: (b)
Poompuhar is a town in the Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu. It was once a flourishing ancient port city known as Kaveri Poompattinam and Kaveripattinam (not to be confused with modern Kaveripattinam), which for a while served as the capital of the early Chola kings in Tamilakam.
Korkai, in Tamil Nadu, was the capital, principal center of trade and important port of the Early Pandyan Kingdom. At that time, it was located on the banks of the Tamiraparani River and at the sea coast, forming a natural harbour. Due to excessive sedimentation, the sea has receded about 6 km in the past 2000 years, leaving Korkai well inland today.
Muchiri (Muziris) in Kerala found mention in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, the bardic Tamil poems and a number of classical sources. It was the major ancient port city of Cheras.
HISTORY – ANCIENT – THE DAWN OF HISTORY IN THE DEEP SOUTH
2. Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometers long from the river to the capital city?
(a) Devaraya I
(b) Mallikarjuna
(c) Vira Vijaya
(d) Virupaksha
Answer: A
The large dam across the Tungabhadra River and the canal aqueduct several kilometers away from the capital city in the Vijayanagara Empire were constructed during the reign of King Krishna Deva Raya. Krishna Deva Raya was one of the most famous rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire, and he undertook numerous infrastructure projects to improve the irrigation and agricultural capabilities of his kingdom.
The credit for making the capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire one of the biggest cities in the 15th century goes to Deva Raya I. He realized that the scarcity of water supply, both for drinking and for irrigation, was restricting the growth of the royal capital. In c.1410 he had a barrage constructed across the Tungabhadra river and commissioned a 24 km long aqueduct from the Tungabhadra river to the capital.
UPSC – CSE Prelims 2022
HISTORY – ANCIENT – THE DAWN OF HISTORY IN THE DEEP SOUTH
1. consider the following pairs:
King Dynasty
- Nannuka Chandela
- Jayashakti Paramara
- Nagabhata Gurjara-Pratihara
- Bhoja Rashtrakuta
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) only one pair
(b) only two pairs
(c)only three pairs
(d) all four pairs
Ans. B
Kings and Dynasties
KING | DYNASTY |
Nannuka |
|
Jayashakti |
|
Nagabhatta II | Gurjara Pratihara |
Bhoja | Parmara |
HISTORY – ANCIENT – THE DAWN OF HISTORY IN THE DEEP SOUTH
3. Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient south India is correct?
(a) Sangam poem are devoid of any reference to material culture.
(b) The social classification of varna was known to Sangam poets.
(c) Sangam poems have no reference to magical forces as traditional
(d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational
Ans. B
Sangam Literature
The Sangam literature, historically known as ‘the poetry of the noble ones’, is the earliest known literature of South India. The Tamil tradition and legends link it to three literary gatherings around Madurai and Kapāṭapuram (Pandyan capitals) before the start of the common era. While there is no evidence for the first and second mythical Sangams, the surviving literature attests to a group of scholars centered around the ancient Madurai (Maturai) that shaped the “literary, academic, cultural and linguistic life of ancient Tamil Nadu. Most scholars suggest the historical Sangam literature era spanned from c. 300 BCE to 300 CE.
Sangam literature is broadly classified into akam (inner), and puram (outer). The akam poetry is about emotions and feelings in the context of romantic love, sexual union and eroticism. The puram poetry is about exploits and heroic deeds in the context of war and public life.[ Approximately three-fourths of the Sangam poetry is akam themed, and about one fourth is puram.
It comprises an Urtext of oldest surviving Tamil grammar (Tolkappiyam), the Ettuttokai anthology (the “Eight Collections”), the Pattuppattu anthology (the “Ten Songs”).
Tolkappiyam refers to four castes namely arasar (Ruling Class), anthanar, vanigar (carried on trade and commerce) and vellalar (Agriculturists).
UPSC – CSE Prelims 2020
HISTORY – ANCIENT – THE DAWN OF HISTORY IN THE DEEP SOUTH
1. Consider the following events in the history of India:
- Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
- Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravaraman- I
- Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka – I
- Pala dynasty funded by Gopala
What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earlies time?
(a) 2-1-4-3
(b) 3-1-4-2
(c) 2-4-1-3
(d) 3-4-1-2
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
• Pallava dynasty, early 4th-century to late 9th-century CE line of rulers in southern India
• Mahendravarman I (600–630 CE) was a Pallava king who ruled the Southern portion of present day Andhra region and Northern regions of what forms present-day Tamil Nadu in India in the early 7th century.
• Gopala (ruled c. 750s–770s CE) was the founder of the Pala Dynasty of Bengal region of the Indian Subcontinent.
• Mihira Bhoja (c. 836–885 CE) or Bhoja I was a ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty of India.
• Parantaka Chola I (c. 907–955) ruled the Chola kingdom in Tamil Nadu southern India for forty-eight years, annexing Pandya.