HISTORY OPTIONAL Sources of History by Rashid Yasin Sir

Category: Optional,

Test Date: 09 Sep 2022 07:00 AM

HISTORY OPTIONAL Sources of History by Rashid Yasin Sir

Instruction:

Attempt both questions
The test carries 30 marks.
Write Each answer in 150 words.
Any page left blank in the answer-book must be crossed out clearly.
Evaluated Copy will be re-uploaded on the same thread after 2 days of uploading the copy.
Discussion of the question and one to one answer improvement session of evaluated copies will be conducted through Google Meet with concerned faculty. You will be informed via mail or SMS for the discussion.

Question #1. Numismatics forms a vital source of political history of ancient India. Elucidate with examples

Question #2. Evaluate the contribution of the Puranas in disseminating secular knowledge among the masses in ancient India.

(Examiner will pay special attention to the candidate's grasp of his/her material, its relevance to the subject chosen, and to his/ her ability to think constructively and to present his/her ideas concisely, logically and effectively).

STEPS & INSTRUCTIONS for uploading the answers

Step 1 - The Question for the day is provided below these instructions. It will be available at 7:00 AM.

Step 2 - Uploading of Answers : Write the answer in A4 Sheet leaving proper margins for comments and feedback and upload the PDF in MY ACCOUNT section. Click on the option of SUBMIT COPY to upload the PDF.

Step 3 - Deadline for Uploading Answers: The students shall upload their answers by 7:00 PM in the evening same day. The first 50 copies will be evaluated.

Step 4 - Feedback : Mentors will give their feedback for the answers uploaded. For more personalised feedback, join our telegram channel by clicking on the link https://t.me/mains_answer_writing_cse . A one-to-one session will be conducted with the faculty after copy evaluation in 72 Hrs.

Model Answer

Question #1. Numismatics forms a vital source of political history of ancient India. Elucidate with examples

Ans. Numismatics, the study of coinage, is a wonderfully useful tool in the archaeologists and historian's toolbox, as coins can provide information about trade, economy, social organization, ideologies, personages, leadership, important events, etc. Numismatics as a source of political history

Numismatic evidence is an especially important source for the political history of India between 200 BCE and 300 CE. Most Indo-Greek (Parthians, Shakas etc.) kings are known almost entirely from their coins. For e.g., coins found in north and central India mention kings whose name ends in the suffix 'Naga", about whom little is known from other sources.
Gives information about the extent and frontiers of the empire.
Gives information on ancient political systems. For example the term "Gana '' mentioned on coins of Yaudheyas and Malavas, points to their non-monarchical polity.
City coins are suggestive of the importance and possible autonomy of certain city administration. For example, coins bearing the names of Tripuri, Kaushambi, Varanasiete.
Helps in fixing chronology of different dynasties, for example, Western Kshatrapa coins give dates of Saka era and some Gupta coins give the regional years of kings.

Question #2. Evaluate the contribution of the Puranas in disseminating secular knowledge among the masses in ancient India.

Ans: The "Puranas" meaning 'Old' deals with five topics (Pancha-lakshana) namely:

Creation of the world (Sarga) Dissolution and re-creation of the world (Pratisarga)
Dissolution and re-creation of the world (Pratisarga)
The period of various manus (Manvantaras)
The genealogies of gods and sages (Vamsha)
The life stories of royal dynasties (Vamshanucarita)

So through Sarga, Pratisarga and Vanshanucarita, they gave insights into the political history of ancient India along with the evolution of the universe.

Other fields dealt by the Puranas:

Historical Geography - the account of mountains, rivers and places given in Puranas offer important glimpses of historical geography.
The conception of time
Even the interpretation of Puranic myths, such as encounters between gods and demons is a symbolic account of interaction among different social groups that came face to face as settlement expanded in new regions.

To participate in answer writing program, Register yourself for the test. Copies will be evaluated only for the registered students. Registration will be closed after the scheduled date.

48 Hrs. Answer Writing, Copy Evaluation and Marks Improvement Cycle

Step 1 (Answer Writing): Questions will be uploaded on the portal on the scheduled date at 7:00 AM. You have to write your answers on an A4 size sheet leaving margins on both sides based on the UPSC pattern. Mention your name on the 1st page and page number on each page. After writing the answer, Click pictures of each page of your answer sheet, merge them all in a single PDF and upload in the comment section of the same question. Answers should be uploaded before 7:00 PM on the same day.
Step 2 In Next 48 Hrs (Copy Evaluation & Discussion): After evaluation, the first 50 copies will be uploaded on the same comment box and will be sent to you. In the evening 8:00 PM marks improvement sessions for the test with respective faculty in a group will be conducted online. So that students can get a wider perspective of the topics. Here you can discuss your evaluated copies also with the faculty.

Mains Answer Writing

HISTORY OPTIONAL Sources of History by Rashid Yasin Sir

Model Answer

Copy submission is closed now for this test.