NCERT Solutions Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 10: New Empires and Kingdoms

1. State whether true or false:

a. Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.

Answer: False

Explanation: Prashasti was composed for some of the rulers, not only Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.

b. The rulers of Aryavarta brought tribute for Samudragupta.

Answer: False

Explanation: The inner circle of the neighbouring states, such as Assam, coastal Bengal, Nepal, and a number of gana sanghas in the north-west brought the tribute for Samudragupta.

c. There were twelve rulers in Dakshinaptha.

Answer: True

Explanation: There were twelve rulers in Dakshinaptha who surrendered to Samudragupta after being defeated.

d. Taxila and Madurai were important centres under the control of the Gupta rulers.

Answer: False

e. Aihole was the capital of the Pallavas.

Answer: False

Explanation: Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas. Aihole was the capital of Chalukyas.

f. Local assemblies functioned for several centuries in south India.

Answer: True

2. Mention three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana.

Answer: The three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana are as follows:

• Banabhatta
  Banabhatta was the court poet of Harshavardhana, who wrote his biography Harshacharita in Sanskrit.
• Xuan Zang
  He was the Chinese author.
• Ravikirti
  Ravikirti was a court poet of the best known Chalukya ruler named Pulakeshin II.

3. What changes do you find in the army at this time?

Answer: The changes found in the army at that time are listed as follows:

• Some of the kings maintained a well-organized army, which includes elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers.
• Military leaders in the army provide the king with troops whenever required.
• All of the leaders were not paid regular salaries. Some of them received grants of land.
• The revenue collected from the land was used to maintain the soldiers and horses. It also provides equipment for warfare.

4. What were the new administrative arrangements during this period?

Answer: The administrative arrangements during this period are as follows:

• Some of the administrative posts were hereditary, i.e., sons succeeded fathers to various posts.
• One person should held many offices. For example, Harishena was kumar-amatya besides being a maha-danda-nayaka. It means that Harishena was both an important minister and the minister of war and peace.
• The important men probably had a say in local administration, such as nagara-shreshthi or chief banker or merchant of the city.

5. What do you think Arvind would have to do if he was acting as Samudragupta?

Answer: Arvind would have to do the following things:

• He was supposed to act as a warrior and won victories in battle.
• He should be the best poet and recite poetry.
• He should sit and play a veena.
• He should have the silver-paper wrapped sword with gusto.

6. Do you think ordinary people would have read and understood the prashastis? Give reason for your answer?

Answer: No. I do not think that the ordinary people would have read and understood the prashasti. It is because Prashasti was written in Sanskrit language. All of the people at that time were not literate.