UGC NTA NET/JRF Cancelled EXAM, (PAPER-II)June 2024 HISTORY

Before the rise of Gautama Buddha, the entire North India was divided into 16 large states. This is mentioned in the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya and the Jain text Bhagavati Sutra. These include: Kashi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Shurasena, Ashmaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja.
The names in the Bhagavati Sutra are slightly different: Anga, Vanga or Banga, Magaha, Malaya, Malava, Accha, Vaccha, Koccha, Patha, Ladha, Vajji, Moli, Kashi, Kosala, Avadha, Sambhuttara, etc. Note: Thus, Kuru, Anga, Vanga, etc., were Mahajanapadas, whereas Chera was a kingdom of the Sangam period (South India).

After the death of Krishna, Shri Satakarni, the son of Simuka, ascended the throne of the Satavahana dynasty. He is famous as SatakarniI because he was the first king in his dynasty to adopt the title Satakarni. Satakarni I was the greatest among the early Satavahana kings. He increased his influence by marrying Nayanika (Naganika), the daughter of the Maharathi Banakayira of the Angiya Kula. Important information about the reign of Satakarni I is obtained from Naganika's Naneghat Inscription.

The founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, Emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, was himself a scholar and a lover of learning. He wrote his autobiography, Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama), in the Turkic language.
The Mughal ruler Jahangir, like his grandfather Babur, also wrote his autobiography and named it Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri (Jahangirnama). Jahangir composed this work in the Persian language. Note: Humayunama was written by Gulbadan Begum, Akbarnama was written by Abul Fazl, and Alamgirnama was written by Mirza Muhammad Kazim. These works are not autobiographies but play an important role in understanding the Mughal period.

The correct chronological order is as follows:

According to Vedic texts, the Vedic people were first acquainted with 'Vrihi' (rice) in the Doab region. The remains found at Hastinapura belong to the 8th century BCE. Rice was also cultivated at Atranjikhera in the Etah district during the same period. Note: Vedic texts mention grains like Vrihi (Paddy/Rice), Yava (Barley), Masha (Urad/Black Gram), Mudga (Moong/Green Gram), Godhuma (Wheat), Masura (Lentil), etc.

By the Mauryan period, the Varnashrama system had acquired a definite basis. Varnas had transformed into rigid castes based on birth. The accounts of Greek writers provide information about the extreme complexity of the caste system. The Greek writer Megasthenes mentions seven classes in Indian society: Philosophers, Farmers, Soldiers, Herdsmen/ Shepherds, Artisans, Supervisors /Inspectors, and Councillors /Ministers. Megasthenes does not mention a barber in his account.

Domingo Paes, describing the city of Vijayanagara, said, "I am not writing the extent of Vijayanagara here, because it cannot be seen completely from one place, but I climbed a hill from where I could see a large part of it.
I could not see it entirely because it is situated between many mountain ranges. From what I saw there, it seemed to me as vast as Rome and extremely beautiful to look at; it has many groves of trees in the gardens of the dwellings, and many channels of water running through it, and lakes in many places, and near the king's palace, there were gardens of palm trees and other fruit-bearing trees."

The main chapters of E.H. Carr's book What is History are:
1. The Historian and His Facts
2. Society and the Individual
3. History, Science and Morality
4. Causation in History
5. History as Progress
6. The Widening Horizon