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Class 7 SST Chapter 7 The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity Question Answer
Class 7 Social Science Chapter 7 The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity Question Answer
The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity, Class 7 Questions and Answers
The Big Questions (Page No. 145)
Question 1.
Who were the Guptas? Why is the Gupta period sometimes called the ‘classical age’ in Indian history?
Answer:
The Gupta Empire was founded by Sri Gupta. The Guptas emerged as rulers in the region near present-day Uttar Pradesh. Over time, they became powerful and established a vast empire. Its rulers, such as Chandragupta I, Samudra-gupta, and Chandragupta II, marked a golden age in Indian history.
The Gupta Period-‘classical age’
The following are the main reasons why the Gupta period is considered a golden age in Indian history-
1. Development of art and literature-In this era, Sanskrit literature reached its peak, with great poets like Kalidasa producing outstanding works. During this period, new standards were set in the fields of sculpture, architecture, and painting, reflecting the excellence of the arts.
2. Political Stability and Socio-Economic Prosperity-The Gupta rulers maintained political stability throughout India, which led to the development of trade and agriculture and brought economic prosperity, fostering the growth of art and culture.
3. Religious Tolerance-During the Gupta period, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism all flourished, and religious diversity was respected.
Question 2.
What was happening in the rest of the subcontinent at this time?
Answer:
During the Gupta period, significant events were taking place in other parts of the Indian subcontinent.
1. The Pallava dynasty-In this period, the Pallavas emerged as a powerful dynasty in the south. They gradually incorporated parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh into their kingdom. They made Kanchipuram their capital. The Pallavas were great patrons of art and architecture and were devotees of Shiva. They are credited with the construction of magnificent temples and rock- cut caves.
2. Kamarupa Kingdom-During this period, the Kamarupa kingdom, ruled by the Varman dynasty in Northeast India, extended to the Brahmaputra Valley(present-day Assam, northern parts of Bengal and Bangladesh). The Kamarupa kingdom was a major cultural and political center. Temples and monasteries developed here as centers of learning.
During his campaigns in South India, Samudragupta defeated the Pallava ruler and also defeated the ruler of Kamarupa in the northeast in battle, but he did not directly annex these territories afterward.
3. Vakataka Dynasty-The Vakatakas ruled in the central part of the subcontinent with their capital at Nandivardhana (near present-day Nagpur).
Question 3.
Who were some great figures of this period, and why do their stories matter today?
Answer:
Some of the great personalities of the Gupta period were-
- Chandragupta-I
- Samudragupta
- Kalidasa
- Aryabhata and
- Varahamihira.
For example-
- Chandragupta I married a Lichchhavi princess for strategic reasons, adopted effective political and administrative innovations, and promoted trade and culture.
- Samudragupta expanded his empire by defeating several kings, issued gold coins, and promoted Hinduism.
- Kalidasa composed masterpieces such as ‘Abhijnana Sakuntalam’ and provided a magnificent description of nature in ‘ Meghadutam ‘.
- Aryabhata’s work in the fields of mathematics and astronomy set new standards in science and mathematics.
- Varahamihira contributed to the fields of astrology and mathematics.
The reasons why the stories matter today-
1. Foundation of Knowledge and Culture-These personalities and their stories reflect the rich scientific, literary, and artistic achievements of the Gupta period, making them a source of inspiration for the present generation.
2. Symbol of India’s Golden Age-The Gupta period is considered a golden age of India, and the stories of these great personalities are proof of the progress made during that time.
3. Cultural and National Consciousness- The works presented by Kalidasa continue to strengthen Indian identity and cultural consciousness even today.
4. Administrative and Social Values- The policies and efficient governance of the Gupta rulers, along with their values of tolerance, still teach valuable lessons to people today.
5. Demonstration of Technical Skill-The Iron Pillar of Mehrauli in Delhi is a remarkable example of the advanced technical skills of the artisans of the Gupta period.
Think About It (Page No. 150)
Question.
Why do you think kings chose to proclaim their achievements in the form of inscriptions?
Answer:
In our view, kings likely used inscriptions to document their achievements for posterity, to demonstrate the power and legitimacy of their empire, to preserve cultural and historical heritage, and to provide a source of knowledge for future generations.
Through these inscriptions, kings recorded their victories, power, and the expansion of their empire, thereby establishing the legitimacy of their rule and strengthening their authority over the people.
Let’s Explore (Page No. 151)
Question.
Compile a list of the sources we have referred to so far in the chapter. What did we learn from each source?
Answer:
- Inscription on the iron pillar in Delhi,
- Pillar inscription in Pravagraj,
- Gold coin,
- Vishnu Purana,
- Chinese traveller Faxian’s travelogue,
- Sculptures of the Buddha at Samath and Ajanta caves,
- The works of Aryabhata, Varahamihira, and Kalidasa.
As-
1. Inscription on the iron pillar in Delhi- The inscription on the iron pillar in Delhi speaks of a king named ‘Chandra’, who has been identified with Chandragupta II.
2. Gold coin-Gold coin featuring King Chandragupta I with his queen, Kumaradevi. On the reverse side, a seated goddess identified as Lakshmi has been depicted. This shows that before Samudragupta, the ruler of the Gupta Empire was Chandragupta I, who was a worshiper of Vishnu.
3. Prayaga Prashasti-The Prayaga Prashasti, a pillar inscription in Prayagraj, praises the achievements of Samudragupta. He fought many wars, defeating kings, taking over their kingdoms and expanding his empire.
4. Vishnu Purana-The Vishnu Purana mentions the major regions of the empire.
5. Sculptures of the Buddha at Sarnath and Ajanta caves-It provides insights into the society of the Gupta period.
6. Inscriptions and coins-Inscriptions and coins from the Gupta period provide information about the titles used during the Gupta era, such as Maharajadhiraja, Samrat, and Chakravarti, etc.
Class 7 The Gupta Era An Age of Tireless Creativity Question Answer
Question 1.
Imagine you receive a letter from someone living in the Gupta Empire. The letter starts like this: “Greetings from Pataliputra! Life here is vibrant and full of excitement. Just yesterday, I witnessed …” Complete the letter with a short paragraph (250-300 words) describing life in the Gupta Empire.
Answer:
The details of a letter received from a person living in the Gupta Empire might be as follows-
Greetings from Pataliputra! Life here is vibrant and full of excitement. Just yesterday, I witnessed that the city dwellers are wealthy, prosperous, and devout.
The main characteristics of life in the Gupta Empire have emerged here, and they are described below-
1. Social Life-The people are happy. Those who cultivate the royal lands pay a portion of their produce as tax. The king’s guards and servants receive salaries. The inhabitants of the cities are wealthy, prosperous, kind, and devout.
environment, the Gupta Empire was able to achieve significant advancements in the fields of literature, science, and technology.
The progress made in these fields during this period is explained as follows-
1. Progress made in the field of literature- Sanskrit literature flourished, with Kalidasa’s works and many major Puranas. Aryabhata composed the Aryabhatiya text, and Varahamihira composed the Brihat Samhita text.
2. Advances in the field of science and technology-The progress made in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and metallurgy during the Gupta period laid the foundation for future scientific and technological development. Aryabhata and Varahamihira recorded major advancements in mathematics and astronomy. In the field of medicine, important principles and methods were also compiled and refined. A prime example of the advancements made in metallurgy is the rust-resistant iron pillar located in Mehrauli (Delhi).
Question 4.
Recreate a scene from a Gupta ruler’s court. Write a short script, assign roles like the king, ministers, and scholars, and enact a role play to bring the Gupta era to life!
Answer:
The students should complete this task themselves, working together with the help of their class teacher.
Question 5.
Match the two columns-
| Column A | Column B |
| 1. Kanchipuram | (a) Known for vibrant cave paintings that depict the Jataka tales |
| 2. Ujjayini | (b) Famous for rock-cut caves featuring intricate carvings of Hindu deities, especially Vishnu |
| 3. Udayagiri | (c) Capital of the Guptas |
| 4. Ajanta | (d) Known as ‘a city of a thousand temples’ |
| 5. Pataliputra | (e) A prominent centre of learning in ancient India |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
| 1. Kanchipuram | (d) Known as ‘a city of a thousand temples’ |
| 2. Ujjayini | (e) A prominent centre of learning in ancient India |
| 3. Udayagiri | (b) Famous for rock-cut caves featuring intricate carvings of Hindu deities, especially Vishnu |
| 4. Ajanta | (a) Known for vibrant cave paintings that depict the Jataka tales |
| 5. Pataliputra | (c) Capital of the Guptas |
Question 6.
Who were the Pallavas and where did they rule?
Answer:
The Pallavas emerged as a powerful dynasty in South India during the Gupta period. Pallavas appeared to have been a tributary power under the Satavahanas. They gained strength after the decline of the Satavahana dynasty.
The Pallavas ruled from the city of Kanchipuram in modern-day Tamil Nadu from the 4th to the 9th centuries. They gradually consolidated their power in parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Question 7.
Organise an exploration trip with your teachers to a nearby historical site, museum, or heritage building. After the trip, write a detailed report describing your experience. Include key observations about the site’s historical significance* the architecture, artefacts, and any interesting facts you learned during the visit. Reflect on how the trip enhanced your understanding of history.
Answer:
Students should organise such a trip with their teacher and submit a detailed report of their experience.
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