CHAPTER-26 : Spread of Civilization in Eastern India
Ancient History of India
OLD NCERT
Short Notes or Revision Notes
Signs of Civilization in Gupta Era
- Defining Civilization:
- Writing system
- Tax collection and order maintenance
- Social classes with specialists (priests, administrators, producers)
- Surplus production to support non-producers
- Advancements (4th-7th Centuries AD):
- Developed rural economy
- State systems formed
- Social classes established (Eastern MP, Orissa, Bengal, Assam)
Orissa and Eastern/Southern MP
- Kalinga (Coastal Orissa):
- Rose to prominence under Ashoka (3rd century BC).
- Strong state existed by 1st century BC (ruler Kharavela).
- Ports active in 1st-2nd centuries AD (pearls, ivory, muslin trade).
- Roman objects found at Shishupalgarh suggest trade with Roman Empire.
- Mathara State (4th-5th Centuries AD):
- Dominated the area between Mahanadi and Krishna rivers.
- Developed systems for taxation, administration, and military.
- Used gold coins for large transactions.
- Created districts (Mahendrabhoga, Dantayavagubhoga).
- Made land grants (agraharas) to support Brahmanas.
- Writing and Language:
- Writing known in coastal Orissa since 3rd century BC (Prakrit).
- Sanskrit adoption began around 350 AD.
Bengal in 4th-7th Centuries AD
Political Developments:
- North Bengal (4th Century AD):
- Maharaja ruled Pokharna (Bankura district), follower of Vishnu (Sanskrit inscription).
- Gupta Period (5th-6th Century AD):
- Guptas became independent, controlled North Bengal.
- Local rulers (samanta maharajas) emerged in the Ganges-Brahmaputra region (future Bangladesh).
- Shashanka (Gauda) ruled independently by 600 AD.
- Land transactions:
- Copperplate documents record land sales in Pundravardhanabhukti (North Bengal) using gold coins (dinara) between 432-3 AD.
- Southeast Bengal:
- Samatata kingdom (Brahmaputra delta) acknowledged Samudragupta (Gupta emperor) in 4th century AD.
- Vanga kingdom (west of Samatata) developed by 525 AD.
- Rulers like Sama Haradeva issued gold coins (6th century).
- Khadgas (Dhaka area), Lokanatha (Brahmana ruler, Comilla), Ratas (Comilla) – all issued land grants (6th-7th century).
- Administration:
- Dandabhukti (border of Bengal-Orissa) formed for tribal control and cultural influence (Sanskrit etc.).
- Similar unit – Vardhamanabhukti (Burdwan).
Social and Economic Developments:
- Monasteries:
- Land grants to Buddhist monasteries in Faridpur (tax-exempt due to waste/waterlogging).
- Brahmana settlements:
- Large land grants to Brahmanas in Comilla (forest region).
- Military:
- Kingdoms maintained infantry, cavalry, elephants, and boats.
- Administration:
- Fiscal and administrative districts with tax collection and law enforcement.
- Increased land endowments led to the appointment of an “agraharika” (officer) to manage them.
Assam: Early History
Kamarupa Kingdom (7th Century CE Onwards)
- Gained prominence in the 7th century, though settlements existed near Guwahati from 4th century CE.
- Evidenced by Ambari excavations and inscriptions showing use of Sanskrit and writing.
- Kings adopted the title “Varman” (meaning warrior) used by Kshatriyas.
- Buddhism flourished; visited by Chinese traveler Hsuan Tsang.
Formative Phase (5th-6th Centuries CE)
- Influenced by Gupta Empire’s cultural reach.
- Spread of civilization in eastern regions (North Bengal, Northwest Orissa).
- Use of Gupta era dates in inscriptions suggests influence.
- Rise of new states with large-scale writing, Sanskrit use, Varna system, and growth of Buddhism and Brahmanical sects (Shaivism, Vaishnavism).
- Decline of Gupta Empire coincided with progress in outlying regions, including Assam with its alluvial soil and heavy rainfall.
हिन्दी