answers to the story of india

Kerala

1. How does the port town of Muziris exemplify an early European obsession with Indian goods?
Muziris was an important trading port for over 2500 years. It was of particular importance to early Europeans, specifically the Romans. It was frequently used by Romans as a gateway to trade with the Indian subcontinent. The trade relationship between Rome and Muziris epitomizes the Roman ideals of expansion, connection with that beyond their easy reach, and access to the exotic as exemplified by the trade for spices.

5. Why has boat building been such an important part of India’s history?
In India, boat building was one of India’s first industries. It has over 2000 years history. Today, on the Southwest coast of India, they still build ships designed 2000 years ago. Boat building in India related to its societal, cultural, and colonial highly.

Language

1. What does the connection between Sanskrit and other Indo-European languages imply? Why was this significant historical development in the 18th century?
There is a connection between Sanskrit and other Indo-European languages. Sanskrit is the language in which the Brahmins learn to recite the Vedas and Indo-European languages originated from a common source, it spread by the Aryans from Turkey throughout central Asia. These languages have some astounding similarities. It was a major historical development because it connects the origin of language.


Indus Valley

1. What have archaeologists found at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro that indicate that the cities were part of an advanced civilization?
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Archaeologist have dated Early Harappan civilization to 3300 B.C. (during the Bronze Age), culminating in the High Period from 2900 to 1900 B.C. The city was very large for the time, with a population estimated to be 200,000.
Mohenjo-Daro was a large urban center designed to be a central trading location for the region. It thrived from around 2600 B.C. through 1500 B.C.

The Ganges River

1. Why did the ganges river become such an important part of Hinduism? How do Hindus show their reverence for the Ganges River?
The Ganges River is very important to Hinduism. Hindus pay respect to the river in many ways. Families spread ashes of lost family members in the river. And also, to praise the god Ganga Hindus are bathing in the Ganges every day. They believe by this they can reverse sins and attain eternal salvation.

Tamil Nadu

1. Why did the British find the region so valuable?
Tamil Nadu has fertile land, it has abundance of foods and spices. Spices were the most interesting good the British were interested in. Also This place was very beneficial for trade as they were able to harvest a wide variety of crops.

2. What did the Romans trade with Tamil Nadu?
The Romans traded rare metals such as gold, silver, tin as well as wine for spices.

Edicts of Ashoka

1. What purpose did the Ashokan pillars play during Asoka’s rule? Why do you think they would have been effective?
The Ashokan pillars took politics away from religion and magic and made it more concrete and this worldly.
They were effective because they allowed this information to be public and obtainable to all people, also because they were based not on beliefs specific to a people but on common sense and morals.

Agriculture

1. What role have the monsoon winds played in Indian history?
As a developing country, agriculture is a very important sector of the Indian economy. The monsoon winds bring most of the water needed for agriculture. The monsoon winds have also facilitated maritime trade with distant regions such as Europe.

2. What is the importance of the Anicut Dam? What does its construction in the second century CE tell us about the Cholan Empire?
The Anicut Dam is one of the oldest water-diversion structures in the world,
The dam is still in excellent condition. The dam is over 1000 feet long and 60 feet wide. It diverts water that would travel to the India Ocean and provides irrigation through a network that supplies water to an area of one million acres in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Trade

1. Why has India been an important center of trade?
India locate between Europe and China, the monsoon winds make sea trading with India much faster than over land. It served as the connection between such dominant empires as China and the Romans. And also India has spices like pepper, ginger, cardamom that cannot be harvested in the western world. These goods were in high demand at that time.

4. Who did the British East India Company employ to assist the company in its domination of India?
Henry Hudson.

Peshawar

1. What prominent roles has Peshawar, Pakistan played in Indian history?
Peshawar was a major center for silk trade , it was also at the center of the spread of Buddhism. It is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Kushan Empire.

Fine Arts

2. Why did so much gold flow into India during trade with the Roman Empire? How did the Indian use of gold differ from the Roman use?
The Romans traded gold coins for pepper, saffron, cinnamon, gemstones, peacocks, and silk. However Indian did not use the gold as currency; instead, they used the gold to decorate themselves and made jewelry out of the coins.

Allahabad

4. While the great rebellion of 1857 attempted to rid of the British, how did Britain subsequently change its ruling style to gain an even stronger foothold in the subcontinent?
Before the Mutiny, India was administered by the East India Company, a multinational trading company that was a business enterprise. Once the British Government took over direct rule, the British attitude to India was very different. Administration was now based on India's role as an asset in global power politics, not on economic profit and loss considerations. the British improved communication between themselves and Indians.

Science and Medicine

1. Why do you think Yoga has become so popular outside of India?
I think that yoga is very peaceful, just like Taiji in China; it can give people the benefits of peace of mind, better health. It is a physically relaxing technique that makes people feels good.

Performing Art

1. What Role did Dance play in Indian Culture?
Dance is very important in Indian culture. It highly relates to religion. Today, as we know dance is prevalent in nearly every Indian movie and celebration. The dance art was traditionally supported by the royal courts, palaces of the Hindu princely states, and major temples and religious centers. It is a way for Indian people represent their lives.

Taj Mahal

1. What was the Taj Mahal built to represent?
The Taj Mahal was a tomb for Gauhara Begum, a tomb of love. The great size and beauty of the structure, in essence, parallel the character of the Shah’s love for his wife and commemorate her beauty. However, recent findings show that Taj Mahal represents a map of the Day of Judgment.

2. What architectural aspect do you find most impressive?
I think the white marble, especially the marble dome is the most impressive thing of the Taj Mahal. And also a pool is in middle and Mughal buildings which were primarily constructed of red sandstone makes Taj Mahal harmonious and peaceful.

Partition and Independence

1. In wanting to create a secular constitution, what deep challenges did Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian National Congress face?
The religious conflict is the big part Nehru and the Indian National Congress had to face. Because of the heavy tensions between Muslims and Hindus, they can’t live together.