New Empires And Kingdoms Class 6 Extra Questions and Answers Free PDF Download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 6 Social Science New Empires And Kingdoms - 2025-26
1. What types of questions can I expect from the chapter 'New Empires and Kingdoms' in my exams?
For your exams, you should prepare for a variety of questions from this chapter. You can expect:
- 1-mark questions: These are often MCQs or fill-in-the-blanks about key people like Harishena or terms like prashasti.
- 3-mark questions: These usually ask for short descriptions, for example, explaining the role of local assemblies like the sabha and ur.
- 5-mark questions: These require detailed answers, such as describing the main achievements of Samudragupta or Harshavardhana.
2. What key points should I include in an answer about Samudragupta to get full marks?
To write a high-scoring answer on Samudragupta, make sure to mention the information found in his prashasti. You should include his different policies for different rulers:
- He uprooted the nine rulers of Aryavarta and made their kingdoms part of his empire.
- He defeated the twelve rulers of Dakshinapatha, but smartly allowed them to rule again as long as they accepted his authority.
- He also received tribute from neighbouring states like Assam, coastal Bengal, and Nepal.
3. Why are prashastis, like the one for Samudragupta, considered important for exam questions?
Prashastis are a very important source of information for this period, which is why questions are often based on them. They were special inscriptions composed by court poets to praise their kings, listing their achievements and ancestry. For example, without the prashasti written by Harishena, we would know very little about Samudragupta's military conquests and clever policies.
4. How was the administration of the Pallavas and Chalukyas an important topic for exams?
The administration during the time of the Pallavas and Chalukyas is a frequent topic because it shows how kingdoms were managed at the local level. An important feature was the use of assemblies. You should mention the sabha, which was an assembly of Brahmin landowners, the ur, a village assembly, and the nagaram, an organisation of merchants. These groups played a crucial role in local governance.
5. What is the best way to answer a question comparing the Gupta administration with the Mauryan administration?
That's a great higher-order thinking question. To compare them, you can point out two main differences. First, Gupta kings often allowed defeated rulers to continue ruling their lands as subordinates, whereas the Mauryans aimed for more direct control. Second, during the Gupta era, local assemblies like the sabha gained more importance in administration, showing a more decentralised system than the highly centralised Mauryan bureaucracy.
6. Why do historians believe that prashastis might not be completely true?
This is a very important point to understand. Since a prashasti was written by a court poet 'in praise of' the king, it often presents a glorified version of his rule. The poet would highlight the king's victories and virtues while ignoring any weaknesses or defeats. Therefore, historians have to carefully compare the information from prashastis with other evidence like coins, accounts from travellers like Xuan Zang, and other inscriptions to get an accurate picture.
7. What information about Harshavardhana is most important to remember for the CBSE 2025-26 exam?
For questions on Harshavardhana, focus on the sources of information about his reign. Remember that his biography, the Harshacharita, was written in Sanskrit by his court poet, Banabhatta. Also, make sure to mention the Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang, who visited Harsha's court and wrote a detailed account of what he saw. These two sources provide most of the key facts asked in exams.
