Part II — History of Uttar Pradesh

Chapter 2: Ancient Uttar Pradesh

2.1 The Mahajanapadas — Kosala and Kashi

Present-day Uttar Pradesh formed the heartland of two of ancient India's sixteen Mahajanapadas (great kingdoms): Kosala, with its capital at Ayodhya (and later Shravasti), and Kashi, centred on the city of Varanasi (Kashi/Banaras), one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and a major centre of learning and pilgrimage since antiquity. Ayodhya is traditionally associated with the Ramayana and the legendary king Rama. Shravasti was a major centre associated with the Buddha's teachings.

2.2 The Mauryan and Gupta Empires

Uttar Pradesh fell within the core territory of both the Mauryan Empire (with Ashokan edicts and pillars found at sites across the region) and the Gupta Empire, whose capital Pataliputra lay just east of the UP region, but whose core territory and cultural output (the "Gupta Golden Age" of art, science, and literature) heavily involved UP sites. Prayagraj (Allahabad) hosts the Ashokan Pillar bearing both Ashoka's edicts and a later inscription of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta (the "Prayagraj Prashasti" / Allahabad Pillar inscription), a key primary source for Gupta history and a frequently tested fact linking Mauryan and Gupta eras at a single site.

2.3 Sarnath and the Buddha's First Sermon

Sarnath, near Varanasi, is where the Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) after attaining enlightenment, making it one of Buddhism's four most sacred sites. The Ashokan Lion Capital at Sarnath — later adopted as independent India's national emblem — was erected here, along with the Dhamek Stupa, still standing today.

2.4 Kanauj and Harshavardhana

Kanauj (Kannauj), in present-day UP, rose to prominence as the capital of Harshavardhana's empire (7th century CE), one of the last major pre-Islamic pan-North-Indian empires, described in detail by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), who visited during Harsha's reign.

2.5 Mathura — Art and Religion

Mathura, on the banks of the Yamuna, is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Lord Krishna and developed as a major centre of ancient Indian art (the Mathura school of art, flourishing especially under the Kushan Empire, known for its distinctive red sandstone sculpture) alongside the Gandhara school in the northwest.

2.6 Practice Set — Ancient History (18 MCQs)

1. Kosala, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, had its capital at:
   (a) Varanasi (b) Ayodhya (c) Mathura (d) Kanauj
2. Kashi, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, was centred on which city?
   (a) Ayodhya (b) Varanasi (c) Prayagraj (d) Kanauj
3. The Buddha delivered his first sermon at:
   (a) Bodh Gaya (b) Sarnath (c) Kushinagar (d) Sravasti
4. The Ashokan Lion Capital, later adopted as independent India's national emblem, was erected at:
   (a) Sarnath (b) Mathura (c) Kanauj (d) Ayodhya
5. The Allahabad Pillar inscription (Prayagraj Prashasti), a key primary source for Gupta history, was composed in praise of which emperor?
   (a) Chandragupta I (b) Samudragupta (c) Chandragupta II (d) Skandagupta
6. The city where the Ashokan Pillar bears both Mauryan edicts and a later Gupta-era inscription is:
   (a) Sarnath (b) Prayagraj (Allahabad) (c) Mathura (d) Kanauj
7. Mathura, on the banks of the Yamuna, is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of:
   (a) Gautama Buddha (b) Lord Krishna (c) Lord Rama (d) Mahavira
8. The Mathura school of art flourished especially under which empire?
   (a) Maurya (b) Kushan (c) Gupta (d) Pala
9. Harshavardhana's 7th-century capital, Kanauj, was described in detail by which Chinese pilgrim?
   (a) Fa-Hien (b) Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) (c) I-Tsing (d) Marco Polo
10. The Dhamek Stupa, still standing today, is located at:
    (a) Sarnath (b) Mathura (c) Kanauj (d) Ayodhya
11. Ayodhya, associated with the Ramayana, was the capital of which ancient Mahajanapada?
    (a) Kashi (b) Kosala (c) Magadha (d) Anga
12. Shravasti, a city associated with many of the Buddha's teachings, was later a capital city of which kingdom?
    (a) Kashi (b) Kosala (c) Vatsa (d) Panchala
13. The Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath is referred to by the technical term:
    (a) Mahaparinirvana (b) Dharmachakra Pravartana (c) Sambodhi (d) Nirvana
14. Varanasi (Kashi/Banaras) is widely regarded as:
    (a) India's newest planned city (b) One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities (c) A city founded only in the Mughal era (d) A coastal trading port
15. The Gupta Empire's core capital, Pataliputra, was located:
    (a) Within present-day UP (b) Just east of the UP region, in present-day Bihar (c) In present-day Madhya Pradesh (d) In present-day Rajasthan
16. Kanauj's rise to imperial prominence under Harshavardhana occurred in which century CE?
    (a) 4th century (b) 5th century (c) 7th century (d) 10th century
17. The Mathura school of art is particularly known for its distinctive use of:
    (a) Black basalt (b) Red sandstone (c) White marble (d) Terracotta exclusively
18. Xuanzang's travel account, describing Harsha's empire, is a key primary source used by historians studying:
    (a) The Mauryan Empire only (b) 7th-century North Indian polity and society (c) The colonial period (d) The Delhi Sultanate

Answer Key

1.(b)

2.(b)

3.(b)

4.(a)

5.(b)

6.(b)

7.(b)

8.(b)

9.(b)

10.(a)

11.(b)

12.(b)

13.(b)

14.(b)

15.(b)

16.(c)

17.(b) 18.(b)