Question

How do coins and inscription help in reconstructing the past

Answer 1

Coins & inscriptions As Source of history writing - The ancient Indian history writing suffers from the defects of lack of organised history writing defying Chronological reconstruction for the historians.

Though Puranas contribute to historical accounting but its Contents are largely encyclopediac and mythological, several other sources like Religious literature too falls short  of throwing light on chronological efficiency.

In such a literary Shortfall, Coinage and inscriptions play a major role in reconstruction of ancient Indian history.

Coinage of ancient times is one of the biggest Source of understanding the contemporary Socio-politico-economic conditions prevelant during the times when such coins were issued.
Punch marked coins were the earliest issued during the 2nd and I st century BC followed by Gold Silver and copper Coins of various ruling groups like Indo-Greeks , Sakas, Kushanas, etc.

Largest number of gold Coins were issued during the Guptas and purest gold Coins by Kushanas , which reflects prosperous trade and Sound economy . This trend reversed in Iatter times indicating decline in trade & Comm.

Coins bore the date and name of Kings dynasties and even pictures of deities Kings Queens etc. providing valuable information of contemporary times. Majority of Ancient historical reconstruction after 1st Century BC has been a product of discovery of hoards of ancient Coins.

Similarly inscriptions too acted as a principle source in understanding ancient history. They are discovered in form of seals Plates rocks etc., sometimes they were engraved in Caves, temples Pillars etc.

Inscriptions provide information about general policies of Kings, thier adminstrative structure, official Orders etc.throwing light on Contemporary times and politico-religious-economic practices.

various inscriptions Like Ashokan Rock and Pillar edicts , Allahbad prashasti of Samudra Gupt, Aihole ins, Girnar ins of Rudra Daman . , Mand Saur ins, Gwalior ins. etc. are benchmarks in Indian Ancient historical reconstruction.

Answer 2

Coins and inscriptions help us in reconstructing the past by giving information about the various kings and their kingdom, their time period and several other information.

 Explanation:

• Inscriptions carved on the walls of temples, pillars, stones, caves, etc., are written records of different kingdoms.
• Various information about the kings, their life periods, victories, wars, administration, military, language, etc., can be known with the help of their coins and inscriptions.
• Kings have mentioned the places where the events had taken place and sometimes, they discussed their causes and effects too.
• With the help of coins, the time period of different rulers and the type of material used at that time can be known.
• For example, the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta gives a detailed description of his victories and administration.
• Kushan coins and inscriptions discovered at Mathura (U.P.) indicate that it was the Kushans' second capital in India, after Peshawar.

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