Question

What were the sources of information about the social and economic conditions of the people of northern and north-western India in fourth century BC?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Social and Socio-Economic Divisions:

During the Nanda- Maurya period, the Fourfold order of society which was the most characteristic feature of the Aryan way of life, i.e., the Varna and Asrama, continued as the dominant feature of the society.

Our sources of information for the social condition of this period are many and varied, consisting of religious literature, foreigner’s ac­count, and epigraphic records.

Divergence of opinions among these different sources although create some confusion, yet it is possible to draw a reliable and comprehensive picture of the period from the late fourth century B.C. to the sixth century A.D. The Society was divided into four Varna, that is, castes, the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras.

Duties of the different castes enumerated in the Dharmasastras have been analysed by Kautiiya in an inimitable manner. The Brah­manas had to do the duties of study, teaching, worship, and work as priest, give gifts, accept gifts. The Kshatriyas had to study, worship, give gifts, accept the profession of arms, and protect living beings. The Vaisyas had the duties of studying, worshipping, giving gifts, doing agricultural work, cattle-rearing, and trading.

The Sudras’ duties were menial work for the upper three castes, production of wealth by their labour, arts and crafts. It may be noted that while study, wor­ship and giving gifts were enjoined for the upper three castes, the lowest caste, the Sudras, had to go without education, self-improve­ment through worship or even to make gifts, but production of wealth, arts and crafts were their duties which required physical labour and acquisition of artisans’ skill.

The Brahmanas were assigned the highest status and dignity by the Brahmanical canon law. Manu Samhita gives highest status and supremacy to Brahmanas but at the same time laid stress on their acquiring superior knowledge and qualifications on which their supe­rior status vested.

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Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

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