Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Chapter 7 India and Iran (Persia) Solutions

1A. Choose the Correct Alternative and Write the Complete Sentences.

Question 1. The Greek historian ___________ is said to be the father of modern historiography.
(a) Herodotus
(b) Alexander
(c) Scylax
Answer: (a) Herodotus
In simple words: Herodotus is called the father of history because he was the first person to gather historical facts and write them down in a systematic way.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the name Herodotus as the father of history, as this is a highly recurring question in exams.

Question 2. Taxila was ruled by King ___________ at the time of Alexander’s advent.
(a) Chandragupta
(b) Ambhi
(c) Porus
(d) Shashigupta
Answer: (b) Ambhi
In simple words: When Alexander the Great invaded India, the ruler of Taxila was King Ambhi, who chose to submit to Alexander rather than fight him.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that King Ambhi of Taxila welcomed Alexander, whereas King Porus fought bravely against him in the Battle of the Hydaspes.

1B. Find the Incorrect Pair from Set B and Write the Correct Ones.

Question 1. Find the incorrect pair from the table below:

🎯 Exam Tip: When correcting pairs, always write both the incorrect pair and its correct version clearly to secure full marks.

1C. Write the Names.

Question 1. Last emperor of Achaemenid Empire-
Answer: Daryush – III. He was the final ruler of the Achaemenid dynasty before it fell to Alexander the Great.
In simple words: Daryush III was the last king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire before Alexander conquered it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Daryush III is also known as Darius III in many historical texts, but write the spelling given in your textbook.

Question 2. Name of coins issued by Daryush-I
Answer: Darik and Siglos. These gold and silver coins helped standardise trade across the Persian Empire.
In simple words: The coins issued by Daryush-I were called Darik and Siglos.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember both names, Darik (gold) and Siglos (silver), as they are frequently asked in short-answer questions.

Explain the Statements with Reasons

Question 1. Alexander invaded Persia.
Answer:
• The Persians invaded Greece but were defeated. Thereafter the conflict between the Achaemenids and Greeks continued over a prolonged time.
• An impact of this conflict was to manifest in the way of the invasion of Persia by Alexander III, the King of Macedonia.
• Thus, Alexander invaded Persia to establish Greek dominance and settle the long-standing rivalry.
In simple words: Greece and Persia had a long history of fighting. Alexander the Great invaded Persia to finally defeat them and end this long conflict.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the long-standing conflict between the Greeks and the Achaemenids (Persians) as the primary reason for the invasion.

Question 2. Alexanders’ invasion of India did not have a far-reaching impact on the political scenario of India.
Answer:
• Alexander invaded India and conquered some kingdoms from Afghanistan to Sindh-Punjab. He could not however establish his rule for a long time.
• After his confrontation with Porus, Alexander proceeded in the direction of Chenab and Ravi.
• He conquered the kingdoms on the way and reached the bank of Beas. Alexander’s soldiers had lost spirit and they refused to march forward.
• Before setting on the return journey, Alexander handed over the regions in Punjab to Porus and those in Sindh to Ambhi.
• He appointed Greek satraps and in 325 B.C.E.
• Alexander died in Babylon. After his death, Chandragupta Maurya established his vast empire from Bihar to Afghanistan, easily reclaiming these territories.
In simple words: Alexander could not stay in India for long because his tired soldiers refused to go further. Soon after he left and died, local leaders and Chandragupta Maurya took back control, leaving no lasting Greek political impact.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight key points like the mutiny of Alexander's soldiers at the Beas river and the rapid rise of Chandragupta Maurya to explain why the political impact was short-lived.

State Your Opinion

Question 1. Herodotus is said to be the father of modern history writing.
Answer:
• Herodotus was the first historian who collected information-seeking answers to a particular question and then put it in chronological order.
• While doing this he did not bring in notions like a god, human destiny, etc.
• Putting historical events in a chronological sequence became an essential theme of history writing.
• This theme proved to be fundamental in the development of history writing as an independent discipline. His systematic approach laid the groundwork for future generations of researchers to study the past objectively.
• Therefore, Herodotus is said to be the father of historiography.
In simple words: Herodotus was the first person to gather historical facts systematically and arrange them in the order they happened without using myths or legends. This organized method helped history become a proper subject of study.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention Herodotus's focus on chronological order and his exclusion of divine intervention to secure full marks.

Question 2. Ancient Taxila was the center of knowledge and education.
Answer:
• Buddhist literature and writings of the Greek historians give information about Taxila.
• There were several learned individuals (Acharyas) staying in Taxila.
• Many students from various regions of the Indian subcontinent were attracted to Taxila because of the fame of the acharyas.
• Thus, Taxila had become a great center of education. This vibrant academic environment fostered deep intellectual discussions and cross-cultural exchanges.
• Thereby it had assumed the magnitude of a natural university.
In simple words: Taxila was a famous ancient place of learning that attracted students from all over because of its highly respected teachers. It functioned like a massive natural university where different ideas were shared.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the role of the 'Acharyas' and mention that both Buddhist and Greek sources confirm Taxila's importance.

4. Answers the Following Questions in Detail.

Question 1. Describe the political and cultural effects of the Achaemenid rule on India.
Answer:
• The Persian supremacy prevailed in the Indian subcontinent for at least two centuries.
• The Persian rulers set up an administrative system. This structured governance model introduced new administrative efficiencies to the region.
• Every conquered region was annexed to their territory as a satrapy and a satrap (governor) was appointed as its chief administrator.
In simple words: The Persian empire ruled parts of India for about two hundred years and introduced a structured government system. They divided the land into regions called satrapies, each run by a governor.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly define the terms 'satrapy' and 'satrap' as they are key technical terms examiners look for.

Question 2. Describe Alexander’s invasion of India.
Answer:
• Alexander invaded the Indian subcontinent and conquered some kingdoms from Afghanistan to Sindh-Punjab.
• He, however, could not establish his rule there for a long time.
• Alexander became the king of Macedonia in 334 B.C.E. He defeated emperor Daryush III in 331 B.C.E.
• After conquering the region of Kabul, he reached the foothills of the Hindukush mountains.
• Then he camped at a place called Nicaea situated on Uttarapatha. Ambhi welcomed Alexander and sought friendship with him.
• Alexander conquered almost all kingdoms in Kabul, Sindh, and Punjab.
• On the bank of Jhelum, Alexander and King Porus confronted each other and there was a fierce battle between them.
• Porus was defeated but Alexander and his army were greatly influenced by his valour.
• Alexander’s soldiers had lost spirit due to the frequent battles and refused to march forward. Alexander was forced to return.
• Before returning, Alexander handed over the conquered regions in Punjab to his Greek governors.
In simple words: Alexander the Great invaded India and won many battles, including a famous fight against King Porus. However, his tired soldiers refused to go any further, forcing him to turn back.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention key details like the year 334 B.C.E., the battle with King Porus, and the mutiny of Alexander's soldiers to secure maximum marks.

Activity

Question. Collect additional information about the palace at Persepolis and Apadana at Susa with the help of the internet.
Answer:
• Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
• Earliest evidence shows that the earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC.
• Apadana at Susa is another magnificent structure.
• Apadana is a large hypostyle hall. The palace complex in Susa, Iran, was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire.
• The construction was parallel to that of Persepolis. This palace was built during the reign of Darius I, the Great. These architectural marvels showcase the grand scale of ancient Persian engineering.
In simple words: Persepolis and Apadana were grand palaces of the ancient Persian Empire. They were built over 2,500 years ago to show the power and wealth of their kings.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the names of the rulers, like Darius I, and the specific locations (Susa and Persepolis) to secure full marks in historical description questions.