Unlike in the Maurya empire, people living in the Gupta empire had political rights and obligations, and were considered to be what?
citizens?
To find the answer to this question, we need to understand the political structure and social system of the Gupta Empire. The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire that existed from around 320 to 550 CE.
The Gupta Empire was known for its well-organized administration and political system. It followed a decentralized form of government, where power was vested in the hands of local rulers called "Maharajas" or "Maharajadhirajas." These local rulers had considerable autonomy and were responsible for governing their regions.
In the Gupta Empire, people living within its territories were considered to be subjects. These subjects had political rights and obligations, meaning they had the right to participate in the political life of the empire and were obliged to fulfill certain responsibilities.
The key to answering this question lies in understanding the concept of the social system during this time. The Gupta Empire followed the varna system, which categorized society into four main varnas or social classes: Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants and farmers), and Shudras (laborers and servants). The varna system was a hierarchical structure, with each varna having distinct privileges and duties.
In the Gupta Empire, individuals were considered to be part of a particular varna based on their family's occupation and hereditary status. While the varna system brought social stratification, it also provided some political rights and obligations to people within their respective varnas. For example, the Kshatriyas, who belonged to the warrior class, had political rights and obligations related to governance and protection.
Therefore, people living in the Gupta Empire were considered to be part of a varna, which granted them political rights and obligations within the hierarchical social structure of the time.
Look at the map.
A map of the Indus Valley Civilization is shown. The cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are both indicated on the map in their locations along the Indus River, which flows from the Himalayan Mountains to the Arabian Sea.
How did the location of the ancient cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro contribute to their development?
A.
Their location was near major trade routes.
B.
Their location near rivers provided rich soil that produced plentiful crops.
C.
Their location allowed crops to receive enough rainfall.
D.
Their location provided abundant natural resources and little need to trade.