Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the codes given below: **Statement I:** For early societies, historians retrieve information about elite families mostly from inscriptions. **Statement II:** Satavahana inscriptions generally end with the term Putra, a Prakrit word meaning 'son'. Codes:
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
Epigraphy is the primary lens through which the genealogies and social identities of ancient elite families are reconstructed, but it requires careful linguistic analysis.Explanation
Statement I is correct: Inscriptions on stone and copper plates are the most reliable records for tracing the names, titles, and lineage of ancient ruling elites.
Statement II is incorrect: While Satavahana inscriptions mention the term 'Putra', it is a Sanskrit word (the Prakrit equivalent is typically *Puta* or *Putta*).Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Elite families used inscriptions to immortalize their achievements and record land grants, providing historians with vital data points.
Logic 2: The linguistic distinction between Sanskrit and Prakrit is crucial for dating and identifying the cultural influences of an era.
Logic 3: Satavahana records are a mix of Prakrit and Sanskrit influences, but the term 'Putra' specifically is the Sanskrit form.