Why are inscriptions preferred over literary texts for genealogy?

Inscriptions are contemporary to the events and less prone to later editorial changes compared to literary manuscripts.

Historical Methods and Epigraphy

UPSC Archival Analysis

Q: 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:

Historians primarily use inscriptions to gather data on ancient elite families. However, the term 'Putra' in Satavahana records is Sanskrit, not Prakrit, which is an important linguistic distinction.

Exam Year

2018

Evidence Source

Link

ID: ANC_HIS_PMPG_2018_117 Ref: Standard Educational Reference

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: