History Notes Chapter 11 Class 6 Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – History Class 6

Ancient India and the World

1. India and the Western Countries

• The people of the Harappan civilization traded with Western countries.
• Buddhism spread to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Greek historians wrote about India, making it famous in the West.
• Alexander the Great’s trade routes helped increase contact between India and the West.

2. Gandhara Art

• The Gandhara school of art developed during the Kushana period.
• This art style was influenced by Greek sculpture.
• Buddha’s images were carved in this style, mainly in Afghanistan.
• The statues had Greek-like facial features.

3. India and Rome

• Trade between India and Rome grew around the 1st-2nd century CE.
• Ports in South India were important trade centers.
• Roman goods (like bronze articles and coins) were found in places like Kolhapur and Arikamedu (Tamil Nadu).
• Alexandria (Egypt) was an important trade port for Indian goods.

4. India’s Contributions to the West

• Indian numbers and the concept of ‘zero’ were introduced to Europe by Arab traders.
• Indian science and philosophy also spread to Europe through Arabs.

5. India and Other Asian Countries

Sri Lanka

• King Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.
• The Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka is believed to have grown from a branch carried by Sanghamitra.
• Trade between India and Sri Lanka included pearls and precious stones.
• Sigiriya Caves in Sri Lanka have paintings like those in the Ajanta Caves in India.

China and the Silk Route

• India and China had strong trade and cultural relations.
• Chinese silk (Chinanshuka) was in great demand in India.
• The Silk Route was an important trade path that connected India and China.
• Buddhist monks like Fa-Hien and Yuan-Chwang came to India through this route.
• Indian Buddhist monks translated Buddhist texts into Chinese, spreading Buddhism in China.

Southeast Asia

• Indian culture spread to Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, etc.
• Indian trader Kaundinya established the kingdom of Funan (Cambodia) in the 1st century CE.
• Sanskrit was used in inscriptions in Funan.
• Ramayana and Mahabharata stories are still performed as dance dramas in Indonesia.
• Temples of Lord Shiva and Vishnu were built in Southeast Asia.