History: (For Under Graduate Student)

History of India
Page 1 of 5
HISTORY
Subject
History
(For under graduate student)
Paper No.
Paper - II
History of India
Topic No. & Title
Topic - 9
Science and Technology In Early
Medieval India (650-1200 AD)
Lecture No. & Title :
Lecture - 1
Science and Technology In Early
Medieval India (650-1200 AD)
FAQs
1.
Discuss the contribution of Aryabhatta.

Aryabhatta was the first person to originate the epi-cyclic
theory of calculations in Astronomy. He also began
calculating the indeterminate equations of the first order.
In Mathematics he gave place value in which the
numbers were mentioned in alphabetical order with their
place values. He had propounded the theory that the
earth rotated on its own axis.
History of India
2.
Page 2 of 5
How had foreign knowledge entered into India?

Foreign knowledge systems had penetrated into India
because the Sakas and the Kushans came into India and
also the Indo-Romans much earlier. They had introduced
the Greek concepts of Astronomy and Mathematics which
was taken together with the earlier Indian systems of
Astronomy and Mathematics.
3.
Why is Brahmagupta famous?

Brahmagupta (598-668 AD) carried the concept of place
value system further. He was the first one to utilize the
concept of zero, gave it a place value and used it to
enhance the system of decimal numbering
4.
Why
was
Bhaskaracharya
II
considered
an
important scientist of the age?

Bhaskaracharya II was the first person to expound the
concept that the earth had a gravitational force the
Akrtsta Shakti, a particular force which keeps it in its
own place. He had already calculated the circumference
of the earth because he believed in the rotation of the
History of India
Page 3 of 5
earth. He also calculated the whole year in terms of days

and he gave almost an exact calculation.
5.
What were the hindrances to dissemination of

scientific information at that time?
The hindrances to dissemination of scientific information
at that time were multifold. Mantra gupti (professional
secrecy) prevented them from sharing data. Secondly the
composers
of
the
treatise
were
not
proficient
in
mathematics or language to compile the data perfectly in

a scientifically or linguistically correct manner. Another
factor was the popularization of rituals practiced by the
scientists and technologist. Most importantly there was a
divorce in the knowledge discovered in the workroom of
the artisans and the knowledge disseminated in formal
educational systems.
6.
Why was Aryabhattas idea criticized?

Aryabhatta propounded the theory that the earth rotated
on its own axis. This went against the then popular
religious concept that the earth was at the centre of the
universe
and
that
it
was
static.
So
Aryabhattas
History of India
Page 4 of 5
revolutionary
idea
was
criticized
severely
by
later
scientists like Varaha Mihira and Brahmagupta himself.

7.
Mention some writers whose scientific texts were

taught to students?
There
was
Sridhara
from
Bengal
whose
text
was
extremely popular in Eastern India. Then Mahanandin of

Benaras of 9th century AD was also very famous as well
as Sripati from Maharashtra.
8.
What is the importance of Surya Siddhanta?

Surya Siddhanta is a very good compilation of all earlier
calculations and concepts of Astronomy. There was a
foundation chapter where all the geometrical principles
which come into the aid of astronomical calculations were
laid down.
9.
Briefly
describe
the
compendium
Siddhanta
Shiromani.
Siddhanta Shiromani had four different books under it.
One of the books is Lilavati, which is on Arithmetic. Then
there
are
the
other
three
adhyaya
(Ganitadhaya,
History of India
Page 5 of 5
Goladhyaya, Bijaganitadhaya). All these taken together

were a very big research work.
10. What
is
basic
drawback
of
the
architectural
knowledge that was disseminated?

In architecture, from the early days building technology
had progressed together with developments in geometry
and trigonometry.
But this association somewhere got
lost. Architectural treatises like Manasara and Mayamata

gave a lot of calculations, dimensions, measurements but
it was only given in dimension form. There was some gap
between theoretical and practical knowledge.

History: (For Under Graduate Student)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

History: (For Under Graduate Student)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

History: (For Under Graduate Student)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

History of India

Topic No. & Title

Lecture No. & Title :

Discuss the contribution of Aryabhatta.

How had foreign knowledge entered into India?

Why is Brahmagupta famous?

important scientist of the age?

earth. He also calculated the whole year in terms of days

What were the hindrances to dissemination of

mathematics or language to compile the data perfectly in

Why was Aryabhattas idea criticized?

scientists like Varaha Mihira and Brahmagupta himself.

Mention some writers whose scientific texts were

extremely popular in Eastern India. Then Mahanandin of

What is the importance of Surya Siddhanta?

Goladhyaya, Bijaganitadhaya). All these taken together

knowledge that was disseminated?

But this association somewhere got

lost. Architectural treatises like Manasara and Mayamata

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.