Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Ancient India: Kinship, Caste and Class

Question:

Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct about the Patriliny system?

Options:

Patriliny means tracing descent from father to son, grandson and so on.

Under Patriliny, eldest son could claim the resources (including the throne in the case of kings) of their fathers when the latter died.

Most ruling dynasties (c. sixth century BCE onwards) did not follow this system with some exceptions.

Both 1 and 2

Correct Answer:

Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

From around the sixth century BCE onwards, most ruling dynasties purportedly adhered to this patrilineal system, though there were variations in practice. In some instances, there were no male heirs, leading to situations where brothers succeeded one another or other kinsmen claimed the throne. On rare occasions, exceptional women, such as Prabhavati Gupta, wielded power.

The preoccupation with patriliny extended beyond just ruling families and was evident in mantras found in ritual texts like the Rigveda. It is plausible that these attitudes towards patriliny were shared by affluent men and individuals who sought high social status, including Brahmanas. The concept of patriliny thus held a significant place in ancient Indian society, influencing succession, power dynamics, and societal norms.

Before the composition of the epic Mahabharata, patriliny already existed, but the central story of the Mahabharata further emphasized its significance. Patriliny, a system where sons could inherit the resources, and in the case of kings, the throne, from their fathers upon their demise, gained reinforcement through the epic's narrative.