Prelims 2026 · Ancient History · Question 3
Consider the following statements :
I. Pali texts contain the first definite references to coins, e.g., kahapana, nikkha, kamsa, and kakanika.
II. The literary evidence from Pali texts is corroborated by archaeological evidence of punch-marked coins from many sites, most of them made of silver.
The above statements have been associated with which of the following ?
- Emergence of urban life
- Transition to money economy
Select the answer using the code given below :
Answer
Both 1 and 2
The references to coins in Pali texts, backed by widespread finds of mostly silver punch-marked coins, point to monetization as well as expanding trade-linked urbanism. So these statements are associated with both the emergence of urban life and the transition to a money economy.