Using the chapter and any additional reading, prepare a short note explaining (1) why centres of learning like Nalanda were important; (2) how their destruction may have affected education and culture in India.

Question

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(1) Nalanda was one of the greatest centres of learning in ancient India. It was like a big university where thousands of students and teachers lived and studied together. People came from many countries such as China, Tibet, and Korea to learn subjects like medicine, mathematics, astronomy, literature, and especially Buddhism. Nalanda showed how India was a land of wisdom and knowledge, and it became famous all over the world for its libraries and teaching methods.
(2) When Nalanda was destroyed in the 12th century, its huge libraries and classrooms were burnt down. This meant that many valuable books and ideas collected over hundreds of years were lost forever. The destruction also weakened Buddhism in India and broke the chain of organised higher education. As a result, India lost its position as a global centre of learning, and the flow of knowledge to other countries slowed down.

Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries — Question 7