Taxila University was one of the oldest universities of the world which were associated with a number of renowned learned personalities of different disciplines. Its strategic location caused its fame to flourish, but unlike Nalanda, it is not considered as a university in the modern sense.
Discuss. (150 words, 10M)
Taxila or Takshashila University (modern day Pakistan) was an early Hindu and Buddhist centre of learning. According to scattered references that were only fixed a millennium later, it may have dated back to at least the fifth century BC. Its association with Alexander, Ashoka, Chanakya, Chandragupta, Charaka etc depicts its greatness.
The location of Taxila at the crossroads of mighty empires further was a reason for its fame and falling in the vicinity of ancient maritime route acted as further booster.
The geographic region also played vital role for vulnerability of Taxila as well. Darius I of the Achemanid Empire of Persia was the first to conquer Taxila in 518 BC. Later in 326 BC Alexander the Great captured Taxila.
After Ashoka, the city changed hands multiple times from Indo-Greeks of Bactria to Sakas and then by Parthians. Only during the reign of Kushanas, Taxila received its
glory due to patronisation of them. On the other hand, Nalanda became a great centre of learning with the auspices of Gupta Empire.
Almost every ruler of Gupta dynasty granted lavishly on establishing Nalanda as a great university.
If we compare Taxila University with Nalanda, the former was like segregation of educational hub with studies prevailing in the form of 'Guru-Shisya tradition'.
There was no fixed curriculum, no substantial syllabus and hardly any fixed university system. Residential quarters and fixed particular lecture halls were also lacking.
However, all of these were present in Nalanda University. Infact, Nalanda was rich in libraries, lecture halls, meditation rooms etc. These facilities projected Nalanda to be a university in modern sense.
After the fall of the Guptas, Harshavardhana of Kannauj and then after Devapala of Pala dynasty, further improved and made magnificent donations to Nalanda University.
Subjects taught in Taxila university were primitive in nature, which included Vedic literature, hunting, archeries and so on, which in no way can be considered as modern university education.
Whereas, in Nalanda, the subjects taught were Mathematics, Science, Astronomy, etc which have been a part of university education till date.
Students coming to acquire education in Taxila were mostly from local areas only. In Nalanda, students from far off places like Turkey, Korea, Japan and Tibet have attained education.
During the later days, Gandhara and thus Taxila became more of a trade hub rather than an educational institution. Even though Taxila couldn't attract like Nalanda attracted pupils and scholars across Sri Lanka, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and other countries, but it should be noted that Taxila University was into being much before Nalanda and the very fact that the concept of university was in place itself is appreciable.
Discuss. (150 words, 10M)
Taxila or Takshashila University (modern day Pakistan) was an early Hindu and Buddhist centre of learning. According to scattered references that were only fixed a millennium later, it may have dated back to at least the fifth century BC. Its association with Alexander, Ashoka, Chanakya, Chandragupta, Charaka etc depicts its greatness.
The location of Taxila at the crossroads of mighty empires further was a reason for its fame and falling in the vicinity of ancient maritime route acted as further booster.
The geographic region also played vital role for vulnerability of Taxila as well. Darius I of the Achemanid Empire of Persia was the first to conquer Taxila in 518 BC. Later in 326 BC Alexander the Great captured Taxila.
After Ashoka, the city changed hands multiple times from Indo-Greeks of Bactria to Sakas and then by Parthians. Only during the reign of Kushanas, Taxila received its
glory due to patronisation of them. On the other hand, Nalanda became a great centre of learning with the auspices of Gupta Empire.
Almost every ruler of Gupta dynasty granted lavishly on establishing Nalanda as a great university.
If we compare Taxila University with Nalanda, the former was like segregation of educational hub with studies prevailing in the form of 'Guru-Shisya tradition'.
There was no fixed curriculum, no substantial syllabus and hardly any fixed university system. Residential quarters and fixed particular lecture halls were also lacking.
However, all of these were present in Nalanda University. Infact, Nalanda was rich in libraries, lecture halls, meditation rooms etc. These facilities projected Nalanda to be a university in modern sense.
After the fall of the Guptas, Harshavardhana of Kannauj and then after Devapala of Pala dynasty, further improved and made magnificent donations to Nalanda University.
Subjects taught in Taxila university were primitive in nature, which included Vedic literature, hunting, archeries and so on, which in no way can be considered as modern university education.
Whereas, in Nalanda, the subjects taught were Mathematics, Science, Astronomy, etc which have been a part of university education till date.
Students coming to acquire education in Taxila were mostly from local areas only. In Nalanda, students from far off places like Turkey, Korea, Japan and Tibet have attained education.
During the later days, Gandhara and thus Taxila became more of a trade hub rather than an educational institution. Even though Taxila couldn't attract like Nalanda attracted pupils and scholars across Sri Lanka, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and other countries, but it should be noted that Taxila University was into being much before Nalanda and the very fact that the concept of university was in place itself is appreciable.