CH 4 CL 11

I. I. Choose the correct answer

Question 1.
Who discovered the meaning of Brahmi inscriptions on Ashoka's
pillars .......................
a) Thomas Saunders
b) James Prinsep
c) Sir John Marshall
d) William Jones
Answer:
b) James Prinsep

Question 2.
He is known as the first king of Magadha. ........................ of the
Haryanka dynasty
a) Bimbisara
b) Ajatashatru
c) Ashoka
d) Mahapadma Nanda
Answer:
a) Bimbisara

Question 3.
When Alexander invaded India, the king of Magadha was ......................
a) Mahapadma Nanda
b) Dhana Nanda
c) Bindu Sara
d) Bimbisara
Answer:
b) Dhana Nanda

Question 4............................ The extensive historical work in Pali found in

Sri Lanka is an important source for the knowledge of the Mauryan
Empire.
a) Mahavamsa
b) Dipavamsa
c) Pramanam
d) Mudrarakshasa
Answer:
a) Mahavamsa

Question 5...................... The play Visakadatta tells about Chandragupta

and his accession to the throne of the Magadha Empire.
a) Mudrarakshasa
b) Rajatarangini
c) Arthashastra
d) Indica
Answer:
a) Mudrarakshasa

Question 6.
.................... by Megasthenes Describes Chandragupta's court and his
administration.
a) Indica
b) Mudrarakshasa
c) Ashtatyayi
d) Arthashastra
Answer:
a) Indica

Question 7........................ It is a guide book on good governance.

a) Arthashastra
b) Indica
c) Rajatarangini
d) Mudrarakshasa
Answer:
a) Arthashastra
 Additional Questions

Question 1.
Capital of Magadha ...........................
a) Rajagriha
b) Ujjain
c) Kosala
d) Kosambi
Answer:
a) Rajagriha

Question 2.
Who ruled before the Nanda Dynasty ...........................
a) Mauryas
b) Sisunagas
c) Haryangas
d) Guptas
Answer:
b) Sisunagas

Question 3.16 Mahajanapadas ..................... It was powerful in the

beginning.
a) Magadha
b) Kosala
c) Kashi
d) Avanti
Answer:
c) Kashi

Question 4.
The Jinagadh inscription near Girnar in Gujarat .................... It belongs to
time.
(a) P. b. 130 – 150
b) A.D. b. 170 – 190
c) C. b. 150 – 170
 d) c. b. 190 – 210Answer:
a) P.b. 130 – 150

Question 5.
............................ of the Haryanka dynastyHe is known as the first king
of religion.
a) Bindu Sara
b) Bimbisara
c) Chandragupta
d) Ajagat Shatru
Answer:
b) Bimbisara

Question 6.The
Haryanka dynasty was followed by .......................... The dynasty came to
power.
a) Maurya
b) Kanishka
c) Vardhana
d) Shishunaga
Answer:
d) Shishunaga

Question 7.
Persian Emperor Cyrus invaded India and ...................... He destroyed the
city.
a) Kapisha
b) Akkimenite
c) Katara
d) Haravati
Answer:
a) Kabisha
Question 8.
The author of the literary work Ashtadayi ........................
a) John Marshall
b) Kapisha
c) Mitra
d) Pāṇini
Answer:
d) Pāṇini

Question 9.
The Indian word for currency .....................It comes from Persian.
a) Kasai
b) Lida
c) Garza
d) Tita
Answer:
c) Garza

Question 10.King
of Taxila surrendered to Alexander ...........................
a) Ambi
b) Porus
c) Prasenajit
d) Kosala
Answer:
a) Ambi

Question 11.
Alexander's historic Indian War ...................... It is called.
a) Jhelum
b) Persian
c) Battle of Hydaspes
d) Taxila
Answer:
c) Battle of Hydaspes

Question 12.......................... He came to power after killing his father

Bimbisara.
a) Bindusara
b) Ajatashatru
c) Mahapadma Nanda
d) Porus
Answer:
b) Ajatashatru

Question 13.
The first Nanda king .......................
a) Ajatashatru
b) Mahapadma Nanda
c) Bimbisara
d) Bindu
Sara Answer:
b) Mahapadma Nanda

Question 14.
Alexander declared war on India in the year .......................
(a) P. a. 236
b) C.a. 232 c
) C. a. 326 d
) P.C. a.
362Answer: (c) a. 326

Question 15.
Chandragupta ...................... He established the Mauryan Empire.
(a) P. a. 297
b) P.C. a. 272c
) C. a. 321 d
) P.C. a.
231Answer: (c) a. 321 M.

Question 16.
Megasthenes' book ...........................
a) Arthashastra
b) Mudrarakshasa
c) Indica
d) Dipavamsa
Answer:
c) Indica

Question 17.
Assertion: Alexander returned the country to the Empire.
Reason: Porus was polite to Alexander.
a) Assertion is true and Reason
is false b) Assertion is false
c) Assertion and reason are true Reason explains the assertion.
(d) Both assertion and reason are correct. Reason does not explain the
claim. Answer:
(c) Both assertion and reason are correct. Reason explains the
assertion.

Question 18.
Kautilya's book ..............................
a) Mudrarakshasa
b) Arthashastra
c) Dipavamsa
d) Mahavamsa
Answer:
b) Arthashastra
Question 19.
Vishnugupta was also known as ..........................
a) Chanakya
b) Visakhadutta
c) Chandragupta
d) Bindu Sara
Answer:
a) Chanakya

Question 20.
Hathigumpha Inscription ...................... Referring to the Empire.
a) Haryanka
b) Mauryas
c) Nandas
d) Sisunaga
Answer:
c) Nandas

Question 21.“The earliest inscription in which the word "Hindu" occurs

is ............................
a) Aikobna inscription
b) Inscription of Darius I
c) Jinagadh inscription
d) Sarnath inscription
Answer:
b) Inscription of Darius I

Question 22.The
Third Buddhist Council was convened by Ashoka at Pataliputra in the
year
a) A.D. b. 350
b) CEb. 450c
) C. b. 250 d
) P.C. b.
400Answer: (a) b. Rs. 350
II. Answer briefly :

Question 1.
How did Bimbisara expand the Magadha empire? Answer:

• Bimbisara is known as the first king of Magadha in the Haryanka

dynasty.
• He expanded the boundaries of the Magadha empire through
marriage alliances and wars.
• He got Kashi as dowry by giving his sister in marriage to
Prasenajit, the king of Kosala.
• He married the Licchavi and Madra princesses. He annexed Anga
by military force. Thus Bimbisara expanded the Magadha empire.

Question 2.
1. Write a note on Mahapadma Nanda. Answer:

• Mahapadma Nanda was the first king of the Nanda Empire.

• He killed King Shishunaga and usurped the throne.
• The empire expanded well under the Nandas.
• The wealth and power of the Nandas increased during his
period. It was frightening to the enemy.

Question 3.
What caused Alexander the Great to restore the throne of Porus?
Answer:

• Porus ruled the region between the banks of the Jhelum and the
Beas.
• Alexander's historic Battle of Hydaspes was fought against King
Porus.
• Porus was captured by Alexander at the end of the war.
• Alexander was then impressed by Porus' dignity and returned his
throne on condition that he would accept his suzerainty.
Question 4.
What are the important features of a centralized state? Answer:

• Greek historians refer to the Mauryan kingdom as a centralized

state.
• Centralised state means that there was a uniform administrative
system throughout the vast areas of the empire.
• But given the existing means of communication and transport,
there must have been non-centralized administrative systems.

Question 5.1. Write a

short note on the literary evidence that helps in the study of the
Mauryan kingdom. Answer:

• The Arthasastra written by Kautilya (Chanakya) clearly explains

the political administration of the Mauryas.
• Megasthenish's Indica – Chandragupta's – deals with the
administration of the state.
• Vishakadatta's Mudrarakshasa.
• There is also literary evidence such as the Brahmanas and the
Mahavamsa

Question 6.In
what ways is the invasion of Alexander the Great a turning point in the
history of India? Answer:

• Alexander's invasion marked the beginning of a link between

India and the Western world that would continue for centuries to
come.
• Greek merchants and artisans came to India through four trade
routes.
• This helped to make direct contact between India and Greece
acceptable.
• This created a new style in Indian governance and the arts.
Additional Questions

Question 1.
Give a hint : Mudrarakshasam
Answer:

• 'Mudraratkshasam' is a drama written by Visakhatttar.

• The book is about the accession of Chandragupta to the throne
of Magadha. It lists the strategies devised by Chandragupta's
chief advisor Chanakya or Kautilya to prevent an invasion against
him.

Question 2.
Tell us about the Jinagadh inscription. Answer:

• This inscription is found at Girnar in Gujarat.

• King Rudraraman carved this inscription.

This inscription is important for two reasons.

• This proves that the Mauryan Empire extended up to Gujarat in

the west.
• Chandragupta's fame is said to have continued four centuries
after his death.

Question 3.
Write notes on Taxila :Answer:

• Taxila is a major centre of education and culture. The city was

discovered by Sir John Marshall in 1940.
• People have come from far and wide to get education here.
• Taxila is considered to have produced the highest intellectual
achievements of any civilisation.
• It was here that Panini wrote his famous literary work
"Ashtadhyayi".
Question 4.
Write notes on Bindusara
Answer:

• Chandragupta's son Bindusarab.M. In 297, he succeeded him in a

peaceful and natural coup.
• Bindusara was an able ruler who followed in his father's
footsteps of maintaining cordial relations with the Greek states
of West Asia.

III. Answer briefly

Question 1.
2. Name the urban characteristics revealed from the archaeological
discoveries. Answer:

• Archaeological excavations have helped us to understand the

urban structure, the layout of the city and the structure of
buildings.
• The metals known to the people of that time, the tools they
used, the technology they employed, etc., reveal the nature of
the people.
• Archaeological discoveries in the Ganges region have provided
evidence of the nature of the urban centres that developed in
the region.

Question 2.
2. Explain the features of the Gangetic valley monarchies. Answer:

• A. b. M. From the 6th century to the 3rd century, North India

witnessed many important political changes.
• There were conflicts among the tribes over the rule of the
Gangetic plain.
• The conqueror was responsible for the establishment of
monarchy in the Gangetic plain.
• They ruled by the high offices of Chakravarti or Ekrat.
 • Among the monarchical states, Benares was the first to be
powerful.
• Later, Magadha became powerful and displayed its dominance.

Question 3.
Mention the implications of the invasion of India by Alexander the
Great. Answer:

• Alexander's invasion led the Indians to establish Greek satraps in

the northwestern part of the continent.
• Trade routes were opened up for the West.
• As a result, Greeks and artisans came to India.
• It facilitated direct contact between India and Greece.
• There was political unification in north India under the Mauryas.
• The system of small states came to an end.

Question 4.
What do we know about Ashoka's invasion of Kalinga? Answer:

• The Kalinga war was fought to capture Kalinga, which had

broken away from Magadha.
• The most important event of Ashoka's reign was the Kalinga war
during his reign.
• The number of people killed and wounded in battle was several
tens of thousands.
• This war must have been more brutal than the other wars.
• After the war, Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan kingdom.

Question 5.
2. Describe the extensive cloth trade during the Mauryan period.
Answer:

• The cotton available all over the country was used for spinning
and weaving cotton clothes.
 • There was a lot of clothing trade.
• Cotton fabrics were produced in a wide variety ranging from the
coarse variety used by the common people to the thin variety
used by the nobles and the royal family.
• Specialized cloth was produced in Benares, Bengal, Kamrupa
and
Madurai.
• Cloth, wool and silk were also imported from China and Ceylon.

Question 6.
1. Write a note on the commodities traded between India and West
and Central Asia. Answer:

• The Arthashastra gives a list of agricultural products sold in

domestic and foreign trade.
• Cloth, wool, silk, scented wood, animal skins and precious
stones came from different parts of India and China and Sri
Lanka.
• Indigo (dye), ivory? Tortoiseshells, pearls, spices and rare timber
were exported to Egypt.

Additional Questions

Question 1.
How did Ajatashatru expand his empire? Answer:
Ajatashatru came to power after killing his father Bimbisara.
Immediately, King Prasenajit took back the Kasi which he had given to
Bimbisara as dowry.
This led to a conflict between Magadha and Kosala. The war
continued till Prasenajit was driven out of his country and died at the
fortress gate of Rajagriha. Later, Magadha was annexed to Kosala.
Ajagadshatru conquered the Licchavis and the Mallas.
A. b. M. By the time Ajatashatru died in 461, Magadha had become an
unshakeable power.
Question 2.
How did the word India come about? Answer:
The word "Hindu" occurs for the first time in an inscription of Darius
I in Persepolises in Iran.The word "
Sindhu" which refers to the river Indus is "Hindu" in Persian. The
Greeks removed the s from the word and replaced it with the word
iner. It later became Hindu. Then came 'India'.

Question 3.
What is the relationship between Sanskrit and Persian? Answer:
There are many linguistic similarities between the Rig Veda and the
Avastha. The word Aryans was also used by the ancient Persians.
According to Indian linguist Thomas Burrow, pronunciation alone may
have changed over time.

A. b. M. A Bogus Koy (northeastern Syria) inscription from 1380

speaks of a treaty between a Hittite king and the king of Mittenni. It
mentions the names of some of the Rig Vedic gods such as Indra,
Uruvna (Varuna), Mitra and Nasadaya (Asvin).

Question 4.
Write about Ashoka's Third Buddhist Sangha. Answer:

• One of the most notable events during the reign of Ashoka. A.

b.M. In 250, the third Buddhist Sangha was convened in the
capital city of Pataliputra.
• Ashoka's deep involvement in Buddhism gave him royal
patronage.
• The main decision of the Sangha was to spread Buddhism to
other areas and to send missionaries to convert people to
Buddhism.
• Thus Buddhism also became a religion of conversion.

IV. Answer in detail :

Question 1.
Explain the evidence that helps us to know about the Mauryan Empire.
Answer:
There are many types of evidence available to know about the
Mauryan Empire. Literary sources
2. Archaeological Evidence
3. Edicts of Ashoka
4. Other Testimonials

1. Literary Sources :

• Hindu Literature Brahmanas

• References to the Mauryan Empire are found in the Pali text
Mahavamsa found in Sri Lanka.
• Chanakya's Arthasastra clearly states about the political
administration of the Mauryas.
• Visakadattas Mudrarakshasa is another great literary reference.

2. Archaeological Evidence :

• It is an important source for the early history of history.

• Archaeological excavations have helped us to understand the
urban landscape, urban layout and structure of buildings.
• The metals known to the people of that time, the tools they
used, the technology they used, their daily life and culture are
also known.

3. Ashoka's edicts :

• All Inscriptions of the Mauryan Kingdom | The edicts begin with

a reference to a great king.
• When the meaning of the various epigraphical edicts was
discovered one by one, C.b. In 1915, it was confirmed that he
was Ashoka. This made possible the remaking
of Mauryan history.

4. Other Evidences:
 • The Jinagadh rock inscription near Girnar in Gujarat was cut
during the reign of Rudradaman. This is the message .
• This indicates that the Mauryan Empire extended far to the west
as far as Gujarat. .
• Chandragupta was well known in many parts of the country for
more than four centuries after his death.
• Oral narrative confirms the importance of traditions. They now
appear as a reliable historical evidence.

Question 2.
2. Explain the salient features of the Mauryan administration. Answer:

• Greek historians refer to the Mauryan kingdom as a centralized

state with a uniform administrative structure throughout the vast
areas of the empire.
• The hierarchy of power consisted of villages, towns, provincial
capitals and major cities.

Provincial Administration :

• The king is the administrative head of the state.

• The king was assisted by ministers and priests. There were
secretaries called Mahamatyas.
• Claw;Pataliputra was directly administered.
• The rest of the region was divided into four great
provincesSuvarnagiri, Ujjain, Taxila and Tosali and ruled by the
king's representatives.
• There was uniform financial revenue and financial management.
The collection of taxes was the responsibility of the Samhartha.
He was like the finance minister.
• The Treasury Administrator is responsible for managing
documents relating to tax collection.
• In each department, there were a large number of
superintendents and subordinates attached to the central and
local administrations.
District, Urban and Rural Administration:

• The district administration was under the authority of the

Sthanikar. The officials called Gopa were in charge of five to ten
villages.
• The administration of the town was in the hands of Nagaraka.
• The villages enjoyed a degree of autonomy. Each village was
under the authority of Gramani.

Source of Income :

• There were warehouses to store agricultural produce, increasing

the income of the agricultural sector, which was very important
in the economy . There were controlled market facilities.
• There were other revenues, including land revenue, irrigation
tax, house tax, customs duty and entry tax.
• Forests, mines and the monopoly of salt production were the
main sources of income.

Proof of Justice :

Justice was dispensed through the courts. There were two types of
courts, Dharmastiya and Kandakochandana.

Dharmasthiya :

They heard cases relating to civil rights, including marriage and

inheritance. It consisted of three judges and three amartyas well
versed in religious laws.

Kandakochandana :

• Its function is to eliminate antisocial elements and various types

of crimes. It also had three judges and three secretaries.
• There was a system of spies to detect antisocial activities.
• The punishment for crimes was severe.
• The Mauryan Empire was a good model state with humanity and
compassion.
Question 3.
What do we know about the Persian influence on India? Answer:
Persian contact influenced the art, writing, architecture, economy and
administration of ancient India.

Script:
The most important influence was the development of the Kharoshthi
script used in the northwestern part of India. Ashoka used this
Kharoshthi script for his edicts in the Gandhara region.

It originated from Aramaic, which was used in the Achaemenite

Empire. Like Aramaic, Kharoshthi is a system of writing from right to
left.

Coinage:
The silver coin of Sikhloi in Persia was sampled from this region. The
oldest coins in India date from the Mahajanapada kingdom, the Indian
word for coinage "Garsa" from Persian.

Inscription:
The edicts of Ashoka may have been derived from the edicts of the
Achaemenite King Darius.

Architecture:
Mauryan art and architecture bear the marks of Persian influence. The
Mauryan pillars of Ashoka resemble those found in the Achaemenite
Empire.

The belllike tops of the pillars, especially the lion summit of the
Sarnath pillar and the bell of the Rampurwal pillar, resemble the tops
of the Achaemenite pillars.

Question 4.
2. Write about the edicts of Ashoka. Answer:
 • Ashoka's edicts are reliable sources of information about the
Mauryan Empire.
• Inscriptions engraved on 14 important rocks are known as
Kalinga Edicts.
• 2 Epigraphical Commands
• 7 Pillar Inscription Commands
• Inscriptions engraved on some small rocks
• A total of 33 edicts have been found, including inscriptions
engraved on a few small pillars.
• The geographical distribution of the epigraphic edicts of the
Mauryan Empire shows the extent of a large empire ruled by
Ashoka.

The second edict states the territories outside the boundaries of his
empire. They are; "The Cholas, the Pandyas, the sons of Satyaputras,
the sons of Kerala (Cheras), the Thamirabarani, the king of Yona
(Yavana) Antiochus (Antiochus) were the kings of the neighbouring
kingdoms.

This edict emphasises Ashoka's belief in peace, honesty and justice

and his concern for the welfare of his people.

By rejecting violence and war and emphasizing peace and dharma,

Ashoka completely rejected the prevailing policy of an emperor to
expand and strengthen his kingdom through wars.

Additional Questions

Question 1.
2. Describe the reign of Ashoka and the Dhamma kingdom. Answer:
Ashoka's reign was a good king. It sets an example of fair governance.

He instructed his officers such as yuktas (lower officials), rajikas (village

administrators) and pradesikas (district heads) to tour every five years
to preach the Dhamma to the people.
He has ordered officials and city judges to act with a sense of
responsibility that all people are their children and what should be
done for their own children and that they (people) should be healthy
and happy in this world and the next.

These officers should be impartial. The commandments of Azagar

were to be careful not to imprison people without good reason and
not to torture them.

He announced that he would send an officer every five years to see if

all his orders were carried out.

Ashoka realized that an able king should be fully aware of what was
happening in his country.

He said all religions should cooperate for peace and all saints should
be respected.

Providing health care should be one of the functions of the

government, he said. The emperor ordered the opening of hospitals
to treat men and animals.

Animals should be prevented from being killed unnecessarily. One of

the ideas repeatedly emphasized in his epigraphical edicts is that all
living beings should be shown respect.

In the edicts of Asoka we come across a good model of government

which is humane and sympathetic.

Question 2.
2. Describe the urban organisation of Pataliputra. Answer:

Pataliputra was the great capital of the Mauryan Empire. It is described

as a very wealthy city in the form of a parallel city at the confluence of
the Son River of the Ganges.
It is more than 14 kilometers long and about two and a half
kilometers wide. Outside there was a wooden compound wall for
protection. It had holes in it to shoot arrows at the enemy. The city
had 64 gates and 570 watchtowers.

Outside the wall was a wide, deep moat. Water was brought from the
river to the moat. The trench served as a security and drainage
system. There were many beautiful palaces within the city.

Its population is very high. The town was governed by a club of 30

people. Ashoka built a multi-pillared pavilion here and enhanced the
grandeur of the city.

Draw a timeline.
V. 1. Draw a timeline for the important events of the empire formation
period.

incident Years
1. Invasion of Cyrus (Emperor of Persia) A.b.M. 530
2. Nandas establish their empire at Magadha. A. b. M. 362
3. Alexander's invasion A. b. M. 326
4. Chandragupta founded the Mauryan Empire. A. b. M. 321
5. Defeat of Seleucus by Chandragupta A. b. M. 301
6. Succession of Chandragupta to Bindusara A. b. M. 297
7. The Third Buddhist Council met under the chairmanship of Ashoka A. b. M. 250
8. Death of Ashoka A.b. 231 M.