History- The rise and the decline of the Mauryan Empire (Extra Questions)

History- The rise and the decline of the Mauryan Empire

1. Which city state did Alexander the Great come from? 

 The city of Macedonia

2. From which direction did Alexander the Great invade India?

 He invaded India from the East.

3. Which was the most powerful kingdom of the sixteen Mahajanapadas? 

 Magadha 

4. Which were the three other dynasties before the Mauryan dynasty? 

The Haryanka, the Shishunaga, the Nanda dynasty. 

5. Who helped Alexander during his invasion of India? 

Ambhi , the Prince of Taxila

6. Who was Chanakya?

Kautiliya, more famously known as Chanakya, was a teacher at Taxila University.

7. What was the famous oath taken by Chanakya?
“I will not tie my tuft of hair until I uproot the whole Nanda dynasty and establish dharma in Magadha.Rulers like you have spoiled Bharat. The tuft of hair which you arrogantly pull now will be like a serpent which comes back to bite you.”


8. Why did Chandragupta maurya abandon his throne?
For his son, Bindusara

9. Write about the achievements of Chandragupta Maurya.
He conquered the whole of Northern India up to the river Indus, defeated Seleucus, the general of Alexander and gained control over parts of present day Afghanistan.

10. Chandragupta Maurya was a follower of which religion?
Jainism

11. .What was the other name given to Bindusara and what does it mean?
He was also known as Amitrochates or the destroyer of enemies.

12. Discuss about the extent of Bindusara’s empire.
Bindusara extended the Mauryan Empire in peninsular India as far as Mysore, except Kalinga, on the east coast. He is said to have conquered ‘the land between the two seas’,presumably the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

13. Who built the Lion capital?
Ashoka

14. Why was Ashoka known as Chandaashoka?
Also known as ‘Chandaashoka’, which means “Ashoka, the Fierce”, as he was a very short tempered person.

15. Who was Ashoka’s father?
Bindusara

16. .Describe the Kalinga War.
Kalinga was one such territory which Bindusara too was not able to conquer. In the 12th year of his reign, Ashoka sent a letter to Kalingraj, the ruler of Kalinga, asking its submission. However, Kalingraj refused to submit. As a result, Ashoka led a huge army to Kalinga.The entire Kalinga was turned into a battle arena. About 1, 00,000 Kalingans lost their lives and 1,50,000 were wounded. An equal number of Mauryan soldiers were also killed. The Kalinga battleground turned blood red after the war. Ashoka was so
moved by the outcome of the war that he became a follower of Buddhism and made Buddhism his state religion.

17. What type of a ruler was Dhana Nanda? Dhana Nanda was a despot. 


18. In which university was Chanakya a teacher? Taxila University. 


19. Whom did Chanakya train after the collapse of the Nanda dynasty? Chandragupta Maurya


20. What was Chanakyas impression of the Nanda dynasty? He believed that the entire Nanda dynasty had to be uprooted and dharma had to be established in Magadha. He felt that the rulers of the Nanda dynasty were the rulers who had spoiled Bharat.


21. What did Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj achieve as a ruler? Established the Maratha kingdom and defeated the Mughals. 


22. What did Rani Laxmibai achieve as a ruler? Went against the British invaders of her kingdom.


23.Which areas did Chandragupta Maurya invade? The whole of North India up to the river Indus. 


24. Whom did Chandragupta Maurya marry?  Helen the daughter of Seleucus. 


25. What was Bindusara also known as? Amitrochates or the destroyer of enemies 


26. What was the extent of Bindusara’s kingdom? The land between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. It extended as far as Mysore, except Kalinga on the east coast.


27.What was Ashoka known earlier?  ‘Chandaashoka’ which means “Ashoka, the Fierce”. 


28. What do the inscriptions from Ashoka’s time throw light on? Ashoka’s career, his domestic and external policies, as well as the extent of his empire. 


29. How did Ashoka continue in the footsteps of his father and grandfather?  By extending his frontiers with fresh conquests and engaging in war with different states.


30.Explain how Bindusara was an excellent administrator.  He ran the administration smoothly and maintained good relations with the Greeks, the Syrians and the Egyptians.


31. What were rock and pillar edicts used for by Ashoka?  To establish direct communication with the people. 


32. What was the duty of Rajukas? To deliver justice in the empire.


33. What was the duty of dhammahamatras? To teach the policies of dhamma to the people. 


34. How did Ashoka show kindness to animals? Prohibition of killing of birds and animals banned butchering of animals in his palace kitchen. 


35. Why were the edicts on rocks and pillars written in Prakrit?  It was a language easily understood 
by the people.


36. What was the commander-in- chief of the Mauryan army called?Senapati 


37. Name some of the high officials in the Mauryan Empire?  Amatyas, Mahamatras and Adhyaksas.


38. Why was the Mauryan Empire divided into provinces?  For administrative purposes. 


39. Who ruled the Mauryan provinces? They were ruled by Viceroys who were prices or kumaras.


40. What was the main source of income in the Mauryan Empire?  Land revenue 


41. Which official was in charge for collection of finances and revenue? Samaharta


42. What adversely affected the Brahmans in the Mauryan dynasty?  Promotion of Buddhism 


43. Which foreign power invaded India in 206 BCE? The Bactarians


44. Why taxes were important for the Mauryan kingdom?  
For the maintenance of the king, his ministers, army, salaries of other officials, religious purposes and on infrastructure.

45. What were the measures taken by Ashoka for the welfare of the people?

Ashoka set very high principles for himself with regard to kingship.

He considered his subjects as his children

He appointed rajukas for delivering justice in the empire

He planted trees, dug wells, constructed canals, built rest houses on highways

and built hospitals for humans as well as animals

He carved rock and pillar edicts to establish direct communication with the

people. These inscriptions were written in Prakrit which was easily understood

by the people.

46. What were the various sources of Income in the Mauryan Kingdom?The various sources of income were:
·    Land revenue was the main source of income.
·   The farmer paid one– sixth of the total produce to the state.
·     Chanakya mentions several types of taxes collected from the peasants, artisans and traders. Tax was also collected from mines, forests, and customs at the frontiers, tolls, ferry duties and fines.
·       The official in charge for finances and revenue collection was known as Samaharta.
· The amount collected from the tax was spent on maintenance of the king, his ministers, army, salaries of other officials, religious purposes and on infrastructure.

47. The Mauryan Empire began to disintegrate after the death of Ashoka in 232 BCE.

-          Various factors contributed to the decline and fall of the Mauryan Empire.
-          The promotion of Buddhism had adversely affected the Brahmans. Hence,
the empire received a strong protest from the Brahmanical society.
-          The Mauryans used large amount of money on the maintenance of army.
-          This made a dent in the Mauryan treasury.
-          The successors of Ashoka were not capable enough to look after a huge
 empire. These were followed by a series of foreign invasions.
-          Bactrians were the first one to invade India in 206 BCE.
-          The Mauryan Empire was finally destroyed by PushyamitraShunga in 185 BCE. He was the General of last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha.

48. Who were dhammamahamatra?Ans. The king appointed special officers known as dhammamahamatras, to teach the policies of dhamma to the people.

49. Write the Principles of dhamma.

      Ashoka in his various edicts has explained some of the basic principles of his dhamma.
-          Obedience to one’s mother and father, elders, teachers and other respectable people.
-          Proper treatment of ascetics, relatives, slaves, servants and dependants, the poor and miserable, friends, acquaintances and companions.
-          Abstinence from killing or injury of all living beings
-          Spending and accumulating little wealth
-          Truthfulness, morality and purity of heart