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VI T2 SS L3 FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
Unit 3
FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES
EXERCISES
I Choose the correct answer:
1. The Kingdom which was most powerful among the four Mahajanapadas
a) Anga b) Magadha c) Kosala d) Vajji
Ans: b) Magadha
2. Among the following who was the contemporary of Gautama Buddha?
a) Ajatasatru b) Bindusara c) Padmanabha Nanda d) Brihadratha
Ans: a) Ajatasatru
3. Which of the following are the sources of Mauryan period?
a) Artha Sastra b) Indica c) Mudrarakshasa d) All
Ans: d) All
4. Chandra Gupta Maurya abdicated the thrown and went to Sravanbelgola along
with Jaina Saint ______________.
a) Badrabahu b) Stulabahu c) Parswanatha d) Rushabhanatha
Ans: a) Badrabahu
5. _______ was the ambassador of Seleucus Nicator.
a) Ptolemy b) Kautilya c) Xerxes d) Megasthenese
Ans: d) Megasthenese
6. Who was the last emperor of Mauryan Dynasty?
a) Chandragupta Maurya b) Ashoka
c) Brihadratha d) Bindusara
Ans: c) Brihadratha
II Match the statement with the reason/Tick the appropriate answer:
1. Statement (A) Ashoka is considered as one of India’s greatest rulers.
Reason (R) He ruled according to the principle of Dhamma.
a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
b. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
c. A is true but R is false.
d. A is false but R is true.
Ans: a. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Which of the statements given below is/are correct?
Statement 1 Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler who unified entire India
under one political unit.
Statement 2 The Arthashastra provides information about the Mauryan
administration
a. only 1 b. only 2 c. both 1 and 2 d neither 1 nor 2
Ans: b. only 2
3. Consider the following statements and find out which of the following statement(s) is/are correct.
1) Chandragupta Maurya was the first king of Magadha.
2) Rajagriha was the capital of Magadha.
a. only 1 b. only 2 c. both 1 and 2 d. neither 1 nor 2
Ans: b. only 2
4. Arrange the following dynasties in chronological order.
a. Nanda – Sishunaga – Haryanka – Maurya
b. Nanda – Sishunaga –Maurya – Haryanka
c. Haryanka - Sishunaga – Nanda - Maurya
d. Sishunaga – Maurya – Nanda – Haryanka
Ans: c. Haryanka - Sishunaga – Nanda - Maurya
5. Which of the following factors contributed to the rise of Magadhan Empire?
1) Strategic location
2) Thick forest supplied timber and elephant
3) Control over sea
4) Availability of rich deposits of iron ores
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 3 and 4 only
c. 1, 2 and 4 only
d. All of these
Ans: c. 1, 2 and 4 only
III Fill in the blanks:
1. ____________________ was the earliest capital of Magadha.
Ans: Raj agriha
2. Mudrarakshasa was written by ____________________.
Ans: Visakadatta
3. ____________________ was the son of Bindusara.
Ans: Ashoka
4. The founder of the Maurya Empire was ____________________.
Ans: Chandragupta Maurya
5. ____________________ were appointed to spread Dhamma all over the empire.
Ans: Mahamattas
IV State True or False:
1. The title Devanam Piya was given to Chandragupta Maurya.
Ans: False
2. Ashoka gave up war after his defeat in Kalinga.
Ans: False
3. Ashoka’s Dhamma was based on the principle of Buddhism.
Ans: True
4. The lions on the currency notes is taken from the Rampurwa bull capital.
Ans: False
5. Buddha's relics were placed in the centre of the Stupas.
Ans: True
V Match the following:
a. Gana 1. Arthasastra
b. Megasthenese 2. religious tours
c. Chanakya 3. people
d. Dharmayatras 4. Indica
a. 3 4 1 2
b. 2 4 3 1
c. 3 1 2 4
d. 2 1 4 3
Ans: a. 3 4 1 2
VI Answer in one or two sentences:
1. Mention any two literary sources of Mauryan period.
Secular Literature: Kautilya’s Arthasastra Visakadatta’s Mudrarakshasa Mamulanar’s poem in Agananuru
Religious Literature: Jain, Buddhist texts and Puranas
2. What is a stupa?
A Stupa is a semi – spherical dome like structure constructed on brick or stone. The Buddha’s relics were placed in the centre of the dome.
3. Name the dynasties of Magadha.
The four dynasties ruled over Magadha Empire are
„ The Haryanka dynasty
„ The Shishunaga dynasty
„ The Nanda dynasty
„ The Maurya dynasty
4. What were the sources of revenue during Mauryan period?
The land was the most important source of revenue for the state. The land tax (bhaga) collected was 1/6 of the total produce.
„ Revenue from taxes on forests, mines, salt and irrigation provided additional revenue to the government
5. Who assisted Nagarika in the administration of towns?
Sthanika and Gopa assisted Nagarika for town administration.
6. What do you know from the Rock Edicts II and XIII of Ashoka?
The Rock Edicts II and XIII of Ashoka refer to the names of the three dynasties namely
Pandyas,
Cholas,
Keralaputras and
The Sathyaputras.
7. Which classical Tamil poetic works have the reference of Mauryans?
Mamulahar’s poem in Agananuru gives the reference of the Mauryans.
VII Answer the following:
1. What did Ashoka do to spread Buddhism? (Write any three points).
Ashoka sent missionaries to West Asia, Egypt, and Eastern Europe to spread the message of Dhamma.
He also sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta to Srilanka to propagate Buddhism.
Ashoka held the third Buddhist council at his capital pataliputra.
2. Write any three causes for the rise of Magadha.
„ Magadha was located on the lower part of the Gangetic plain. The plain was fertile which ensured the rich agricultural yield. This provided regular and substantial income to the state.
„ The thick forests supplied timber for construction of buildings and elephants for the army.
„ Abundance of natural resources, especially iron enabled them to equip themselves with weapons made of iron.
VIII HOTS
1. Kalinga war became a turning point in Ashoka’s life. How?
Ashoka was the most famous Mauryan King. When he became the king, Kalinga was the only kingdom that was not under Mauryan control. Ashoka attacked Kalinga in the year of 261 BC (BCE) and after a tough war, he conquered Kalinga. He himself described this war as ROCK EDICT XIII.
This horror war becomes a turning point in Ashoka’s life. He was saddened by the death and suffering caused to the troops. He realized that war only led to death and sadness and the war was futile.
After the battle of Kalinga, Ashoka became a Buddhist and undertook Dharmayatras to different parts of the country and gave up his policy of conquest through war (dig-Vijaya).
2. Write any five welfare measures you would do if you were a king like Ashoka?
If I were a king like Ashoka, I will provide;
Quality education to all
Free and quality medical treatment to all
Job to all people, based on their qualification
Best civil infrastructure at all common places
Pollution free nature environment
