From Chiefdoms to Empires Book Back Questions 6th Social Science Lesson 11

6th Social Science Lesson 11

11] From Chiefdoms to Empires

Book Back Questions with Answer and Do You Know Box Content

Do You Know?

The term ‘gana’ means ‘people of equal status.’ ‘Sangha’ means ‘assembly.’ The gana-sanghas covered a small geographical area ruled by an elite group. The gana sanghas practiced egalitarian traditions.

A ‘kingdom’ means a territory ruled by a king or queen. In a kingdom (monarchy) , a family, which rules for a long period becomes a dynasty. Usually these kingdoms adhered to orthodox Vedic traditions.

16 Mahajanapadas: Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Kasi, Kuru, Kosala, Avanti, Chedi, Vatsa, Panchala, Machcha, Surasena, Assaka, Gandhara and Kamboja.

Nalanda – UNESCO World Heritage Site: Nalanda was a large Buddhist monastery in ancient kingdom of Magadha. It became the most renowned seat of learning during the reign of Guptas. The word Nalanda is a Sanskrit combination of three words Na + alam + daa meaning “no stopping of the gift of knowledge.”

Megasthenese: He was the ambassador of the Greek ruler, Seleucus, in the court of Chandra gupta. He stayed in India for 14 years. His book Indica is one of the main sources for the study of Mauryan Empire.

Grandeur of Pataliputra: The great capital city in the Mauryan Empire, which had 64 gates to the city with 570 watch towers.

“Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day.” – H.G. Wells, Historian.

Lion Capital of Ashoka: The Emblem of the Indian Republic has been adopted from the Lion Capital of one of the Ashokas pillars located at Sarnath. The wheel from the circular base, the Ashoka Chakra is a part of the National Flag.

An Edict is an office proclamation issued by authority or a king.

The script of the inscriptions: At Sanchi – Brahmi; At Kandahar – Greek and Aramaic; At North Western part – Kharoshthi.

The Junagarh/Girnar Inscription of Rudradaman records that the construction of a water reservoir known as Sudarshana Lake was begun during the time of Chandragupta Maurya and completed during Ashoka’s reign.

Yakshas were deities connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest and wilderness. Yakshis were their female counterpart.

Main Exports: Spices, Pearls, Diamonds, Cotton textiles, Ivory Works, Conch Shells.

Main Imports: Horses, Gold, Glassware, Linen.

Ancient name and its modern name: Rajagriha – Rajgir; Pataliputra – Patna; Kalinga – Odisha.

Elsewhere in the world – The Great Wall of China: It is an ancient series of fortification. During third century BC (BCE) emperor Qin-Shi Huang linked these walls on Northern border to protect his empire.

Temple of Zeus at Olympia: An ancient temple in Olympia, Greece, dedicated to the god Zeus, constructed during fifth century BC (BCE) , it is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Choose the best answers:

1. The Kingdom which was most powerful among the four Mahajanapadas

(a) Anga

(b) Magadha

(c) Kosala

(d) Vajji

2. Among the following who was the contemporary of Gautama Buddha?

(a) Ajatasatru

(b) Bindusara

(c) Padmanabha Nanda

(d) Brihadratha

3. Which of the following are the sources of Mauryan period?

(a) Artha Sastra

(b) Indica

(c) Mudrarkshasa

(d) All

4. Chandra Gupta Maurya abdicated the thrown and went to Saravanbelagola along with Jaina Saint ____________

(a) Badrabahu

(b) Stulabahu

(c) Parswanatha

(d) Rushabhanatha

5. ______________ was the ambassador of Seleucus Nicator.

(a) Ptolemy

(b) Kautilya

(c) Xerxes

(d) Megasthenese

6. Who was the last emperor of Mauryan Dynasty?

(a) Chandragupta Maurya

(b) Ashoka

(c) Brihadratha

(d) Bindusara

Consider the following the statements and 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

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 a and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 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

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

5. Which of the following factors contributed to the rise of Magadha Empire?

(1) Strategic location

(2) Thick forest supplied timer 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

Fill in the blanks:

1. _______________ was the earliest capital of Magadha.

2. Mudrarkshasa was written by ______________

3. ___________ was the son of Bindusara.

4. The founder of the Maurya Empire was ______________

5. ______________ were appointed to spread Dhamma all over the empire.

State true or false:

1. The title Devanam Piya was given to Chandragupta Maurya.

2. Ashoka gave up war after his defeat in Kalinga.

3. Ashoka’s Dhamma was based on the principle of Buddhism.

4. The lions on the currency notes is taken from the Rampurwa bull capital.

5. Buddha’s relics were placed in the centre of the Stupas.

Match the following:

1. Gana – (a) Arthashastra

2. Megasthenese – (b) Religious tours

3. Chanakya – (c) People

4. Dharmayatras – (d) Indica

(a) 3 4 1 2

(b) 2 4 3 1

(c) 3 1 2 4

(d) 2 1 4 3

Answers:

Choose the best answers:

1.Magadha, 2. Ajatasatru, 3. Artha Sastra, Indica and Mudrarkshasa, 4. Badrabahu

5. Megasthenese, 6. Brihadratha

Consider the following the statements and tick the appropriate answer:

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
2. Only statement 2 is correct.
3. Only statement 2 is correct.
4. Haryanka – Sishunaga – Nanda – Maurya
5. Statement 1, 2 and 4 only correct.

Fill in the blanks:

1.Rajgriha, 2. Vishakadatta, 3. Ashoka, 4. Chandragupta Maurya, 5. Dhamma Mahamattas

State true or false:

1. False

Correct statement: The title Devanam Piya was given to Ashoka.

2. False

Correct statement: Ashoka gave up war after he won the Kalinga war.

3. True

4. False

Correct statement: The lions on the currency notes is taken from the Ashoka pillars from Sarnath.

5. True

Match the following:

1. People, 2. Indica, 3. Arthashastra, 4. Religious tours