The Rise of Empires (Questions and Answers)

II. Short Answer Type Questions

1. Three features of an empire:

  • Vast size: Much larger than a kingdom.
  • Large army: Needed to protect massive borders.
  • Big administration: Many officials to collect taxes.

2. Means adopted by Ashoka to spread Dhamma:

  • Inscriptions: Carved messages on rocks and pillars.
  • Officials: Appointed Dhamma Mahamattas to teach people.
  • Missions: Sent messengers to Syria, Egypt, and Sri Lanka.

3. Why is it called the first empire of India?

  • It was the first dynasty to politically unify almost the entire Indian subcontinent under one central rule.

4. What did Megasthenes say about the capital city?

  • Pataliputra was a massive city with a deep moat, a wooden wall with 570 towers, 64 gates, and a grand royal palace.

5. Note on Ashoka's Dhamma:

  • It was a moral code—not a religion—focused on peace, respecting elders, treating servants well, and non-violence.

III. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Sources of Mauryan history:

  • Indika: Book by Megasthenes on society.
  • Arthashastra: Book by Chanakya on politics.
  • Edicts: Ashoka’s inscriptions on stone pillars.
  • Archaeology: Ancient coins and palace ruins.

2. Why did the Kalinga victory bring no joy?

  • The war caused over 100,000 deaths. Seeing the massive bloodshed, grief, and suffering gave Ashoka a severe change of heart.

3. Causes for the decline of the Mauryan Empire:

  • Weak rulers after Ashoka.
  • Empty treasury from high administrative costs.
  • Rebellions in distant provinces.

IV. Give Reasons

1. Chanakya assisted Chandragupta against Dhana Nanda:

  • Dhana Nanda was an oppressive ruler who insulted Chanakya. Chanakya wanted to replace him to unify and protect India.

2. Ashoka adopted Dhamma-Vijaya:

  • Horrified by the violence in the Kalinga War, he gave up military conquest to conquer hearts through morality instead.

V. Picture Study

  1. Identity: The Lion Capital of Ashoka.
  2. Location: Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.
  3. Builder: Emperor Ashoka.
  4. Features: Four lions standing back-to-back on a base carved with a horse, bull, lion, elephant, and wheels.
  5. Relevance today: It is the official National Emblem of modern India.