La Martiniere Girls' College Past Paper PDF - Mauryan Empire

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Name: ___________________________________ Date: __________________ Section: _____________ Roll No.: _______________ La Martiniere Girls’ College Class VI History Chapter 9 THE MAURYAN EMPIRE THE NANDAS ❖ The Nanda dynasty ruled Magadha between 343 BCE and 321 BCE. ❖ The reign of the first Nanda King, Mahapadma Nanda, was the longest among the nine Nanda kings. ❖ Dhana Nanda was the last Nanda ruler. Dhana Nanda was a cruel and unpopular ruler. ❖ He was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya with the help of a famous diplomat and strategist Chanakya, also known as Kautilya. The establishment of the Mauryan Empire marks the beginning of a new period in Indian history. For the first time, a large part of the country was politically unified under the Mauryas. The two main sources of information on the Mauryan period are— Dhana Nanda Indika by Megasthenes and Arthashastra by Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta). The rock and pillar edicts of Ashoka also provide valuable information. Chandragupta Maurya In 321 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the last Nanda king, Dhana Nanda, and seized the throne of Magadha. His success was largely due to the guidance and training of his advisor Chanakya. He was a wise Brahmana scholar who had a personal grudge against Dhana Nanda. A few years after Alexander's death, fighting broke out between his generals for the control of his vast empire. Seleucus, one of Alexander's general, became the ruler of the territory stretching from Asia Minor to the Indus. In 305 BCE, he crossed the river Indus to recover the territories Alexander had conquered earlier. Chandragupta Maurya defeated him and freed north-western India from Greek control. Seleucus was compelled to sign a treaty. LMGC/Cl 6/HISTORY/CHNo.9 Page 1 of 7  Terms of the Treaty: According to which Seleucus had to give eastern Afghanistan, Baluchistan and west of the Indus to Chandragupta. He gave his daughter to Chandragupta in marriage and sent Megasthenes as ambassador to Chandragupta's court. In return, Seleucus received 500 war elephants. Chandragupta Maurya built a vast empire which was the first great empire in Indian history. By the end of his reign, the Mauryan Empire stretched from the Hindu Kush in the north-west to Bengal in the east, from the Himalayas in the north to the Narmada in the south. The powerful kingdom of Kalinga in the east, however, was independent. Bindusara Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara who ruled for about 25 years. During his reign, the empire extended up to Mysore. He was succeeded by his son, Ashoka. Ashoka ✓ When Ashoka ascended the throne in 273 BCE, Kalinga was the only kingdom that was not under Mauryan control. ✓ Kalinga was a powerful kingdom. It controlled the land and sea routes to south India and south- east Asia. ✓ Control of this region would give Ashoka the key to greater economic prosperity. In 261 BCE, Ashoka attacked Kalinga and conquered it after a bitter struggle. ✓ His empire now stretched from the Himalayas in the north to Mysore in the south and from Hindu Kush in the north-west to the Brahmaputra in the east. ✓ Ashoka's victory at Kalinga did not bring him any joy and satisfaction. The death, destruction and great human suffering in this war filled his heart with sorrow and remorse. ✓ The Kalinga War became a turning point in Ashoka's life. He made up his mind to give up warfare and conquer the hearts of people with love. ✓ Ashoka was deeply influenced by the Buddhist principles of compassion, peace and non- violence. ✓ He embraced Buddhism and devoted his life to the moral and material welfare of his subjects. The policy of Dig Vijaya (conquest of territories) was replaced by Dhamma Vijaya (conquest through dharma). Ashoka’s Dhamma The word ‘Dhamma’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘dharma’ which means religious duty. Ashoka's idea of dhamma was based on human values and a code of conduct inspired by the noble teachings of Buddha. He dedicated his entire life to spreading the message of dhamma in India and abroad. The main principles of dhamma were as follows: ❖ People should live in peace and harmony. ❖ Everyone should follow Ahimsa, i.e. non-violence and non- injury to all living creatures. ❖ People should love one another and show tolerance and respect towards other religions. ❖ Children should obey their elders and elders should treat children with understanding. ❖ People should be truthful, charitable and kind to all (including servants and slaves). LMGC/Cl 6/HISTORY/CHNo.9 Page 2 of 7 Ashokan Edicts: Ashokan Ideals of Kingship The edicts are a source of valuable information about the Mauryan period. Edicts are royal commands or proclamations. They were inscribed on rocks, polished stone pillars and caves. They were composed in Prakrit, the language of the people and written in Brahmi script. In the north-west they were written in Greek, Kharoshthi and Aramaic. The Mauryan administration was based on the guidelines for good government laid down by Chanakya in the Arthashastra. The edicts of Ashoka and Indika of Megasthenes give us a vivid account of the Mauryan rule. Administration The king had supreme power. He was advised by a Council of Ministers called the Mantri Parishad. The government was divided into different departments, e.g. treasury, industry, revenue, security, etc. Each department was looked after by officials appointed by the king. Officials like Mahamatras looked after the day- to-day work of the administration. The vast empire was divided into provinces. Most of the important provinces were placed under the control of princes from the royal family, called Kumaras. They ruled the province as viceroys or representatives of the king. The provinces were divided into districts. Each district had many Nagaras or towns and Gramas or villages. At every level of administration there were officials who looked after the day-to- day affairs of the government. Pataliputra The capital city of the Mauryan Empire was Pataliputra. The administration of this city served as a model for city administration. There were six committees, each consisting of five members. Each committee was in charge of a particular department such as industries, registration of births and deaths, care of foreigners, and trade and commerce. These 30 members also looked after common problems related to health, sanitation, education, etc. The king had an elaborate spy system which kept him informed about his viceroys and officials as well as what was going on inside and outside his kingdom. The Mauryan kings had a large, well-equipped, standing army. The army included infantry, cavalry, elephants, chariots and navy. There was a separate department to look after the production of weapons. The army was always kept in a high state of readiness, even during Ashoka's reign. Pataliputra was a magnificent walled city with numerous gates and watch-towers. It was well connected to various parts of the empire. The king lived in a grand stone palace. Mauryan Art The Mauryan period was an age of cultural brilliance. The artistic achievements of this period can be seen in the numerous stupas, monolithic pillars, caves and sculpted figures of the Ashokan period. Mauryan art was greatly influenced by Buddhism. Ashoka is supposed to have built 84,000 stupas throughout the kingdom. LMGC/Cl 6/HISTORY/CHNo.9 Page 3 of 7  Stupas are solid, semicircular, dome-like structures made of stones and bricks. Relics of Buddha, such as his hair, tooth, etc., were kept at the base of the stupa. The stupa of Sanchi is an outstanding specimen of Mauryan architecture. The Mauryas also built many prayer halls and viharas (monasteries). Monolithic pillars, inscribed with the edicts of Ashoka, are the best examples of the remarkable skill and quality of Mauryan artists. The surfaces of the stone pillars were highly polished. The pillar at Sarnath is the most famous. The lion capital of this pillar is the most magnificent piece of sculpture of the Mauryan period. Four lions sitting back-to-back on a circular base have been exquisitely carved out from a single piece of stone. The base is decorated with sculptures of four animals separated by four wheels or dharma chakras. The lion capital was adopted as the national emblem of India in 1950. A picture of the lion capital is also printed on Indian currency notes. The wheel, representing motion and progress, can be seen on our national flag. Lion Capital National Emblem of Ashokan Pillar at India Sarnath Mauryan Economy The Mauryan rulers had unified the country and brought peace and stability. These favourable conditions promoted the growth of the economy and made the empire rich and prosperous. Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. Farmers were encouraged to bring more land under cultivation. LMGC/Cl 6/HISTORY/CHNo.9 Page 4 of 7  Irrigation facilities were provided to them. Land revenue was collected from the farmers and it was the chief source of income for the king. Other economic activities included mining, forestry as well as carpentry, pottery, masonry, etc. Trade and commerce also flourished. The merchants carried on both inland and overseas trade. They had trade relations with Sri Lanka, Egypt and Greece. Taxes were also collected from mines, forests and other professions. This helped to pay salaries of officers, maintain the army and build roads and hospitals. Decline of the Mauryan Empire The death of Ashoka in 232 BCE marked the beginning of the decline of the Mauryan Empire. There were many reasons for the decline. Ashoka’s successors were weak and inefficient. The empire was too vast and it was not easy to control the far-flung territories. In the absence of a strong central authority, the provincial viceroys declared themselves independent. The expense of maintaining a large standing army and an elaborate administrative system was a heavy drain on the state treasury. The last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha was killed by Pushyamitra Sunga, the founder of the Sunga dynasty. Thus, ended a long and glorious chapter in the history of ancient India. Question and Answers Q1. Mention two important literary sources of information about the Mauryan Empire. Q2. State any five principles of Dhamma. Q3. What were the causes for the decline of the Mauryan Empire? Q4. Mention any four features of the Pillar at Sarnath. Q5. Name the following: - 1. Capital city of Mauryan Empire. _______________________ 2. Successor of Chandragupta Maurya _______________________ 3. It means ‘religious duty’ _______________________ 4. Alexander’s general _______________________ Q6. Multiple Choice Questions: i. Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire, is credited with: a) Establishing a strong central government b) Expanding the empire to its greatest extent c) Promoting Buddhism as the state religion d) All of the above ii. How did Ashoka's policy of dhamma impact the Mauryan Empire? a) It led to a decline in social unrest and violence. b) It strengthened the centralized power of the emperor. c) It resulted in the conversion of a majority of the population to Buddhism. d) It led to a significant increase in trade and economic activity. LMGC/Cl 6/HISTORY/CHNo.9 Page 5 of 7  iii. How can we protect and preserve the Sanchi Stupa for future generations? a) By raising awareness about its historical and cultural significance. b) By supporting conservation efforts and funding restoration projects. c) By promoting sustainable tourism practices. d) All of the above iv. Which of the following was not a part of Ashoka’s Dhamma? a) Ahimsa, or non-violence towards all living creatures b) Promotion of truthfulness, charity, and kindness c) Expansion of territory through warfare d) Respect and tolerance towards all religions v. Assertion (A): Dhana Nanda, the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty, was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya. Reason (R): Chandragupta Maurya had the assistance of Chanakya, a diplomat and strategist, to overthrow Dhana Nanda. A) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion. B) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion. C) Assertion is true but Reason is false. D) Assertion is false but Reason is true. vi. Assertion (A): The Mauryan Empire was the first large political unification of India. Reason (R): Chandragupta Maurya was able to unify the entire Indian subcontinent, including Kalinga. A) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion. B) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion. C) Assertion is true but Reason is false. D) Assertion is false but Reason is true. vii. Nested Question: Choose the correct option to match the following: 1 Megasthenes i Advisor to Chandragupta Maurya 2 Chanakya ii Ambassador in Chandragupta's court 3 Dhana Nanda iii Ruler of territory from Asia Minor to Indus 4 Seleucus iv Last Nanda ruler a) 1-ii, 2-i, 3-iv, 4-iii b) 1-i, 2-ii, 3-iv, 4-iii c) 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii d) 1-iv, 2-iii, 3-ii, 4-i Activity: Stick pictures of the Sanchi Stupa, Lion Capital and the Ashokan Pillar in your exercise books. 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