FROM MAGADHA TO THANESWAR

*FROM MAGADHA TO THANESWAR*

1. Megasthenes - *Indica*

2. Kautilya, in his Arthashastra mentions about the seven elements essential for a state. What are they ?. 

🔸Svami -  The King 

🔸Amartya - The minister/official. 

🔸Kosa - The treasury/Tax. 

🔸Danda - The Judiciary. 

🔸Durga - The fort/army. 

🔸Mitra - The ally. 

🔸Janapada - The territory. 

3. How far did the Saptanga theory help in the centralised administration system of the Mauryas?

OR

Chandragupta Maurya established a rule based on the Saptanga concept. Substantiate.

◽ Established a rule based on the Saptanga concept.

◽ Formed a strong army. 

◽Expanded his kingdom by conquering neighbouring states. 

◽Made alliance with many foreign countries. 

■ There were ministers and number of officials who helped him in the administration Chandragupta Maurya was the head of the administration and judiciary. 

4. What are the factors that brought Maurya kingdom the status of the first empire in India? 

◽ Kingdom was extensively large.

■ Administration was centred on the king.

◽Unified administration established throughout the whole state.

5.Maurya empire: hierarchy. 

  Chandragupta Maurya

                     ⬇️

              Bindusara

                     ⬇️

                  Ashoka

6. What details can you gather from the edict about the Dhamma of Ashoka?

✅ Started respecting relatives, Brahmans and sramanas. 

✅ Obey the mother, father and elders.

✅ Lessened the punishments and urged for a simple living.

7. What were the aims of establishing Dhamma?

■ Supreme need to instil unity, peace and harmony among the people in the vast country. 

◽To propagate and make people aware of his ideas and rules, Ashoka erected edicts in various parts of the country and made inscriptions on rocks.

◽ Sent officers to different parts of the country and other countries to propagate Dhamma. 

◽Installed stupas containing the relics and left overs of Buddha in various parts of the country. 

◽Places where Dhamma was propagated were free from conflicts and sectarianism. 

8. Name the most important stupa of Asoka. 

*Sanchi stupa*

9. Write the reason for the Decline of Maurya empire. 

◽ During the reign of Ashoka's successors, the power of the king and the influence of Dhamma were weakened.

■ As a result, many farther province became independent.

10. List out the economic activities of the Maurya empire which were controlled by the state. 

◽ The conquered regions were brought under cultivation.

◽ Irrigation facilities were arranged for the development of agriculture.

◽Roads were established for the development of trade.

■ Trees were planted on both sides of the road.

◽Roads helped in having trade relations with other places.

11. What were the steps taken by the government for the progress of trade.

■ Punch-marked coins were used for trade and for payment of wages.

■ Mines and metallurgy were controlled by the government.

■ The authority for minting coins was vested with the government. The government officials collected taxes from the traders.

◻️The accuracy of weights and measures was ensured.

12. According to *Megasthenes*, there existed *seven social divisions* during the Maurya rule. Which were they?

1.Farmers

2.Philosophers

3.Soldiers

4.Herdsmen and hunters

5. Artisans and traders 6.Magistrates

7.King's counsellors

13. Different kinds of taxes for raising funds during the Maurya rule-table.

◽Bhaga : Tax on land

◽ Bali : Tax on fruits and flowers.

◽Udagabhaga : Tax on Water

◽Shulka : Tax on export and import of goods. 

14. Who was the notable ruler among the Kushanas? Write his contributions.

■ Kanishka.

■ He started the Shaka era in 78 CE (This later became the official calendar of India).

■ He contributed much to the propagation of Buddhism.

15. Name the Buddhist scholars who adorned Kanishka's court.

• Asvaghosha and Vasumitra

16. Name two figures in the field of medicine lived during the period.

Charaka and Sushruta

17. Write the features of Gandhara sculpture.

■ A new style of sculpture emerged as a result of the amalgamation of the style of Greece and Rome with Indian style of sculpture. This is known as the *Gandhara sculpture*.

18. Write short note on Satavahanas. 

 

◻️During this period traders from north India and propagators of Jainism, Buddhism and Brahmanism came to south India.

◽This resulted in the cultural exchange between north and south.

◽India had trade relations with the Roman Empire.

19.Explains the land grant system during the Satavahana period.

📚  The Satavahana rulers donated land to Buddhist monks and Brahmanas.

📚  The aim of such donations was to enlarge the area of agricultural land.

📚 Gradually the administrative power of these places was given to them.

📚 This weakened the power of the kings.



20. Who was the first powerful Gupta ruler?

■ Chandragupta I

21. Whose work was 'Prashasti"?

Harisena.

22. Write the reforms of Chandrgupta II?

■ He transferred the capital from Pataliputra to Ujjain.

■ The Navaratnas, who were famous in various fields, lived in his court.

A large number of gold coins were in circulation.

◽These coins are specimens of the artistic skills of that time.

23. Name the Chinese traveller who visited India during the period of Chandrgupta II 

◽Fa-Hsien

24. Explains the land grant system during the Gupta period.

■ A large extent of land was donated to Jain saints, Buddhist monks, Brahmanas and to the officials in the palace.

Those who got the land were given the right to exchange it.

■ They made the farmers work in their land.

◽The farmers had no right on the land.

◽There was an increase in agricultural production

The life of the farmers was pathetic.

25. How the royal power of Gupta period weakened ? 

🔸The fall of the Roman empire caused for the decline of trade during the Gupta period.

🔸 The decline of trade attracted more people to the field of agriculture. 

🔸Towns lost their significance. 

🔸 Power was concentrated on the landlords. 

🔸 Thus the royal power weakened. 

26. What were the changes that occurred in the society during the Gupta period?

 

◽ Various kinds of discriminations existed in the society. 

◽Varna system became rigid. 

◽ The kings encouraged Vaishnava and Shaiva sects and built many temples.

27. Who was the most prominent ruler of Vardhana Kings of Thaneswar? Write his reform.

*Harshavardhana*

✍🏻  Worked for the uplift of Buddhism.

🔸 Took steps for the development of Nalanda University.

🔸Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda are the plays written by him.