The Mauryan Empire | MROY Class
The Mauryan Empire Questions & Answers
The Mauryan Empire was founded in 322 BCE by: – Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nanda dynasty with the help of his mentor and chief minister named: – Kautilya (Chanakya)The classical Sanskrit text Arthashastra, a comprehensive treatise on statecraft and economic policy, was authored by: – Kautilya (Chanakya)Which Greek ambassador was sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya by the Hellenistic king Seleucus I Nicator? – MegasthenesMegasthenes wrote a detailed account of India and Mauryan administration in his book titled: – IndicaThe famous Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa, which narrates the ascent of Chandragupta Maurya to power, was written by: – VishakhadattaAccording to Jain traditions, Chandragupta Maurya embraced Jainism towards the end of his life and migrated south with which Jain monk? – BhadrabahuWhere did Chandragupta Maurya spend his last days and perform Sallekhana (voluntary fasting unto death)? – ShravanabelagolaThe Greek writers referred to Bindusara, the son of Chandragupta Maurya, by the title: – Amitrochates (Amitraghata)Which heterodox sect received heavy patronage from Emperor Bindusara? – AjivikaBefore ascending the Mauryan throne, Ashoka served as the viceroy of which key province? – Taxila and UjjainThe deeply consequential Kalinga War, which transformed Ashoka’s life, was fought in the year: – 261 BCEWhich of Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts graphically describes the horrors of the Kalinga War and his subsequent remorse? – Major Rock Edict XIIIUnder whose influence did Emperor Ashoka convert to Buddhism? – UpaguptaIn his edicts, Ashoka generally refers to himself by the title: – Devanampiya Piyadasi (Beloved of the Gods)Which Ashokan inscription is famous for being the first to explicitly use his personal name “Ashoka” instead of just his titles? – Maski Minor Rock EdictWho was the British antiquarian and philologist who first deciphered the Brahmi script used in Ashokan inscriptions in 1837? – James PrinsepWhile most of Ashoka’s inscriptions in the Indian subcontinent are in the Brahmi script, the inscriptions in the North-Western regions (like Shahbazgarhi) use the: – Kharoshthi scriptThe bilingual Ashokan inscription written in both Greek and Aramaic was discovered at: – Kandahar (Shar-i-Kuna)According to Megasthenes, the administration of the Mauryan capital city, Pataliputra, was managed by a municipal commission consisting of how many members? – 30 members divided into 6 boardsIn the Mauryan administrative system described by Kautilya, the officer responsible for the collection of revenue was known as the: – SamahartaThe Sitadhyaksha in Mauryan administration was the superintendent of: – Crown Lands and AgricultureThe highly organized espionage system in the Mauryan Empire relied on spies who were collectively known as: – GudhapurushasThe standard silver coin of the Mauryan period, which was the backbone of their monetary system, was called the: – Karshapana (or Pana)Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra as Buddhist missionaries to which country? – Sri Lanka (Ceylon)To propagate his policy of Dhamma (moral law), Ashoka created a new cadre of high-ranking officials known as: – Dhamma MahamattasWhich of Ashoka’s pillar inscriptions specifically mentions his visit to the birthplace of Gautama Buddha and exempts the village from certain taxes? – Rummindei Pillar InscriptionThe majestic Sanchi Stupa, one of the oldest stone structures in India, was originally commissioned by: – AshokaAshoka ordered the excavation of rock-cut caves in the Barabar Hills near Gaya. He dedicated these caves to the monks of which sect? – AjivikasThe National Emblem of India is directly adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka found at: – SarnathIn Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the state is conceptually defined by seven vital elements. This is known as the: – Saptanga TheoryAccording to the Greek ambassador Megasthenes, Indian society was divided into how many rigid occupational classes? – SevenThe Mauryan Empire was divided into several large provinces. The capital of the southern province (Dakshinapatha) was: – SuvarnagiriThe capital of the newly conquered eastern province of Kalinga under Ashoka was: – TosaliWho was the provincial governor under Chandragupta Maurya responsible for constructing the famous Sudarshana Lake in Gujarat? – PushyaguptaThe historical information regarding the construction and later repairs of the Sudarshana Lake is found in the Junagadh rock inscription of: – Rudradaman IThe term Baga in Mauryan times referred to: – The principal land tax paid by cultivatorsIn Mauryan administration, what was the primary role of the official known as the Pradesika? – Provincial administrator and judicial officerWhich rock edict of Ashoka appeals for tolerance among all religious sects? – Both A and B (Major Rock Edict VII & XII)Ashoka’s contemporary on the throne of Sri Lanka, who also adopted the title ‘Devanampiya’, was: – Devanampiya TissaThe Bhabru Inscription is highly significant for historians because it explicitly proves Ashoka’s: – Faith in the Buddhist Trinity (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha)During the Mauryan period, the chief justice of the supreme court at the capital was known as the: – DharmasthaThe highly polished monolithic pillars of Ashoka were carved primarily from sandstone quarried at: – ChunarThe concept of Dhamma propagated by Ashoka was fundamentally: – A secular ethical code for social responsibility and harmonyWhich of the following animals is NOT featured on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital? – CowThe Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra during the reign of Ashoka. It was presided over by: – Moggaliputta TissaThe royal emblem of the Mauryan Empire, frequently associated with the dynasty’s origins, was the: – PeacockThe highest-ranking officials in the Mauryan state, who functioned as a council of ministers, were known as: – MantriparishadWho was the last ruler of the Mauryan Empire, under whom the empire finally collapsed? – BrihadrathaThe Mauryan Empire came to a definitive end in 185 BCE when the last emperor was assassinated by his own commander-in-chief named: – Pushyamitra Shunga
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📌 Quick Summary — The Mauryan Empire
Founders & Rulers: Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire in 322 BCE with the help of Chanakya. Bindusara (Amitraghata) succeeded him, patronizing the Ajivikas. Ashoka expanded it but shifted to Dhamma after the Kalinga War.Administration & Economy: Highly centralized system based on Chanakya’s Arthashastra (Saptanga Theory). The Mantriparishad advised the king. The Samaharta collected revenue. The Karshapana was the standard silver coin.Literature & Foreign Accounts: Arthashastra by Kautilya (Chanakya). Indica by the Greek ambassador Megasthenes. Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta details the political maneuvering of the time.Ashokan Edicts: Deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837. Major Rock Edict XIII details the Kalinga War. Maski Edict uniquely uses his personal name, Ashoka. Most are in Brahmi script; northwestern ones use Kharoshthi.Art & Architecture: Majestic Sanchi Stupa. Rock-cut Barabar caves for Ajivika monks. Highly polished monolithic sandstone pillars quarried from Chunar. The Sarnath Lion Capital (National Emblem).Religion & Dhamma: Ashoka converted to Buddhism under Upagupta and convened the Third Buddhist Council. He established Dhamma Mahamattas to spread a secular ethical code of harmony.Provinces & Decline: Empire divided into provinces like Suvarnagiri (South) and Tosali (Kalinga). Last ruler, Brihadratha, was assassinated by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE.
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