The First Empire

 

1. Fill in the blank.

Alexander was a Greek king.

2. How Alexander entered India?

Ans: Alexander entered India through the Hindu Kush Mountains.

3. Who helped Alexander against King Porus?

Ans: The king of Takshashila.

4. Who took care of occupied territories of Alexander on the west of Indus River?

Ans: Seleucus Nicator.

5. When was Alexander died?

Ans: In 323 BCE , at Babylon.

6. Who was the founder of Maurya Empire?

Ans: Chandragupta Maurya.

7. What is the another name of Kautilya?

Ans: Chanakya.

8. In which battle Alexander defeated the Porus?

Ans: In the Battle of the Hydaspes River.

9. At which age Chandragupta overthrew King Dhanananda?

Ans: At the age of 20.

10. When was the Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Dynasty?

Ans: In 321 BCE.

11. Who wrote the book  Arthashastra?

Ans: Kautilya.

12. Who was first major challenge of Chandragupta Maurya?

Ans: Seleucus Nicator.

13. When did the Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus Nicator fought a battle?

Ans: In 305 BCE.

14. Name the king under whom the Mauryan Empire conquered the trans- Indus region.

Ans: Under the king Chandragupta Maurya.

15. Name the son of Chandragupta.

Ans: Bindusara.

16. What is the modern name of Pataliputra?

Ans: Patna.

17. What was the capital of Maurya Empire?

Ans: Pataliputra.

18. What is the modern name of Kalinga?

Ans: Odisha.

19. What were the highlights of Ashoka's dhamma?

Ans: The major highlights of Ashoka's dhamma were : 

a) Be kind to everyone including animals.

b)Treat all human beings, elder and young, with respect.

c)Follow the path of non-violence.

d) Respect all religions.

e)Denounce expensive rituals and live a simple life.

20. Who were called dhamma mahamattas?

Ans: Ashoka sent out messengers to spread the dhamma described above. These messengers came to be called as dhamma mahamattas.

 21. Name Bindusara's son who decided to conquer Kalinga?

Ans: Ashoka.

22. Which battle was the turning point in the life of Ashoka and why?

Ans: The battle of Kalinga ( 261 BCE) was the turning point in the life of Ashoka.

Ashoka was successful in defeating the army of Kalinga. But there was a very heavy loss of life in this war. It is said that 1,00,000 people lost their life on both sides, and the waters of the Daya River, running next to the battlefield turned red with the blood of those killed. 

Walking through the battlefield, Emperor Ashoka saw the sorrow and pain of the wounded and the dead. It is said that he was so moved by the sight that he decided that he would not indulge in any more wars and killings.

23. Name the religion which inspired Ashoka for the rest of his life.

Ans: Dhamma.

24. What was Ashoka 's dhamma?

Ans: To spread the messages of peaceful coexistence was Ashoka's dhamma.

25. Who advised the king in the Mauryan Empire?

Ans: Mantri Parishad.

26. What were the princes of the royal family called?

Ans: Kumaras.

27. Why were spies appointed?

Ans: Spies were appointed to keep a watch on the performance of the officials.

28. How was money spent by the administration to make life more comfortable for the people?

Ans:  The king spent a lot of money on development and providing facilities for the people. Roads, wells and rest houses for travellers were developed. Agriculture prospered and stone work was in great demand.

29. B. Fill in the blanks.

1. The King of Takshasila helped Alexander against King Porus.

 2. Alexander died at Babylon in 323 BCE.

 3. Chanyaka_helped Chandragupta Maurya to establish the Mauryan Dynasty. 

4. Kalinga was a part of modern day Odisha .

5. Kalinga was a part of Magadha Empire but became independent during the rule of King Dhanananda.

6. King Ashoka believed in the Buddhist concept of_dharma meaning righteousness.

7. The Lion Capital of Ashoka is now adopted as the emblem

of India.

30. State whether true or false.

1. King Porus defeated Alexander's army.

Ans: False.

2. Chanakya was a teacher at Takshashila. 

Ans: True.

3. Chanakya overthrew King Dhanananda at the age of 30. 

Ans: False.

4. Bindusara was the son of Chandragupta. 

Ans: True.

5. Ashoka adopted Buddhism after the war of Kalinga. 

Ans: True .

6. In the Mauryan Empire king was the supreme judge.

Ans:  True.

31.Choose the correct option :

1. Alexander belonged to 

i) Greece            ii) Rome           iii) France             iv) England

Ans: i) Greece .

2. The founder of the Mauryan Empire was

i) Ashoka            ii) Bindusara           iii) Samudragupta      

  iv) Chandragupta Maurya .

Ans: iv) Chandragupta Maurya .

3. Alexander entered India through the 

i) Vindhya Mountains                    ii) Himalayas

iii) Hindu Kush Mountains             iv) Satpura Ranges

Ans: iii) Hindu Kush Mountains  .

4. Alexander defeated 

i) King Porus                  ii) King Ashoka         iii) King Bimbisara

iv) King Harsha.

Ans: i) King Porus  

5. Chanakya was also known as 

i) Kautilya              ii) Porus           iii) Harsha              iv) Charaka

Ans: Kautilya.

6. Who persuaded Chandragupta to build an empire to protect Indian territories from foreign invasion?

i) Chanakya            ii) Megasthenes        iii) Seleucus Nicator.

iv) Bindusara.

Ans:    i) Chanakya . 

7. The Mauryan Dynasty was established in 

i) 321 BCE             ii) 421  BCE          iii) 322 BCE       iv) 333BCE 

Ans:      i) 321 BCE .

8. The capital of the Mauryan Empire was

i) Kannauj            ii) Kalinga          iii) Pataliputra            iv) Ujjain

Ans: Pataliputra.

9. After the war Ashoka adopted the teachings of 

i) Chanakya        ii) Lord Krishna         iii) Lord Mahavira

iv) Lord Buddha

Ans:   iv) Lord Buddha         

10. Modern day Odisha was called

i) Taxila           ii) Kalinga          iii) Awadh          iv) Ujjain

Ans:      ii) Kalinga   .