Class 6 History Chapter 7 India during the Maurya Period Textbook Questions and Answers
1. Answer in one sentence:
Question 1.
Why did the satraps begin to fight among themselves?
Answer:
After Alexander’s death, a struggle for power began among the satraps that he had appointed.
Question 2.
Who did Ashoka send to Sri Lanka for the spread of Buddhism?
Answer:
Ashoka sent his own son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka for the spread of Buddhism.
Question 3.
What were the occupations of the people during the Mauryan period?
Answer:
During the Mauryan period, there were many occupations like carving and engraving on ivory, weaving and dyeing cloth and metal work. Black, glazed pottery was produced. Ship building and technology of making articles of iron had also developed.
Question 4.
Which animal engravings are found on the pillars erected by Emperor Ashoka?
Answer:
Excellent carvings of animals like the lion, elephant, bull are found on the pillars erected by Ashoka.
2. Can you explain ?
Question 1.
Satrap
Answer:
When Alexander was forced to return back to Greece, he appointed Greek officers to administer the conquered territories. They were called satraps.
Question 2.
Sudarshan
Answer:
Emperor Chandragupta Maurya built a dam called ‘Sudarshan’ near Junagadh in Gujarat state.
Question 3.
‘Devanampiyo Piyadasi’
Answer:
The name given to Emperor Ashoka which means beloved of the Gods and he who looks on with affection.
Question 4.
Ashtapad
Answer:
The game of chess was called Ashtapad.
3. Recall and describe:
Question 1.
The extent of Chandragupta Maurya’s empire.
Answer:
- Chandragupta Maurya defeated the Nanda dynasty and established his rule in Magadha.
- He won Avanti and Saurashtra and began to extend the boundaries of his empire.
- On defeating Seleucus Nicator he included the north west region of Kabul, Kandahar and Herat in the Mauryan Empire.
Question 2.
The extent of Ashoka’s empire.
Answer:
Ashoka’s empire extended from Afghanistan in the northwest and Nepal in the north to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the south, and from Bengal in the east to Saurashtra in the west.
4. Match the following:
Question 1.
| Column (A) | Column (B) |
| (1) Emperor Alexander | (a) Ambassador of Seleucus Nicator |
| (2) Megasthenes | (b) Emperor of Greece |
| (3) Emperor Ashoka | (c) Emperor of Rome |
| (d) Emperor of Magadha |
Answer:
1 – b
2 – a
3 – d
5. What is your opinion?
Question 1.
Alexander had to turn back.
Answer:
- During the Indian invasion, Alexander’s army had to suffer severe hardships.
- The army was also away from home for a very long time so the soldiers were eager to go back.
- Therefore, they rebelled, against Alexander and he was forced to go back to Greece.
Question 2.
Coins of Greek kings were characteristic.
Answer:
- The Greek kings minted characteristic coins.
- On one side, the coin had a picture of the king who had minted the coin and on the other side, a picture of a Greek God.
- The name of the king was also written on the coin.
- Alexander’s coins were of the same type.
Question 3.
Emperor Ashoka decided never to wage war again.
Answer:
- Emperor Ashoka decided never to wage war again when he witnessed the bloodshed and devastation caused by Kalinga war.
- Emperor Ashoka had a change of heart and embraced Buddhism.
6. Describe in your own words:
Question 1.
Public welfare works of Emperor Ashoka
Answer:
- Emperor Ashoka laid stress on the creation of facilities for the welfare of the people.
- He made provision for free medicines and medical treatment for people as well as for animals.
- He built many roads.
- He dug wells and built dharmashalas.
Question 2.
Means of entertainment and sport of the Mauryan period.
Answer:
- Different festivals and functions were celebrated in villages and towns.
- Dance and music concerts were a part of entertainment.
- Wrestling bouts and chariot races were popular.
- Board games and chess called Ashtapad was also popular.
Activity:
- Find out about the public welfare activities carried out by the people’s representatives in your area and write in detail about them.
- Read more about the life of Emperor Ashoka and make a presentation based on it in the form of a play.
Class 6 History Chapter 7 India during the Maurya Period Additional Important Questions and Answers
Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option:
Question 1.
Alexander, the Greek emperor, invaded ______ northwestern frontier in 326 BCE.
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Nepal
Answer:
(b) India
Question 2.
Emperor Alexander appointed Greek officers to _______ the conquered territories.
(a) teach
(b) develop
(c) administer
Answer:
(c) administer
Question 3.
Alexander died on his way back to Greece in 323 BCE at ______ .
(a) Babylon
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) Nepal
Answer:
(a) Babylon
Question 4.
Alexander’s campaign led to an _______ in trade between India and the western world.
(a) decrease
(b) standstill
(c) increase
Answer:
(c) increase
Question 5.
The _______ who accompanied Alexander introduced India to the western world through their writings.
(a) historians
(b) physicians
(c) musicians
Answer:
(a) historians
Question 6.
Greek _________ sculpture Indian art.
(a) dominated
(b) influenced
(c) crippled
Answer:
(b) influenced
Question 7.
Indian kings started _________ similar coins like the Greeks.
(a) printing
(b) sculpting
(c) minting
Answer:
(c) minting
Question 8.
Chandragupta Maurya founded the __________ Empire.
(a) Gupta
(b) Nanda
(c) Maurya
Answer:
(c) Maurya
Question 9.
After Alexander’s death, a struggle for power began among the _____ he had appointed.
(a) satraps
(b) ministers
(c) ambassadors
Answer:
(a) satraps
Question 10.
Seleucus Nicator was Alexander’s _______.
(a) satrap
(b) general
(c) ambassador
Answer:
(b) general
Question 11.
________ became the king of Babylon after Alexander’s death.
(a) Megasthenes
(b) Chandragupta
(c) Seleucus Nicator
Answer:
(c) Seleucus Nicator
Question 12.
________ , Seleucus Nicator’s ambassador stayed back at Chandragupta Maurya’s court.
(a) Megasthenes
(b) Alexander
(c) Ashoka
Answer:
(a) Megasthenes
Question 13.
Megasthene’s book _______ is an important source for the study of India during the Mauryan period.
(a) Maruti
(b) Indica
(c) Honda
Answer:
(b) Indica
Question 14.
Chandragupta was succeeded by his son ______.
(a) Ashoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Shishunag
Answer:
(b) Bindusara
Question 15.
After Bindusara’s death, his son _______ succeeded to the throne in 273 BCE.
(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta
(c) Samudragupta
Answer:
(a) Ashoka
Question 16.
Emperor Ashoka _______ Kalinga.
(a) dominated
(b) destroyed
(c) conquered
Answer:
(c) conquered
Question 17.
Ashoka was deeply moved by the, ________ of the Kalinga war.
(a) bloodshed
(b) strength
(c) bravery
Answer:
(a) bloodshed
Question 18.
Ashoka had embraced ________.
(a) Christianity
(b) Buddhism
(c) Islam
Answer:
(b) Buddhism
Question 19.
Ashoka sent his own son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to ______ for the spread of Buddhism.
(a) Nepal
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) China
Answer:
(b) Sri Lanka
Question 20.
Ashoka also _________ many stupas and viharas.
(a) built
(b) painted
(c) destroyed
Answer:
(a) built
Question 21.
Ashoka made provisions for free medicines and medical treatment for people as well as for the _______.
(a) travellers
(b) citizens
(c) animals
Answer:
(c) animals
Question 22.
Ashoka dug wells and built _______.
(a) stupas
(b) caves
(c) dharmashalas
Answer:
(c) dharmashalas
Question 23.
There was a Council of Ministers which advised the king in matters of _______.
(a) administration
(b) war
(c) weather
Answer:
(a) administration
Question 24.
During the Maurya period, _______ production had great importance.
(a) agricultural
(b) machine
(c) glassware
Answer:
(a) agricultural
Question 25.
Dance and music concerts were part of ______.
(a) night life
(b) entertainment
(c) competition
Answer:
(b) entertainment
Question 26.
Chess was called ______.
(a) Ashtapad
(b) Chakra
(c) Satraps
Answer:
(a) Ashtapad
Question 27.
The pillars erected by Ashoka are excellent ________ of the Indian sculpture.
(a) statues
(b) showpiece
(c) specimens
Answer:
(c) specimens
Question 28.
The chakra or wheel on the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath has a place of _______ on the Indian national flag.
(a) honour
(b) show
(c) visibility
Answer:
(a) honour
Question 29.
After the decline of Emperor Ashoka, the Mauryan empire began to ______.
(a) expand
(b) decline
(c) incline
Answer:
(b) decline
Match the following:
Question 1.
| Column (A) | Column (B) |
| (1) Chandragupta Maurya (2) Seleucus Nicator | (a) Conquered Kalinga (b Pataliputra |
| (3) Emperor Ashoka | (c) Founded the Mauryan empire |
| (4) Capital of Maurya empire | (d) Honoured on the Indian national flag |
| (5) Chakra on Ashoka pillar at Samath | (e) Alexander’s Army General |
Answer:
1 – c
2 – e
3 – a
4 – b
5 – d
Answer in one sentence:
Question 1.
Who were satraps?
Answer:
As Alexander was forced to return back to Greece, he appointed Greek officers called satraps to administer the conquered territories.
Question 2.
When and where did Emperor Alexander die?
Answer:
Alexander died on the way back to Greece in 323 BCE at Babylon.
Question 3.
What gave rise to the Gandhara school of art?
Answer:
Greek sculpture influenced Indian art, giving rise to Gandhara school of art.
Question 4.
Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire.
Question 5.
Who was Seleucus Nicator?
Answer:
Seleucus Nicator was Alexander’s general.
Question 6.
Who stayed back at Chandragupta’s court?
Answer:
Megasthenes, Seleucus Nicator’s ambassador stayed back at Chandragupta’s court.
Question 7.
Which book did Megasthenes write?
Answer:
Megasthenes wrote the book ‘Indica’ which is an important source for the study of India during the Mauryan period.
Question 8.
Who succeeded Chandragupta?
Answer:
After Chandragupta renounced the throne, he was succeeded by his son Bindusara.
Question 9.
Who succeeded Bindusara?
Answer:
After Bindusara’s death, his son Ashoka succeeded the throne in 237 BCE.
Question 10.
Which religion did Ashoka embrace?
Answer:
Ashoka embraced Buddhism.
Question 11.
Which was the capital of the Mauryan Empire?
Answer:
Pataliputra was the capital of the Maurya empire.
Question 12.
When did the Mauryan Empire decline?
Answer:
The Mauryan Empire declined after the death of Emperor Ashoka.
Question 13.
Which was the largest empire in ancient India?
Answer:
The Mauryan Empire was the largest empire in ancient India.
Question 14.
What is the significance of Ashoka pillar at Sarnath?
Answer:
The chakra or wheel on the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath has a place of honour on the Indian national flag.
Answer in short:
Question 1.
How did Alexander invade India?
Answer:
- Alexander invaded India’s northwestern frontier.
- Crossing the Indus river he reached Takshashila.
- On the way he met forceful opposition from the local kings. He defeated them all and successfully reached Punjab.
Question 2.
How was Alexander’s campaign advantageous to India?
Answer:
Alexander’s campaign led to an increase in the trade between India and the western world. The historians who accompanied Alexander introduced India to the western world through their writings.
Question 3.
Describe the Sarnath pillar.
Answer:
- The chakra or wheel on the Sarnath pillar has a place of honour on the Indian national flag.
- The pillar has lions on all four sides but only three are visible from the front.
Give reasons:
Question 1.
Ashoka had pillar edicts and stone inscription engraved throughout his kingdom.
Answer:
- Ashoka came to believe that truth, non¬violence, compassion and forgiveness were the important values.
- He wanted to spread these teachings among the common people.
- He, therefore, had pillar edicts and stone inscripitions engraved throughout his kingdom.
Describe the following:
Question 1.
Art and literature during the period of Emperor Ashoka.
Answer:
During the period of Emperor Ashoka, the art of rock cut sculpture was promoted. The pillars erected by Ashoka are excellent specimens of Indian sculpture. There are excellent carvings of animals like the lion, elephant, bull on these pillars. The chakra or wheel on the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath has a place of honour on the Indian national flag.