Maurya Empire Quiz: Clerkship 2024
A little practice. A step forward.
10 questions from the Maurya Empire notes. 📖 Read the detailed topic
Chandragupta Maurya removed Dhana Nanda, the last ruler of which dynasty, to take the throne?
With the help of Chanakya (Kautilya), Chandragupta removed Dhana Nanda, the last Nanda ruler of Magadha, and founded the Maurya dynasty. The Shishunaga and Haryanka dynasties ruled Magadha before the Nandas. The Shunga dynasty came after the Mauryas.
- The Maurya dynasty was founded around 321 BCE
- The capital was Pataliputra
- Chanakya is also called Kautilya or Vishnugupta
- The Shungas came after the Mauryas, not before
- Order: Haryanka → Shishunaga → Nanda → Maurya → Shunga
| Ruler | Approximate reign (BCE) |
|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | 321 – 297 |
| Bindusara | 297 – 273 |
| Ashoka | 268 – 232 |
In which work by Megasthenes do we find an account of Mauryan society and administration?
Megasthenes was the envoy of Seleucus and wrote 'Indica' during his stay at Chandragupta's court. The original is lost; parts survive in quotations by later writers. The Arthashastra is by Kautilya, Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta and Rajatarangini by Kalhana.
- Megasthenes was a Greek envoy
- The original Indica is lost
- It describes the administration of Pataliputra
- The Arthashastra was written by Kautilya, not Megasthenes
- Indica = about India, by Megasthenes
In which inscription of Ashoka is the Kalinga war described?
In Major Rock Edict XIII Ashoka expresses remorse for the killing and captivity in the Kalinga war, fought around 261 BCE. After it he adopted the policy of conquest by dhamma. The other edicts deal with dhamma and administration, not this war.
- The Kalinga war was around 261 BCE
- There are 14 Major Rock Edicts
- There are 7 Pillar Edicts
- The Pillar Edicts do not carry the main account of the Kalinga war
- Edict number 13 = Kalinga
| Edict | Main subject |
|---|---|
| Major Rock Edict XIII | Kalinga war, remorse, conquest by dhamma |
| Major Rock Edicts (total) | 14 |
| Pillar Edicts (total) | 7 |
According to the usual account, how many elephants did Chandragupta give Seleucus in their treaty?
In the treaty of around 305 BCE Seleucus gave up some territory in eastern Afghanistan and Baluchistan. In return Chandragupta gave 500 elephants, which Seleucus later used at the battle of Ipsus.
- The treaty was around 305 BCE
- Megasthenes came as envoy afterwards
- Arachosia, Gedrosia and Paropamisadae passed to the Mauryas
- It was Chandragupta who gave the elephants, not Seleucus
- 500 elephants = five hundred
| Side | What it received |
|---|---|
| Chandragupta | Some territory in eastern Afghanistan and Baluchistan |
| Seleucus | 500 war elephants |
Who deciphered Ashoka's Brahmi script?
James Prinsep of the Asiatic Society of Bengal deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837, which made Ashoka's inscriptions readable. Cunningham was the first head of the Archaeological Survey, Marshall led excavations of the Indus civilisation, and William Jones founded the Asiatic Society.
- Deciphered in 1837
- The edicts call Ashoka 'Devanampiya Piyadassi'
- The Maski edict names 'Ashoka' directly
- William Jones founded the Society but did not read Brahmi
- Prinsep = Brahmi
What is the Arthashastra mainly about?
Kautilya's Arthashastra is a book on statecraft, administration, taxes, spies, justice and war. It lists seven elements of the state. Religion, grammar and astronomy are not its main subject.
- Author: Kautilya (Chanakya)
- Seven elements of the state: swami, amatya, janapada, durga, kosha, danda, mitra
- A main source for Mauryan administration
- 'Artha' here is not just money but the state's wealth and rule
- Arthashastra = the science of state and wealth
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Swami | King |
| Amatya | Ministers and officials |
| Janapada | Territory and people |
| Durga | Fortified city |
| Kosha | Treasury |
| Danda | Army and punishment |
| Mitra | Allies |
Which two children did Ashoka send to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism?
According to the Sri Lankan accounts Ashoka sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra. Tradition says Sanghamitra also carried a branch of the Bodhi tree. Rahula and Yashodhara were the Buddha's son and wife, Bindusara was Ashoka's father and Susima his brother.
- The Third Buddhist Council was held at Pataliputra, under Moggaliputta Tissa
- Ashoka appointed dhamma mahamattas
- Dhamma meant tolerance, non-violence and respect for elders
- Rahula was the Buddha's son, not Ashoka's
- Mahendra and Sanghamitra: brother and sister on the way to Lanka
In which script are Ashoka's inscriptions in north-west India (Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra) written?
The inscriptions of Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra on the north-west frontier are in Kharosthi, written right to left. Most Ashokan inscriptions in India are in Brahmi, written left to right. Devanagari did not exist in Ashoka's time. In Afghanistan the edicts are in Greek and Aramaic.
- Brahmi: left to right
- Kharosthi: right to left
- Greek and Aramaic at Kandahar
- Devanagari is a much later script
- Kharosthi = the north-west script, written right to left
| Script | Where | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Brahmi | Most inscriptions in India | Left to right |
| Kharosthi | Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra | Right to left |
| Greek and Aramaic | Kandahar (Afghanistan) | — |
Who killed the last Maurya ruler Brihadratha and founded the Shunga dynasty?
Around 185 BCE the commander Pushyamitra Shunga killed Brihadratha during an army review and began the Shunga dynasty. Agnimitra was Pushyamitra's son, Kharavela was a king of Kalinga and Satakarni belonged to the Satavahana line.
- Brihadratha was killed by his own commander
- The Shungas are known as patrons of the Brahmanical faith
- Agnimitra is the hero of Kalidasa's play
- Agnimitra was the son, not the founder
- Brihadratha → Pushyamitra: Maurya ends, Shunga begins
How many spokes does the Ashoka Chakra in India's national flag have?
The Ashoka Chakra at the centre of the national flag has 24 spokes. It is taken from the Ashokan Lion Capital at Sarnath, whose lions are the basis of the national emblem. The other numbers are wrong.
- The Sarnath Lion Capital is the basis of the national emblem
- The chakra is navy blue
- The pillar is of polished sandstone
- It is 24, not 12 or 22
- 24 hours in a day = 24 spokes
📊 Topic Analysis
10 questions from the Maurya Empire notes.
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