Ch 8 History
Ashoka, the Emperor Who gave up war
Q1. Keywords
1.Empire : Large kingdom where different types of people
live in different parts of the kingdom is known as an empire.
2.Provinces : Big cities of an empire are called provinces.
3.Carved : To
cut stones in order to make an object or put a pattern of writing.
4.Inscription: Words
that are written on rock and pillars.
5.Dynasty: A family whose members become rulers one
after the other.
6.Provincial: Related with one of the large areas that the
same countries are divided into.
7.Tribute: Something that you say or do to show that you
respect or admire something.
Q2.Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the
Mauryan empire.
Answer:List
of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire:
• Farming
• Herding
• Handicrafts
• Trading
• Hunting-gathering
• Farming
• Herding
• Handicrafts
• Trading
• Hunting-gathering
Q3.Complete
the following sentences:
(a) Officials collected _____________ from the
area under the direct control of the ruler.
► tax
► tax
(b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as
________
► governors
► governors
(c) The Mauryan rulers tried to control
____________ and ____________ which were important for transport.
► roads and rivers
► roads and rivers
(d) People in forested regions provided the
Mauryan officials with __________
► elephant, timbers, honey and wax.
► elephant, timbers, honey and wax.
Q4.State
whether true or false:
(e) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west.
► False
► False
(f) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the
Arthashastra.
► False
► False
(g) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal.
► False
► False
(h) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi
script.
► True
► True
Q5.What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?
Answer:The problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by
introducing dhamma were:
• Religious conflict
• Animal sacrifice
• Ill-treatment of slaves and servants
• Quarrels in families and amongst neighbours.
• Religious conflict
• Animal sacrifice
• Ill-treatment of slaves and servants
• Quarrels in families and amongst neighbours.
Q6.What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma?
Answer:The means that Ashoka adopted to spread the
message ofdhamma were:
• He appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma.
• He got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves.
• He also sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
• He appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma.
• He got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves.
• He also sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
Q7. Why do you think that
slaves and servants were ill treated? Do you think the order of the emperor
would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: Yes, slaves and
servants were ill treated in the society because their masters felt superior to
them. The masters treated them as animals. It was because of the old
‘Varna’ system.
The emperor’ s orders
might have helped them to some extent. Ashoka was a king who was loved by his
subjects and they would have allowed him happily.
Q8.Write a short paragraph
explaining why the lions are shown on our currency notes. List atleast one
other object on which you see it.
Ans: Lion capital at
Sarnath has four lions. After India became free this Ashokan capital became
India’s National Emblem. These lions are shown on our currency notes in honour
of the great king of India, Ashoka. Lion is also a symbol of bravery and
strength.
The lion can be seen
on the coins and stamp papers also.
Q9.Suppose you have the
power to inscribe your orders, what four commands would you like to issue?
Ans: I would like to
issue the following commands:
a.
All humans will be
treated equally.
b.
No animal will be
harmed for religious purpose.
c.
There will be respect
and regards for all religions.
d.
Education will be
compulsory for all.
Q10.How did Kalinga war
bring about a change in the Ashoka’ s attitude towards war?
Ans: Kalinga was the only war that Ashoka
fought in his life. About one lakh people were kiiled in this war. He heard the
cries of the women and children. He was fiiled with sorrow and remorse when he
saw a huge carnage of people and animals. So Ashoka decided to give up warfare
and decided to observe and spread Dhamma.
Q11. In what ways
pataliputra is different from Mohanjodaro?
Ans:
PATALIPUTRA
|
MOHANJODARO
|
|
1.
|
Kings palaces were made of wood
and decorated with stones.
|
There was no king, so no palace
was there.
|
2.
|
The whole city was surrounded by
the walls.
|
The city was divided into two
parts citadel and Lower town.
|
3.
|
Houses were of two or three
floors.
|
Houses were of maximum two floors.
|
4.
|
Houses were made of wood, mud and
bricks.
|
Houses were made of brunt bricks.
|
Q10. Why do you think that
the king had special servants to taste food he ate?
Ans : During time of Chandragupta
Maurya there were frequent wars to conquer more areas. The other kings sent
their spices to know more about the king. The king was always afraid that his
life was in danger, so he had special servants who tasted food before he eat so
that nobody can mix poison in it.
Q11.Who wrote Arthashastra
?
Ans. Chanakya wrote
Arthashastra.
