Let’s Recall
Question 1 Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.
Answer 1 List of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire are handicrafts, farming, herding, hunting-gathering, trading, trade and commerce.
Question 2 Complete the following sentences:
(a) Officials collected _________ from the area under the direct control of the ruler.
(b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as _________
(c) The Mauryan rulers tried to control _________ and _________ which were important for transport.
(d) People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with _________
Answer 2 (a) Officials collected tax from the area under the direct control of the ruler.
(b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as Governor.
(c) The Mauryan rulers tried to control roads and rivers which were important for transport.
(d) People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with elephants, timber, honey, and wax.
Question 3 State whether true or false:
(a) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west.
(c) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra.
(d) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal.
(e) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script.
Answer
(a) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west – False
(c) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra – True
(d) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal – False
(e) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script – True
Let’s Discuss
Question 4 What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?
Answer The problems Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma were Communalism, Violence or killing of animals, Cruelty (He liked mercy or kindness towards slaves and servants), To maintain peace in families and among neighbours, respecting one’s elders, Treating all creatures with compassion, giving gifts to brahmins and monks and show respect to other religions too.
Question 5 What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma?
Answer The means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma were :
(a) Ashoka appointed officials (called ‘dhamma mahamatta’) to go from place to place and tell people about ‘dhamma’.
(b) Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars too, in a language called as Prakrit which was comprehensible to all.
(c) Ashoka also sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other land.
Question 6 Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer I think that slaves and servants were ill-treated because no political authority or socio-economic organisation had favoured proper treatment for slaves and servants. They were supposed to do all manual and hard work but they were not allowed to participate in some rituals and not permitted to recite Vedas or for taking education. Yes, I think the orders of the emperor would have improved condition of slaves and servants. Slaves and servants would have got proper wages and better treatment. Their duty hours and working conditions would have improved.
Let’s Do
Question 7 Write a short paragraph explaining to Roshan why the lions are shown on our currency notes. List at least one other object on which you see them.
Answer The lions are part of the Lion Capital in Samath. These lions are shown on our currency notes in honour of one of the greatest kings of India, Ashoka, who built the Capital. Moreover, on independence, the lion was recognized as the national animal, so the notes also showed the Lion Capital. Another object which has the lions are shown are the coins of our currency.
Question 8 Suppose you had the power to inscribe your orders, what four commands would you like to issue?
Answer I would like to issue the following four orders:
(1) Everyone should respect the elders and elders should love their youngers.
(2) Everyone should respect the other’s religion. One should try to understand the main ideas of another’s religion and respect it.
(3) Be kind to your servants and employees.
(4) Be loyal to your motherland.
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