Selina Textbook Solutions: The Mauryan Empire | History Class 6 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


Exercise 
I. Tick ( ?) the right answer: 
1. Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 
(a) 261 BC  
(b) 265 BC 
(c) 270 BC 
2. The first historical empire in India was established by 
(a) Ashoka 
(b) Bindusara 
(c) Chandragupta 
3. The Greek General whom Chandragupta defeated was 
(a) Megasthenes 
(b) Seleucus 
(c)  Alexander 
4. Ashoka appointed special officers to look after the welfare of people. They 
were called 
(a) Sthaniks 
(b) Senapati 
(c) Dhamma Mahamatras 
5. The edicts of Ashoka were written in 
(a) Sanskrit 
(b) Pali 
(c) Prakrit 
II. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Chandragupta defeated the last Nanda king named Dhanananda. 
2. Chandragupta was helped by a Brahmin Chanakya in his conquests and 
administration. 
3. The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta’s court was named Megasthenes. 
4. Ashoka’s father was who ruled for Bindusara, 24 
5. Ashoka is famous for his policy of Dhamma. 
6. The battle of Kalinga changed Ashoka’s life. 
7. The National Emblem of India is Lion capital of Sarnath of Ashoka. 
8. The last Mauryan king was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga. 
III. Match Column A with Column B: 
Page 2


Exercise 
I. Tick ( ?) the right answer: 
1. Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 
(a) 261 BC  
(b) 265 BC 
(c) 270 BC 
2. The first historical empire in India was established by 
(a) Ashoka 
(b) Bindusara 
(c) Chandragupta 
3. The Greek General whom Chandragupta defeated was 
(a) Megasthenes 
(b) Seleucus 
(c)  Alexander 
4. Ashoka appointed special officers to look after the welfare of people. They 
were called 
(a) Sthaniks 
(b) Senapati 
(c) Dhamma Mahamatras 
5. The edicts of Ashoka were written in 
(a) Sanskrit 
(b) Pali 
(c) Prakrit 
II. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Chandragupta defeated the last Nanda king named Dhanananda. 
2. Chandragupta was helped by a Brahmin Chanakya in his conquests and 
administration. 
3. The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta’s court was named Megasthenes. 
4. Ashoka’s father was who ruled for Bindusara, 24 
5. Ashoka is famous for his policy of Dhamma. 
6. The battle of Kalinga changed Ashoka’s life. 
7. The National Emblem of India is Lion capital of Sarnath of Ashoka. 
8. The last Mauryan king was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga. 
III. Match Column A with Column B: 
 
 
Answer: 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Who helped Chandragupta against the Nandas and why? 
Page 3


Exercise 
I. Tick ( ?) the right answer: 
1. Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 
(a) 261 BC  
(b) 265 BC 
(c) 270 BC 
2. The first historical empire in India was established by 
(a) Ashoka 
(b) Bindusara 
(c) Chandragupta 
3. The Greek General whom Chandragupta defeated was 
(a) Megasthenes 
(b) Seleucus 
(c)  Alexander 
4. Ashoka appointed special officers to look after the welfare of people. They 
were called 
(a) Sthaniks 
(b) Senapati 
(c) Dhamma Mahamatras 
5. The edicts of Ashoka were written in 
(a) Sanskrit 
(b) Pali 
(c) Prakrit 
II. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Chandragupta defeated the last Nanda king named Dhanananda. 
2. Chandragupta was helped by a Brahmin Chanakya in his conquests and 
administration. 
3. The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta’s court was named Megasthenes. 
4. Ashoka’s father was who ruled for Bindusara, 24 
5. Ashoka is famous for his policy of Dhamma. 
6. The battle of Kalinga changed Ashoka’s life. 
7. The National Emblem of India is Lion capital of Sarnath of Ashoka. 
8. The last Mauryan king was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga. 
III. Match Column A with Column B: 
 
 
Answer: 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Who helped Chandragupta against the Nandas and why? 
Answer: 
Chanakya helped Chandragupta against the Nandas. Chanakya was insulted and 
humiliated by the Nanda king Dhanananda. Chanakya, better known as Kaufilya, 
trained Chandragupta, a young man of the Maurya family, in statecraft and warfare to 
avenge his humiliation. 
Question 2. 
Describe Chandragupta as a conqueror. What was the extent of his empire? 
Answer: 
Chandragupta Maurya annexed entire Punjab and areas across the Indus river. 
Seleucus had also to sign a peace treaty in which he gave away Kabul, Kandahar and 
Heart to Chandragupta. Chandragupta also conquered parts of central India and united 
the whole of Northern India under Mauryan rule, 
Question 3. 
Name the two literary sources of the Mauryan period. What do they tell us about the 
administration of the Mauryas? 
Answer: 
Chanakya‘s Arlhashastra tells us about how to govern an empire and describes the 
administration of the Mauryas. Megasthenes’s Irtdika tells us about the political, social 
and economic condition of people during this period, The highest functionaries were 
minister (Mantri), chief priest (Purohita), military commander (Senapati) and crown-
prince (Yuvaraja). The king appointed 27 superintendents. 
Question 4. 
How did the battle of Kalinga affect Ashoka? 
Answer: 
Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 261 BC. The Mauryan army ultimately defeated the Kalinga 
army. According to an Ashoka edict 100,000 people were killed in this war and 150,000 
were taken prisoners. This caused misery to many women and children. The death and 
destruction which followed the Kalinga war made Ashoka sad and unhappy. It became a 
turning point in his life. He decided he would not fight any more wars, Instead he would 
tiy and persuade people to live in peace. 
Question 5. 
Write a short note on Mauryan administration. 
Answer: 
Important functionaries in Mauryan administration were called tirthas. The highest 
functionaries were minister (Mantri), high priest (Purohita), commander- in-chief 
(Senapati) and crown- prince (Yuvaraja). According to the Arthashastra of Kautilya, the 
state appointed 27 superintendents (Adhyakshas) mostly to regulate the economic 
activities of the state. 
Page 4


Exercise 
I. Tick ( ?) the right answer: 
1. Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 
(a) 261 BC  
(b) 265 BC 
(c) 270 BC 
2. The first historical empire in India was established by 
(a) Ashoka 
(b) Bindusara 
(c) Chandragupta 
3. The Greek General whom Chandragupta defeated was 
(a) Megasthenes 
(b) Seleucus 
(c)  Alexander 
4. Ashoka appointed special officers to look after the welfare of people. They 
were called 
(a) Sthaniks 
(b) Senapati 
(c) Dhamma Mahamatras 
5. The edicts of Ashoka were written in 
(a) Sanskrit 
(b) Pali 
(c) Prakrit 
II. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Chandragupta defeated the last Nanda king named Dhanananda. 
2. Chandragupta was helped by a Brahmin Chanakya in his conquests and 
administration. 
3. The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta’s court was named Megasthenes. 
4. Ashoka’s father was who ruled for Bindusara, 24 
5. Ashoka is famous for his policy of Dhamma. 
6. The battle of Kalinga changed Ashoka’s life. 
7. The National Emblem of India is Lion capital of Sarnath of Ashoka. 
8. The last Mauryan king was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga. 
III. Match Column A with Column B: 
 
 
Answer: 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Who helped Chandragupta against the Nandas and why? 
Answer: 
Chanakya helped Chandragupta against the Nandas. Chanakya was insulted and 
humiliated by the Nanda king Dhanananda. Chanakya, better known as Kaufilya, 
trained Chandragupta, a young man of the Maurya family, in statecraft and warfare to 
avenge his humiliation. 
Question 2. 
Describe Chandragupta as a conqueror. What was the extent of his empire? 
Answer: 
Chandragupta Maurya annexed entire Punjab and areas across the Indus river. 
Seleucus had also to sign a peace treaty in which he gave away Kabul, Kandahar and 
Heart to Chandragupta. Chandragupta also conquered parts of central India and united 
the whole of Northern India under Mauryan rule, 
Question 3. 
Name the two literary sources of the Mauryan period. What do they tell us about the 
administration of the Mauryas? 
Answer: 
Chanakya‘s Arlhashastra tells us about how to govern an empire and describes the 
administration of the Mauryas. Megasthenes’s Irtdika tells us about the political, social 
and economic condition of people during this period, The highest functionaries were 
minister (Mantri), chief priest (Purohita), military commander (Senapati) and crown-
prince (Yuvaraja). The king appointed 27 superintendents. 
Question 4. 
How did the battle of Kalinga affect Ashoka? 
Answer: 
Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 261 BC. The Mauryan army ultimately defeated the Kalinga 
army. According to an Ashoka edict 100,000 people were killed in this war and 150,000 
were taken prisoners. This caused misery to many women and children. The death and 
destruction which followed the Kalinga war made Ashoka sad and unhappy. It became a 
turning point in his life. He decided he would not fight any more wars, Instead he would 
tiy and persuade people to live in peace. 
Question 5. 
Write a short note on Mauryan administration. 
Answer: 
Important functionaries in Mauryan administration were called tirthas. The highest 
functionaries were minister (Mantri), high priest (Purohita), commander- in-chief 
(Senapati) and crown- prince (Yuvaraja). According to the Arthashastra of Kautilya, the 
state appointed 27 superintendents (Adhyakshas) mostly to regulate the economic 
activities of the state. 
V. Write short notes on: 
Question 1. 
(1) The measures taken by Ashoka for the welfare of his people. 
(2) Mauryan art and architecture. 
Answer: 
1. Ashoka built hospitals for both men and animals. He had a number of rest houses 
constructed for the benefit of travelers. Wells were also dug in many places, He 
also built good roads and planted shady trees on both sides. 
2. The Mauryan art rose to its peak during Ashoka’s rule. He built many stupas and 
pillars. The stupa at Sanchi is very famous, Pillars were beautifully polished 
almost like mirrors. Ashoka’s edicts were inscribed on rocks and stone pillars, The 
Sanchi Stupa, built by Ashoka is very impressive, The most famous pillar is the 
Sarnath Pillar, The lion capital ofthe Sarnath Pillar is carved out of a single block 
of stone 
VI. Picture study: The picture shows Ashoka’s pillars at Firoz Shah Kotla. Find 
out 
 
1. Where was it originally installed ? 
Ans. Topra (Haryana), 
2. Who brought it to Delhi ? 
Ans. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, 
3. How did Ashoka use edicts to spread Dhamma in his kingdom ? 
Ans. Ashoka explained Dhamma in the edicts, which were mainly written in 
Brahmi script, He used Prakrit, the language of the common people in these 
edicts. Thus, the common people could easily understand his teachings of 
Dhamma, 
Textbook Keywords 
1. Indika: was the account of the Mauryan period written by Megasthenes. 
2. Arthashastra: The book written by Chanakya on politics. Dig vijaya It means 
conquest of territories. 
Page 5


Exercise 
I. Tick ( ?) the right answer: 
1. Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 
(a) 261 BC  
(b) 265 BC 
(c) 270 BC 
2. The first historical empire in India was established by 
(a) Ashoka 
(b) Bindusara 
(c) Chandragupta 
3. The Greek General whom Chandragupta defeated was 
(a) Megasthenes 
(b) Seleucus 
(c)  Alexander 
4. Ashoka appointed special officers to look after the welfare of people. They 
were called 
(a) Sthaniks 
(b) Senapati 
(c) Dhamma Mahamatras 
5. The edicts of Ashoka were written in 
(a) Sanskrit 
(b) Pali 
(c) Prakrit 
II. Fill in the blanks: 
1. Chandragupta defeated the last Nanda king named Dhanananda. 
2. Chandragupta was helped by a Brahmin Chanakya in his conquests and 
administration. 
3. The Greek ambassador in Chandragupta’s court was named Megasthenes. 
4. Ashoka’s father was who ruled for Bindusara, 24 
5. Ashoka is famous for his policy of Dhamma. 
6. The battle of Kalinga changed Ashoka’s life. 
7. The National Emblem of India is Lion capital of Sarnath of Ashoka. 
8. The last Mauryan king was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga. 
III. Match Column A with Column B: 
 
 
Answer: 
 
IV. Answer the following questions: 
Question 1. 
Who helped Chandragupta against the Nandas and why? 
Answer: 
Chanakya helped Chandragupta against the Nandas. Chanakya was insulted and 
humiliated by the Nanda king Dhanananda. Chanakya, better known as Kaufilya, 
trained Chandragupta, a young man of the Maurya family, in statecraft and warfare to 
avenge his humiliation. 
Question 2. 
Describe Chandragupta as a conqueror. What was the extent of his empire? 
Answer: 
Chandragupta Maurya annexed entire Punjab and areas across the Indus river. 
Seleucus had also to sign a peace treaty in which he gave away Kabul, Kandahar and 
Heart to Chandragupta. Chandragupta also conquered parts of central India and united 
the whole of Northern India under Mauryan rule, 
Question 3. 
Name the two literary sources of the Mauryan period. What do they tell us about the 
administration of the Mauryas? 
Answer: 
Chanakya‘s Arlhashastra tells us about how to govern an empire and describes the 
administration of the Mauryas. Megasthenes’s Irtdika tells us about the political, social 
and economic condition of people during this period, The highest functionaries were 
minister (Mantri), chief priest (Purohita), military commander (Senapati) and crown-
prince (Yuvaraja). The king appointed 27 superintendents. 
Question 4. 
How did the battle of Kalinga affect Ashoka? 
Answer: 
Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 261 BC. The Mauryan army ultimately defeated the Kalinga 
army. According to an Ashoka edict 100,000 people were killed in this war and 150,000 
were taken prisoners. This caused misery to many women and children. The death and 
destruction which followed the Kalinga war made Ashoka sad and unhappy. It became a 
turning point in his life. He decided he would not fight any more wars, Instead he would 
tiy and persuade people to live in peace. 
Question 5. 
Write a short note on Mauryan administration. 
Answer: 
Important functionaries in Mauryan administration were called tirthas. The highest 
functionaries were minister (Mantri), high priest (Purohita), commander- in-chief 
(Senapati) and crown- prince (Yuvaraja). According to the Arthashastra of Kautilya, the 
state appointed 27 superintendents (Adhyakshas) mostly to regulate the economic 
activities of the state. 
V. Write short notes on: 
Question 1. 
(1) The measures taken by Ashoka for the welfare of his people. 
(2) Mauryan art and architecture. 
Answer: 
1. Ashoka built hospitals for both men and animals. He had a number of rest houses 
constructed for the benefit of travelers. Wells were also dug in many places, He 
also built good roads and planted shady trees on both sides. 
2. The Mauryan art rose to its peak during Ashoka’s rule. He built many stupas and 
pillars. The stupa at Sanchi is very famous, Pillars were beautifully polished 
almost like mirrors. Ashoka’s edicts were inscribed on rocks and stone pillars, The 
Sanchi Stupa, built by Ashoka is very impressive, The most famous pillar is the 
Sarnath Pillar, The lion capital ofthe Sarnath Pillar is carved out of a single block 
of stone 
VI. Picture study: The picture shows Ashoka’s pillars at Firoz Shah Kotla. Find 
out 
 
1. Where was it originally installed ? 
Ans. Topra (Haryana), 
2. Who brought it to Delhi ? 
Ans. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, 
3. How did Ashoka use edicts to spread Dhamma in his kingdom ? 
Ans. Ashoka explained Dhamma in the edicts, which were mainly written in 
Brahmi script, He used Prakrit, the language of the common people in these 
edicts. Thus, the common people could easily understand his teachings of 
Dhamma, 
Textbook Keywords 
1. Indika: was the account of the Mauryan period written by Megasthenes. 
2. Arthashastra: The book written by Chanakya on politics. Dig vijaya It means 
conquest of territories. 
3. Dhamma vijaya: It means conquest through dharma. Dhamma It is derived from 
the Sanskrit word dharma, meaning religious duty. 
4. Dharmamahamatras: They were special officials appointed to spread and 
enforce the principles of dhamma. 
5. Mahamtras: They were officials appointed to carry out administrative work. 
6. Mantri parishad: It was the council of ministers who assisted the king. 
7. Kumaras: They were the princes of the royal family who were put in charge of 
important provinces. 
8. Grama It means village. 
9. Stupasl: They are solid, semicircular, dome-shaped Buddhist structures which 
have some relics of Buddha at their base. Viharas They were Buddhist 
monasteries. 
10. Dharma chakras: They are the wheels, carved on Ashoka’s Pillar at Samath. The 
wheel, representing motion and progress, is seen on the Indian national flag. 
Questions Based on The Mauryan Empire 
A. Fill in the blanks. 
1. The main literary sources of information about the Mauryan period 
are Indika and Arthashastra.  
2. In 323 BCE Dhana Nanda was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya. 
3. Chandragupta’s success in acquiring the throne of Magadha was largely due to 
the guidance and training of his adviser Chanakya. 
4. In 305 BCE Alexander’s general Seleucus invaded India. 
5. Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara. 
6. When Ashoka ascended the throne of Magadha, Kalinga was the only kingdom 
outside Mauiyan control. 
7. The Kalinga war was the turning point in Ashoka’s life. 
8. Ashoka replaced the policy of dig vijaya with dhamma vijaya. 
9. The word dhamma is derived from the Sanskrit word dharma which 
means religious duty. 
10. Ashoka’s dhamma was based on human values and a code of conduct inspired 
by the teachings of Buddha. 
B. Match the following. 
 
 
Answer: