maurya & post mauryan period Practice Questions Answers Test with Solutions

Answer: (d)

The inscriptions of Asoka were first deciphered by James Princep in 1837. They are written in Pali language and in some places Prakrit was used. The Brahmi script was employed for writing in most of the edicts. In northwestern India, Asokan inscriptions were found in Karoshti script.

There are fourteen Major Rock Edicts. The two Kalinga Edicts are found in the newly conquered territory. The major pillar Edicts were erected in important cities. There are minor Rock Edicts and minor pillar Edicts.

Answer: (b)

Chandragupta Maurya stretched his empire from Karnataka to Afghanistan and from the river Indus to Bengal. He attacked the Greek Governor of Punjab, Seleucus Nikator and defeated him. There was subsequently a treaty between the two whereby, Seleucus ceded Punjab and Sindh to Chandragupta and also gave his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta.

Answer: (b)

Pliny the Elder, in 77 CE, called “Rome is being drained of its treasure by trading with India” because Roman senators complained that their women used too many Indian spices and luxuries, which drained the Roman Empire of precious metal like gold.

Answer: (c)

Ashoka built the Sarnath pillar to commemorate the site of the first preaching of Lord Buddha, where he taught the Dharma to five monks. The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is about 15.24 m in height and weighs 50 tons. The four-lion sculpture placed on top of this pillar is now treasured in the Archaeological Museum of Sarnath.

Answer: (a)

Asoka's response to the Kalinga War is recorded in the Edicts of Asoka. The Rock Edict XIII and Minor Rock Edict I state that the Kalinga War prompted Ashoka to take Buddhist religion and to adopt the path of `Dhamma Vijaya` (win through religion) and `Ahimsa`(non-violence).

After conquering Kalinga, Ashoka stopped the expansion of his empire and concentrated on spreading the Buddhist religion. Ashoka reigned for more than forty years more and brought prosperity and harmony to his sovereignty