State and Society up to 1000 CE — Practice

Question 1

Which is the oldest of the Vedas?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: the Rigveda.

Question 2

Who founded the Mauryan Empire, and who was his famous minister?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Chandragupta Maurya founded it, guided by his minister Chanakya (Kautilya).

Question 3

Who founded Jainism?

Accepted Answer

✦ Answer: Mahavira (Vardhamana Mahavira).

Question 4

Why did Magadha become the most powerful mahajanapada?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — It had very fertile land (near the Ganga) giving large harvests and taxes.

Step 2 — It had iron mines for tools and weapons, and elephants from its forests for the army.

✦ Answer: fertile land, iron resources and elephants gave Magadha wealth and military strength.

Question 5

How did the Kalinga war change Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — The Kalinga war caused terrible bloodshed and suffering, which filled Ashoka with remorse.

Step 2 — He gave up war of conquest, embraced Buddhism and non-violence, and devoted himself to spreading dhamma (moral duty, tolerance and welfare).

✦ Answer: the horror of Kalinga turned him to Buddhism, non-violence and the policy of dhamma.

Question 6

State two teachings of Gautama Buddha.

Accepted Answer

Any two of: follow the Middle Path (avoid extremes); practise non-violence (ahimsa); desire is the cause of suffering, so overcome craving; be kind and truthful.

✦ Answer: any two valid teachings as above (e.g. Middle Path, non-violence).

Question 7

Why is the Gupta period called a 'golden age' of Indian civilisation?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Great advances in science and mathematics — the concept of zero and the decimal system, and the work of Aryabhata in mathematics and astronomy.

Step 2 — Flourishing art and architecture, including the Ajanta cave paintings and temple building.

Step 3 — Rich literature (e.g. Kalidasa) and progress in medicine.

✦ Answer: outstanding achievements in mathematics/science (zero, Aryabhata), art (Ajanta), and literature (Kalidasa) mark it a golden age.

Question 8

How was early Indian society organised, and what was a drawback of this system?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Society was organised into the varna system of four broad groups (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras), later sub-divided into many jatis.

Step 2 — It gave a sense of order and fixed roles/occupations.

Step 3 — But over time it hardened into a rigid, hereditary hierarchy, causing inequality and hardship, especially for the lowest groups.

✦ Answer: the varna/jati system organised society by birth but became rigid and unequal.

Question 9

Trace how small settlements grew into large states and empires in ancient India.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — As farming spread (helped by iron tools), people settled in territories called janapadas.

Step 2 — Some janapadas grew into sixteen large mahajanapadas (6th c. BCE); to run them, rulers built armies, collected taxes and appointed officials.

Step 3 — The strongest, Magadha, expanded, and eventually the Mauryas (Chandragupta, Ashoka) built India's first great empire.

Step 4 — Later the Guptas built another great empire, and after them regional kingdoms (including early Rajput states) arose.

✦ Answer: janapadas → mahajanapadas (Magadha) → Mauryan Empire → Gupta Empire → regional/Rajput kingdoms, with growing armies, taxes and administration.

Practice — State and Society up to 1000 CE

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