SCERT KERALA TEXTBOOKS SOLUTIONS & NOTES: Class 8 History (English Medium) Chapter 09 FROM MAGADHA TO THANESWAR
SCERT Solutions for Class 8 History Chapterwise
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Social Science Questions and Answers in Malayalam
Class 8 History Questions and Answers
Chapter 9: From Magadha to Thaneswar
From Magadha to Thaneswar Textual Questions and Answers & Model Questions
1. Name the book written by Megasthenes in which description of Maurya reign is included
• 'Indica'
2. What do you understand about the Maurya reign from the description given on page no.145
• The king received tough security
• Armed women as bodyguards around the king
• King used to take his food only after the security tasted it.
• The king fears that somebody may jeopardize him at any time
3. What information do we gather about the responsibilities of the king from Kautilya's Arthashastra?
• The king should inspire his people to perform their duties.
• Attain humility from learning
• Attain the love of the people by gaining wealth.
• Indolence, telling lies, luxurious dressing, deals arising from ego and
misconduct etc. should be avoided
4. Kautilya, in his Arthashastra, mentions the seven elements essential for a state. What are they?
5. How far did the Saptanga theory help in the centralised administration
system of the Mauryas?
OR
Chandragupta Maurya established a rule based on the Saptanga concept.
Substantiate
• Established a rule based on the Saptanga concept.
• Formed a strong army
• Expanded his kingdom by conquering neighbouring states
• Collected various taxes for meeting the general under Alexander, the
ruler of administrative expenses
• Made alliance with many foreign countries
• There were ministers and a number of officials who helped him in the
administration
• Chandragupta Maurya was the head of the administration and judiciary
6. What are the factors that brought the Maurya kingdom the status of the first empire in India?
• Kingdom was extensively large.
• Administration was centred on the king.
• Unified administration established throughout the whole state.
7. Maurya empire-hierarchy
• Chandragupta Maurya
⬇
Bindusara
⬇
Ashoka
8. What details can you gather from the edict about the Dhamma of Ashoka?
• Animal sacrifice was not permitted.
• Started respecting relatives, Brahmans and sramanas.
• Obey the mother, father and elders.
• Lessened the punishments and urged for a simple living.
9. What were the aims of establishing Dhamma?
• Supreme need to instil unity, peace and harmony among the people in
the vast country
• To propagate and make people aware of his ideas and rules, Ashoka erected edicts in various parts of the country and made inscriptions on rocks
• Sent officers to different parts of the country and other countries to
propagate Dhamma
• Installed stupas containing the relics and leftovers of Buddha in various
parts of the country
• Places where Dhamma was propagated were free from conflicts and
sectarianism
10. How will you classify the edicts of Asok?
• The edicts can be classified as major rock edicts, minor rock edicts and
pillar edicts
11. Name the most important stupa of Asoka
• Sanchi stupa
12. Write the reason for the Decline of the Maurya empire
• During the reign of Ashoka's successors, the power of the king and the
influence of Dhamma were weakened.
• As a result, many farther province became independent.
13. List out the economic activities of the Maurya empire which were controlled by the state
• The conquered regions were brought under cultivation.
• Irrigation facilities were arranged for the development of agriculture.
• The development of agriculture and villages led to the development of
trade.
• Roads were established for the development of trade.
• Trees were planted on both sides of the road.
• Porters' rests were also erected at various places near the roads.
• Roads helped in having trade relations with other places.
14. What were the steps taken by the government for the progress of trade
• Punch-marked coins were used for trade and for payment of wages.
• Mines and metallurgy were controlled by the government.
• The authority for minting coins was vested with the government.
• The government officials collected taxes from the traders.
• The accuracy of weights and measures was ensured.
16. According to Megasthenes, there existed seven social divisions during the Maurya rule. Which were they?
1. Farmers
2. Philosophers
3. Soldiers
4. Herdsmen and hunters
5. Artisans and traders
6. Magistrates
7. King’s counsellors
17. Different kinds of taxes for raising funds during the Maurya rule-table
18. How did the spread of agriculture result in social inequality?
• Agriculture was expanded to a large area and handicrafts based on
agriculture developed.
• This led to the strengthening of a social order based on varnas which were centred on the occupation.
• According to Megasthenes, there existed seven social divisions at that
time
19. Who was the notable ruler among the Kushanas? Write his contributions.
• Kanishka.
• He started the Shaka era in 78 C E (This later became the official
calendar of India).
• He contributed much to the propagation of Buddhism.
20. Name the Buddhist scholars who adorned Kanishka’s court
• Asvaghosha and Vasumitra
21. Which dynasty introduced gold coins in India?
• The Kushanas
22. Name two figures in the field of medicine who lived during the period.
• Charaka and Sushruta
23. Write the features of Gandhara sculpture
• A new style of sculpture emerged as a result of the amalgamation of the style of Greece and Rome with the Indian style of sculpture. This is known as the Gandhara sculpture
• These sculptures were mainly made in Kandahar (Gandharam) Gandhara
Sculpture regions in Afghanistan
24. Write a short note on Satavahanas
• During this period traders from north India and propagators of Jainism,
Buddhism and Brahmanism came to south India.
• This resulted in the cultural exchange between the north and south.
• India had trade relations with the Roman Empire.
25. Explains the land grant system during the Satavahana period.
• The Satavahana rulers donated land to Buddhist monks and Brahmanas.
• The aim of such donations was to enlarge the area of agricultural land.
• Gradually the administrative power of these places was given to them.
• This weakened the power of the kings.
26. What were the changes that happened due to the growth of trade during Satavahanas’s period?
27. After the decline of the Maurya empire, which empire developed in the
Gangetic plain?
• Gupta empire.
28. Who was the first powerful Gupta ruler?
• Chandragupta I
29. Whose work was 'Prashasti'?
• Harisena.
30. Observe the map and complete the table given.
31. Write the reforms of Chandragupta II?
• He transferred the capital from Pataliputra to Ujjain.
• The Navaratnas, who was famous in various fields, lived in his court.
• A large number of gold coins were in circulation.
• These coins are specimens of the artistic skills of that time.
32. Name the Chinese traveller who visited India during the period of
Chandragupta II
• Fa-Hsien
33. Hierarchical order of Gupta dynasty
Chandragupta I
⬇
Samudragupta
⬇
Chandragupta II
⬇
Kumaragupta
⬇
Skandagupta
34. Explains the land grant system during the Gupta period
• A large extent of land was donated to Jain saints, Buddhist monks,
Brahmanas and to the officials in the palace.
• Those who got the land were given the right to exchange it.
• They made the farmers work in their land.
• The farmers had no right on the land.
• There was an increase in agricultural production
• The life of the farmers was pathetic.
35. How the royal power of the Gupta period weakened?
• The fall of the Roman empire caused the decline of trade during the Gupta period.
• The decline of trade attracted more people to the field of agriculture.
• Towns lost their significance.
• Power was concentrated on the landlords.
• Thus the royal power weakened.
36. What were the changes that occurred in society during the Gupta
period?
• Various kinds of discriminations existed in society
• Varna system became rigid.
• The kings encouraged Vaishnava and Shaiva sects and built many temples
37. During the Gupta period, significant developments occurred in the fields of literature and science. Make a table showing the names of writers and their books
38. Name the powerful kingdoms that existed in India after the collapse of the Gupta empire
• Vardhana Kings of Thaneswar (present Kurukshetra district of Haryana)
39. Who was the most prominent ruler of the Vardhana Kings of Thaneswar? Write his reforms
• Harshavardhana
• Worked for the uplift of Buddhism.
• Took steps for the development of Nalanda University.
• Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda are the plays written by him
40. Name two main sources for getting information about the Vardhana Kings
• The Harshacharita was written by Banabhatta and the descriptions of the
Chinese traveller Hsuan Tsang
41. Flow chart
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