Maurya Empire (Part-III)

1. Assertion (A) : The Mauryan kings did not bestow land-grants on religious besis. [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]

Reason (R) : The peasants revolted against land grants.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

Codes :

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.

Solution:The earliest epigraphic record of land grants on the basis of religion in India is found in the inscription of Satavahana. Mauryan emperors did not grant any land on religious basis. There is no description found about peasant revolt against land grants.

2. Famous Greek ambassador Megasthenes came to the court of which emperor ? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1997]

(a) Ashoka
(b) Harsha Vardhana
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (c) Chandragupta Maurya

Solution:Megasthenes was a Greek historian who came to India in the fourth century B.C. as a representative or ambassador of Seleucus Nicator. He lived in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He has written about contemporary India and also about Chandragupta's reign in his book entitled "India".

3. Megasthenes was the ambassador of -: [63ʳᵈ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) Seleucus

Solution:Megasthenes was a Greek historian who came to India in the Fourth Century B.C. as a representative of Seleucus Nicator.

4. During whose rule did Megasthenes come to India ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Ashoka
(b) Harshvardhan
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Kumargupta

Correct Answer: (c) Chandragupta Maurya

Solution:Megasthenes was a Greek historian who came to India in the Fourth Century B.C. as a representative of Seleucus Nicator.

His work, Indica, is a valuable source of information for historians and researchers. He wrote about the Mauryan empire's administration, military organisation and social life. he also wrote that there was no concept of slavery in India.

5. In how many categories did Megasthenes divide the Indian society ? [46ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

(a) Four
(b) Five
(c) Six
(d) Seven

Correct Answer: (d) Seven

Solution:Megasthenes divided Mauryan society into seven categories which are as follows :
(1) Philosophers (2) Farmers (3) Herdsmen (4) Artisans (5) Military (Soldier) (6) Overseers or Spies (7) Councillors and Assessors. Megasthenese does not mention slavery in India. According to him, no one could marry outside his caste, and no one could take to an occupation from the one fixed for his caste according to the varnasystem.

6. The division of Mauryan society into seven classes is particularly mentioned in -: [63ʳᵈ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (d) the Indica of Megasthenes

Solution:Megasthenes divided Mauryan society into seven categories which are as follows :
(1) Philosophers (2) Farmers (3) Herdsmen (4) Artisans (5) Military (Soldier) (6) Overseers or Spies (7) Councillors and Assessors. Megasthenese does not mention slavery in India. According to him, no one could marry outside his caste, and no one could take to an occupation from the one fixed for his caste according to the varnasystem.

7. Which of the following sources states that there was no slavery in ancient India ? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]

(a) Arthashastra
(b) Mudrarakshasha
(c) Megasthenes' Indica
(d) Vayupuran

Correct Answer: (c) Megasthenes' Indica

Solution:Megasthenes divided Mauryan society into seven categories which are as follows :
(1) Philosophers (2) Farmers (3) Herdsmen (4) Artisans (5) Military (Soldier) (6) Overseers or Spies (7) Councillors and Assessors. Megasthenese does not mention slavery in India. According to him, no one could marry outside his caste, and no one could take to an occupation from the one fixed for his caste according to the varnasystem.

8. The division of above question. [U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]

(a) Kautilya's Arthashastra
(b) Ashokan Edicts
(c) The Puranas
(d) Megasthenes' Indica

Correct Answer: (d) Megasthenes' Indica

Solution:Megasthenes divided Mauryan society into seven categories which are as follows :
(1) Philosophers (2) Farmers (3) Herdsmen (4) Artisans (5) Military (Soldier) (6) Overseers or Spies (7) Councillors and Assessors. Megasthenese does not mention slavery in India. According to him, no one could marry outside his caste, and no one could take to an occupation from the one fixed for his caste according to the varnasystem.

9. In the Mauryan period, tax evasion was punished with - [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Death
(b) Confiscation of goods
(c) Imprisonment
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (a) Death

Solution:The municipal administration of Pataliputra town is described in 'Magesthenes' 'Indica.' According to this book, Pataliputra was governed by a 30 member municipal council. It was divided into six main committees which had five members each. The 6ᵗʰ board was responsible for the collection of sales tax. The culprits were punished with a death sentence.

10. The description of the administration of Pataliputra is available in [46ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

(a) Divyanadan
(b) Arthashastra
(c) Indica
(d) Ashoka's inscriptions

Correct Answer: (c) Indica

Solution:The description of the administration of Pataliputra is found in Megasthenes' 'Indica'. Megasthenes mentioned six committees of five members each to look after the administration of Pataliputra. He referred to the town officials as 'Astynomi.'

Maurya Empire (Part-III)

1. Assertion (A) : The Mauryan kings did not bestow land-grants on religious besis. [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]

2. Famous Greek ambassador Megasthenes came to the court of which emperor ? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1997]

3. Megasthenes was the ambassador of -: [63ʳᵈ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

4. During whose rule did Megasthenes come to India ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

5. In how many categories did Megasthenes divide the Indian society ? [46ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

6. The division of Mauryan society into seven classes is particularly mentioned in -: [63ʳᵈ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

7. Which of the following sources states that there was no slavery in ancient India ? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]

8. The division of above question. [U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]

9. In the Mauryan period, tax evasion was punished with - [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

10. The description of the administration of Pataliputra is available in [46ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2003]

Related Posts