How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilisation?

Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?

Read the story on page 122. In what ways is the monkey king similar to or different from the kings you read about in Chapters 5 and 10?

What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?

What were the new administrative arrangements during this period?

Match the following:

Narmada Valley                       The first big kingdom
Magadha                                 Hunting and gathering
Garo                                        hills Cities about 2500 years ago
Indus and its tributaries           Early agriculture
Ganga Valley                          The first cities

What changes do you find in the army at this time?

What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma?

What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?

Describe the functions of the gramabhojaka. Why do you think he was powerful?

Why did kings want to control the Silk Route?

Mention three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana.

In what ways do you think that the life of a raja was different from that of a dasa or dasi?

Describe the ways in which the Buddha tried to spread his message to the people.

Describe the functions of the gramabhojaka. Why do you think he was powerful?

Which of the iron tools shown on page 79 would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?

Match the following
Stupa                                                 Place where the image of the deity is installed

Shikhara                                            Mound
Mandapa                                           Circular path around the stupa

Garbhagriha                                       Place in temples where people could assemble

Pradakshina patha                            Tower

Fill in the blanks:
(a) ———————— was a word used for large landowners in Tamil.
(b) The gramabhojaka often got his land cultivated by the ————————
(c) Ploughmen were known as ———————— in Tamil.
(d) Most grihapatis were ———————— landowners.

Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?

Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer.

Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.