Why did the rajas of mahajanapadas build forts?

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?

Do you think it would have been easy for slaves to join the sangha? Give reasons for your answer.

Make a list of all the objects that archaeologists may find. Which of these could be made of stone?

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

Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in Chapter 2? Give reasons for your answer.

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

What were the new administrative arrangements during this period?

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

What were the main features of Bhakti?

Choose the correct answer:
(a) Ring wells were used for:
     1. bathing
     2. washing clothes
     3. irrigation
     4. drainage
(b) Punch marked coins were made of:
     1. silver
     2. gold
     3. tin
     4. ivory

(c) Mathura was an important:

     1. village
     2. port
     3. religious centre
     4. forested area
(d) Shrenis were associations of:
     1. rulers
     2. crafts persons
     3. farmers
     4. herders

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.