In what ways are present-day elections different from the ways in which rulers were chosen in janapadas?
Earlier rulers were being chosen after showing his supremacy, for that they had to perform ashwadeha yajna which is a prayer where the sacrifices are made in the fire so that other rajas in mahajanapadas accept his supremacy and in this way rulers were chosen. In recent days, rulers are chosen by popular elections.
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?
Why do you think ordinary men and women did not generally keep records of what they did?
Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.
What were the new administrative arrangements during this period?
What were the main features of Bhakti?
Find out more and tell a story from one of the epics.
What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma?
1. State whether true or false:
(a) Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.
(b) The rulers of Aryavarta brought tribute for Samudragupta.
(c) There were twelve rulers in Dakshinapatha.
(d) Taxila and Madurai were important centres under the control of the Gupta rulers.
(e) Aihole was the capital of the Pallavas.
(f) Local assemblies functioned for several centuries in south India.
What changes do you find in the army at this time?
Match the columns
Sukta Stone boulder
Chariots Sacrifice
Yajna Well-said
Dasa Used in battles
Megalith Slave
Who were the groups who could not participate in the assemblies of the ganas?