MCQ: From a Kingdom to an Empire - UPSC MCQ

Ashoka opposed animal sacrifice and sought to promote compassion towards all living beings as part of his dhamma. His policies reflected his commitment to non-violence and moral conduct, influenced by his Buddhist beliefs. He encouraged practices that fostered kindness and respect for life.

Delhi was not a principal city of the Mauryan Empire. The main cities of the Mauryan Empire included Pataliputra, Ujjain, and Taxila. Delhi was not part of the empire’s primary administrative and economic centers during the Mauryan period.

Ashoka was profoundly affected by the immense suffering and death caused by the Kalinga war. He realized that the human cost of warfare was too great, which led him to abandon his aggressive expansionist policies and adopt a policy of non-violence. An interesting fact is that Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism and his subsequent promotion of dhamma (moral law) were directly influenced by this traumatic experience.

Roads and rivers were crucial for the Mauryan Empire because they facilitated trade, communication, and the collection of resources and taxes. Controlling these transportation routes was essential for maintaining the empire's economic and administrative efficiency.

Ashoka's inscriptions were primarily written in the Brahmi script. This script is one of the earliest writing systems used in India and is the precursor to many modern Indian scripts. The Brahmi script played a crucial role in the dissemination of Ashoka's messages and was foundational in the development of various other scripts.