Q1: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:
Inscriptions are writings engraved on hard surfaces such as stone, metal, or pottery. They usually record the achievements, activities, or ideas of those who commissioned them. Kings and other rulers commonly used inscriptions to memorialize their reigns. For instance, inscriptions from c. 250 BCE show that the letter "a" was written differently than in c. 500 CE, revealing changes in script styles over time.
i. What is the significance of inscriptions in understanding early Indian political history? (1 mark)
ii. How did changes in script styles help historians date inscriptions? (1 mark)
iii. How can inscriptions contribute to the understanding of the rulers and their rule during early Indian history? (2 marks)
Ans:
i. Inscriptions provide primary evidence of the reigns, policies, and activities of rulers, helping historians reconstruct political history.
ii. Changes in script styles, such as the evolution of the letter "a," help date inscriptions accurately, providing a timeline for historical events.
iii. Inscriptions, especially those by rulers, often record their achievements, religious practices, and political decisions, offering insights into governance, administration, and royal policies.
Q2: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:
By the sixth century BCE, early states and kingdoms began to emerge across India. The Mahajanapadas were large regions ruled by kings or oligarchies. These states played a pivotal role in shaping political structures and economies in early India.
i. What were the Mahajanapadas, and how did they shape early Indian history? (1 mark)
ii. How did the political structures of Mahajanapadas vary? (1 mark)
iii. What role did the Mahajanapadas play in the development of early Indian economy and society? (2 marks)
Ans:
i. The Mahajanapadas were large territories in ancient India, each governed by a king or an oligarchy. They laid the foundation for political and economic organization.
ii. While most Mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some were governed by oligarchies, where power was shared among several rulers, such as the Vajji sangha.
iii. The Mahajanapadas contributed to the development of trade, agriculture, urbanization, and social structures. They also became centers for cultural and intellectual growth, especially with the rise of new religious and philosophical systems.
Q3: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:
Inscriptions often provide insights into social practices, including the roles of various groups. For example, they sometimes record land grants, religious donations, and the relationship between rulers and their subjects.
i. How do inscriptions help us understand the social structure of ancient India? (1 mark)
ii. What role did land grants play in the relationship between rulers and subjects? (1 mark)
iii. What can we learn from the inscriptions about the distribution of wealth and resources in ancient Indian societies? (2 marks)
Ans:
i. Inscriptions reveal social hierarchies, the role of elites, and the distribution of wealth, often detailing relationships between rulers, priests, and common people.
ii. Land grants were a tool for rulers to reward loyal supporters and expand their influence. They often recorded these grants in inscriptions, showing how landownership was tied to political loyalty.
iii. Inscriptions show how wealth and resources were distributed, often benefiting religious institutions, elites, and the state, while lower classes, such as peasants, were subjected to taxes and labor demands.
Q4: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:
Magadha emerged as one of the most powerful Mahajanapadas between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. It benefited from fertile land, iron resources, and strategic location along important trade routes.
i. What factors contributed to the rise of Magadha as a powerful state? (1 mark)
ii. How did geographical advantages influence Magadha's rise? (1 mark)
iii. How did the political strategies of rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatasattu aid in the consolidation of power in Magadha? (2 marks)
Ans:
i. Magadha’s rise was due to fertile agricultural land, access to iron resources, strategic location, and powerful rulers.
ii. Magadha’s position along important trade routes and proximity to natural resources like iron and elephants gave it a geographical advantage for both economic and military strength.
iii. Rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatasattu expanded Magadha’s territory and influence through strategic marriages, military conquest, and political alliances, solidifying their power.
Q5: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:
The Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, had a centralized administration with several provincial capitals. The empire’s vast size required efficient communication and control, facilitated by an organized bureaucracy.
i. How did the Mauryan Empire ensure efficient administration across its vast territory? (1 mark)
ii. What role did Asoka’s inscriptions play in communicating imperial policies? (1 mark)
iii. How did the use of bureaucratic systems in the Mauryan Empire impact its governance? (2 marks)
Ans:
i. The Mauryan Empire maintained control through provincial capitals, efficient communication routes, and a well-organized bureaucracy that managed the empire’s various regions.
ii. Asoka’s inscriptions communicated his policies on dhamma and governance, helping maintain order and spread imperial values across the empire.
iii. Bureaucratic systems allowed for centralized control, ensuring uniformity in administration, taxation, law enforcement, and military organization, which helped sustain the empire’s vast territory.
