Question Bank

ASHOKA THE GREAT

Knowledge Based Questions

Fill in the blanks: -

1.Ashoka was one of the greatest rulers.

2.Ashoka ruled over the Mauryan Empire about 2,200 years ago in 273 BCE.
3.Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.

4.Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty.

5.After the conquest of Kalinga Ashoka was saddened by the bloodshed and loss of lives.

6.Ashoka gave up warfare and turned to the teachings of Buddhism seeking peace and non-violence.

7.He vowed to maintain his rule by Dhamma or Buddhist law of piety.

8. Ashoka became a follower of Buddhism after the Kalinga war.

9. Edicts are royal commands.

10.Ashoka communicated with his subjects with edicts.

True or false: -

1.Akbar devoted his life to spread Buddhism. F

2.Ashoka founded the Mauryan Empire in India. F

3.After the Kalinga War, Ashoka became a follower of the Buddha. T

4.King Ashoka was a follower of Hinduism. F

5.Ashoka’s capital was present day in Uttarpradesh. F

6.During his rule, cities and towns flourished and people were unhappy. F

7.The National Emblem of India is an adaptation of the capital of Ashoka Lion at Sarnath. T

8.Ashoka was the first king to promote violence and tolerance. F

9.Dhamma is the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit term Dharma. T

10.Ashoka was inspired by the teaching of Buddha. T

11.Two years after the Kalinga war, Ashoka inscribed his message on the Sarnath pillar. T

Give one-word answer for the followings: -

1.The founder of the Mauryan Empire- Chandragupta Maurya

2.The period of history to which the Mauryan Empire belonged- Ancient Period

3.The grandson of Chandragupta Mauryan- Ashoka

4.The most famous stupas present in- Sanchi

5.Ashoka the Great was one of the greatest rulers of which period- Ancient Period
Match the following: -

A B

i)Chandragupta Maurya a) Law of piety (iii)

ii)Akbar b) Grandfather (i)

iii)Dhamma c) Follower of the buddha (ii)

iv)Edicts d) Patliputra (v)

v)Capital e) Royal commands (iv)

Choose the correct answer: -

1.____________ was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.

a) Akbar b) Ashoka

2.Ashoka vowed to not fight wars after the ______________.

a) Kalinga War b) First Battle of Panipat

3.The lions that we see on our currency notes and coins are taken from the Ashoka pillar located at
___________________.

a) Bairal b) Sarnath

4.The empire inherited by Ashoka was founded by ________________.

a) Babur b) Chandragupta

5.King Ashoka was an emperor of the _____________ Dynasty in India.

a) Mauryan b) Mughal

Rearrange the jumble words: -

1.PAPTRALIUT- PATLIPUTRA

2.VILENOCE- VIOLENCE

3.BUHISMDD- BUDDHISM

4.ENVEDGRA- ENGRAVED

5.DNAYTYS- DYNASTY

Define: - Dhamma, Ashokan Edicts, Stupas.

Dictation: - Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta Maurya, Conquered, Bloodshed, Propagate, Dhamma,

Monks, Edicts, Communicated, Commands, Engraved, Stupas, Sanchi, Embracing, Patliputra.

Understanding based Questions: -

SHORT QUESTIONS: - (2 marks) (Contain 20 to 30 words)

1.Who was the founder of Buddhism?

A: - Gautam Buddha.
2.Name two famous Indian Mathematicians of ancient period.

A: - Aryabhata and Brahmagupta.

3.Who started the policy of Dhamma?

A: - Ashoka.

4.What was Dhamma?

A: - Buddhist law of piety.

5.From where does the term ‘Dhamma’ was taken?

A: - The word Dhamma is the Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word Dharma. From here the term ‘Dhamma’ was
taken.

6. Who was the father and mother of Ashoka?

A: - Father-Bindusara Mother- Subhadrangi.

7.What is the modern name of Patliputra?

A: - Patna in Bihar.

8.What was the ancient name of coastal Orissa?

A: - Kalinga was the ancient name of coastal Orissa.

9.What was the turning point in Ashoka’s life?

A: - After the conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka was saddened by the bloodshed and loss of lives. This marked a
turning point in his life.

10.Who was the ruler of India?

A: - Chandragupta Maurya.

11.How many lions are there in our national emblem?

A: - Four lions are there in our national emblem.

12. Which is the oldest stupa in India?

A: - The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India.

LONG QUESTIONS: - (3marks) (Contain 60 to 80 words)

1.Why did Ashoka decided to give up wars?

A: - Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga. He decided to give up fighting wars after the victory over
Kalinga, because he was horrified by the violence and bloodshed. He is the only king in the history of the
world who gave up conquest after winning a war.

2.What was the purpose of following the policy Dhamma?

A: - Ashoka’s Dhamma was to create a harmonious atmosphere in the state. Where all people irrespective of
their religious and cultural diversities, lived in peace and harmony with each other.

3.What did Ashoka do for the welfare of his people?

A: - Ashoka worked for the welfare of the people and got many roads, rest houses and viharas constructed
for travellers and Buddhist monks. He also got many hospitals constructed for the needy people.

4.How did the Kalinga War affect Ashoka?

A: - After the conquest of Kalinga he was saddened by the bloodshed and loss of lives. This marked a turning
point in his life. Ashoka gave up warfare and turned to the teachings of Buddhism seeking peace and non-
violence.

5.Why Ashoka was a unique ruler?

A: - Ashoka was named to be unique ruler as he was the first ruler who tried to take forward his message to
people through inscriptions where he described his change in brief and thought after the Kalinga war.
Ashoka’s Dhamma consists of good teachings of different religions.

6. What made Ashoka a great ruler?

A: - Ashoka fame is largely due to his pillar and rock edicts, which allowed him to reach a wide audience and
left a lasting historical record. He is remembered as a model ruler, controlling a vast and diverse Mauryan
empire through peace and respect.

7. How are Ashokan edicts Useful?

A: - Ashokan edicts are a main source of information about the reign of Ashoka. These edicts and
inscriptions contained instructions on religious matters especially Buddhism. Ashoka’s edicts also tell us
about Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma.

HOTS QUESTIONS: -

1.Why did people like King Ashoka?

2.What qualities made the rulers you have read about in this chapter great? Who is your favourite ruler from
the past?

3. What does the national emblem of India symbolize?

Value based question: -

*Why did king Ashoka become a Buddhist?

Life skills: -

*Which profession would you like to take up after finishing your education? What are the reasons for this?

Map pointing: -

1.On an outline map of India colour the extent of Ashoka’s empire.

2.On an outline map of India mark followings: -

Rivers- Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari, Mahanadi, Yamuna, Ganga, Tapi, Narmada, Indus, Chambal.

Ancient towns- Mathura, Ujjayini, Patliputra, Sarnath, Kapilabastu

Modern cities- Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi,

Pillar edicts-Topra, Sanchi, Nandangam

Activities: -
1.Collect photographs of Pillar, Rock Edicts and Stupas constructed during Ashoka’s region. Paste them in a
chart paper.
2.Imagine you are Ashoka. You have gone to the battlefield after the Kalinga War. Describe what you see and
feel about the scene.

IDENTIFY THE PICTURES: - (Write names)

i)Gautama Buddha ii) Stupa at Sanchi

iii)Ashoka the great iv) The Ashoka Pillar