Themes I - Chapter 2

Question 1

Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts?

Answer 1

James Prinsep

Question 2

What does the term ‘Piyadassi’ mean?

Answer 2

Pleasant to behold

Question 3

Which ruler is referred to as Piyadassi in inscriptions?

Answer 3

Ashoka

Question 4

What are inscriptions written on hard surfaces called?

Answer 4

Epigraphy

Question 5

What is a Janapada?

Answer 5

Land where a jana (tribe) settles

Question 6

How many Mahajanapadas are mentioned in early texts?

Answer 6

Sixteen

Question 7

What were oligarchic states like Vajji called?

Answer 7

Ganas or Sanghas

Question 8

What was the early capital of Magadha?

Answer 8

Rajagaha (Rajgir)

Question 9

What was the later capital of Magadha?

Answer 9

Pataliputra

Question 10

Which Mahajanapada became dominant between 6th–4th century BCE?

Answer 10

Magadha

Question 11

Who founded the Mauryan Empire?

Answer 11

Chandragupta Maurya

Question 12

Which Greek ambassador visited Chandragupta Maurya’s court?

Answer 12

Megasthenes

Question 13

What is the ancient text on statecraft attributed to Kautilya?

Answer 13

Arthashastra

Question 14

Who issued inscriptions proclaiming Dhamma?

Answer 14

Ashoka

Question 15

What are the five major Mauryan administrative centres?

Answer 15

Pataliputra, Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali, Suvarnagiri

Question 16

What was Suvarnagiri important for?

Answer 16

Access to gold mines

Question 17

What was the official appointed by Ashoka to spread Dhamma?

Answer 17

Dhamma Mahamatta

Question 18

Which ruler used titles like Devanampiya and Piyadassi?

Answer 18

Ashoka

Question 19

What empire is associated with colossal stone sculptures and lion capital?

Answer 19

Mauryan Empire

Question 20

Which Tamil chiefdoms were prominent in the Deccan?

Answer 20

Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas

Question 21

What term did Kushana kings use for themselves?

Answer 21

Devaputra (Son of God)

Question 22

Which Gupta ruler is praised in the Prayaga Prashasti?

Answer 22

Samudragupta

Question 23

Who composed the Prayaga Prashasti?

Answer 23

Harishena

Question 24

What was the term for large landowners in early Tamil literature?

Answer 24

Vellalar

Question 25

What term refers to ploughmen in Tamil literature?

Answer 25

Uzhavar

Question 26

What term refers to slaves in early Tamil society?

Answer 26

Adimai

Question 27

What term denotes the head of a household in Pali texts?

Answer 27

Gahapati

Question 28

What term refers to land grants to Brahmanas?

Answer 28

Agrahara

Question 29

What kind of scripts were early inscriptions mostly written in?

Answer 29

Brahmi and Kharosthi

Question 30

Who was Prabhavati Gupta?

Answer 30

Daughter of Chandragupta II and Vakataka queen

Question 31

What were votive inscriptions used for?

Answer 31

Recording gifts to religious institutions

Question 32

Which ware was used by elites in early historic cities?

Answer 32

Northern Black Polished Ware

Question 33

What term was used for powerful traders in Tamil?

Answer 33

Masattuvan

Question 34

What Prakrit terms were used for wealthy merchants?

Answer 34

Setthis and Satthavahas

Question 35

What kind of coins were earliest in India?

Answer 35

Punch-marked coins

Question 36

Which rulers issued gold coins resembling Roman coins?

Answer 36

Kushanas

Question 37

Which rulers issued spectacular gold coins in early 4th century CE?

Answer 37

Guptas

Question 38

Which tribal republic issued many copper coins in Punjab and Haryana?

Answer 38

Yaudheyas

Question 39

Which port city is mentioned in the Periplus for spice trade?

Answer 39

Malabar coast (Kerala)

Question 40

What site in Tamil Nadu was known for bead-making?

Answer 40

Kodumanal

Question 41

What is Numismatics?

Answer 41

Study of coins

Question 42

What did Asokan inscriptions use to communicate royal orders?

Answer 42

Rock and pillar inscriptions

Question 43

What did the Arthashastra say about capturing elephants?

Answer 43

Use of trained elephants and forest guards

Question 44

What lake was repaired by Rudradaman and later by Gupta rulers?

Answer 44

Sudarshana lake

Question 45

What language were most Asokan inscriptions written in?

Answer 45

Prakrit

Question 46

What are shrenis?

Answer 46

Guilds of merchants or craft producers

Question 47

What is the Greek account that documents trade from India?

Answer 47

Periplus of the Erythraean Sea

Question 48

Who used coins to assert their economic power in the post-Mauryan period?

Answer 48

Kushanas, Yaudheyas, Guptas

Question 49

What is a major limitation of inscriptional evidence?

Answer 49

Selective content, damaged texts, elite bias