Mauryan Empire MCQs – Chandragupta, Bindusara, Ashoka & Administration

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Chandragupta Maurya 🔹 **Chandragupta Maurya** founded the Mauryan Empire in **322 BCE** after defeating the **Nanda Dynasty**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Chanakya (Kautilya) 🔹 **Kautilya** wrote the **Arthashastra**, which laid the foundation for Mauryan administrative and political structure.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Ashoka 🔹 After the destruction caused by the **Kalinga War** (261 BCE), **Ashoka** converted to **Buddhism** and promoted non-violence.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Pataliputra 🔹 **Pataliputra** (modern-day **Patna**) was the capital of the Mauryan Empire.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Bindusara 🔹 **Bindusara** was known as **Amitraghata** (Slayer of enemies).

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Bindusara 🔹 **Bindusara** expanded the Mauryan Empire to the **Deccan Plateau** but did not conquer Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

✅ **Correct Answer:** A) 261 BCE 🔹 The **Kalinga War** was fought in **261 BCE** during the reign of **Ashoka**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Megasthenes 🔹 **Megasthenes** was the Greek ambassador at the court of **Chandragupta Maurya** and wrote the book **'Indica'**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Land revenue 🔹 **Land revenue** was the main source of income for the Mauryan Empire, collected by **Sthanikas**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** D) Suvarnagiri 🔹 **Suvarnagiri** was the capital of the Southern Province of the Mauryan Empire.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Bindusara 🔹 **Bindusara** succeeded **Chandragupta Maurya** and ruled the Mauryan Empire from **297 BCE to 273 BCE**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Ashoka 🔹 **Ashoka** appointed **Dhamma Mahamatras** to propagate the principles of **Dhamma** and promote social harmony.

✅ **Correct Answer:** A) Rajuka 🔹 **Rajuka** was the officer responsible for maintaining **law and order** and overseeing judicial matters in the Mauryan Empire.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Rock Edict XIII 🔹 **Rock Edict XIII** mentions the **Kalinga War** and its impact on **Ashoka**'s adoption of **Buddhism**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Ashoka 🔹 **Ashoka** sent Buddhist missionaries, including his son **Mahinda** and daughter **Sanghamitta**, to **Sri Lanka** and Southeast Asia to spread Buddhism.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Kautilya 🔹 **Kautilya** (also known as **Chanakya**) was the chief minister of **Chandragupta Maurya** and the author of **Arthashastra**, a treatise on statecraft and economic policy.

✅ **Correct Answer:** A) Pataliputra 🔹 The capital of the **Mauryan Empire** was **Pataliputra** (modern-day **Patna**).

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Panyadhyaksha 🔹 **Panyadhyaksha** was the officer in charge of **trade and commerce** in the Mauryan administration.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Prakrit 🔹 **Prakrit** was the official language of the **Mauryan Empire** and was used in Ashoka's edicts.

✅ **Correct Answer:** A) Samaharta 🔹 **Samaharta** was the officer responsible for **tax collection** and **revenue management** in the Mauryan Empire.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Ashoka 🔹 **Ashoka** built the **Great Stupa** at **Sanchi** to spread Buddhism and preserve the relics of the Buddha.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Mahinda 🔹 **Mahinda**, the son of Ashoka, spread **Buddhism** to **Sri Lanka** along with his sister **Sanghamitta**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** A) Dhamma 🔹 Ashoka’s policy of **Dhamma** focused on **non-violence**, **truthfulness**, and **moral living**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** A) Seleucus I Nicator 🔹 Chandragupta Maurya defeated **Seleucus I Nicator** and gained control over the **North-Western territories** of India.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Provinces 🔹 The Mauryan Empire was divided into **provinces** governed by **Kumara** or royal princes.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Megasthenes 🔹 **Megasthenes**, a Greek ambassador, visited the court of **Chandragupta Maurya** and authored the book **Indica**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Ashoka 🔹 **Ashoka** issued the **Kalinga Edict** after the devastating **Kalinga War** in **261 BCE** expressing deep remorse and embracing **non-violence** (Ahimsa).

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Land Revenue 🔹 **Land revenue** was the primary source of income for the Mauryan Empire, collected by officers known as **Samahartas**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** C) Barabar Caves 🔹 The **Barabar Caves** in **Bihar** are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves from the **Mauryan period**.

✅ **Correct Answer:** B) Iron 🔹 **Iron** was extensively used for making **tools, weapons**, and **pillars** during the Mauryan period.