The Rise of Empires — Hard

Q1. Consider the two statements about ancient Sanskrit titles for an emperor. Statement A: 'adhiraja' literally means 'overlord'. Statement B: 'samraj' and 'rajadhiraja' both mean exactly the same as 'adhiraja'. Which is correct?

• A. Both A and B are correct.
• B. A is correct; B is incorrect — the three terms have distinct shades of meaning.
• C. A is incorrect; B is correct.
• D. Both A and B are incorrect.

Q2. Which of the following is NOT correctly matched with the empire-feature it represents ?

• A. Maintaining roads, river navigation and infrastructure — communication networks
• B. Controlling mines, forests and agricultural produce — control over resources
• C. Encouraging schools of thought and centres of learning — art, literature and learning
• D. Holding annual elections for tributary kings — administration

Q3. Read the two statements about ancient trade routes. Statement A: Uttarapatha was the major northern route linking Takshashila to Pataliputra. Statement B: Dakshinapatha was a major southern route, separate from Uttarapatha. Which option is correct?

• A. A is correct; B is incorrect.
• B. A is incorrect; B is correct.
• C. Both A and B are correct.
• D. Both A and B are incorrect.

Q4. Assertion (A): Guilds and the ancient village unit with its committees are given as examples of the self-organising abilities of Indian society. Reason (R): An enlightened ruler would let people organise themselves and refrain from interfering if local institutions worked well. Choose the correct option

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q5. A teacher draws a cause-effect chain on the board to explain Magadha's rise. Which sequence is MOST consistent with?

• A. Iron ore from hilly regions → iron ploughs and iron weapons → agricultural surplus + stronger army → Magadha's expansion
• B. Fertile coastal sand → fishing surplus → trading navy → Magadha's expansion
• C. Sixteen mahajanapadas merged peacefully → Magadha elected as leader → Magadha's expansion
• D. Greek satraps gifted Magadha their territories → Magadha's expansion

Q6. Statement A: Panini, who composed the Ashtadhyayi, lived around the 5th century BCE during the Nanda period. Statement B: The Ashtadhyayi is a text of Sanskrit grammar containing 3,996 short sutras. Which is correct?

• A. Only A is correct.
• B. Only B is correct.
• C. Both A and B are correct.
• D. Neither A nor B is correct.

Q7. Arrange the following events from Alexander's campaign in correct chronological order: (i) Campaign against the Persian Empire (ii) Battle with Porus in Punjab (iii) Retreat through coastal route and Iran (iv) Death at Babylon at age 32

• A. (i) → (ii) → (iii) → (iv)
• B. (ii) → (i) → (iv) → (iii)
• C. (i) → (iii) → (ii) → (iv)
• D. (iv) → (iii) → (ii) → (i)

Q8. After defeating Porus, Alexander asked him how he wished to be treated. Porus replied 'Like a king.' What did Alexander then do, and what does this BEST illustrate about his policy?

• A. He executed Porus to set an example — showing Greek ruthlessness.
• B. He left Porus at the head of his kingdom as satrap — showing pragmatic use of local rulers as governors of far-off territories.
• C. He took Porus back to Macedonia as a prisoner — showing Greek superiority.
• D. He divided Porus's kingdom among his own generals — showing dislike of Indian kings.

Q9. Arrange these dynasties/events that shaped ancient Magadha in correct chronological order: (i) Rise of Mahapadma Nanda (ii) Reign of Ajatashatru (iii) Founding of the Maurya empire by Chandragupta (iv) Reign of Ashoka

• A. (ii) → (i) → (iii) → (iv)
• B. (i) → (ii) → (iv) → (iii)
• C. (iii) → (i) → (ii) → (iv)
• D. (iv) → (iii) → (i) → (ii)

Q10. Match the saptanga limb with its meaning. (i) amatya — (a) treasury (ii) janapada — (b) fortified towns (iii) durga — (c) territory and its population (iv) kosha — (d) councillors and high officials

• A. (i)-(d), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(a)
• B. (i)-(a), (ii)-(b), (iii)-(c), (iv)-(d)
• C. (i)-(b), (ii)-(d), (iii)-(a), (iv)-(c)
• D. (i)-(c), (ii)-(a), (iii)-(d), (iv)-(b)

Q11. Which of the following statements about Megasthenes is NOT correct, according to the chapter?

• A. He was a Greek historian and diplomat hosted at the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
• B. He wrote an account of his travels in India in a book called Indika.
• C. His Indika has survived completely intact and is widely read today.
• D. He came after Chandragupta defeated the Greek satraps and maintained diplomatic relations.

Q12. Statement A: Most of Ashoka's edicts were inscribed in Prakrit. Statement B: The script used was Brahmi, which is the mother of all regional scripts of India. Which is correct?

• A. Only A is correct.
• B. Only B is correct.
• C. Both A and B are correct.
• D. Neither A nor B is correct.

Q13. In his edicts, Ashoka called himself 'Devanampiya Piyadasi'. Which is the correct meaning of this title, as given in the chapter?

• A. 'King of kings' and 'lord of all'
• B. 'Beloved of the Gods' and 'one who regards others with kindness'
• C. 'Overlord of Magadha' and 'protector of the Buddha'
• D. 'Conqueror of Kalinga' and 'friend of dhamma'

Q14. Which of the following statements about the Sarnath lion capital is NOT correct, according to the chapter?

• A. It was the top of a pillar that Ashoka got erected at Sarnath, near Varanasi.
• B. The four lions symbolise royal power, and the ring below shows an elephant, a bull, a horse and another lion along with the dharmachakra.
• C. It was chosen as India's national emblem, with the motto satyameva jayate added below.
• D. It depicts the saptanga of Kautilya — the seven limbs of a kingdom.

Q15. According to the chapter, the Maurya empire continued for about half a century after Ashoka's death and finally came to an end around

• A. 232 BCE
• B. 185 BCE
• C. 327 BCE
• D. 78 BCE