If you are a Class XII student searching for high-quality AHSEC Class 12 History Chapter 2 Kings, Farmers, and Towns (Early States and Economy 600 BCE – 600 CE) notes to improve your exam performance, then this Ready Guide is for you. It includes all the important question-answers prepared by a team of experts. Our language is very easy to understand and remember. Begin your study journey with us for a bright future.
Class 12 History Chapter 2 Kings, Farmers, and Towns (Early States and Economy 600 BCE – 600 CE)
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. Who was the author of the ‘Arthashastra’?
Ans: Kautilya (Chanakya).
2. What was the name of the most powerful Mahajanapada?
Ans: Magadha.
3. What was the name of the early capital of Magadha?
Ans: Rajagriha.
4. Who was the author of the book ‘Indica’?
Ans: Megasthenes.
5. What is one of the principal sources for the study of ancient Indian history?
Ans: Inscriptions.
6. Which king received the title ‘Devanampriya Piyadassi’?
Ans: Ashoka.
7. What does ‘Megalith’ mean?
Ans: ‘Megalith’ means a system of constructing large stone structures.
8. Who constructed the Sudarshana Lake?
Ans: The ‘Sudarshana Lake’ was first constructed by an administrator during the Mauryan period. Later, when it was damaged, it was reconstructed by Rudradaman.
9. In which language were most of Ashoka’s inscriptions written? H. S. ’18
Ans: In the Prakrit language.
10. Who wrote the book ‘Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’?
Ans: It was written by a Greek sailor in the first century CE.
11. Who deciphered the Kharosthi script? H. S. ’17
Ans: James Prinsep.
12. Who deciphered the Brahmi script?
Ans: James Prinsep.
13. When and who first introduced gold coins?
Ans: The Kushana kings in the first century BCE.
14. For how many years did the Mauryan Empire last?
Ans: Approximately 150 years.
15. Who adopted the title ‘Son of God’?
Ans: Many kings of the Kushana dynasty.
16. From where did Pataliputra develop?
Ans: From a small village named Pataligrama.
17. Who was Prabhavati Gupta?
Ans: She was the daughter of the Gupta king Chandragupta II.
18. When did the Mauryan period decline?
Ans: In 185 BCE.
19. When did the Gupta Age begin?
Ans: In 320 CE.
20. How did Magadha become the most powerful among the sixteen Mahajanapadas? H. S. ’15
Ans: Magadha became the most powerful among the Mahajanapadas due to the wise counsel of the minister Kautilya and an efficient administrative system.
21. In which category of historical sources are inscriptions included? H. S. ’18
Ans: Inscriptions are included among archaeological sources of history.
21. What scripts were used in Ashoka’s inscriptions? H. S. ’18
Ans: Prakrit language in Brahmi script was used in Ashoka’s inscriptions.
22. Name the two dynasties that ruled after the Mauryas. H. S. ’20
Ans: The Shunga dynasty and the Kanva dynasty.
22. Name one crop found at the sites of the Harappan Civilization. H. S. ’20
Ans: Wheat.
23. Who was the court poet of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta? H. S. ’20
Ans: Harisena.
24. Name the famous Sanskrit book written by Shudraka. H. S. ’20
Ans: Mrichchhakatika.
25. Mention any one of the five vows taken by Jain monks and nuns. H. S. ’20
Ans: Never to tell a lie.
B. Short Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 2)
1. What is meant by Mahajanapada?
Ans: In the sixth century BCE, several small states emerged in India. These were called ‘Mahajanapadas.’ Some of them were Kashi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Panchala, Kuru, Vatsa, Chedi, Malla, etc.
2. What is meant by ‘Sangam Literature’?
Ans: In ancient times, during the rule of the Chola kings in South India, a particular body of literature developed over a period of about three to four centuries. This body of literature is known as ‘Sangam Literature.’ The poets and writers associated with it assembled in the royal courts of the Chola kings.
3. What does ‘Piyadassi’ mean? Whom does it refer to?
Ans: ‘Piyadassi’ means beloved of the gods. It refers to the name and title of Emperor Ashoka.
4. Name some regional powers that rose after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.
Ans: Some regional powers that rose after the fall of the Mauryan Empire were the Kanva dynasty, the Yavanas, the Shunga dynasty, the Shakas, and the Bactrian Greek rulers.
5. What is meant by Guild or Shreni?
Ans: During the Mauryan period, various small industries developed under the leadership of artisans and craftsmen. Associations were formed among people of the same profession to protect their common interests. These associations were called ‘Guilds.’
6. Mention two main features of the Mahajanapadas and the Ganasanghas.
Ans: The Mahajanapadas were generally monarchies, whereas the Ganasanghas were governed by councils. The Mahajanapadas were less stable, whereas some Ganasanghas are believed to have existed for nearly a thousand years.
7. Who composed the Dharmasutras? What was written in them?
Ans: The Dharmasutras were composed by Brahmins. They laid down certain rules and regulations for the rulers and the people. They mentioned that kings should be efficient and also described the various taxes to be collected by the king.
8. What were the names of the sixteen Mahajanapadas?
Ans: The sixteen Mahajanapadas were Kosala, Kashi, Kamboja, Kuru, Anga, Magadha, Vrijji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Panchala, Matsya, Shurasena, Ashmaka, Avanti, and Gandhara.
9. What is Manusmriti? What advice was given to kings in it?
Ans: ‘Manusmriti’ is a legal text composed by Manu. It was written in Sanskrit. In this text, certain advice was given to kings regarding the demarcation of the boundaries of the kingdom. It was stated that disputes frequently arose due to boundary violations. Therefore, the king was advised to bury secret markers in the ground to demarcate the boundaries of the state.
10. What is meant by inscription? H. S. ’16
Ans: Writings engraved on the hard surfaces of stone, metal, or handmade objects are called ‘inscriptions.’ Many inscriptions were written during the time of ancient kings. Generally, inscriptions provide information about the achievements and activities of rulers or important persons, and about those who commissioned them. Donations made at sacred places were also engraved in inscriptions. Some inscriptions mention the year and date.
11. Write briefly about the ‘Allahabad Prashasti’ or inscription.
Ans: The ‘Allahabad Prashasti’ was composed by a Sanskrit scholar named Harisena. This inscription describes the Gupta emperor Samudragupta and his reign. It states that Samudragupta was not only a great conqueror but also an intelligent, capable administrator, poet, musician, and a man of remarkable talent.
12. Who were the Nayakas?
Ans: The Nayakas were powerful individuals in South India. Their main duties were to conduct religious ceremonies, lead in times of war, and settle disputes. They received gifts from their followers. It is not clearly known whether their positions were hereditary.
13. Who wrote the ‘Harshacharita’? What is the subject matter of this book?
Ans: The ‘Harshacharita’ was written by Banabhatta. It is a biography of King Harshavardhana. Besides describing his reign, it also provides an account of life in a small village near the Vindhya mountains.
14. Write a short note on the Girnar or Sudarshana Lake of Gujarat.
Ans: From a second-century inscription, it is known that in ancient times, there was a beautiful artificial lake at a place called Girnar in present-day Gujarat. According to the inscription, the lake was excavated during the Mauryan period. Embankments were constructed around it. Water was supplied to agricultural fields through canals from the lake as required. Later,
Due to natural causes, the lake suffered severe damage, and it was re-excavated by the Shaka ruler Rudradaman.
C. Medium Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
1. Give a brief description of the city of Pataliputra. H. S. ’20
Ans: Pataliputra was the capital of Magadha. From the account of Megasthenes, it is known that the city was built at the confluence of the rivers Son and Ganga. The city was surrounded by a moat and enclosed by walls. It had about 64 gates and 570 towers. It was nine miles long and one and a half miles wide. There were many gardens in the city. Wood was mainly used in its construction.
2. What were the problems faced by epigraphists?
Ans: Epigraphists often face the following problems—
(a) The letters of inscriptions are sometimes unclear and not properly engraved, which creates difficulty in decipherment.
(b) Since many inscriptions are not well preserved, large portions have been worn away, making them difficult to read and understand.
(c) Inscriptions mostly contain eulogies of kings and rulers; therefore, it is difficult to obtain clear information about the political and economic conditions of the time.
(d) Due to the lack of other contemporary sources, it becomes difficult to arrive at definite conclusions.
D. Descriptive Answer Questions: (Marks for each – 6)
1. Discuss the causes of the rise of Magadha. H. S. ’15, ’17
Ans: In the sixth century BCE, the process of state formation began in India. During that time, sixteen small and large states emerged in different regions of India. These were called ‘Mahajanapadas.’ Among them, the state named Magadha became particularly powerful. The main causes of the rise of Magadha were as follows—
(a) The land of Magadha was very fertile. As a result, abundant crops were produced, and economic self-sufficiency made its rise easier.
(b) Magadha was naturally protected by hills on all sides. This made it secure from external enemies and helped in the development of a stable political system.
(c) Magadha was rich in mineral resources. Large quantities of iron were available there. With the help of iron, the people made weapons and became skilled in warfare.
(d) Many elephants were found in Magadha at that time. The rulers trained them and used them in wars, which helped them defeat external enemies.
(e) Through the Ganga and its tributaries, the people of Magadha could easily carry on trade and commerce with other states and foreign lands, which made it economically prosperous.
(f) Moreover, many learned scholars and capable leaders were born in Magadha, who greatly influenced its intellectual and political development.
2. Discuss the sources of Mauryan history.
Ans: The sources of Mauryan history can be divided into two categories: literary sources and archaeological sources. Among the literary sources, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Megasthenes’ travel account ‘Indica,’ Buddhist andJain literature, Puranic literature, and the Mudrarakshasa are important. Among the archaeological sources, Ashoka’s rock inscriptions, pillar inscriptions, cave inscriptions, and remains of architecture and sculpture are notable.
Among the literary sources, Kautilya’s Arthashastra is one of the most important. Kautilya was the minister and adviser of Chandragupta Maurya. This book discusses various aspects of the Mauryan administration, such asrevenue system, duties of the king, and administrative matters.
By studying this text, we can learn about the political and economic conditions of that period. Similarly, from the book ‘Indica’ written by the Greek ambassador Megasthenes, who visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya, we get much information about India at that time. From the Buddhist and Jain literature of the Mauryan period, as well as works such as the Kalpasutra, the Mahabhashya, the Gargi Samhita, the Vishnu Purana, and Vishakhadatta’s Mudrarakshasa, various facts about the Mauryan age can be known.
Moreover, Ashoka prepared many religious edicts and had them engraved and installed in different parts of the country. From these, we obtain an idea about the social, religious, and cultural conditions of that time.
3. Write about the main features of the Mauryan administrative system.
Ans: The Mauryan Empire was one of the most powerful empires of ancient India. Much information about it is obtained from Kautilya’s Arthashastra and the travel account of the Greek visitor Megasthenes. According to these sources, the main features of the Mauryan administrative system were—
(a) A centralized administration: In the Mauryan system, the king was the supreme head of the state and administration. Although there was a council of ministers to assist him, the king was not bound to follow their advice.
(b) Provincial administration: For administrative convenience, the Mauryan Empire was divided into several provinces. Members of the royal
family were appointed to administer these provinces.
(c) Local administration: There was a system of local administration during the Mauryan period. In major cities such as Pataliputra, Kaushambi, and Taxila, there were municipal bodies. These committees consisted of six members. Villages were governed through a panchayat system.
(d) Judicial system: During the Mauryan period, both civil and criminal justice systems existed. Criminal laws were very strict. Under such laws, punishments like death penalty and mutilation were imposed.
(e) Army: The Mauryan administration maintained a strong and well-organized army. The military department was managed by six committees. It is known that along with infantry, there was also an elephant corps in the army.
4. Write a short note on a small village mentioned in the Harshacharita.
Ans: The ‘Harshacharita,’ written by Banabhatta, is a biographical work on Emperor Harshavardhana. Along with the account of his life, the book also describes a small village near the Vindhya mountains. From Banabhatta’s description, it is known that the villagers cultivated the land by digging with spades. Although ploughs were used, the land was not very suitable for plough cultivation. The land was surrounded by thick forests. The farmers produced various kinds of food grains and carried the surplus produce on their heads to nearby regions for sale.
5. Explain the limitations of inscriptions as historical evidence. H.S. ’19
Ans: Writings engraved on the hard surfaces of stone, metal, or handmade objects are called inscriptions. Many inscriptions were written during the time of ancient kings. Generally, they describe the achievements and activities of rulers or important persons, and also mention donors at sacred places. Some inscriptions include dates and years. Although inscriptions are considered major sources of history, they have certain limitations as evidence, such as—
(a) Since inscriptions are very old, their decipherment is often difficult.
(b) Inscriptions do not provide detailed information about the social life of the people. They mostly mention certain political or religious aspects.
(c) As many inscriptions remained abandoned for centuries, the engraved letters have become unclear and difficult to read.
(d) Since most inscriptions were written under royal patronage, there is a possibility of bias in the information they contain.
