Static Quiz 28 October 2023 (History)

Solution: (b)
Justification: Statement 1: A large number ofthemwere in Prakrit, butin theNW direction one could find Aramaic and Greeklanguages.
Statement 2: The Aramaic and Greek scripts were used for inscriptions in Afghanistan. James Prinsep, an officer in the mint of the East India Company, deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi, two scripts used in the earliest inscriptions and coins. This gave a new direction to investigations into early Indian political history.

Solution: (d)
Justification: This is a lateral explanation, since the details of census have already been covered in the question. We will touch upon other important aspects of Mauryan administration. Other aspects: Kautilya mentions the existence of both civil and criminal courts. The chief justice of the Supreme Court at the capital was called Dharmathikarin. There were also subordinate courts at the provincial capitals and districts under Amatyas. Different kinds of punishment such as fines, imprisonment, mutilation and death were given to the offenders.
Torture was employed to extract truth. Police stations were found in all principal centres. Both Kautilya and Asokan Edicts mention about jails and jail officials.Remission of sentences is also mentioned in Asoka’s inscriptions.

Solution: (a)
Justification: Lauriya Nandangarh is a historical site located in West Champaran district of Bihar. Remains of Mauryan period have been found here. On excavation, Nandangarh turned out to be stupendous Stupa with a polygonal or cruciform base; with its missing
dome which must have been proportionately tall, the Stupa must have been one of the highest in India This thirty-two-foot-tall column has an almost fifty-ton seated lion capital placed on its top, an engineering feat worth admiring. The bull capital from Rampura is also another fine example of Mauryan sculpture. The village draws its name from a pillar (laur) of Ashoka standing there and the stupa mound Nandangarh (variant Nanadgarh) about 2 km south-west of the pillar.

Solution: (d)
Justification: The mindless destruction of life and property in the Kalinga war-shattered Ashoka so greatly that he vowed never to wage any war again.
Instead, he adopted the policy of Dhamma Vijaya that is conquest through dhamma. In his thirteenth major Rock Edict, Asoka states that true conquest is by piety and virtue. Such a decision taken by a king, who lived in an era where military might was the measure of power, earned him a
unique place in history. According to a Buddhist tradition, Asoka sent Buddhist missions to regions such as Sri Lanka and Central Asia. Buddhism spread to different parts of the world and although it is no longer a major force in India today, yet it continues to be popular in Sri Lanka and the Far Eastern countries.

Solution: (a)
Justification:OptionA: The provincial governors were mostly appointed from the members of royal family. They were responsible the maintenance of law and order and collection of taxes for the empire.
Option B: Village administration was in the hands of Gramani and his official superior was called Gopa who was in charge of ten or fifteen villages.
Option C: Both Kautilya and Megasthanes provided the system of Municipal administration. Arthasastra contains a full chapter on the role of Nagarika or city superintendent. His chief duty was to maintain law and order.
Option D: Megasthenes refers to the six committees of five members each to look after the administration of Pataliputra. These committees looked after: 1. Industries 2. Foreigners 3. Registration of birth and deaths 4. Trade 5. Manufacture and sale of goods 6. Collection ofsalestax.