Mauryan Empire GK (321–185 BCE): 100 Questions with Answers & Explanations

 

The Mauryan Empire was the first major empire in Indian history. Founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the guidance of Chanakya (Kautilya), it expanded under Bindusara and reached its peak under Ashoka the Great.

Here are 100 important GK Questions with answers and short explanations for quick revision for exams like UPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking & State PSC.

🔹 Foundation of Mauryan Empire (Chandragupta & Chanakya)

  1. Q: Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
    👉 Chandragupta Maurya
    Explanation: Established in 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya.

  2. Q: Who was Chandragupta’s mentor and political advisor?
    👉 Chanakya (Kautilya/Vishnugupta)

  3. Q: Which book by Chanakya deals with economics and polity?
    👉 Arthashastra

  4. Q: Who was the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty defeated by Chandragupta Maurya?
    👉 Dhana Nanda

  5. Q: Which foreign general was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya?
    👉 Seleucus Nicator
    Explanation: After defeat, Seleucus gave territories in Afghanistan and Punjab to Chandragupta.

  6. Q: Which Greek ambassador visited Chandragupta’s court?
    👉 Megasthenes

  7. Q: What is the name of the book written by Megasthenes?
    👉 Indica

  8. Q: What was the capital of the Mauryan Empire?
    👉 Pataliputra

  9. Q: Chandragupta Maurya adopted which religion in his later life?
    👉 Jainism

  10. Q: Where did Chandragupta Maurya spend his last years?
    👉 Shravanabelagola (Karnataka)

🔹 Reign of Bindusara

  1. Q: Who succeeded Chandragupta Maurya?
    👉 Bindusara

  2. Q: What was Bindusara’s other name?
    👉 Amitraghata (Slayer of Enemies)

  3. Q: Who was the father of Ashoka?
    👉 Bindusara

  4. Q: Which Greek ambassador visited Bindusara’s court?
    👉 Deimachus of Athens

  5. Q: Bindusara extended the Mauryan Empire up to which region?
    👉 Deccan (South till Karnataka)

🔹 Ashoka the Great (Most Famous Mauryan Ruler)

  1. Q: Which ruler fought the famous Kalinga War?
    👉 Ashoka

  2. Q: When did the Kalinga War take place?
    👉 261 BCE

  3. Q: What was the result of the Kalinga War?
    👉 Massive bloodshed and destruction

  4. Q: Which event changed Ashoka’s life after the Kalinga War?
    👉 He embraced Buddhism

  5. Q: Ashoka was the first Indian king to embrace which religion?
    👉 Buddhism

  6. Q: Which council of Buddhism was organized by Ashoka?
    👉 Third Buddhist Council

  7. Q: Where was the Third Buddhist Council held?
    👉 Pataliputra (250 BCE)

  8. Q: Who presided over the Third Buddhist Council?
    👉 Moggaliputta Tissa

  9. Q: What book was compiled during this council?
    👉 Kathavatthu

  10. Q: Ashoka sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitra to which country to spread Buddhism?
    👉 Sri Lanka

🔹 Ashoka’s Administration & Dhamma

  1. Q: What was Ashoka’s policy after the Kalinga War called?
    👉 Dhamma (Dharma)

  2. Q: Which officials were appointed to spread Dhamma?
    👉 Dhamma Mahamatras

  3. Q: What were Ashoka’s inscriptions mainly written on?
    👉 Pillars, rocks, caves

  4. Q: What was the script of Ashoka’s inscriptions in most of India?
    👉 Brahmi

  5. Q: In the northwest, Ashoka’s inscriptions were in which script?
    👉 Kharosthi (Aramaic influence)

  6. Q: In which language were Ashoka’s inscriptions written?
    👉 Prakrit (main), Greek, Aramaic

  7. Q: Which animal is used most frequently in Ashoka’s pillars?
    👉 Lion

  8. Q: Which Ashokan pillar is India’s National Emblem?
    👉 Sarnath Lion Capital

  9. Q: Ashoka’s symbol of the wheel (Chakra) is used in which national symbol of India?
    👉 The Indian National Flag (Ashoka Chakra)

  10. Q: Ashoka’s reign represents which ideal in history?
    👉 First welfare state in India

🔹 Mauryan Administration

  1. Q: Who was the head of the Mauryan administration?
    👉 The King (Monarch)

  2. Q: The empire was divided into how many provinces?
    👉 Four (with capitals at Pataliputra, Taxila, Ujjain, Suvarnagiri)

  3. Q: What was the smallest unit of administration?
    👉 Gram (village)

  4. Q: Who managed the villages?
    👉 Gramika

  5. Q: What was the main source of revenue?
    👉 Agriculture (Land revenue)

  6. Q: Who collected land revenue?
    👉 Samaharta

  7. Q: Who was in charge of trade and commerce?
    👉 Panyadhyaksha

  8. Q: Which department looked after foreigners?
    👉 Navadhyaksha

  9. Q: Who looked after weights and measures?
    👉 Pautavadhyaksha

  10. Q: Mauryan administration was highly centralized – True or False?
    👉 True

🔹 Mauryan Economy

  1. Q: What was the backbone of Mauryan economy?
    👉 Agriculture

  2. Q: What system of taxation was prevalent?
    👉 Land revenue (1/6th of produce)

  3. Q: Which industry was controlled by the state?
    👉 Mining and metallurgy

  4. Q: Which metal was commonly used in Mauryan economy?
    👉 Iron

  5. Q: Which river valley was famous for fertile lands?
    👉 Ganga Valley

🔹 Mauryan Art & Architecture

  1. Q: What type of stone was used in Mauryan pillars?
    👉 Chunar sandstone

  2. Q: Which is the most famous Ashokan pillar?
    👉 Sarnath Lion Capital

  3. Q: Name two famous stupas built by Ashoka.
    👉 Sanchi and Bharhut

  4. Q: Name the famous cave inscriptions of Ashoka.
    👉 Barabar Caves (Bihar)

  5. Q: What style is seen in Mauryan art?
    👉 Polished stone architecture (Mauryan polish)

🔹 Decline of Mauryan Empire

  1. Q: Who succeeded Ashoka?
    👉 Dasharatha Maurya

  2. Q: What was the main cause of Mauryan decline?
    👉 Weak successors and vast empire

  3. Q: Which foreign invasion accelerated Mauryan decline?
    👉 Indo-Greek invasion

  4. Q: Who was the last Mauryan ruler?
    👉 Brihadratha Maurya

  5. Q: Who killed the last Mauryan ruler and founded the Shunga dynasty?
    👉 Pushyamitra Shunga

  6. 🔹 Foreign Accounts on the Mauryan Empire

    1. Q: Who was the Greek ambassador to Chandragupta’s court?
      👉 Megasthenes
      Explanation: Sent by Seleucus Nicator, he wrote the book Indica describing Mauryan society.

    2. Q: What is the importance of Indica by Megasthenes?
      👉 Provides details about Mauryan administration, society, flora & fauna.

    3. Q: Which Greek ambassador visited Bindusara’s court?
      👉 Deimachus of Athens

    4. Q: Which Greek ambassador visited the Mauryan court after Ashoka?
      👉 Dionysius (sent by Ptolemy II of Egypt)

    5. Q: Which Roman writer mentioned the Mauryan Empire?
      👉 Pliny the Elder

    🔹 Mauryan Army & Espionage

    1. Q: Who maintained the largest standing army of ancient India?
      👉 The Mauryas

    2. Q: According to Megasthenes, how many soldiers did Chandragupta maintain?
      👉 6,00,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9,000 elephants, 8,000 chariots

    3. Q: Who was in charge of the Mauryan army?
      👉 Senapati (Commander-in-Chief)

    4. Q: What was the role of spies in Mauryan administration?
      👉 To report on officials, trade, foreign affairs, and people’s views.

    5. Q: Which book of Chanakya gives details about espionage?
      👉 Arthashastra

    🔹 Society & Culture

    1. Q: What was the position of women in Mauryan society?
      👉 Women had some rights but were mostly confined to family roles.

    2. Q: Were there women spies in Mauryan administration?
      👉 Yes, mentioned in Arthashastra.

    3. Q: What was the condition of slavery in Mauryan society?
      👉 Slavery existed but was less harsh compared to Greece/Rome.

    4. Q: Which religion did Chandragupta Maurya adopt at the end of his life?
      👉 Jainism

    5. Q: Which religion did Ashoka adopt after the Kalinga War?
      👉 Buddhism

    6. Q: What was Ashoka’s religious policy called?
      👉 Dhamma (not sectarian, but ethical conduct).

    7. Q: Name two popular professions in Mauryan society.
      👉 Agriculture and trade.

    8. Q: What was the Mauryan caste system like?
      👉 Varna system existed but was flexible.

    9. Q: Which type of marriage was common?
      👉 Arranged marriage within caste.

    10. Q: Did Mauryans promote education?
      👉 Yes, Taxila and Nalanda were important centers.

    🔹 Economy & Trade

    1. Q: What was the chief source of Mauryan revenue?
      👉 Land tax (1/6th of produce).

    2. Q: What other taxes were collected?
      👉 Trade tax, tolls, forest tax, artisan tax.

    3. Q: Which officer was in charge of weights and measures?
      👉 Pautavadhyaksha.

    4. Q: Which officer controlled trade and commerce?
      👉 Panyadhyaksha.

    5. Q: Which was the main trade route during Mauryan period?
      👉 Uttarapatha (North Road) from Taxila to Pataliputra.

    6. Q: What was the southern trade route called?
      👉 Dakshinapatha.

    7. Q: Which foreign regions did Mauryans trade with?
      👉 Central Asia, Greece, Sri Lanka, Burma.

    8. Q: What items were exported?
      👉 Spices, pearls, cotton, ivory, precious stones.

    9. Q: What items were imported?
      👉 Horses, gold, luxury goods.

    10. Q: Which coins were used in Mauryan period?
      👉 Punch-marked silver coins.

    🔹 Decline of Mauryan Empire

    1. Q: Who succeeded Ashoka as Mauryan ruler?
      👉 Dasharatha Maurya.

    2. Q: Which ruler gave caves to Ajivikas?
      👉 Dasharatha Maurya (Barabar caves).

    3. Q: What was the main cause of decline of Mauryan Empire?
      👉 Weak successors, financial burden, vast empire.

    4. Q: Which foreign invasions weakened the Mauryas?
      👉 Indo-Greek invasions.

    5. Q: Who was the last Mauryan ruler?
      👉 Brihadratha Maurya.

    6. Q: Who killed Brihadratha Maurya?
      👉 Pushyamitra Shunga.

    7. Q: Which dynasty replaced the Mauryas?
      👉 Shunga Dynasty.

    8. Q: In which year did the Mauryan Empire end?
      👉 185 BCE.

    9. Q: What was the most important achievement of the Mauryas?
      👉 Political unification of India.

    10. Q: Why is Ashoka considered the greatest Mauryan ruler?
      👉 Because of his policy of Dhamma, spread of Buddhism, welfare measures, and moral rule.

    📑 Conclusion

    The Mauryan Empire (321–185 BCE), founded by Chandragupta Maurya, reached its peak under Ashoka the Great. It was the first empire to unify India, with a strong centralized administration, flourishing trade, unique art & architecture, and global influence through Buddhism. Its decline after Ashoka led to the rise of the Shungas, but its legacy remains one of the most glorious chapters of ancient Indian history.

🔗 External Links for Reference

  1. Mauryan Empire (Britannica) –
    👉 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mauryan-dynasty

  2. NCERT History Textbooks –
    👉 https://ncert.nic.in/textbook.php

  3. Ancient India Notes (Wikipedia) –
    👉 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya_Empire

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