200 One-Line Questions with One-Line Answers on the Maurya Empire
200 One-Line Questions with One-Line Answers on the Maurya Empire (Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara, Ashoka)
✅ 200 ONE-LINE QUESTIONS WITH ONE-LINE ANSWERS (MAURYA EMPIRE)
🔵 CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (1–60)
1. Who founded the Mauryan Empire? – Chandragupta Maurya.
2. In which year was the Mauryan Empire founded? – 322 BCE.
3. Who guided Chandragupta Maurya? – Chanakya (Kautilya).
4. Which dynasty did Chandragupta overthrow? – Nanda Dynasty.
5. Who was the last Nanda ruler? – Dhana Nanda.
6. What was the capital of Mauryan Empire? – Pataliputra.
7. Who wrote Arthashastra? – Kautilya.
8. Which Greek ambassador visited Chandragupta? – Megasthenes.
9. Megasthenes wrote which book? – Indica.
10. Chandragupta defeated which Greek ruler? – Seleucus Nicator.
11. The treaty with Seleucus happened in which year? – 305 BCE.
12. What did Seleucus give Chandragupta? – 500 war elephants.
13. Chandragupta’s empire covered which region? – North India & Afghanistan.
14. Chandragupta’s main military strength? – War elephants.
15. Who reorganized Mauryan administration? – Chanakya.
16. Chandragupta adopted which religion later? – Jainism.
17. Where did Chandragupta spend his last days? – Shravanabelagola.
18. Who succeeded Chandragupta Maurya? – Bindusara.
19. Chandragupta ruled from? – 322–298 BCE.
20. Which text mentions Chandragupta’s rise? – Mudrarakshasa.
21. Who trained Chandragupta politically? – Chanakya.
22. Chandragupta’s army was described by? – Megasthenes.
23. What type of coins were used? – Punch-marked coins.
24. Who abolished oppressive taxes? – Chandragupta.
25. Which Jain saint influenced Chandragupta? – Bhadrabahu.
26. Where is Chandragupta’s cave located? – Shravanabelagola.
27. Which dynasty followed Mauryas? – Shunga Dynasty.
28. Chandragupta’s empire included which famous city? – Taxila.
29. Who was Seleucus? – Founder of the Seleucid Empire.
30. Which animal symbolized Mauryan might? – Elephant.
31. Who was Chandragupta’s grandmother in legend? – Mura.
32. Which monk accompanied Chandragupta to South India? – Bhadrabahu.
33. Where did Chandragupta perform Sallekhana? – Shravanabelagola.
34. Which empire was the first Pan-Indian empire? – Mauryan Empire.
35. Chandragupta’s rule ended in? – 298 BCE.
36. Language during Chandragupta’s court? – Prakrit.
37. Who unified India politically for the first time? – Chandragupta Maurya.
38. Who described Mauryan society as seven-class system? – Megasthenes.
39. Chandragupta’s economic policy focused on? – Agriculture.
40. Who created Mauryan spy network? – Chanakya.
41. Who established Mauryan taxation system? – Chandragupta.
42. Which region did Chandragupta annex from Seleucus? – Kabul–Kandahar.
43. Main source on Chandragupta’s administration? – Arthashastra.
44. Chandragupta’s headquarters fort? – Pataliputra fort.
45. Who uprooted Nanda authority? – Chandragupta Maurya.
46. Which Greek king wrote about India? – Megasthenes.
47. Chandragupta’s mother was from? – Low social class (according to legends).
48. Which script was used? – Brahmi.
49. Chandragupta’s kingdom covered which valley? – Indus valley.
50. Who expanded Mauryan bureaucracy? – Chandragupta.
51. Who established the first large standing army? – Chandragupta.
52. Who introduced land revenue as main tax? – Chandragupta.
53. Who was known as Sandrokottos by Greeks? – Chandragupta Maurya.
54. Who built the foundations of centralized empire? – Chandragupta.
55. Who met Alexander before ruling? – Chandragupta.
56. Who helped Chandragupta in diplomacy with Greeks? – Chanakya.
57. Chandragupta ruled over how many provinces? – Four major provinces.
58. Which river marked Mauryan western boundary? – Indus.
59. Chandragupta’s religion at the end of his life? – Jainism.
60. Chandragupta’s successor? – Bindusara.
🔵 BINDUSARA (61–90)
61. Bindusara ruled from? – 298–273 BCE.
62. Bindusara was Chandragupta’s? – Son.
63. Greek sources call Bindusara? – Amitrochates.
64. Amitraghata means? – Slayer of enemies.
65. Bindusara extended empire to? – Deccan region.
66. Bindusara’s capital? – Pataliputra.
68. Religion of Bindusara? – Ajivika.
69. Bindusara’s father? – Chandragupta Maurya.
70. Bindusara’s famous son? – Ashoka.
71. Bindusara prevented annexation of which region? – Kalinga (left unconquered).
72. Bindusara’s empire stretched from? – Himalayas to Karnataka.
73. Bindusara’s Greek name? – Amitrochates.
74. Bindusara appointed Ashoka as? – Governor of Ujjain.
75. Who succeeded Bindusara? – Ashoka.
76. Bindusara was second Mauryan ruler? – Yes.
77. Bindusara maintained friendly Greek relations? – Yes.
78. Bindusara’s reign was known for? – Consolidation.
79. Bindusara belonged to which dynasty? – Maurya.
80. Which region Bindusara could not conquer? – Kalinga.
81. Who sent gifts to Bindusara? – Antiochus I.
82. Bindusara’s court language? – Prakrit.
83. Who was Bindusara’s mentor? – Chanakya (initially).
84. Bindusara’s administration based on? – Arthashastra.
85. Bindusara had how many sons? – 16 (as per sources).
86. Main achievement of Bindusara? – Expanding empire southwards.
87. Bindusara’s title? – Amitraghata.
88. Bindusara ruled for? – 25 years.
89. Bindusara’s predecessor? – Chandragupta Maurya.
90. Bindusara’s successor? – Ashoka.
🔵 ASHOKA THE GREAT (91–160)
91. Ashoka ruled from? – 273–232 BCE.
92. Ashoka’s coronation year? – 269 BCE.
93. War that changed Ashoka’s life? – Kalinga War.
94. Kalinga War year? – 261 BCE.
95. After Kalinga, Ashoka adopted? – Buddhism.
96. Ashoka’s dhamma promotes? – Non-violence.
97. Ashoka’s major inscriptions written in? – Prakrit.
98. Script used in Ashokan edicts? – Brahmi.
99. Northwestern edicts written in? – Kharosthi, Greek, Aramaic.
100. Ashoka sent missionaries to? – Sri Lanka.
101. Who went to Sri Lanka? – Mahinda and Sanghamitta.
102. Ashoka built which famous monument? – Sanchi Stupa.
103. Ashoka’s emblem of India? – Lion Capital of Sarnath.
104. Ashoka’s pillar made of? – Polished sandstone.
105. Who deciphered Ashokan edicts? – James Prinsep.
106. Ashoka held which Buddhist council? – Third Buddhist Council.
107. Third Buddhist Council was held at? – Pataliputra.
108. Who presided over the Third Council? – Moggaliputta Tissa.
109. Ashoka called himself? – Devanampriya.
110. Ashoka’s other title? – Priyadarshi.
111. Ashoka’s empire extended to? – Almost entire India.
112. Ashoka banned? – Animal slaughter.
113. Major Rock Edict 13 describes? – Kalinga War.
114. Major Rock Edict 1 bans? – Animal killing.
115. Ashoka promoted which language in edicts? – Prakrit.
116. Ashoka appointed special officers called? – Dhamma Mahamatras.
117. Ashoka built hospitals for? – Humans and animals.
118. Ashoka’s father? – Bindusara.
119. Ashoka’s grandfather? – Chandragupta Maurya.
120. Ashoka died in? – 232 BCE.
121. Ashoka’s policy of governance? – Dhamma.
122. Ashoka sent missionaries to which continent? – Asia.
123. Ashoka’s edicts carved on? – Rocks and pillars.
124. Ashoka’s queen? – Devi.
125. Ashoka’s capital? – Pataliputra.
126. Ashoka’s military power decreased? – After Kalinga.
127. Ashoka’s religion before Buddhism? – Ajivika (as per some sources).
128. Ashoka’s biggest architectural legacy? – Pillars.
129. Ashoka expanded stupas? – Yes.
130. Ashoka’s edicts found in? – India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan.
131. Ashoka’s edicts mention respect for? – All religions.
132. Ashoka supported which Buddhist sect? – Theravada.
133. Ashoka’s grandson? – Samprati.
134. Ashoka’s governance focused on? – Moral upliftment.
135. Ashoka’s animal emblem? – Lion.
136. Where are Ashoka’s minor rock edicts found? – Gujarat and Karnataka.
137. Ashoka sent envoys to which Greek kings? – Antiochus, Ptolemy, etc.
138. Ashoka’s era known for? – Peace and welfare.
139. Ashokan pillars have which special feature? – Mirror-like polish.
140. Ashoka introduced which calendar? – No calendar (only regnal years).
🔵 DECLINE OF MAURYAS (161–200)
161. Mauryan Empire declined after whose death? – Ashoka.
162. Which rulers succeeded Ashoka? – Weak successors.
163. Last Mauryan ruler? – Brihadratha.
164. Brihadratha was killed by? – Pushyamitra Shunga.
165. Mauryan Empire ended in? – 185 BCE.
166. Cause of Mauryan decline? – Weak kings.
167. Economic decline started under? – Post-Ashoka period.
168. Mauryan Empire lasted around? – 137 years.
169. Who took over after Mauryas? – Shunga Dynasty.
170. Mauryan administration weakened due to? – Over-centralization.
171. Kalinga became independent again after? – Ashoka’s death.
172. Foreign invasions increased after? – 2nd century BCE.
173. Who reorganized northern territories after Mauryas? – Indo-Greeks.
174. Who was the strongest post-Ashoka king? – Samprati (Jain supporter).
175. Mauryan revenue system collapsed due to? – Fiscal strain.
176. Who maintained some Mauryan policies? – Shungas.
177. Mauryan army weakened due to? – Cost and size.
178. Religious donations reduced treasury under? – Ashoka’s later years.
179. Who revived Brahmanism after Mauryas? – Pushyamitra Shunga.
180. Which region first broke away from Mauryas? – Punjab.
181. Mauryan art continued during? – Shunga period.
182. Trade declined due to? – Weak administration.
183. Mauryan Empire was divided into? – Provinces.
184. Ashoka’s sons ruled which areas? – Sri Lanka, Kashmir (as per traditions).
185. Who succeeded Dasharatha? – Samprati.
186. Mauryan monuments preserved by? – Later dynasties.
187. Who was Mauryan finance minister? – Samaharta.
188. Who was Mauryan tax collector? – Sthanikas.
189. Mauryan decline accelerated due to? – Regional uprisings.
190. Who maintained Mauryan roads? – Yukta officers.
191. Indo-Greeks took which region after Mauryas? – Punjab.
192. Who ended Mauryan rule? – Pushyamitra Shunga.
193. Mauryan inscription language? – Prakrit.
194. Important Mauryan craft? – Stone polishing.
195. Mauryan Empire's greatest king? – Ashoka.
196. Mauryan Empire’s first king? – Chandragupta.
197. Mauryan Empire’s second king? – Bindusara.
198. Mauryan Empire’s third king? – Ashoka.
199. Mauryan Empire expanded the most under? – Ashoka.
200. Maurya period marks beginning of? – Largest empire in ancient India.