8th Standard, Social, History, Chapter-16
MAURYAS AND KUSHANS
Exercises
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. Chanakya came to be known as Kautilya.
2. The capital of the Mauryas was Pataliputra.
3. The founder of the Kushan dynasty was Kujalakadphisus.
4. The new era of Kanishka’s reign is called the Shaka.
II. Answer to the following questions in brief:
5. Name the important cities of Ashoka’s period.
Answer: Pataliputra, Taxila, Ujjain, Kalinga and Suvarnagiri are the important cities of Ashoka’s period.
6. Describe Ashoka’s administration.
Answer: Ashoka divided his vast empire into different provinces and ruled. His politics and aspirations were expressed through edicts. He spread the teachings of Buddha throughout the country. He appointed Dharma Mahamatras for this purpose. We see extensive growth in trade and agriculture during this time. The government had adopted various measures to improve agriculture. Special tax concessions were given towards this end. There were many officials to carry on the administration of the vast empire. A permanent army was also found necessary. To carry out all these activities, taxes were needed. Land tax was the main source of income for the king and various officials served in collecting taxes. Spies kept the king informed. They had established control over trade and commerce by regulating sea and land routes.
7. Which dynasty did the Kushans belong to?
Answer: An important dynasty after the Mauryas is that of the Kushans. They found their own dynasty known as Kushans dynasty. They were basically from a nomadic tribe which had migrated to India from Central Asia. They were the progeny of Yuchi.
8. What was the extent of Kanishka’s empire?
Answer: Kanishka’s rule had spread up to Sanchi in the south and Banaras in the east. His kingdom, which included Central Asia too, was a vast empire. Purushapura was his capital. Mathura was another significant town of his time. Kanishka’s empire was one of the Kushan dynasty’s largest, stretching from Central Asia (including parts of present-day Uzbekistan and Afghanistan) down through the Indian subcontinent, covering modern-day Pakistan and northern India as far as Sanchi and Banaras. Key territories included Gandhara, Punjab, Kashmir, and parts of the Magadha region.
III. Activities:
1. Collect more information about Gandhara Sculpture art.
Answer: Gandhara art emerged from the cross-cultural interactions between Greek, Roman, Central Asian, and Indian traditions, following Alexander the Great’s conquests. The style reached its peak during the Kushan Empire (1st-7th century CE), a period of great prosperity and patronage for Buddhist art. Unlike earlier styles, Gandhara art featured naturalistic, realistic, and human-like figures with anatomical accuracy, especially in the human body, clothing folds, and facial features. Figures wear draped garments similar to Roman togas, and the drapery is characterized by deep, flowing folds. While Mudras (hand gestures) were used, the Buddha was often shown with hands folded or resting, differing from some other Indian schools of art.
2. Collect information from your teacher about the Buddhist Conference which took place during Kanishka’s rule.
Answer: The Buddhist conference during Kanishka’s rule was the Fourth Buddhist Council, held in Kundalvana in Kashmir around 72 AD under his patronage. Deliberations were conducted in Sanskrit. The council was organized to systematize the Sarvastivadin Abhidharma texts and translate them from Prakrit to Sanskrit. The council played a crucial role in the formal separation of Buddhism into two major branches like Mahayana and Hinayana ((now often referred to as Theravada) Schools. The council resulted in the compilation of the Vibhasa Shastras, a collection of commentaries on difficult topics and the foundation for the philosophical depth of Mahayana Buddhism. The council was presided over by Vasumitra, with Ashvaghosha serving as his deputy.
