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Kings, Farmers And Towns
“Communication along both land and riverine routes, was vital for the existence of the Mauryan empire.” Justify the statement.
Importance of the existence of the communication along both land and riverine routes during the Mauryan Empire:
1. The Mauryan empire was a very vast empire. It was extended from modern Afghanistan to remote area of the south or Karnataka, in west from Gujarat to Bihar-Bengal in the east. For political control, military mobilisation, people's movement both types of the communication land as well as river routes were very useful.
2. Communication along both land and riverline routes was vital for internal as well as external trade and commerce. Communication was useful for agricultural progress and mutual exchange of ideas, knowledge etc. for the Mauryan empire.
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Discuss the notions of kingship that developed in the post-Mauryan period.
To what extent were agricultural practices transformed in the period under consideration?
Compare Maps 1 and 2, and list the Mahajanapadas that may have been included in the Mauryan Empire. Are any Asokan inscriptions found in these areas?
Collect newspapers for one month. Cut and paste all the statements made by government officials about public works. Note what the reports say about the resources required for such projects, how the resources are mobilised and the objective of the project. Who issues these statements, and how and why are they communicated? Compare and contrast these with the evidence from inscriptions discussed in this chapter. What are the similarities and differences that you notice.
Collect five different kinds of currency notes and coins in circulation today. For each one of these, describe what you see on the observe and the reverse (the front and the back). Prepare a report on the common features as well as the differences in terms of pictures, scripts and languages, size, shape and any other element that you find significant. Compare these with the coins shown in this chapter, discussing the materials used, the techniques of minting, the visual symbols and their significance and the possible functions that coins may have had.
What is meant by Janapada?
What were the Mahajanapadas? Name a few important Mahajanapadas.
Which Mahajanapada emerged as the strongest one? Name any three of its important rulers.
What was the early capital of Magadha? Tell its one feature. In the 4th century BCE, which city was made the capital of Magadha?
Who was Chandragupta Maurya? Upto where he extended his control of the empire?
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