☰
Kings, Farmers And Towns
What is the significance of the inscription of Asoka in the Indian history?
The inscriptions of Asoka are very important in the history of India because:
(i) Most of the inscriptions of Asoka are in the border areas. With their help, we can easily determine the borders of the state during the reign of Asoka.
(ii) The inscriptions of Asoka tell a lot about his own religion and high moral character.
(iii) These inscriptions tell us that Asoka had a cordial and friendly relations with Egypt, Syria, Burma (Myanmar) and Sri Lanka.
(iv) These inscriptions tell us what method did Asoka adopt to preach Buddhism.
(v) These inscriptions throw a light on the welfare works done by Asoka. In fact, he wanted the welfare of the common people.
(vi) The inscriptions of Asoka are beautiful specimens of Mauryan art. They were written with a fair amount of precision.
In fact, all the inscriptions of Asoka were writings engraved on hard surfaces like stone, metal or pottery. They recorded his ideas, activities and achievements. They serve as a record of his times.
Sponsor Area
How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people?
Compare and contrast the list of things given to the Pandyan chief (Source 3) with those produced in the village of Danguna (Source 8). Do you notice any similarities or differences?
List some of the problems faced by epigraphists.
Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?
This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture and activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions”. Discuss.
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.
Sponsor Area
Sponsor Area