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Kings, Farmers And Towns

Question
CBSEENHS12027427

How Asoka propagated and spread Buddhism?

Solution

After the war of Kalinga, Asoka left the policy of war and gave his heart and soul in spreading and propagating Buddhism. He himself obeyed those rules which he propagated.
He engraved rules of this religion on inscriptions, large stones, caves etc. These rules were engraved in the language of daily use so that common masses could be able to understand them.
He also built many stupas and Viharas which became centres of Buddhism. He also gave economic help to Buddhist monasteries. He also made journey to Buddhist pilgrims. He sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhism. 
Asoka also tried to hold his empire together by propagating dhamma, the principles of which were simple and virtually universally applicable. This, according to him, would ensure the well-being of people in this world and the next. Special officers, known as the dhamma mahamatta, were appointed to spread the message of dhamma.

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Some More Questions From Kings, Farmers And Towns Chapter

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?