Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War
CBSE Class 6 Social Science (History) - Chapter 7
Chapter Summary
This chapter introduces us to one of the most famous rulers in Indian history, Ashoka, who was part of the Mauryan dynasty. We learn about his empire, his unique decision to give up war after a victorious battle, and his efforts to spread 'Dhamma'.
- The Mauryan Empire:
- Founded by Chandragupta Maurya over 2300 years ago, with the support of a wise man named Chanakya or Kautilya.
- Chanakya’s ideas are recorded in a book called the Arthashastra.
- Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son, Bindusara.
- Ashoka, Bindusara's son, became the most famous Mauryan ruler, known for being the first ruler to try and take his message directly to the people through inscriptions.
- A Very Big Kingdom – An Empire:
- Empires are larger than kingdoms and require more resources and a larger army to protect them.
- The capital of the Mauryan Empire was Pataliputra (modern-day Patna).
- Other important cities included Taxila (a gateway to the north-west) and Ujjain (a gateway to south India).
- Areas near Pataliputra were under the direct control of the emperor, with officials collecting taxes and maintaining law and order.
- Provinces like Taxila and Ujjain were governed by royal princes, often with local customs and rules being followed.
- Forested regions provided tribute like timber, honey, and elephants.
- Ashoka, The Unique Ruler:
- Ashoka was the first ruler to spread his message to his subjects and beyond through inscriptions on rocks and polished pillars.
- Most of his inscriptions were in Prakrit (language of the common people) and written in the Brahmi script.
- Ashoka’s War in Kalinga:
- Kalinga is the ancient name for coastal Odisha.
- Ashoka decided to conquer Kalinga, which resulted in a brutal war with immense violence and bloodshed.
- He was horrified by the suffering, death, and destruction he witnessed.
- This war led Ashoka to become the only king in the history of the world who gave up conquest after winning a war.
- What was Ashoka’s Dhamma?
- Ashoka's 'Dhamma' was not the worship of a god or the performance of a sacrifice.
- He was inspired by the teachings of the Buddha.
- He believed it was his duty to instruct his subjects on how to live.
- Problems he tried to solve: religious conflicts, animal sacrifices, ill-treatment of slaves and servants, and quarrels within families and among neighbours.
- Key principles of Dhamma:
- Treating subjects kindly and with respect.
- Being kind to slaves and servants.
- Respecting one’s elders.
- Treating all creatures with compassion.
- Giving gifts to Brahmins and monks.
- Showing respect for other religions.
- Living peacefully and avoiding conflict.
- Ashoka’s Efforts to Spread Dhamma:
- He appointed officials called Dhamma Mahamattas to go from place to place and teach people about Dhamma.
- He got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read them to those who could not read themselves.
- He sent messengers to spread Dhamma to other lands, including Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka.
- He built roads, dug wells, and built rest houses. He also arranged for medical treatment for both human beings and animals.
- The Lion Capital: The magnificent polished stone sculpture of lions, part of the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath, is our National Emblem.
Questions and Answers
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Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.
Answer: The people living in the Mauryan empire practised various occupations:- Farmers (cultivating land)
- Herdsmen (rearing animals)
- Craftspersons (making pottery, weaving cloth, etc.)
- Traders (buying and selling goods)
- Officials (collecting taxes, maintaining law and order)
- Soldiers (protecting the empire)
- Hunters and Gatherers (in forested regions)
- Labourers and Servants
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Complete the following sentences:
- (a) Officials collected _________ from the area under the direct control of the emperor.
- (b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as _________.
- (c) The Mauryan rulers tried to control _________ and _________ which were important for transport.
- (d) People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with _________.
- (a) Officials collected taxes from the area under the direct control of the emperor.
- (b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as governors.
- (c) The Mauryan rulers tried to control roads and rivers which were important for transport.
- (d) People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with tribute (e.g., elephants, timber, honey, wax).
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State whether true or false:
- (a) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west.
- (b) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra.
- (c) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal.
- (d) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script.
- (a) Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west. False (Taxila was the gateway to the north-west; Ujjain was a gateway to south India).
- (b) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra. False (Chanakya's/Kautilya's ideas were written in Arthashastra, though Chandragupta was guided by them).
- (c) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal. False (Kalinga was the ancient name of coastal Odisha).
- (d) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script. True.
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What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?
Answer: Ashoka wanted to solve several problems by introducing Dhamma:- Religious conflicts among people, as different religions often led to quarrels.
- Animal sacrifices, which he disapproved of.
- Ill-treatment of slaves and servants, which was prevalent.
- Quarrels in families and amongst neighbours, which disturbed peace.
- Lack of respect for elders.
- Mistreatment of other creatures.
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What did Ashoka do to spread dhamma?
Answer: To spread Dhamma, Ashoka took several steps:- He appointed officials called Dhamma Mahamattas who went from place to place teaching people about Dhamma.
- He had his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars in Prakrit, so that ordinary people could read them.
- He sent messengers to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka, to spread Dhamma.
- He built roads, dug wells, and constructed rest houses, and arranged for medical treatment for both humans and animals.
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Why did Ashoka give up fighting wars after the Kalinga war?
Answer: Ashoka gave up fighting wars after the Kalinga war because:- He was horrified by the immense violence and bloodshed he witnessed.
- He saw thousands killed and many more taken as prisoners.
- He was filled with sorrow and repentance over the suffering the war caused to innocent people, including Brahmins and monks.
- He decided that he would not fight any more wars and would instead try to win people over through Dhamma.
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Imagine you are a Mauryan prince, and you have been sent to a province to rule. What would you do to make things better in your province?
Answer: If I were a Mauryan prince sent to rule a province, I would:- Ensure fair collection of taxes to avoid burdening the farmers.
- Maintain law and order strictly, ensuring justice for all, regardless of their status.
- Encourage trade by building and maintaining good roads and ensuring the safety of traders.
- Promote agriculture by building irrigation facilities.
- Set up schools or learning centres for the education of children.
- Work to resolve disputes peacefully among different communities and religions.
- Listen to the grievances of the people and try to address them promptly.
- Promote Ashoka's Dhamma, encouraging kindness, respect for elders, and compassion for all living beings.
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Do you think Ashoka’s orders were unique?
Answer: Yes, Ashoka's orders and his approach were unique for several reasons:- Giving up Conquest: He was the only king in history who, after winning a war, decided to give up military conquest. This was an unprecedented act.
- Dhamma, Not Force: He sought to conquer people through Dhamma (a moral code) rather than through military force.
- Direct Communication: He was the first ruler to communicate directly with his subjects through inscriptions on rocks and pillars, ensuring his message reached a wide audience.
- Moral Governance: His focus was on the moral and ethical well-being of his subjects, promoting peace, tolerance, and compassion across his vast empire.
- Welfare Measures: He not only preached Dhamma but also implemented welfare measures like building roads, digging wells, providing medical facilities for humans and animals.
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