Class 6 Social Science History Ch 8: Ashoka

Ashoka, The Emperor Who Gave Up War

Class 6 Social Science (History) - Chapter 8

Chapter Summary

• The Mauryan Empire: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire about 2300 years ago. He was supported by a wise man named Chanakya or Kautilya, whose ideas are written in a book called the Arthashastra.
• A Very Big Kingdom: The Mauryan Empire was the first empire in Indian history. An empire is larger than a kingdom, and it needs more resources and a bigger army to protect it.
• Provinces and Administration: The capital of the Mauryan Empire was Pataliputra (modern-day Patna). Other important cities included Taxila (a gateway to the northwest, including Central Asia) and Ujjain (a route from north to south India).
  • The emperor directly controlled the area around the capital, with officials collecting taxes and punishing those who disobeyed.
  • Provinces were ruled by royal princes, often with local customs and rules.
  • Forested regions provided forest produce to Mauryan officials.
• Ashoka – The Most Famous Mauryan Ruler: Ashoka was the most famous Mauryan ruler, and he was the first ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions on rocks and pillar edicts. Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Brahmi script.
• The Kalinga War: Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga (the ancient name for coastal Orissa). He was horrified by the violence and bloodshed he witnessed, realizing that war brought only misery and suffering. This war completely changed him.
• Ashoka's Conversion and Dhamma: After the Kalinga War, Ashoka decided not to fight any more wars. He became a follower of Buddhism. He developed his own policy called 'Dhamma' (Dharma in Sanskrit).
• What was Ashoka’s Dhamma? Ashoka’s Dhamma was not a religious worship or a sacrifice. It was a set of moral principles and values designed to promote peace and well-being among his subjects.
  • Respecting elders.
  • Treating servants and slaves kindly.
  • Respecting all religions.
  • Being truthful and non-violent towards all living beings.
  • Giving gifts to brahmins and monks.
• Spreading Dhamma: Ashoka appointed officials called 'Dhamma Mahamattas' to go from place to place and teach people about Dhamma. He also got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, urging his officials to read his messages to those who could not read themselves.
• Ashoka's Efforts Beyond India: Ashoka sent messengers to spread Dhamma to other lands, including Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka. He sent his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.
• Ashoka's Legacy: Ashoka's efforts to promote peace and non-violence through Dhamma made him one of the most unique and visionary rulers in history. His message continues to inspire people around the world.

Questions and Answers

1. Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.

Answer: The people in the Mauryan empire had various occupations. These included:

• Farmers (growing rice, wheat, etc.)
• Herdsmen (raising animals)
• Craftspersons (making pottery, weaving cloth, carpentry, metalwork)
• Traders (buying and selling goods)
• Government officials (collecting taxes, maintaining law and order)
• Soldiers (serving in the army)
• Hunters and gatherers (in forested areas)
• Labourers and slaves

2. Complete the following sentences:

(a) Officials collected _________ from the people.

(b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as _________.

(c) The Mauryan emperors built roads and _________.

(d) People in the forested areas provided the Mauryan officials with _________.

Answer:

• (a) Officials collected taxes from the people.
• (b) Royal princes often went to the provinces as governors.
• (c) The Mauryan emperors built roads and wells (or canals).
• (d) People in the forested areas provided the Mauryan officials with tribute/forest produce.

3. State whether true or false:

(a) Ujjain was the gateway to the northwest.

(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.

Answer:

• (a) Ujjain was the gateway to the northwest. False (Taxila was the gateway to the northwest; Ujjain was on the route from north to south India).
• (b) Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra. False (Chanakya's/Kautilya's ideas were written in Arthashastra, though he advised Chandragupta).
• (c) Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal. False (Kalinga was the ancient name for coastal Orissa).
• (d) Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script. True.

4. What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma?

Answer: Ashoka wanted to solve several problems by introducing dhamma:

• Religious Conflict: People in the empire followed different religions, which sometimes led to conflicts.
• Animal Sacrifice: Animals were often sacrificed as part of rituals.
• Ill-treatment: Slaves and servants were often ill-treated.
• Quarrels: There were quarrels in families and among neighbors.
• Disrespect for Elders: People did not always show respect for their elders.
• Lack of Courtesy: There was a lack of courtesy and respect towards other people and religions.

5. What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of dhamma?

Answer: Ashoka adopted several means to spread the message of dhamma:

• Inscriptions: He got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillar edicts throughout his empire.
• Officials (Dhamma Mahamattas): He appointed special officials called 'Dhamma Mahamattas' who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma.
• Messengers: He sent messengers to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka, to spread his message.
• Construction: He built roads, dug wells, and built rest houses. He also arranged for medical treatment for both human beings and animals.
• Role Model: He lived by the principles of dhamma himself, setting an example for his subjects.

6. Write a short paragraph explaining the importance of Ashoka’s edicts.

Answer: Ashoka’s edicts are of immense historical importance. They are the earliest surviving written documents of India and provide direct insights into the life and policies of a great emperor. Through these inscriptions on rocks and pillars, Ashoka communicated his vision of dhamma, which was a code of moral conduct based on peace, non-violence, and mutual respect. The edicts reveal his remorse after the Kalinga War and his subsequent commitment to the welfare of his subjects, advocating for religious tolerance, kindness to animals, and respect for elders. They also give us valuable information about the extent of the Mauryan Empire and the administrative policies of the time, making them a crucial source for understanding ancient Indian history.

7. Imagine that you are a Mauryan official. What would you do to make your area well-governed?

Answer: If I were a Mauryan official, to make my area well-governed, I would:

• Ensure Law and Order: Maintain peace and security, punishing those who break laws fairly.
• Collect Taxes Efficiently: Ensure fair collection of taxes from farmers and traders to fund public services.
• Promote Dhamma: Actively teach and encourage the principles of Ashoka’s dhamma, promoting harmony, kindness, and respect among the people.
• Develop Infrastructure: Oversee the construction and maintenance of roads, wells, and irrigation systems to aid agriculture and trade.
• Listen to Grievances: Regularly meet with people to understand their problems and try to resolve them promptly.
• Support Agriculture and Trade: Ensure that farmers have access to resources and that trade routes are safe and efficient.
• Care for Welfare: Establish facilities for medical treatment for both humans and animals.