CH 2 Kings, Farmers, and Towns

A set of flashcards based on early Indian history and Mauryan administration for exam preparation.

Which term was used in Ashokan inscriptions to denote officials in charge of women’s welfare?

Stri-adhyaksha.

What does the term "Gahapati" signify in early historic texts?

Householder or head of a household; often a wealthy landowner.

What is the significance of Nigama in early Indian urban history?

Refers to market towns or trading centres.

Which Buddhist text offers details about the life of merchants and townspeople?

Jataka tales.

Which Mauryan official was in charge of espionage, as per the Arthashastra?

Gudhapurusha.

Why are the Prakrit inscriptions of Ashoka crucial for understanding Mauryan administration?

Provide direct evidence of governance and state ideology.

What is the oldest surviving inscriptional evidence of a king adopting Dhamma as policy?

Ashokan edicts.

What was the key political feature of Mahajanapadas compared to earlier Janas?

Mahajanapadas had more organised, territorial states.

Why are punch-marked coins considered critical to early economic history?

Indicate monetisation and market-based exchange systems.

Which text provides detailed rules about taxation in Mauryan administration?

Arthashastra.

What term in inscriptions indicates royal land grants to Brahmanas?

Brahmadeya.

Which archaeological site shows early signs of craft production and urbanism in the Ganga valley?

Rajghat.

What does the term “Karshapana” refer to in Mauryan India?

Standard silver coin used in transactions.

Which edict refers to Ashoka’s concern for the welfare of prisoners?

Pillar Edict V.

Why is the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela significant?

Records military campaigns and urban patronage in Kalinga.

Which category of inscriptions were engraved by private individuals?

Donative inscriptions.

What distinguishes Prashastis from ordinary inscriptions?

Eulogistic in nature, glorifying kings.

What does the Pali term “setthi” signify?

Wealthy merchant or banker.

Why was the Mauryan state considered the first “empire” in Indian history?

Centralised bureaucracy and vast territorial control.

Which script were the earliest Brahmi inscriptions written in?

Prakrit.

What distinguishes Brahmadeya from Agrahara grants?

Agrahara often involved tax-free villages to Brahmins with administrative rights.

What type of society is reflected in early Dharmashastra literature?

Patriarchal and stratified society.

What major limitation affects the interpretation of inscriptions?

Damaged surfaces, missing portions, and symbolic language.

What does the term “Pautavika” refer to in Mauryan administration?

Officer in charge of minting coins.

What does the phrase “Devam piyadasi” in Ashokan edicts mean?

“Beloved of the Gods” – a title used by Ashoka.

Which edict marks Ashoka’s efforts to spread dhamma beyond India?

Rock Edict XIII.

What is the term for revenue officers mentioned in Mauryan records?

Samaharta.

What inscriptional term signifies provincial capitals in the Mauryan Empire?

Pradesha.

Which foreign source describes the Mauryan capital Pataliputra in detail?

Megasthenes' Indica.

What term describes urban craft guilds in early India?

Shreni.

Why is Prabhavati Gupta’s charter unique in early Indian polity?

Issued independently by a female regent with royal authority.

What does the title “Rajan” evolve into during the post-Mauryan period?

Maharaja or Maharajadhiraja.

What distinguishes Yavana inscriptions in the post-Mauryan period?

Issued by Indo-Greek rulers in Prakrit or Greek.

Why are coins of the Kushanas important for chronology?

Dated in regnal years; help build ancient timelines.

What is the purpose of including donor names in Buddhist inscriptions?

Religious merit and social recognition.

What term refers to official land revenue settlements in Mauryan records?

Bhaga.

What is indicated by inscriptions using both Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts?

Cultural and linguistic pluralism.

What is the significance of the Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman I?

Records repairs to Sudarshana lake; earliest Sanskrit inscription.

What term refers to a charter or royal order in land grants?

Sasan or Danapatra.

What makes Puhar significant in early South Indian urban history?

A major port city mentioned in Tamil Sangam texts.

What economic activity is reflected by Roman coins found in Tamil Nadu?

Indo-Roman maritime trade.

Which Mauryan officer oversaw road construction and maintenance?

Antapala.

What ideology replaced Ashokan dhamma in post-Mauryan polity?

Brahmanical dharma and divine kingship.

What does the “permanent settlement” of Brahmadeya suggest about state power?

Transfer of control to religious elite, weakening direct state control.

What do large-scale donations to religious institutions imply about kingship?

Use of religion to legitimise political authority.

Which post-Mauryan dynasty adopted the title “Devaputra”?

Kushanas.

What form of land tenure expanded rapidly during the Gupta period?

Agrahara grants.

What key administrative role did village assemblies play in early India?

Local governance and tax collection in grant villages.

What concept did Kautilya emphasise as the basis of rajadharma?

Protection of subjects and economic prosperity.

Why are inscriptions considered state-authored historical sources?

Issued by kings or elites to publicise power, donations, or orders.