NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7 From a Kingdom to an Empire: Notes and Solutions (Free PDF)

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Class 6 History Chapter 7

NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7 tells about the Mauryan Empire in ancient India. Chandragupta Maurya, with the help of his wise advisor Chanakya, established the powerful Mauryan Kingdom. His grandson, Ashoka, is a key figure in this chapter. Ashoka embraced Buddhism and promoted peace and harmony. He spread his messages through inscriptions on pillars and rocks.

Check out Ashoka: The Great Ruler of the Mauryan Empire

Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5
Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10

Summary: NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7

The chapter highlights how the Mauryan Empire was organized. It had a capital called Pataliputra, with a well-structured administration. The empire collected taxes and had a strong army to protect its boundaries. Moving forward, the chapter shows the decline of the Mauryan Empire after Ashoka. His successors couldn’t keep the empire united, leading to an end.

This chapter provides a fascinating glimpse into ancient Indian history, emphasizing the rise and fall of a wonderful empire. 

Source: Magnet Brains

Important Dates in NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7

This will answer the important dates in class 6 History Chapter 7.

EventDate
Beginning of the Mauryan empire More than 2300 years ago

Also Read: Buddhist Education System: Features, Role & Merits

Important Definitions in NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7

  • Empire: An empire is a large group of lands and peoples ruled over by one powerful leader, often called an emperor or empress. It’s like a really big kingdom with many different regions.
  • Capital: A capital is the most important city of a country or an empire. It’s where the ruler or the leader lives and where the main government offices are located.
  • Province: A province is a smaller part of a country or empire. It’s like a piece of the whole, with its own local government, but it’s still under the control of the main ruler.
  • Dhamma: Dhamma is the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit term ‘Dharma’. It refers to the teachings and moral principles that were promoted by Emperor Ashoka.
  • Messenger: A messenger is a person who carries important messages from one place to another. They help in communication when there are no phones or the Internet.
  • Official: An official is a person who is given a specific role or job by the government. They have the authority to make decisions or carry out tasks related to their position.
Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5
Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10

Important Questions and Answers in NCERT Class 6 History Chapter 7

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

Ans. Here is the list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire:

  1. Farmers: They grew crops like wheat, rice, and barley.
  2. Craftsmen: They made things like pottery, tools, and jewelry.
  3. Traders: They bought and sold goods, such as spices, cloth, and metals.
  4. Soldiers: They protected the empire and its people from enemies.
  5. Officials: They helped the king in governing the empire.
  6. Priests: They performed religious ceremonies and rituals.
  7. Artisans: They created beautiful objects like sculptures and paintings.
  8. Herders: They took care of animals like cows, goats, and sheep.
  9. Fishermen: They caught fish from rivers and lakes.
  10. Miners: They extracted valuable metals like iron and gold from the earth.

2. Complete the following sentences:

  1. Officials collected taxes from the area under the direct control of the ruler.
  2. Royal princess often went to the provinces as governors.
  3. The Mauryan rulers tried to control roads and rivers which were important for transport.
  4. People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with elephants, timber and honey.

3. State whether true or false:

  1. Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west. False
  2. Chandragupta’s idea was written down in the Arthashastra. False
  3. Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal. False
  4. Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script. True

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

Ans. There were a number of problems that troubled Ashoka. People in the empire followed different religions, and this sometimes led to conflict. Animals were sacrificed. Slaves and servants were ill-treated. Besides, there were quarrels between families and neighbors. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems. So, he appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. 

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

Ans. Ashoka used various means to spread the message of Dhamma. He sent messengers to different parts of his empire to teach people about dhamma and how to live a good and peaceful life. He also put up inscriptions on pillars and rocks with the teachings of dhamma in different languages so that more people could understand them. Ashoka also built rest houses and hospitals for people, showing kindness and care, which were important aspects of dhamma. These actions helped him reach out to many people and spread the message of Dhamma effectively.

6. Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer. 

Ans. Slaves and servants were often ill-treated because societies believed in hierarchies, where some people thought they were superior to others. This led to unfair treatment of those who were considered lower in status.

If we look at the orders of the emperor, they could have improved the condition of slaves and servants. Emperors had the power to make rules and change how society worked. They could have issued orders to treat everyone with kindness and fairness, which might have made life better for slaves and servants.

However, it’s important to remember that even if emperors gave the right orders, not everyone would follow them. Some people might still mistreat others because of old beliefs or personal reasons. So while the emperor’s orders could have helped, they might not have solved the problem completely.

CBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 EnglishCBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 Civics
CBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 GeographyCBSE NCERT Notes Class 6 Maths 

FAQs

Q.1. When did the Mauryan Empire begin?

Ans: The Mauryan Empire began more than 2300 years ago.

Q.2. What is an Empire?

Ans: An empire is a large group of lands and peoples ruled over by one powerful leader, often called an emperor or empress. It’s like a really big kingdom with many different regions.

Q.3. What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing Dhamma?

Ans: There were a number of problems that troubled Ashoka. People in the empire followed different religions, and this sometimes led to conflict. Animals were sacrificed. Slaves and servants were ill-treated. Besides, there were quarrels in families and amongst neighbors. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems. So, he appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. 

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