The Rise of Empires Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers SST Chapter 5

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The Rise of Empires Class 7 Extra Question Answer

Extra Questions of The Rise of Empires Class 7

The Rise of Empires Class 7 Very Short Question Answer

Question 1.
Who is Ira?
Answer:
Daughter of Kanhadas, the ironsmith.

Question 2.
What is Ira’s uncle?
Answer:
Soldier.

Question 3.
Name the word which the word empire has been derived from.
Answer:
Imperium

Question 4.
What is the meaning of imperium?
Answer:
Supreme Power

Question 5.
What were guilds?
Answer:
Guilds were powerful associations of traders, craftsmen, moneylenders or agriculturists.

Question 6.
Name the king who made Magadha a dominant centre of power.
Answer:
Ajatashatru

Question 7.
Name two of the most famed religious figures of the world.
Answer:
Siddhartha Gautama and Vardhamanan.

Question 8.
Name the river or rivers which gave geographical advantage to Magadha.
Answer:
The Ganga and Son rivers.

Question 9.
Who founded the Nanda dynasty?
Answer:
Mahapadma Nanda

Question 10.
In which period was the Nanda dynasty founded?
Answer:
Around the 5th century BCE.

Question 11.
Name the last emperor of the Nanda dynasty.
Answer:
Dhana Nanda

Question 12.
Under which dynasty did Panini live?
Answer:
Nandas

Question 13.
Name the text which was written by Panini.
Answer:
Ashtadhyayi

Question 14.
Who was Alexander?
Answer:
Alexander was a young and powerful Greek king from Macedonia.

Question 15.
How did Alexander die?
Answer:
Alexander fell ill and died.

Question 16.
Where did Alexander die?
Answer:
In Babylon

Question 17.
Who were Gymnosphists?
Answer:
A group of Indian sages.

Question 18.
Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya

Question 19.
When was the Mauryan Empire found?
Answer:
Around 321 BCE

Question 20.
Who was the able mentor in the Chandragupta Maurya Empire?
Answer:
Kautilya.

Question 21.
What was referred to as Kautilya, according to Buddhist text?
Answer:
Kautilya has been called Chanakya or Vishnugupta – was a teacher at the world renowned Takshila University.

Question 22.
Name the ruler.who insulted Kautilya.
Answer:
Dhana Nanda

Question 23.
Who overthrew Nandas?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya

Question 24.
Who was Megasthenes?
Answer:
A Greek historian and diplomat.

Question 25.
Who wrote Indika?
Answer:
Megasthenes

Question 26.
Name the book which was written by Kautilya.
Answer:
Arthashastra

Question 27.
What is the literal meaning of Arthashastra?
Answer:
The science of governance and economics.

Question 28.
A 20th-century painting in which megasthenes in the court of Chandragupta Maurya has been shown, was painted by whom?
Answer:
Asit Kumar Haldar.

Question 29.
Who was Ashoka?
Answer:
A king of the Maurya dynasty and the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.

Question 30.
Where is Kalinga in the modern day?
Answer:
In Odisha

Question 31.
Who called Ashoka a great communicator?
Answer:
Historians.

Question 32.
What did Ashoka call himself in his edicts?
Answer:
Devanampiya Piyadasi.

Question 33.
What is the meaning of Devanampiya?
Answer:
Meaning of Devanampiya: “Beloved of Gods”.

Question 34.
What is the meaning of Piyadasi?
Answer:
Meaning of Piyadasi: “One who regards others with kindness”.

Question 35.
Where is Sohagaura?
Answer:
In Uttar Pradesh.

Question 36.
Who did the Sohagaura copper plate inscriptions issue?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya

Question 37.
Who were renowned for their highly polished stone pillars?
Answer:
The Mauryas

Question 38.
An example of art in which a female deity (Yakshi), holding a fly whisky of whose reign?
Answer:
The Mauryas

Question 39.
What is called the big, round hemispherical structure in the centre of the stupa?
Answer:
Anda.

Question 40.
Who encouraged his subject to follow Dharma?
Answer:
Ashoka.

The Rise of Empires Class 7 Short Question Answer

Question 1.
What is an empire? How is it different from a kingdom?
Answer:
An empire: An empire is a collection of smaller kingdoms over which a powerful ruler governs.
Differences:

An empire is a larger unit while a kingdom is smaller.
The cultures are more diverse in the empire than in the kingdom.

Question 2.
What are the causes of the emergence of the empire?
Answer:
The following causes are in the emergence of empire:

The Fertile lands
Strong military
Proper control and maintenance of trade routes.

Question 3.
What were Guilds? What were their roles?
Answer:
Guilds: Guilds were powerful associations of traders, craftsmen, moneylenders or agriculturists.
Role of Guilds:

They are free to make rules for their own internally.
They influence trade and business activities.

Question 4.
Who founded the Nanda dynasty? Write the role of the founder in enhancing the Magadha prominence.
Answer:
The Nanda dynasty was founded by Mahapadma Nanda.
Role of Mahapadma Nanda:

He unified many smaller kingdoms and extended his empire.
He issued coins.
He maintained a large army.

Question 5.
Name the last emperor of the Nanda dynasty. Write about his reign in brief.
Answer:
The last emperor of the Nanda dynasty was Dhana Nanda.
Reign of Dhana Nanda:

Lack of skill or knowledge.
Subjects (People) were not happy during his rule.
Subjects were oppressed and exploited.

Question 6.
Pauravas led by whom? Write the roles of Alexander.
Answer:
Pauravas led by Porus.

Roles of Alexander:

Campaigned against the Persian Empire.
Revenged against earlier Persian invaders and wôn..
Spread his empire over 3 continents.

Question 7.
How did the Mauryan Empire come into existence?
Answer:
Just a few years after Alexander left India with his army in around 321 BCE, a new dynasty and new empire emerged- the “Mauryan Empire”. This empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya. He took control of the Nanda empire’s territories by defeating its last ruler-Dhana Nanda. This was only possible with the help of the mentorship of Kautilya and under his guidance the empire found name and fame in the history of India.

Question 8.
What was the saptanga, according to Kautilya? Simplify it.
Answer:
The saptanga was the seven parts of a kingdom including-the king, amatya, janapadas, durga, kosha, danda and mitra. According to Kautilya, Saptanga together must create a settled, well-protected, and prosperous kingdom. The kindom can be maintained both through warfare and through alliance for peace.

Question 9.
What is Kautilya’s central philosophy of governance?
Answer:
Kautilya’s central philosophy of governance matches with Indian values. According to Kautilya, The duty of a king is to please his subjects and to work for his subjects. In simple words, however powerful a king may be, he must give first place to the people’s interests..

Question 10.
Why did Ashoka choose peace?
Answer:
Ashoka chose peace because:

He saw great destruction in a Kalinga war.
He pained sorrow for the innocent people killed in war..
He estimated a great loss as a result of war.

Question 11.
Why was Ashoka popular in the southern kingdoms?
Answer:
Ashoka was popular in the southern kingdom because:

He aided and supported the people in that kingdom.
He claimed to provide medical care for people and animals there.
He prohibited hunting and cruelty to animals.

The Rise of Empires Class 7 Long Question Answer

Question 1.
You have already heard about the mighty empires, Name some of them. Also, write some points, which explains the feeble (weak) nature of mighty empires in the later periods due to which they declined.
Answer:
We have already heard about the mighty empires. Their names are:
The Roman Empire, the Persian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Spanish Empire, the Russian Empire and the British Empire. Points explaining the feeble nature of the mighty empires in later periods (Reasons for decline):
High level of temptation:

A temptation to acquire more and more resources..
An increase in the demands for tribute and taxes.
A desire to control smaller territories

Administrative difficulty:

As the empire expanded, it became challenging to govern effectively..
Corruptions and inefficiency also weakened the central authority.

Natural calamities :

Droughts and floods made the situation worse.

External Invasion :

Rivalries with the other kingdoms resulted in wars, which also weakened the empire’s power.

Lack of Efficient Tactics:

The absence of effective planning and strategies made the empires weaker and eventually led to their collapse.

Ignorance of the welfare schemes:

Most empires ignored the welfare of common people, which was also the major cause of the decline of such mighty empires.

Question 2.
What was the dazzling splendor of the Mauryan Era? How was the people’s life in the Mauryan era?
Answer:
The dazzling splendor of the Mauryan era was marked by marvellous achievements in art, culture and administration. This was evident in cities like Pataliputra, with their grand palaces, public buildings and wellplanned streets. The well-organised taxation system and thriving trade were also major features that contributed to the prosperity of the empire. The people’s life in the Mauryan era was well-organised and splendid.
Due to Fertile Lands:

The Lands were fertile.
A major proportion of the population was engaged in agricultural activities.
Two crops were sown each year because rain fell in both summer and winter.
This ensured that people would have ample food in case of famine or droughtlike situations.
In simple words, granaries were wellstocked for any eventualities.

Due to various occupations:

Due to food security, other professions became milestones in the progress of the empire..
The cities were full of skilled experts such as blacksmith, jewellers, carpenters and other artisans.
All of these contributed to making the empire and its cities well-planned. The houses were made of wood and were up to 2 storeys tall.

Due to freedom of choice in religions:

People could follow any religionHinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

Due to welfare activities:

During the reign of Ashoka, public welfare was given great importance and many hospitals and rest houses were constructed.

Question 3.
Who was Ashoka? What incident changed Ashoka’s heart?
Answer:
Ashoka was a king of the Maurya dynasty and the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. He was one of the most powerful emperors in the history of India. His reign lasted from around 268 BCE to 232 BCE. In the beginning, he was very ambitious and cruel, but an incident changed his heart.

Incident changing Ashoka’s heart:

It was the Kalinga War, fought in 261 BCE.
It was fought only for the expansion of the empire.
It was fought to gain control over some useful resources from other kingdoms.
This war caused heavy loss of life and property.
In this incident, over 1 lakh innocent people were killed and several people were wounded.
He realised this was a heinous crime.
AThis painful scene became the cause of changing Ashoka’s heart.

The Rise of Empires Class 7 Case Based Questions

1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :

Alexander heard of a group of Indian sages whom the Greeks called ‘Gymnosophists’ or ‘naked philosophers’ (probably because they wore very little clothing), who were renowned for their wisdom. Alexander challenged them with tricky questions in the form of riddles, warning that he would put those who gave wrong answers to death. However, the Gymnosophists responded to his questions calmly and intelligently. Alexander was impressed and, in the end, spared them all. Over the centuries, different versions of this story have been told, making it one of the most fascinating encounters in history! According to one account, Alexander asked, “Which is stronger, life or death?” One of the sages replied, “Life, because it endures while death does not.” Alexander then asked, “How can a man be most loved?” “If he is most powerful and yet does not inspire fear,” came the reply, perhaps as a hint to the mighty ruler! Historians view such exchanges as a meeting of two great traditions-Greek and Indian philosophies..

(i) At the beginning of a passage, what is it talking about?
a) A group of Indian sages
b) Gymnosophists
c) Naked philosophers
d) All of these
Answer:
d) All of these

(ii) Why were ‘Gymnosophists’ famous?
a) Due to answering the tricky questions
b) Due to their wisdom
c) Due to their instant decision
d) None of these
Answer:
b) Due to their wisdom

(iii) Which was powerful according to Sage?
a) A death
b) A life
c) Both death and life
d) Only death
Answer:
b) A life

Picture Based Questions

The Rise of Empires Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers SST Chapter 5 1

Question 1.
It is a fine example of whose art?
a) Nanda
b) Greek
c) Maurya
d) None of these
Answer:
c) Maurya

Question 2.
What does it mean “The capital”?
a) Top portion
b) Bottom portion
c) The whole part
d) None of these
Answer:
a) Top portion

Question 3.
What do the four lions symbolise?
a) The royal power
b) The loyal power
c) The power of unity
d) The power of sovereignty
Answer:
a) The royal power

Question 4.
Animals below the ring are:
a) An elephant
b) A bull
c) A horse and one more lion
d) All of these
Answer:
d) All of these

Map Based Questions

Question 1.
Locate and Label the following things on the given map of India with appropriate symbols.
1. Maski minor rock edict
2. Manshera Major rock edict
3. Sanchi Minor pillar edict
Answer:
1. Maski minor rock edict-Karnatka_A
2. Manshera major rock edict-Pakistan_C
3. Sanchi minor pillar edict-Madhya Pradesh_B
The Rise of Empires Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers SST Chapter 5 2

Class 7 The Rise of Empires Extra Questions for Practice

Very Short Answer Type Questions:

Question 1.
Under which dynasty did Panini live?

Question 2.
Name the text that was written by Panini.

Question 3.
Who was Alexander?-

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question 1.
Define sutras. What are they?

Question 2.
Write in brief about Panini.

Question 3.
What do you mean by ‘dharma’? During the reign of Ashoka, how can you narrate the ‘dharma’ in a precise manner?

Long Answer Type Questions:

1. What do you mean by empire? How does an empire play a crucial role to maintain and control the system?

Passage Based Questions:

Kautilya had a clear vision of how a kingdom (rājya) should be established, managed and consolidated. In his famous work Arthaśhāstra (literally, ‘the science of governance and economics’), he listed directives in many areas like defence, economics, administration, justice, urban planning, agriculture and people’s welfare. One of his most important political concepts is the saptānga (see fig 5.15) or the seven parts that constitute a kingdom. According to Kautilya, the saptānga together must create a settled, well-protected, and prosperous kingdom to be maintained both through warfare and through alliances for peace, as the case may be. He emphasised the importance of law and order in society, which necessitated a strong administration. He also detailed many laws to deal with corruption and specified punishments for any activities that went against the wellbeing of the people.

Question 1.
Name the text which was written by Kautilya?
(a) Arthashastra
(b) Rajshashtra
(c) Indika
(d) None of these

Question 2.
Select the word which divides a kingdom into seven parts?
(a) Empire
(b) Saptanga
(c) Directions
(d) Small territory

Question 3.
Which word’s meaning is ‘the science of governance and economics”?

Picture Based Questions:

Study the picture given below carefully and answer the following questions :

The Rise of Empires Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers SST Chapter 5 3

Question 1.
Name the inscription dating back to the 4th-3rd century BCE.
(a) The Sohagaura iron plate
(b) The Sohagaura copper plate
(c) The Sohagaura Silver plate
(d) None of these

Question 2.
Where is Sohagaura in India?
(a) Bihar
(b) Odisha
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Madhya Pradesh

Question 3.
During whose reign the Sohagaura plate was issued?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Alexander
(d) Porus