Question 1

What were the two largest cities of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Accepted Answer

Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were the two largest urban centers of the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3300–1300 BCE). Each city had a population estimated at 30,000–50,000 people and featured remarkably advanced urban planning, including grid-pattern streets, standardized brick sizes, and sophisticated drainage systems.

Question 2

What notable feature of Mohenjo-daro suggests an advanced understanding of public health?

Accepted Answer

Mohenjo-daro had a remarkably sophisticated drainage system, with covered drains running along the streets and nearly every house connected to the main sewer lines. The Great Bath, a large waterproof pool, may have been used for ritual purification. This level of sanitary engineering was unmatched in the ancient world for its time. Fun fact: The Indus Valley script, found on thousands of seal objects, has never been deciphered. It remains one of the great unsolved puzzles in archaeology.

Question 3

Who founded the Maurya Empire, the first empire to unify most of the Indian subcontinent?

Accepted Answer

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 322 BCE after overthrowing the Nanda Dynasty with the guidance of his advisor Chanakya (also known as Kautilya). At its peak, the empire stretched from modern-day Afghanistan to Bengal and southward to the Deccan Plateau.

Question 4

What event is said to have caused Emperor Ashoka to renounce violence and embrace Buddhism?

Accepted Answer

The Kalinga War (c. 261 BCE) resulted in massive casualties, with Ashoka's own inscriptions recording that over 100,000 people were killed and 150,000 were deported. The suffering he witnessed profoundly changed Ashoka, leading him to embrace Buddhism and adopt a policy of dhamma (moral righteousness) and non-violence.

Question 5

What are the Edicts of Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of inscriptions carved into pillars, boulders, and cave walls across the Indian subcontinent. Written in Prakrit languages, they promote religious tolerance, non-violence, respect for all life, and welfare of the people. They are among the oldest surviving deciphered texts from India. Fun fact: The lion capital atop one of Ashoka's pillars at Sarnath was adopted as the national emblem of India in 1950.

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