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The Rise of Empires – Class 7 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 7 Social Science, chapter 5. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Magadha became the most powerful mahajanapada and grew into India's first large empire under the Mauryas. Chandragupta Maurya, guided by Chanakya, founded the empire, and Ashoka expanded it. After the Kalinga war Ashoka turned to dhamma, a policy of non-violence and welfare spread through his inscriptions.

Rise of Magadha

Magadha had fertile land, iron mines, forests with elephants, and rivers for transport.
Rulers such as Bimbisara and Ajatashatru made Magadha strong; its capital moved from Rajagriha to Pataliputra (modern Patna).
The Nandas built a huge army and treasury before the Mauryas.

The Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire around 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya), who is credited with the Arthashastra on statecraft.
The Greek ambassador Megasthenes described Pataliputra and the Mauryan administration in his book Indica.
The empire had provinces, officials, spies, a large army and taxes on land and trade.

Ashoka and dhamma

Ashoka fought the Kalinga war (around 261 BCE) in present-day Odisha; the bloodshed made him give up conquest by war.
His dhamma taught respect for elders, kindness to servants and animals, tolerance of all religions and welfare works such as wells, roads and hospitals.
His messages were carved on rocks and pillars, mostly in Prakrit in the Brahmi script; a rock edict stands at Dhauli near Bhubaneswar, and the lion capital of his pillar at Sarnath is India's national emblem.

Key terms

Empire: a large state made up of many regions and peoples ruled by one ruler
Dhamma: Ashoka's policy of moral conduct, tolerance and welfare
Edict: an official order or message, often carved on rocks and pillars
Arthashastra: an ancient text on statecraft and administration credited to Kautilya

Important questions with answers

Why did Magadha become powerful?2 marks

Magadha had fertile land in the Ganga valley that produced plenty of food, iron mines for weapons and tools, forests with elephants for the army, and rivers that helped transport and trade. Able rulers such as Bimbisara and Ajatashatru also expanded it.

What was Ashoka's dhamma?3 marks

Ashoka's dhamma was a set of moral principles, not a new religion. It asked people to respect elders, be kind to servants, slaves and animals, be tolerant of all religions and avoid violence. Ashoka appointed officials to spread it and did welfare works such as building roads, wells, rest houses and hospitals.

Describe the Mauryan Empire and explain how the Kalinga war changed Ashoka.5 marks

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire around 321 BCE with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya), whose Arthashastra describes statecraft. The empire, with Pataliputra as its capital, was divided into provinces governed by princes and officials; it had a large army, spies and a system of taxes on land and trade, as also described by Megasthenes in Indica. Ashoka, Chandragupta's grandson, extended the empire. Around 261 BCE he conquered Kalinga in present-day Odisha, but the war caused enormous loss of life, and many people were killed or taken captive. Ashoka was filled with remorse and decided to give up war for conquest. He adopted dhamma, which taught tolerance, non-violence, respect for elders and kindness to all living beings. He spread these ideas through edicts carved on rocks and pillars, such as at Dhauli, sent messengers to other lands and carried out welfare works. His lion capital at Sarnath is India's national emblem today.

Quick revision

Magadha: fertile land, iron, elephants, rivers.
Chandragupta Maurya with Chanakya, about 321 BCE.
Kalinga war about 261 BCE → dhamma.
Lion capital of Sarnath = national emblem.

Exam tips

Learn the Mauryan order: Chandragupta → Bindusara → Ashoka.
For Ashoka answers, connect the Kalinga war to the change in his policy.

Practice MCQs

The founder of the Mauryan Empire was
1. Chandragupta Maurya
2. Ashoka
3. Bimbisara
4. Samudragupta
Show answer
Answer: (a) Chandragupta Maurya. He founded it around 321 BCE.
The Kalinga war took place in present-day
1. Bihar
2. Punjab
3. Gujarat
4. Odisha
Show answer
Answer: (d) Odisha. Kalinga lay along the eastern coast.
The capital of the Mauryan Empire was
1. Ujjain
2. Pataliputra
3. Taxila
4. Kanchipuram
Show answer
Answer: (b) Pataliputra. It is modern Patna.
The Arthashastra is credited to
1. Megasthenes
2. Kautilya (Chanakya)
3. Ashoka
4. Kalidasa
Show answer
Answer: (b) Kautilya (Chanakya). It deals with statecraft.
Megasthenes, who described Mauryan India, was from
1. China
2. Rome
3. Persia
4. Greece
Show answer
Answer: (d) Greece. He wrote Indica.
India's national emblem is taken from Ashoka's pillar at
1. Sarnath
2. Dhauli
3. Lumbini
4. Sanchi
Show answer
Answer: (a) Sarnath. It shows four lions.
Which was not a part of Ashoka's dhamma
1. tolerance of all religions
2. kindness to animals
3. respect for elders
4. conquest by war
Show answer
Answer: (d) conquest by war. After Kalinga he gave up war for conquest.
Most of Ashoka's inscriptions were written in
1. Sanskrit in Devanagari
2. Prakrit in the Brahmi script
3. Persian
4. Tamil in Grantha
Show answer
Answer: (b) Prakrit in the Brahmi script. Prakrit was the language of ordinary people.

All chapters of Class 7 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.