45 Important Question on the Magadha Empire

1. How many Mahajanapads were powerful during 600 in North India ?

Ans. Four Mahajanapads-Avanti, Vats, Kosala and Magadh

2. Which was the capital of the kingdom Avanti?

Ans. Ujjain.

3. Which was the capital of the kingdom Vats?

Ans. Kausambhi.

4. Which was the capital of the kingdom Kosala?

Ans. Ayodhya.

5. Which was the capital of the kingdom Lichhavi?

Ans. Vaishah.

6. Which-was the capital city of the Kingdom Kashi?

Ans. Varanasi.

7. Of which Mahajanapad Kapilvastu republic was a part?

Ans. Kosala.

8. Where were two capital cities of Kapilvastu republic?

Ans. Kapilvastu and Lumbini.

9. Of which Mahajanpad Prasenjit was the ruler?

Ans. Kosala.

10. Which Mahajanapad was the first republic of India?

Ans. Lichhavi.

11. Where was the capital Magadh during the reign 0 Bimbisara?

Ans. Giriviraja.

12. Which dynasty Bimbisara belonged to?

Ans. Haryank dynasty.

13. To whom Bimbisara married?

Ans. Bimbisara married the daughter of the king of Kosala, the daughter of Lichhavi Chief and the daughter of the Madra in Punjab

14. Who defeated Brahmadatta, the ruler of Anga?

Ans. Bimbisara.

15. Who built the new capital Rajagriha north to Giriviraja?

Ans. Bimbisara.

16.Why did Magadh kingdom become very powerful during the reign of Bimbisara?

Ans. The kingdom of Magadh had large deposits of iron-ore⁵ in the region of Chotanagpur (Jharkhand). Iron was used for making the weapons. This was the reason why Magadh became the most powerful Kingdom during his reign.

17. What was the religion of Bimbisara ?

Ans. It is not certain about his religion but it is said that during the last stage of his life he embraced Buddhism.

18 Who killed Bimbisara?

Ans. His son, Ajatshatru killed him.

19.Who is known as “Pitrahanta” in Indian history?

Ans. Ajatshatru.

20Who is known as Kunika in the history of India?

Ans. Ajatshatru.

21. Who became the king of Magadh after the death of Bimbisara in 493 BC?

Ans. Ajatshatru became the king in 493 BC.

22. To whom Ajatshatru was married?

Ans. He was married to the daughter of Prasenjit, the king of Kosala.

23. During whose reign the first Buddhist council was held?

Ans. Ajatshatru.

24. For how many years Ajatshatru ruled over Magadh?

Ans. He ruled from 493 BC to 461 BC.

25. Who became the king after the death of Ajatshatru?

Ans. Udaibhadra or Udayana who ruled from 461 BC to 433 BC.

26. During whose reign the capital of Magadh was shifted from Rajagriha to Patliputra?

Ans. During the reign of Udayana.

27. Who was the last king of the Haryanka dynasty?

Ans. Nagadashaka.

28. When the Haryanka dynasty came to an end?

Ans. In 413 BC, When shisunaga was appointed the king of Magadh after killing the last ruler of Haryanka dynasty.

29. Who was the founder of Shishunaga dynasty?

Ans. Shishunaga.

30. During whose reign the second Buddhist council was and where?

Ans. Kalashoka, in Vaishali.

31. Who was the last king of the Shishunaga dynasty?

Ans. Nandivardhan and the rule of this dynasty ended in 361 BC,

32. Who was the founder of Nanda dynasty?

Ans. Mahapadma Nanda.

33. Who was the king of Magadh when Alexander invaded India in 326 BC?

Ans. Dhanananda.

34 Who was the last ruler of Nanda dynasty?

Ans. Dhanananda.

35. Who were known as the first empire builders of India?

Ans. Nanda kings.

36. Who was the headman of the village in Magadh kingdom?

Ans. Grarnini.

37. What were the important cities of Magadh kingdom?

Ans. Rajagriha, Patliputra, Ayodhya, Ujjain.

38. What was the tax collected by the king from the people in Magadh kingdom?

Ans. From V12 to Veth of the total produce.

39. From where spices and precious stones were brought to Magadh?

Ans. From south India, the Traders brought spices and precious Stones.

40. What is meant by the term ‘Janapada’?

Ans. The kingdom based on tribes and clans was known as Janapada during ancient India.

41. What is Monarchy?

Ans. When a territory is ruled by a heriditary king.

42. What is a Republic?

Ans. When a territory is administered by an elected leader oil council.

43. Who was the first monarch of Magadh kingdom in the sixth century BC?

Ans. Bimbisara.

44.Who was the king of Taxila during the invasion °^f Alexander the great?

Ans. Ambhi

45. In which battle Alexander the great defeated porus, the king of Punjab?

Ans. The battle of Hydaspes.