India's Maurya and Gupta empires, and the number zero
Grade 6 Social Studies Worksheet
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Maurya Empire: steps
Year What happened about 321 BCE Chandragupta Maurya takes Magadha from the Nanda dynasty and begins the Maurya Empire about 300 to 297 BCE Chandragupta hands rule to his son Bindusara (sources differ) about 268 BCE (sources differ: about 273 to 265 BCE) Bindusara's son Ashoka becomes ruler about 261 BCE (sources differ: about 266 to 258 BCE) in the 8th year of his reign, Ashoka's army takes Kalinga, on the east coast about 232 BCE (sources differ: about 238 to 232 BCE) Ashoka's reign ends about 185 BCE the last Maurya ruler is overthrown by his commander, who begins the Shunga dynasty Below the chart: Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE had left a gap in power in India. Ashoka had messages cut into rocks and pillars from Afghanistan to southern India, mostly in Prakrit; near the border, some were also in Greek and Aramaic. A pillar message describes a royal road with rest houses and wells that joined the capital with Taxila.
Who took over from Chandragupta Maurya, by the chart, Esme asks?
- His son Bindusara
- His own commander
- Bindusara's son Ashoka
- Chandra Gupta I
What happened in the 8th year of Ashoka's reign, by the chart, Jun asks?
- His army took Kalinga
- The last Maurya ruler was overthrown
- Chandragupta handed rule to Bindusara
- Ashoka's reign came to an end
How did the Maurya Empire end, by the chart, Kira asks?
- Ashoka's reign ended at Kalinga
- The Hunas invaded in force
- Its last ruler was overthrown
- Chandragupta handed rule to his son
Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE left a gap in power. What was one effect, Luz asks?
- The Gupta Empire began right away
- Chandragupta Maurya began an empire
- Ashoka took Kalinga with his army
- The Nanda dynasty grew much stronger
A pillar message describes a royal road with rest houses and wells. What was a likely benefit, Milo asks?
- A new capital at Taxila
- No more need to carve messages
- A smaller empire
- Easier travel in the empire
Gupta Empire: steps
Year What happened about 320 CE Chandra Gupta I begins the Gupta dynasty (sources say 318 to 320) about 330 CE his son Samudra Gupta takes the throne and the empire grows 375 to 415 CE Chandragupta II rules, and the empire reaches its widest about 450 CE the Hunas, a people from the northwest, begin to press into Gupta lands about 480 CE the Hunas invade in force, and Gupta resistance fails about 550 CE the Gupta dynasty comes to an end Below the chart: Chandra Gupta I and Chandragupta II were two different Gupta rulers. Chandragupta Maurya, who began the Maurya Empire, was a third man.
The Hunas invaded in force about 480 CE. What was the result, by the chart, Noah asks?
- Gupta resistance failed
- Chandra Gupta I began the dynasty
- Samudra Gupta took the throne
- The empire grew to its widest
Which came first, Samudra Gupta taking the throne or the Hunas first pressing in, Pia asks?
- Samudra Gupta, about 330 CE
- Both in the same year
- The Hunas, about 450 CE
- Neither: both happened in BCE
About how many years passed from about 320 CE to about 550 CE, the span of the Gupta dynasty, Ren asks?
- About 23 years
- About 230 years
- About 130 years
- About 870 years
Maurya Empire: steps
Year What happened about 321 BCE Chandragupta Maurya takes Magadha from the Nanda dynasty and begins the Maurya Empire about 300 to 297 BCE Chandragupta hands rule to his son Bindusara (sources differ) about 268 BCE (sources differ: about 273 to 265 BCE) Bindusara's son Ashoka becomes ruler about 261 BCE (sources differ: about 266 to 258 BCE) in the 8th year of his reign, Ashoka's army takes Kalinga, on the east coast about 232 BCE (sources differ: about 238 to 232 BCE) Ashoka's reign ends about 185 BCE the last Maurya ruler is overthrown by his commander, who begins the Shunga dynasty Below the chart: Alexander the Great's death in 323 BCE had left a gap in power in India. Ashoka had messages cut into rocks and pillars from Afghanistan to southern India, mostly in Prakrit; near the border, some were also in Greek and Aramaic. A pillar message describes a royal road with rest houses and wells that joined the capital with Taxila.
Which claim does the chart support best, Zee asks?
- Ashoka was Chandragupta Maurya's grandson
- Ashoka was Chandragupta Maurya's son
- Ashoka began the Maurya Empire himself
- Ashoka ruled until the Maurya Empire ended
Ari's friend says every one of Ashoka's messages was carved in Greek. What is the best reply?
- Disagree: most were in Prakrit
- Agree: they were carved near the border
- Disagree: they were carved in wood
- Agree: Greek was the main language