1. What are Varnas?
The priests divided into four groups called Varnas.
2. Name the four groups of Varnas.
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.
3. What is democracy?
Democracy is the government of the people, for the people and by the people.
4. What does Ashvamedha mean?
Ashvamedha means sacrifice of horse.
5. Name the capital of Vajji.
Vaishali is the capital of Vajji.
6. What were Mahajanapadas?
About 2500 years ago, some Janapadas became more important than others and were known as Mahajanapadas.
7. Which people were excluded from the rituals performed by the Rajas?
Some people who were regarded as Shudras by the priests, were excluded from many rituals performed by the Rajas.
8. What were Janapadas?
The word Janapada literally means the land where the Jana set its food and settled down.
9. What do you understand by the term "Rajas of Janapadas"?
The Rajas that performed big sacrifices were recognized as the Rajas of Janapadas.
10. Name some of the Janapadas found by the archaeologists.
Purana Qila in Delhi, Hastinapur near Meerut, and Atranjikhera near Etah (the last two are in Uttar Pradesh).
11. What was the source of income of Rajas of Janapadas?
Occasional gifts brought by people was the source of income of the Rajas of Janapadas.
12. What was the source of income of Rajas Mahajanapadas?
The source of income of the Rajas of Mahajanapadas was regular taxes.
13. What was Bhaga?
The tax that was fixed at 1/6th of the production was known as bhaga or a share.
14. How were iron ploughs useful to the people?
With the help of iron ploughs, the heavy, clayey soil could be turned over better than with a wooden ploughshare, so that more grain could be produced.
15. When did Magadha become an important Mahajanapada?
Magadha became the most important Mahajanapada in about two hundred years.
16. Name the rivers which flowed through Magadha.
Ganga and Son.
17. Name the capital city of Magadha.
Rajagriha (present-day Rajgir) in Bihar was the capital of Mahadha for several years, which was later shifted to Pataliputra (present-day Patna).
18. What was the government at Vajji called?
Gana or a Sangha.
19. Which rulers conquered the last known Sangha?
Gupta rulers conquered the last known Sangha.
20. Name the powerful rulers of Magadha.
Bimbisar, Ajatashatru and Mahapadma Nanda.