Which of the following statements most accurately describes the social structure of Mauryan society in ancient India?
An organised society with distinct social classes and a wide range of occupational groups
Mauryan society was a well-organised, stratified society. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador in Chandragupta Maurya’s court, described it in his Indica as being divided into seven classes — philosophers, farmers, soldiers, herdsmen, artisans, magistrates and councillors.
Alongside these classes, there existed a wide range of occupational and craft groups (guilds of weavers, metalworkers, traders, etc.), and settled agriculture was the economic backbone, supported by state officials.
It was therefore neither a purely tribal society without agriculture, nor one run only by merchant guilds, nor a fully egalitarian society without any differentiation.
Hence, Mauryan society is best described as an organised society with distinct social classes and a wide range of occupational groups.
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Important Questions from Mauryan Empire
Which of the following is not correctly matched ?
Which of the following Ashokan inscriptions indicates that he did not abolish the Capital Punishment?
Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
Ashoka was ruler of which of the following dynasty?
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :
List-I
(Mahamatta)
List-II
(Function)
A.
Anta-mahamatta
1.
Women’s welfare
B.
Ithijhakha-mahamatta
2.
Spread of Dhamma
C.
Dhamma-mahamatta
3.
Associated with city
D.
Nagalaviyohalaka-ahamatta
4.
In-charge of frontier areas
