Ancient India Test - 7

Vishishtadvaita is a school of Vedanta philosophy which believes in all diversity subsuming to Nathamuni of the ninth century A.D., the foremost Acharya of the Vaishnavas.
Ramanuja was the main proponent of Vishishtadvaita philosophy.

The Mauryas (322 BC to 185 BC):
The advent of the Mauryas marked the beginning of a new chapter in political and cultural history of India.

The Sunga Dynasty (187-75 BC):
The foundation of the Sunga Dynasty was laid by Pushyamitra, the Commander-in-Chief of Brihadratha, the last-Mauryan ruler. He was a strong and vigorous ruler and checked the foreign invaders who had advanced to the outskirts of Patliputra.

Kushans:
The Kushans were a section of the great nomadic race called Yuehchi. They came to India sometime in the first half of the first century AD under their leader Kujula and his son Vima Kadphises, and established their control over northwest India.

Guptas:
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire existing from the mid-to-late 3^rd century CE to 590 CE. At its zenith, from approximately 319 to 550 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent. This period is called the golden age of India by some historians.

The Sakas were finally overthrown by Gautamiputra Satakami, the ruler of Satavahana dynasty. He killed Saka ruler Nahapana and his governor Rishavadatta and restored his territories.

The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit. The title "Arthashastra" is often translated to "the science of politics", but the book Arthashastra has a broader scope. It includes books on the nature of government, law, civil and criminal court systems, ethics, economics, markets and trade, the methods for screening ministers, diplomacy, theories on war, nature of peace, and the duties and obligations of a king. The text incorporates Hindu philosophy, includes ancient economic and cultural details on agriculture, mineralogy, mining and metals, animal husbandry, medicine, forests and wildlife.

The Arthashastra describes the characteristics of ministers, according to which, the king shall appoint ministers who are faithful to him.
It also emphasises that the superintendent of agriculture should be a person who is knowledgeable in agriculture and horticulture. There was a provision to appoint a person who was not an expert but he was assisted by other knowledgeable person.

The Arthashastra also stresses upon the appointment of superintendents for industries.
However, it is not concerned with assignments of lands to officers for their services.

Magadha is the correct answer.

Nanda Empire was under Dhana Nanda and was based in Magadha. Chandragupta Maurya, the first of the Mauryans, overthrew Nanda Dynasty in 4^th century. Nanda Dynasty was an ancient Indian dynasty that extended from Bengal to Punjab to Vindya range. Chandragupta Maurya, a Kshitrya under the prime ministership of Chanakya, fought the dynasty and overthrew it.