Arrange the following in a chronological order:
(A) Colossal statues of Kushana rulers have been found installed in a shrine at Mat near Mathura.
(B) Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the empire, extended control as far north-west as Afghanistan and Baluchistan.
(C) Early Buddhist and Jaina texts mention sixteen states known as Mahajanapadas.
(D) Asoka is one of the most famous rulers known from the Buddhist texts.
(E) Beginning of Gupta Rule.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (C), (B), (D), (A), (E)
(C) Early Buddhist and Jaina texts mention sixteen states known as Mahajanapadas. — c. 600-500 BCE: the sixth century BCE, the age of the mahajanapadas, comes first.
(B) Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the empire, extended control as far north-west as Afghanistan and Baluchistan. — c. 321 BCE: the accession of Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Mauryan Empire.
(D) Asoka is one of the most famous rulers known from the Buddhist texts. — c. 272/268-231 BCE: the reign of Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson.
(A) Colossal statues of Kushana rulers have been found installed in a shrine at Mat near Mathura. — c. first century BCE-first century CE: the Kushanas, who ruled over a vast kingdom from Central Asia to northwest India, set up these statues to project their idea of kingship.
(E) Beginning of Gupta Rule. — c. 320 CE: the latest of the five.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 The sixteen mahajanapadas … The sixth century BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in early Indian history. It is an era associated with early states, cities, the growing use of iron, the development of coinage, etc. It also witnessed the growth of diverse systems of thought, including Buddhism and Jainism. Early Buddhist and Jaina texts (see also Chapter 4) mention, amongst other things, sixteen states known as mahajanapadas. Although the lists vary, some names such as Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara and Avanti occur frequently. Clearly, these were amongst the most important mahajanapadas.… 3. An Early Empire … The growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the empire (c. 321 BCE), extended control as far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and his grandson Asoka, arguably the most famous ruler of early India, conquered Kalinga (present-day coastal Orissa).… 4.2 Divine kings … One means of claiming high status was to identify with a variety of deities. This strategy is best exemplified by the Kushanas (c. first century BCE first century CE), who ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central Asia to northwest India. Their history has been reconstructed from inscriptions and textual traditions. The notions of kingship they wished to project are perhaps best evidenced in their coins and sculpture. Colossal statues of Kushana rulers have been found installed in a shrine at Mat near Mathura (Uttar Pradesh). Similar statues have been found in a shrine in Afghanistan as well.… 4.2 Divine kings … By the fourth century there is evidence of larger states, including the Gupta Empire. Many of these depended on samantas, men who maintained themselves through local resources including control over land.…”
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