The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Based on the historical characteristics of the two empires, here is the correct placement for the descriptions.
Correct Answer:
The descriptions “invented standardized weight system” and “used arms to conquer large territory” belong under the Mauryan Empire.
The description “used the modern numbering system” belongs under the Gupta Empire.
Explanation
The Mauryan Empire, which existed from approximately 322 to 185 BCE, was India’s first great unified empire, forged through significant military power. The statement “used arms to conquer large territory” is a defining characteristic of this period. The empire’s founder, Chandragupta Maurya, led extensive military campaigns to overthrow the preceding Nanda dynasty and expand his control across northern India. His grandson, Emperor Ashoka, famously conquered the kingdom of Kalinga in a brutal war. The sheer scale of this conflict led to Ashoka’s personal transformation and adoption of Buddhism, but the empire itself was built and expanded through military might. To manage such a vast territory, the Mauryans established a highly sophisticated and centralized bureaucracy. A crucial element of this administration was the implementation of a “standardized weight system.” This system was vital for regulating trade and, more importantly, for creating a uniform system of taxation across the diverse regions of the empire, ensuring efficiency and control.
The Gupta Empire, which flourished from approximately 320 to 550 CE, is often referred to as the Golden Age of India. While the Guptas also engaged in military expansion, their most enduring legacy lies in their immense cultural, scientific, and intellectual achievements. Therefore, the description “used the modern numbering system” is correctly attributed to the Gupta period. During this era of relative peace and prosperity, mathematicians made groundbreaking discoveries. They developed the decimal system and were the first to use zero as a placeholder and a number, which are the core principles of the Hindu Arabic numeral system used globally today. Scholars like Aryabhata made significant contributions to both mathematics and astronomy. This focus on intellectual and cultural advancements is a key distinction of the Gupta Empire compared to the primarily administrative and military focus of the earlier Mauryan state.
