How did Chandragupta conquer Magadha?

by sending in his spies to open the city gates to his soldiers
by attacking their borders and slowly weakening the outer reaches of the city first
by uniting with the Greeks, combining their forces, and attacking from two directions
by attacking with his elephants and wrecking the city

7 answers

Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India, is known to have conquered Magadha through a combination of strategies, including the use of military tactics. Among the options provided, while the most historically accurate method of conquest involved strategic military action, the specific detail about using spies to open city gates stands out as a notable tactic in ancient warfare.

Chandragupta's rise involved not only direct military engagements but also forming alliances and exploiting weaknesses within the Magadhan kingdom, especially against the Nandas who ruled at the time. His campaign likely included gathering intelligence, undermining his opponents, and employing strategic military maneuvers rather than solely relying on large-scale assaults or using elephants as the primary tactic.

Therefore, while he may have relied on various tactics such as military pressure and strategic deception, the most consistent historical narrative suggests a multifaceted approach rather than the singular options listed, with espionage being a plausible method among others.

choose one

If I had to choose one option based on historical accounts, I would say that Chandragupta conquered Magadha by sending in his spies to open the city gates to his soldiers. This illustrates a clever use of strategy and intelligence in warfare, which is often noted in his campaigns against the Nandas.

What freedom did Chandragupta’s subjects lack?
freedom to earn a living
freedom to travel to different provinces
freedom of speech
freedom to worship as they pleased

Chandragupta Maurya's subjects, like many in ancient empires, commonly lacked freedom of speech. During his reign, authority figures often imposed strict controls over expressions of dissent or criticism against the government or rulers. While the other options could be valid in different contexts, freedom of speech is historically documented as being significantly restricted in ancient empires, including in Chandragupta's time.

Which of these actions helped Chandragupta control his empire?
He gave food to the areas he conquered.
He appointed government officials to carry out his orders.
He trusted those who pledged their loyalty.
He lived simply and did not burden the people with taxes.

The action that most directly helped Chandragupta control his empire was that he appointed government officials to carry out his orders. By establishing a structured administration and appointing officials to manage different regions and aspects of governance, he was able to maintain order and ensure his policies were implemented effectively across his vast empire. This administrative strategy was crucial in consolidating his power and managing the diverse territories under his control.