Question

Which of the following rulers had reigned in the third century BCE?
A. Jahangir
B. Ashoka
C. Samudragupta
D. Akbar

Answer 1

Hint: In the third century BCE, one of the powerful rulers reigned almost all of the Indian subcontinent from C.268 to 232 BCE. He was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.

Complete answer: Ashoka was the Indian emperor of the Maurya dynasty who ruled over Indian subcontinent from C.268 to 232 BCE. He promoted the religion of Buddhism across ancient Asia. He also converted himself to Buddhism after witnessing the mass death of the Kalinga war. His inscriptions mention that he conquered the Kalinga region during 8th regnal year. Rock edict 13 states that he became closer to the Dhamma after the annexation of Kalinga.
Looking at the options given:
Option A. Jahangir ruled from 1605 to 1627. It is an incorrect option.
Option B. Ashoka ruled over Indian subcontinent from 268 to 232 BCE. This is the correct answer.
Option C. Samudragupta ruled from 350 to 375 CE. It is an incorrect option.
Option D. Akbar was the Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1556 to 1605. It is an incorrect option.
Therefore, option B is correct.

Note: Ashoka in the third century expanded his Empire from Afghanistan to Bangladesh or the whole Indian subcontinent except the parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The capital of his Empire was Patliputra.