Question

what relationship did the sri lankans have with the mauryan empire?

○ they were a key trading partner.

○ they accepted a tributary relationship.

○ they controlled the ganges valley.

○ they built the largest temple to buddha on the subcontinent.

Explanation:

To determine the relationship between Sri Lankans and the Mauryan Empire, we analyze each option:

• Option "They were a key trading partner": Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) had significant trade ties with the Mauryan Empire, exchanging goods like spices, gems, etc.
• Option "They accepted a tributary relationship": There's no historical evidence of Sri Lanka being a tributary to the Mauryan Empire.
• Option "They controlled the Ganges Valley": The Mauryans, not Sri Lankans, controlled the Ganges Valley.
• Option "They built the largest temple to Buddha on the subcontinent": The largest Buddhist temples in the subcontinent were built in regions under Mauryan or later Indian kingdoms, not by Sri Lankans in the subcontinent.

So the correct option is the one about being a key trading partner.

Answer:

A. They were a key trading partner.