Acient Indian History

Ancient Indian History

1. Who among the following invented Zero?

[A] Aryabhatta

[B] Varahamihira

[C] Bhaskara I

[D] An unknown Indian

the most fundamental contribution of ancient India to the progress of civilisation is the decimal system of numeration including the invention of the number zero. This system uses 9 digits and a symbol for zero to denote all integral numbers, by assigning a place value to the digits. This system was used in Vedas and Valmiki Ramayana. Mohanjodaro and Harappa civilisations (3000 B.C.) also used this system..So,we can say Zero is invented by unknown Indian

2. Which of the following musical instruments is / are composite or Indo-Islamic in origin ?

1. Sitar

2. Shehnai

3. Tabla

4. Sarangi

Choose the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] 1 & 2 Only

[B] 1, 3 & 4 Only

[C] 1, 2 & 3 Only

[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4

Shehnai is not composite or Indo-Islamic in origin.

3. Which among the following is known as the earliest example of Panchayatana style of temple?

[A] Dashavatara temple at Deogarh

[B] Temple at Pathari

[C] Shatrughneshwara temple at Bhubaneshwar

[D] Lakshmana temple at Sirpur

The Dashavatara Temple or Vishnu Temple also called Gupta temple at Deogarh. It was built in the Gupta Period (320 to c. 600 AD ). Archaeologists have inferred that it is the earliest known Panchayatana temple in North India. A hindu temple is a Panchayatana one when the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines

 4. Which among the following is the hallmark feature of the Dravida style of temple architecture?

[A] Shikhara

[B] Gopuram

[C] Vimana

[D] Mandapa

Vimana is a term for the tower above the Garbhagriha or Sanctum sanctorum in a Hindu temple in Dravidian style.

5. Which among the following is / are works of Kalidasa?

1. Ritusamhara

2. Meghaduta

3. Dasakumarcharita

4. Kumarashambhava

Choose the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1 & 2

[B] Only 2, 3 &4

[C] Only 1, 2 & 4

[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4

Dashakumaracharita (The narrative of ten young men) is a prose romance in Sanskrit, attributed to Dandin in the 7th century CE. Dandin is a 6th-7th century Sanskrit author of prose romances and expounder on poetics

 6. Which among the following is the most famous Bronze Image of Chola Period?

[A] Murugan

[B] Nataraja

[C] Venkateshwar

[D] Vishnu

Chola art:
The most famous of all the bronze icons is that of Nataraja, the Divine Dancer. The symbolism presents Siva as lord of the cosmic dance of creation and destruction.

7. Which among conclusions has been derived from the debasement of the coins and gradual disappearance of gold coins during the post-Gupta period?

[A] Commodities became cheap

[B] Gold Mining was stalled

[C] Money economy was gradually replaced by Barter Economy

[D] There was a decline in trade

Debasement of the coins and gradual disappearance of gold coins during the post-Gupta period indicates the Decline of Trade.

8. Which among the following ancient authors has complained of the drain of gold to India (due to trade hegemony of ancient India)?

[A] Ptolemy

[B] Nero

[C] Strabo

[D] Pliny

The lamentation of the Roman writer Pliny in the 1st century A.D refers to heavy drain of Gold from Roman into India in payment of her imports from India. He writes that the drain of Gold is in return for unproductive luxuries. The Roman gold and silver were steadily drained into South India in exchange not only for spices, but also muslin, silk and other costly luxuries.

 9. In the revenue department of Mauryas, who among the following was in-charge of the collection of all revenues in the empire?

[A] Sannidhatri

[B] Pradeshta

[C] Yukta

[D] Samahatra

Mauryan administration: Samaharta – chancellor of the exchequer; responsible for the collection of revenue. The Revenue Department had Samharta who was incharge of the collection of all revenues in the empire

 10. The Pagodas at Mahabalipuram had been constructed by ___?

[A] Cholas

[B] Chalukyas of Kalyani

[C] Pallavas

[D] Pandyas

Pallava dynasty: the reign of Narasimhavarman I : constructed five rath temples at the port town of Mamllapuram (Mahabalipuram) These are now known as seven raths or Pagodas.

11. Which among the following Kushana king adopted the epithet Dharma-thida?

[A] Vima Kadaphises

[B] Kuzul Kadaphises

[C] Kanishka the Great

[D] Huvishka

12. Which among the following Gupta emperors called himself “Lichchhavi-dauhitra”?

[A] Shrigupta

[B] Chandragupta I

[C] Chandragupta II

[D] Samudragupta

 13. In Pali texts, who among the following is referred to as Nigantha Nātaputta?

[A] Gautam Buddha

[B] Mahavira

[C] Parshvanatha

[D] Rishabha

 14. At which among the following sites of Indus Valley Civilization, the rows of distinctive fire altars with provision of ritual bathing have been found ?

[A] Mohen-jo-daro

[B] Harappa

[C] Kalibangan

[D] Lothal

 15. The earliest evidence of rice cultivation comes from which among the following valleys?

[A] Central Ganga Valley

[B] Belan Valley

[C] Gomal Valley

[D] Bolan Valley

16. The inscriptions of Ashoka and the Brahmi script were deciphered by ___?

[A] Alexander Cunningham

[B] James Princep

[C] Max Muller

[D] Mortimer Wheeler

17. Which among the following is a Tamil grammatical treatise ?

[A] Pattupattu

[B] Ettutogai

[C] Silappadikaram

[D] Tolkappiam

18. Veda which is partly in prose and partly in verses is ___ ?

[A] Rigveda

[B] Samaveda

[C] Yajurveda

[D] Atharvaveda

Adhyayas of Yajur Veda, made up partly of verses and partly of prose, contain a number of prayers and sacrificial formulae. Extensive details for carrying out different sacrifices are given in the chapters of the Yajur Veda.

19. Which of the following Chola kings was the first to capture Maldives ?

[A] Rajaraja

[B] Rajendra I

[C] Rajadhiraja

[D] Rajendra II

Rajaraja Chola I laid the foundation for the growth of the Chola kingdom into an empire, by conquering the kingdoms of southern India and the Chola Empire expanded as far as Sri Lanka in the south, and Kalinga (Orissa) in the northeast. He conquered Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Sumatra and other places in Malay Peninsula. The naval conquest of the ‘old islands of the sea numbering 12,000’, the Maldives marked one of the conquests of Rajaraja. Rajaraja I built a strong navy with the aim of controlling the sea

20. Who among the following authors is known for his satires exposing the evils of contemporary society ?

[A] Ksemendra

[B] Pravarsena

[C] Sriharsa

[D] Visakhadutta

Kshemendra was a Kashmirian poet of the 11th century, writing in Sanskrit.In his most of the works like ‘Kalavilas’, ‘Narma Mala’ describes the inner weakness of man and society and the corrupt official machinery of those times.In his one of the work ‘Samaya Matrika’ ,he depicted super seductress ‘Kankali’ character By depicting it ,he wishes to reform the degradation in the society. In short Ksemendra had chosen the vehicle of satire.

21. “The king was the ruler of all except Brahamanas”. This was the view of __?

[A] Manu

[B] Yajnavalkya

[C] Apasthamba

[D] Gautama

22. For which among the following offenses, Manu recommended higher punishment to Brahamans than the persons of other varnas?

[A] Profanity

[B] Murder

[C] Theft

[D] Treason

23. Metronymics were borne by the later rulers of which among the following dynasties?

[A] Maurya

[B] Sunga

[C] Kanva

[D] Satavahana

24. One of the writers of the Dharmashashtra disapproved the practice of Sati declaring it as an act of suicide. Identify him from the given options:

[A] Angiras

[B] Medhatithi

[C] Usana

[D] Visnu

25. Vallabhi era is identical with which of the following era?

[A] The Vikrama era

[B] The Gupta era

[C] The Harsha era

[D] None of the above

26. The cotton cloth worn by Indians had a brighter white colour than any cotton found elsewhere. This view was recorded by __?

[A] Alexander

[B] Megasthenes

[C] Nearchus

[D] Pliny

27. Which among the following is / are the terms used for coins of the Gupta period?

1. Dinara

2. Dramma

3. Rupaka

4. Suvarna

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

[A] 4 only

[B] 2, 3

[C] 1, 4

[D] 1, 2, 3, 4

28. The Kushans issues the coins made of __?

1. Gold

2. Silver

3. Copper

Choose the correct option from the codes given below:

[A] Only 1

[B] Only 1 & 2

[C] Only 1 & 3

[D] 1, 2 & 3

29. The last Mauryan ruler, who was killed by his Commander-in-Chief was __?

[A] Dasaratha

[B] Kun-ala

[C] Samprati

[D] Brihadratha

30. According to the beliefs of the Pasupata sect, Siva is the lord of Pasu. Pasu here refers to __?

[A] Lion

[B] Bull

[C] Parvati

[D] Jiva

31. Who among the following was the author of Abhidhamma treatise Kathavatthu?

[A] Mah-a kassapa

[B] Mahinda

[C] Milinda

[D] Moggaliputta Tissa.

32. In which among the following sacrifices, the sacrificial materials used was sura in Vedic Era?

[A] Agnistoma

[B] Rajasuya

[C] Sautramani

[D] Vajapeya

33. In the Rigvedic Dasrajan Yudha (Battle of Ten Kings) the Bharatas emerged winner at the bank of __?

[A] The Indus River

[B] The Saraswati River

[C] The Sutlej River

[D] The Parushni River

34. The Boghazkoi inscription was discovered in __?

[A] India

[B] Iran

[C] Syria

[D] Turkey

35. The Aryans dedicated whole of a separate Mandala in Rig-Veda for the hymns dedicated to __?

[A] Agni

[B] Varuna

[C] Indra

[D] Soma

36. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?

[A] Nagananda ↔Harsha

[B] Mudrarakshasa↔Visakhadatta

[C] Mrichchhakatika ↔Sudraka

[D] Ratnavali ↔Rajasekhara

37. Who among the following was a lady Alvar Saint?

[A] Andal

[B] Madhura Kavi

[C] Perumal

[D] Tirupan

38. Parnadatta was appointed the Provincial Governor of Saurashtra by __?

[A] Chandragupta Maurya

[B] Rudradaman

[C] Chandragupta II

[D] Skandagupta

39. The title “Paramasaugata” was adopted by ___?

[A] Bhaskar Varman

[B] Shashanka

[C] Rajya Vardhana

[D] Harsha

40. Garuda was adopted as dynastic emblem after the imperial Guptas by ___?

[A] Rashtrakutas

[B] Western Chalukyas

[C] Shilaharas

[D] Chedis

41. Among the five monolithic rathas of Pallavas at Mahabalipuram, the largest is ___?

[A] Arjuna

[B] Bhima

[C] Dharmaraja

[D] Draupadi

42. Who among the following was the first Satavahana King to introduce the Ruler’s head on the coins ?

[A] Satkarni I

[B] Gautamiputra Satkarni

[C] Vasishthiputra Pulumavi

[D] Yajna Satakarni

43. Which of the following parts were situated on the west coast of South India ?

1. Kaveripattanam

2. Korkai

3. Musiri

4. Tondi

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below.

[A] 1, 2

[B] 2, 3

[C] 3, 4

[D] 2, 3, 4

44. Which one of the following places was a mint centre of the Yaudheyas ?

[A] Bayana

[B] Rohtak

[C] Bareilly

[D] Mathura

45. Who among the following was the ruler of Kanchi during the time of Samudragupta ?

[A] Hastivarman

[B] Mantaraja

[C] Nilaraja

[D] Vishnugopa

46. Who among the following is known to have performed four Asvamedha sacrifices ?

[A] Pushyamitra Sunga

[B] Pravarasena I

[C] Samudragupta

[D] Nandivarman Pallavamalla

47. In which of the following inscriptions Ashoka made his famous declaration, “All men are my children”?

[A] Minor Rock Edict (Ahraura)

[B] Pillar Edict VII

[C] Lumbini Pillar Edict

[D] Separate Kalinga Rock Edict I

48. The beneficiaries of Asoka’s donations in the region of Barabar Hill were__?

[A] Buddhists

[B] Ajivikas

[C] Svetambar Jains

[D] Digambar Jains

49. Who identified “Sandrokottus” of the Greco-Roman literature with Chandragupta Maurya ?

[A] D. R. Bhandarkar

[B] Alexander Cunningham

[C] R. P. Chanda

[D] William Jones

50. Rulers of which of the following dynasties maintained diplomatic relations with distant countries such as Syria in the West ?

[A] Maurya

[B] Gupta

[C] Pallava

[D] Chola

51. The rulers of which among the following dynasties adopted the title Devaputra ?

[A] Maurya

[B] Sunga

[C] Kushana

[D] Saka-Kshatrapa

52. The Mahasamghika School arose at which among the following places?

[A] Bodha Gaya

[B] Rajagriha

[C] Sravasti

[D] Vaisali

53. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? Sakiyas ↔Kapilvastu Koliyas ↔Ramagrama

[A] Sakiyas ↔Kapilvastu

[B] Koliyas ↔Ramagrama

[C] Kalamas ↔Allakappa

[D] Mallas ↔Kusinagara

54. Who among the following laid down for punishment for a person becoming mendicant without making adequate provision for dependent wife and children?

[A] Manu

[B] Yajnavalkya

[C] Kautilya

[D] Narada

55. With which among the following places, the twenty third Jain Tirthankara was associated?

[A] Vaishali

[B] Kausambi

[C] Varanasi

[D] Sravasti

56. Which of the following Upanishads is written in prose ?

[A] Isa

[B] Katha

[C] Brihadaranyaka

[D] Svetasvatara

57. Who among the following were teachers of Gautama Buddha before his enlightenment ?

1. Alara Kalama

2. Udraka Ramputra

3. Makkhali Gosala

4. Nigantha Nataputta

Indicate your answer from the codes given below.

[A] 1 and 4

[B] 4 and 2

[C] 2 and 3

[D] 1 and 2

58. Which among the following is an extant Shaka of the Rigveda Samhita?

[A] Saunaka

[B] Ashvalayan

[C] Shakala

[D] Sankhayana

59. Who was the priest of the Bharatas in the battle of Ten Kings ?

[A] Visvamitra

[B] Vasishtha

[C] Atri

[D] Bhrigu

60. That the homeland of the Aryans was Arctic Region, was propounded by ___?

[A] Max Muller

[B] Edward Meyer

[C] Bal Gangadhar Tilak

[D] Herzefeld

61.  King Ashvapati of the Upanishadic Age was the ruler of which among the following Kingdoms?

[A] Kekaya

[B] Matsya

[C] Panchala

[D] Sursena

62. With which among the following Vedas, the Shatapatha Brahmana is related to___?

[A] Rigveda

[B] Yajurveda

[C] Samaveda

[D] Atharvaveda

63. Which of the following was not a diety of the Harappans?

[A] Shiva

[B] Mother Goddess

[C] Peepal Tree

[D] Vishnu

64. Which among the following places has given the earliest evidence of agriculture in Indian Subcontinent?

[A] Brahmagiri

[B] Chirand

[C] Mehrgarh

[D] Burzahom

65. Robert Bruce Foote, who discovered first Palaeolithic tools in India, was originally ___?

[A] Palaeobotanist

[B] Geologist

[C] Archaeologist

[D] Historian

Robert Bruce Foote – Father of Indian Pre-history. He was a geologist of the Geological Survey of India, brought out publications on the tools found in the laterite formations in the then Madras and South Arcot districts, documented the antiquities of the Neolithic and Iron Age in Salem district in Tamil Nadu, wrote memoirs on the geology of the south Maharatta country and neighbouring districts, collected antiquities, painted landscape such as “View of Cape Comorin, the Kumla Kumari Pagoda…” and skilfully handled his finances.

66. Which of the following is the most common motif of the Indus Seals ?

[A] Unicorn

[B] Bull

[C] Rhinoceros

[D] Elephant

The unicorn is the most common motif on Indus seals and appears to represent a mythical animal that Greek and Roman sources trace back to the Indian subcontinent.

67. Which of the following Harappan towns is divided into three parts ?

[A] Kalibanga

[B] Lothal

[C] Chanhudaro

[D] Dholavira

The Dholavira is the largest Indus Valley Site in independent India. It is located on Khadir Beyt, an island in the Great Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.It has been excavated by R S Bisht team of ASI. It had three citadels. Each of these three citadels of Dholavira was improved than Harappa and Mohen-jo-Daro and had an inner closure as well.

68. Which among the following was a water tax for supply of water for irrigation during the ancient India ?

[A]Udakabhaga

[B]Udbali

[C]Uparikara

[D]Udranga

Udakabhaga was the water tax that was levied on irrigation during the ancient India during the Maurya Empire

69. The last ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty, who was assassinated by Pushyamitra Sunga, his commander-in-chief was __ ?

[A]Bindusara

[B]Chandragupta

[C]Brihadrata

[D]Ashokavardhan

Brihadrata was assassinated in 185 BCE during a military parade, by the commander-in-chief of his guard, the Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the throne and established the Sunga dynasty. Brihadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, held territories that had shrunk considerably from the time of emperor Ashoka, although he still upheld the Buddhist faith.

70. Buddhacharita, the epic biography of Gautama Buddha in Sanskrit was written by__:

[A]Aśvaghoṣa

[B]Indrabhuti

[C]Asanga

[D]Bodhisena

the Buddha Charita was the biography of Buddha which was penned by Ashvaghosha probably in the first century C.E. He was a renowned Sanskrit poet. The Buddha Charita is made up of 28 songs recounting events in Shakyamuni Buddha’s life up to the time of his great awakening.

71. Which among the following kings was also known as Mamallan (great wrestler)?

[A]Pulakesi II

[B]Mahendravarman I

[C]Narasimhavarman I

[D]None of the above

72. Which among the following is the correct set of the plays written by Harshavardhan in Sanskrit?

[A]Malavikagnimitram,Vikramorvashiiyam and Abhijñanasakuntalam

[B]Svapna Vasavadattam, Pancharatra and Pratijna Yaugandharayaanam

[C]Nagananda, Priyadarshika and Ratnavali.

[D]None of these.

73. Where and when was the second Buddhist council held?

[A]Patliputra in 250 B.C.

[B]Sri Lanka in 1st century B.C.

[C]Vaishali in 383 B.C.

[D]Mandalay in 1871 A.D.

74. Who among the following succeeded Samudragupta as the next ruler of Gupta Dynasty ?

[A]Chandragupta II

[B]Chandragupta I

[C]Vishnugupta

[D]Mahendra

75. As per Asoka’s inscriptions, which among the following place was declared tax free and proclaimed only 1/8th part as taxable?

[A]Kushinagar

[B]Lumbini

[C]Kathmandu

[D]Sarnath

76. Which among the following places have given the earliest evidence of agriculture in Indian subcontinent?

[A]Pratapgarh

[B]Mehrgarh

[C]Quetta

[D]Kalat

77. Which among the following Vakataka ruler performed all the seven sacrifices viz. Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Ukthya, Shodasin, Atiratra, Vajapeya, Brihaspatisava, Sadyaskra and four Asvamedhas ?

[A]Rudrasena-I

[B]Pravarsena-I

[C]Prithvisena-I

[D]Narendrasena-I

78. Who among the following was the 23rd Jain Tirthankara ?

[A]Nemi Natha

[B]Mahavira

[C]Parshvanath

[D]Malinath

 

79. The Satapatha Brahmana and Taitriya Brahmana are the Brahmana texts of ___:

[A]Rigveda

[B]Yajurveda

[C]Samaveda

[D]Atharavaveda

80. Which among the following is the most unique feature of Dholavira site of the Indus Valley Civilization?

[A]Its cities were horizontally divided in multiple parts

[B]Its cities were unevenly divided

[C]Its cities were divided into 2 parts

[D]None of these