Ancient History Questions with solutions MCQs

1. The dockyard has been found from which Indus city

A

Lothal

B

Harappa

C

Rakhigarhi

D

Chanhudaro

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The excavated site of Lothal is the only port-town of the Indus Valley Civilisation. A metropolis with an upper and a lower town had in on its northern side a basin with vertical wall, inlet and outlet channels which has been identified as a tidal dockyard.

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2. The term Aryans denote

A

an ethic group

B

a nomadic group

C

a speech group

D

a superior race

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

The term Aryan denotes a linguistic group and not a race. Their language Vedic Sanskrit has definite relationship with major languages of Europe and Asia. Scholars call this group of languages as Indo-European and the people speaking these languages as Indo-Europeans or Indo-Aryans.

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3. The home of Gargi, Maitrey, and Kapila was at

A

Vidisha

B

Ujjain

C

Pataliputra

D

Mithila

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

The name Mithila goes back to Puranic times. It occurs in the Mahabharata and in Pali literature. According to the Puranic tradition the name has been derived from that of Mithi (son of Nimi) King of Ayodhya and grandson of Manu who founded a kingdom which was called Mithila after him. It is associated with Valmiki, Ashtavakra, Yajnavalkya, Udayana, Mahavira, Kanada, Jaimini and Kapila as well as the women philosophers, such as, Gargi, Maitreyi, Bharati and Katyayani. After the era of the Ramayana it is said that the three seats of culture in Vedic period - Kosala, Kasi and Videha - merged to form the Vajjians confederacy and the centre of political gravity shifted from Mithila to Vaishali.

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4. Which area of India was known as Avantika in ancient times

A

Avadh

B

Ruhelkhand

C

Bundelkhand

D

Malwa

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

Ujjain (Avanti, Avantikapuri), is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River, today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. Avanti with its capital at Ujjaini, is mentioned in Buddhist literature as one of the four great powers along with Vatsa, Kosala and Magadha

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5. Social System of the Harrapans was :

A

Fairly egalitarian

B

Slave-Labour based

C

Colour (Varna) based

D

Caste based

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The archaeological record of the Indus civilization provides practically no evidence of armies, kings, slaves, social conflict, prisons, and other oft-negative traits that we traditionally associated with early civilizations. If there were neither slaves nor kings, a more egalitarian system of governance may have been practiced. Besides, compared to other ancient civilizations the houses were of nearly equal size indicating a more egalitarian social structure i.e. The Social System of the Harappans was fairly egalitarian.

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6. which of the following Vedas provides information about the civilization of the Early Vedic Age?

A

Rig-veda

B

Yajur-veda

C

Atharva-veda

D

Sama-veda

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Vedic period (or Vedic age) was a period in history during which the Vedas, the oldest scriptures of Hinduism, were composed. The time span of the period is uncertain. Philological and linguistic evidence indicates that the Rig Veda, the oldest of the Vedas, was composed roughly between 1700 and 1100 BCE, also referred to as the early Vedic period. It is an important source of information on the Vedic religion and their Gods as well as presents a detailed account of the life of the people at that time

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7. The university which became famous in the post-Gupta Era was :

A

Kanchi

B

Taxila

C

Nalanda

D

Vallabhi

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Nalanda was an ancient centre of higher learning in Bihar, which was a Buddhist centre of learning from the fifth or sixth century A.D. to 1197 CE. Nalanda flourished between the reign of the Sakraditya (whose identity is uncertain and who might have been either Kumara Gupta I or Kumara Gupta II) and 1197 A.D, supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors like Harsha and later emperors from the Pala Empire

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8. Banabhatta was the court poet of which emperor ?

A

Vikramaditya

B

Kumaragupta

C

Harshavardhana

D

Kanishka

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Banabhatta was a Sanskrit scholar and poet of India. He was the Asthana Kavi in the court of King Harshavardhana, who reigned in the years 606–647 CE in north India. Bana`s principal works include a biography of Harsha, the Harshacharita and one of the world`s earliest novels, Kadambari. The other works attributed to him is the Parvatiparinaya

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9. The first Indian ruler, who established the supremacy of Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea was :

A

Rajaraja I

B

Rajendra I

C

Rajadhiraja I

D

Kulottunga I

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Rajaraja Chola I created a powerful standing army and a considerable navy, which achieved even greater success under his son Rajendra Chola I. One of the last conquests of Rajaraja was the naval conquest of the old islands of the sea numbering 12,000, the Maldives. Chola Navy also had played a major role in the invasion of Lanka.

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10. which statement on the Harappan Civilization is correct?

A

Horse sacrifice was known to them.

B

Cow was sacred to them.

C

Pashupati was venerated by them.

D

The culture was not generally static.

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Potteries of the Harappan Civilization bring out the gradual evolutionary trend in the culture. It is on the basis of different types of potteries and ceramic art from found over the different stages of the civilization, it can be said that Harappan culture was not static and did not disappear suddenly. While showing signs of decay, in course of time it rejuvenated itself by reviving some of the earlier ceramic traditions and evolving new ones in the transitional phase

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11. The First Tirthankara of the Jains was :

A

Arishtanemi

B

Parshvanath

C

Ajitanath

D

Rishabha

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

In Jainism, Rishabh was the first of the 24 Tirthankaras who founded the Ikshavaku dynasty and was the first Tirthankara of the present age. Because of this, he was called Adinath. He is mentioned in the Hindu text of the Bhagavata Purana as an avatar of Vishnu. In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a human being who helps in achieving liberation and enlightenment as an “Arihant” by destroying all of their soul constraining (ghati) karmas, became a role-model and leader for those seeking spiritual guidance.

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12. The great silk-route to the Indians was opened by :

A

Kanishka

B

Ashoka

C

Harsha

D

Fa-Hien

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Silk Road or Silk Route is a modern term referring to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa. Extending 6,500 km, the Silk Road gets its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade along it, which began during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). The Kushan empire incorporated Samarkand, Bokhara and Fergana, bordering on the Silk Road towns of Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan. The main route from Central Asia into India, connecting India with the Silk Roads and the Mediterranean, ran through Gandhara. Kanishka sought to promote the thriving trade with the Silk Road centres like Kashgar and beyond, sending an envoy to Ttajan in Rome.

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13. The rulers of which dynasty started the practice of granting tax-free villages to Brahmanas and Buddhist Monks?

A

Satavahanas

B

Mauryas

C

Guptas

D

Cholas

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Land grants formed an important feature of the Satavahana rural administration. Inscriptions show that the Satavahanas started the practice of granting fiscal and administrative immunities to Brahmins and Buddhist monks. Earlier, the grants to individuals were temporary but later grants to religious beneficiaries were permanent. Perhaps the earliest epigraphic grant of land is found in the Nanaghat Cave Inscription of naganika, who bestowed villages (grama) on priests for officiating at Vedic sacrifices, but it does not speak of any concessions in this context. These appear first in grants made by Gautamiputra Satakarni in the first quarter of the second century A.D.

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14. The most important text of vedic mathematics is :

A

Satapatha Brahman

B

Atharva Veda

C

Sulva Sutras

D

Chhandogya Upanishad

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

The Shulba Sutras are sutra texts belonging to the Strauta ritual and containing geometry related to firealtar construction. They are part of the larger corpus of texts called the Shrauta Sutras, considered to be appendices to the Vedas. They are the only sources of knowledge of Indian mathematics from the Vedic period. The four major Shulba Sutras, which are mathematically the most significant, are those composed by Baudhayana, Manava, Apastamba and Katyayana

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15. Yavanika or curtain was introduced in Indian theatre by which of the following?

A

Shakas

B

Parthians

C

Greeks

D

Kushans

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

The most interesting term in Indian drama with Greek connotation is yavanika, which means a stage curtain. For the first time in Panini`s grammar, there is a reference to Yavana and Yavanani writing. However, the theory is not only erroneous but ridiculous because there is no curtain in the Greek drama and also there is no word “yavanika” in Sanskrit language. There is Yavani meaning Greek woman

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16. Who started the Saka Era which is still used by the Government of India?

A

Kanishka

B

Vikramaditya

C

Samudra Gupta

D

Asoka

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The mightiest of the Kushan rulers in India was Kanishka. He was in power from 78 AD to 120 AD. It was Kanishka who initiated the Saka Era in 78 AD. Through inheritance and conquest, Kanishka’s kingdom covered an area extending from Bukhara (now in Uzbekistan) in the west to Patna in the Ganges Valley in the east, and from the Pamirs (now in Tajikistan) in the north to central India in the south. His capital was Purushpura (Peshawar).

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17. What inspired the paintings of Ajanta ?

A

Compassionate Buddha

B

Radha-Krishan Leela

C

Jain Thirthankaras

D

Mahabharata encounters

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India are 30 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to the 600 CE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art (which depict the Jataka tales) as well as frescos which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanka. The Ajanta cave paintings depict the life of Gautam Buddha.

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18. Who among the following was the first to invade India ?

A

Xerxes

B

Alexander

C

Darius-I

D

Seleucus

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

In about 518 BCE, the Persians invaded India. They were led by King Darius I, who conquered the Indus Valley and the area that is now the state of Punjab. Darius-I was successful in maintaining power, and his descendants continued to rule the area when he died. Darius-I also began to collect a tribute tax, and spread news of India`s many natural resources to Europe.

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19. Which among the following is the oldest dynasty ?

A

Maurya

B

Gupta

C

Kushan

D

Kanva

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty from 321 to 185 BC. Originating from the kingdom of Magadha in the IndoGangetic plains (modern Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bengal) in the eastern side of the Indian subcontinent, the empire had its capital city at Pataliputra (modern Patna). The Empire was founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya. The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed from approximately 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. The Kushan Empire was originally formed in the early 1st century AD under Kujula Kadphises in the territories of ancient Bactria around the Oxus River (Amu Darya), and later based near Kabul, Afghanistan. The Kanva dynasty was a Brahman dynasty founded by Vasudeva Kanva, the minister of Devabhuti, the last Sunga king in 75 BCE 19.

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20. With which of the following is the classic “Jivaka Chintamani” in Tamil associated ?

A

Jainism

B

Buddhism

C

Hinduism

D

Christianity

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Jivaka Chintamani (fabulous gem) is a classical epic poem, considered one of the five great Tamil epics according to later Tamil literary tradition, the thers being Manimegalai, Silappadikaram, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi. It was composed during the 10th century CE by Thiruthakka Thevar, a Jain monk. It narrates the romantic exploits of Jeevaka and throws light on arts of music and dance of the era. It is reputed to have been the model for Kamba Ramayanam. The epic is based on Sanskrit original and contains the exposition of Jain doctrines and beliefs.

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21. Where did Lord Buddha breathe his last?

A

Rajgir

B

Bodh Gaya

C

Sarnath

D

Kushinagar

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

Kushinagar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Kushinagar district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha is thought to have attained Parinirvana after his death. It is one of the most important four holy sites for Buddhists. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana (or Final Nirvana) after falling ill from eating a meal of a species of mushroom, or possibly pork.

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22. Who were the first kings to issue gold coins in India?

A

Mauryas

B

Indo-Greeks

C

Guptas

D

Kushans

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

The Indo-Greek kings were the first to issue gold coins in India and their coins were special in the sense that each king had his own distinctive coins by which he could be definitely identified. The names of at least thirty Bactrian kings are known with the help of numerous coins, and they help in the reconstruction of the history of the kings. The coins carry legends in Greek and also in Kharosthi and Brahmi.

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23. Which rulers built the Ellora temples?

A

Chalukya

B

Sunga

C

Rashtrakuta

D

Pallava

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

These religious establishments could have received royal patronage from various dynasties, even though inscriptional evidences are lacking for most of them. The only definite inscriptional evidence is that of Rashtrakuta Dantidurga (c. 753-57 A.D.) The majority of the Brahmanical establishments and the remaining Buddhist ones can be attributed to the Rashtrakuta times which indicate the religious tolerance of the contemporary period. The Jaina caves definitely postdate the Rashtrakutas as indicated by the style of execution and fragmentary inscriptions. This region was under the control of Kalyani Chalukyas and Yadavas of Deogiri (Daulatabad) during this period.

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24. Where is Brihadeshwar Temple situated ?

A

Kanchi

B

Madurai

C

Shri Shailan

D

Tanjore

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

The Brihadeshwar Temple at Thanjavur (Tanjore) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas in Tamil architecture. It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron Raja Raja Chola I. It remains India’s largest temple and is one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Great Living Chola Temples”

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25. In Tamil literature the glorious books Shilppadikaram and Manimekhalai are related to

A

Jainism

B

Buddhism

C

Hindusim

D

Christianity

Ancient History Ancient and Modern History
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

shilppadikaram is one of the five Great Epics according to later Tamil literary tradition, the others being Manimegalai, Civaka Cintamani, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi. The poet prince Ilango Adigal is credited with this work. He is reputed to be the brother of Senguttuvan from Chera dynasty. Ilango Adigal was a Buddhist monk and Silappadhikaram and Manimekalai are Buddhist epics. Manimekalai, a purely Buddhist work of the 3rd Sangam period in Tamil literature is the most supreme and famous among the Buddhist work done in Tamil. It is a work expounding the doctrines and propagating the values of Buddhism.It also talks about the Tamil Buddhists in the island. (Source: L. Basam Page No. 475)

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26. Who established Mahabalipuram?

A

Pallava

B

Pandya

C

Chola

D

Chalukya

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Mahabalipuram, derived from Mamallapuram is the prior and colloquial name of a town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, now officially called Mamallapuram. Mahabalipuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas near the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The name Mamallapuram is believed to have been given after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who took on the epithet Maha-malla (great wrestler), as the favourite sport of the Pallavas was wrestling. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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27. The Saka era commencing from A.D. 78, was founded by

A

Kanishka

B

Asoka

C

Chandragupta

D

Vikramaditya

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The date of Kanishka`s accession is disputed, ranging from 78 to 248. The generally accepted date of 78 is also the basis for an era presumably started by the Shakas and used in addition to the Gregorian calendar by the present-day Indian government.

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28. Ganhadra school of art came into existence in

A

Hinayana sect

B

Mahayana sect

C

Vaishnava sect

D

Shaiva sect

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

The Gandhara school of art is mainly related to Mahayana Buddhism which encouraged image worship. The Kushan kings, particularly Kanishka, encouraged the Gandhara artists. The Gandhara sculptures have been found in the ruins of Taxila and in various ancient sites in Afghanistan and in West Pakistan. They consist mostly of the images of the Buddha and relief sculptures presenting scenes from Buddhist texts. A number of Bodhisattva figures were carved out. A figure of Gandhara shows the first sermon in the deer park and the death of the Buddha. In all these figures there is a realistic treatment of the body although it is draped. In these sculptures there is a tendency to mould the human body in a realistic manner paying great attention to accuracy and physical details particularly in the presentation of muscles, moustaches, etc. Also the representation of the thick bold fold lines forms a distinct characteristic. Thus the Gandhara sculptures offer a striking contrast to what has been discovered elsewhere in India.

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29. Out of the following remains excavated in Indus Valley, which one indicates the commercial and economic development ?

A

The Pottery

B

Seals

C

The boats

D

The houses

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

The seals of the Indus Valley Civilization have been one of the major sources for information about the period. Apart from giving plethora of informations about the social and religious life of the period, they give insight into the economic activities. The economy of the Indus civilization was based on a highly organized agriculture, supplemented by an active commerce, probably connected to that of the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. Trade amongst the civilizations is suggested by the finding of hundreds of small seals, supposedly produced by the Indus peoples, at the excavation sites of ancient Mesopotamian cities that were existent around the same time. Some of the seals mention the rulers of different countries

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30. Who, according to the Buddhists, is believed to be the next incarnation of Gautam Buddha ?

A

Atreya

B

Maitreya

C

Nagarjuna

D

Kalki

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

Maitreya is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva. Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor of the historic Sakyamuni Buddha

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31. Who among the following were contemporaries of Kanishka ?

A

Kamban, Banabhatta, Asvagosha

B

Nagarjuna, Asvagosha, Vasumitra

C

Asvagosha, Kalidasa, Banabhatta

D

Kalidasa, Kamban, Va-sumitra

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

The eminent Buddhist writers Nagarjuna, Asvaghosha, Parsva and Vasumitra flourished at the court of Kanishka. Nagarjuna was the great exponent of Mahayana doctrine and Asvaghosha, a multifaceted personality, was known as a poet, musician, scholar and zealous Buddhist monk. Charaka, the most celebrated authority on Ayurveda was the court physician of Kanishka and Mathara, a politician of rare merit, was his minister. Vasumitra presided over the fourth Buddhist Council

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32. Who amongst the following also had the name ‘Devanama Piyadassi’?

A

Mauryan King Ashoka

B

Mauryan King Chandra-gupta Maurya

C

Gautam Buddha

D

Bhagwan Mahavira

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty during his reign from 269 BCE to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism. In these inscriptions, Ashoka refers to himself as “Beloved of the Gods” and “King Priya-darshi.” The identification of King Priya-darshi with Ashoka was confirmed by an inscription discovered in 1915 by C. Beadon at Maski, the village in Raichur district of Karnataka. Another minor rock edict is found at the village Gujarra in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh. This also shows the Name “Asoka” in addition to usual “Devanam Piyadasi”.

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33. The subject-matter of Ajanta Paintings pertains to

A

Jainism

B

Buddhism

C

Vaishnavism

D

Shaivism

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

The Ajanta Caves are the treasure house of delicate paintings that portray scenes from Jataka tales and from the life of Lord Buddha. Celebrated for its archaic wonder and laced with the series of carved artistry, Ajanta Cave paintings echo the quality of Indian creativity in perhaps the subtlest way. In the Ajanta wall-paintings, there is a profound modification from the art of early Buddhism. The Ajanta paintings stresses on religious romanticism with lyric quality, a reflection of the view that every aspect of life has an equal value in the spiritual sense and as an aspect of the divine.

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34. Which of the following Craftsmanship was not practised by the Aryans ?

A

Pottery

B

Jewellery

C

Carpentry

D

Blacksmith

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

Iron was a metal unknown to the Aryans during the early Vedic age. The advent of iron is generally associated with the late or post-Vedic ages. So blacksmith did not exist during this period.

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35. Mohammed-bin-Qasim conquered Sind in the year

A

712 A.D.

B

812 A.D.

C

912 A.D.

D

1012 A.D.

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Arab conquest of Sindh by Muhammad Bin Qasim in 712 AD gave the Muslims a firm foothold on the sub-continent. Qasim`s conquest of Sindh and Punjab laid the foundations of Islamic rule in the Indian subcontinent. The description of Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese historian, leaves no doubt that the social and economic restrictions inherent in the caste differentiations of Hindu society had however, gradually sapped the inner vitality of the social system and Sindh fell without much resistance before the Muslim armies.

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36. The words “Satyameva Jayate” in the State Emblem of India were taken from

A

Upanishads

B

Sama Veda

C

Rig Veda

D

Ramayana

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

“Satyameva Jayate” (Truth Alone Triumphs) is a mantra from the ancient Indian scripture Mundaka Upanishad. Upon independence of India, it was adopted as the national motto of India. It is inscribed in Devanagari script at the base of the national emblem. The emblem and words Satyameva Jayate are inscribed on one side of all Indian currency. The emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Asoka which was erected around 250 BC at Sarnath, near Varanasi in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

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37. The earliest city discovered in India was

A

Harappa

B

Punjab

C

Mohenjo Daro

D

Sindh

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The ruins of Harrappa were first described in 1842 by Charles Masson in his Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan, and the Punjab, where locals talked of an ancient city extending “thirteen cosses” (about 25 miles), but no archaeological interest would attach to this for nearly a century. In 1856, General Alexander Cunningham, later director general of the archeological survey of northern India, visited Harappa where the British engineers John and William Brunton were laying the East Indian Railway Company line connecting the cities of Karachi and Lahore. In 1872–75 Alexander Cunningham published the first Harappan seal (with an erroneous identification as Brahmi letters). It was half a century later, in 1912, that more Harappan seals were discovered by J. Fleet, prompting an excavation campaign under Sir John Hubert Marshall in 1921–22 and resulting in the discovery of the civilization at Harappa by Sir John Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats, and at Mohenjo-daro by Rakhal Das Banerjee, E. J. H. MacKay, and Sir John Marshall

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38. The famous rock-cut temple of Kailasa is at

A

Ajanta

B

Badami

C

Mahabalipuram

D

Ellora

Ancient History NONE
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

Kailashnath Temple is a famous temple, one of the 34 monasteries and temples, extending over more than 2 km, that were dug side by side in the wall of a high basalt cliff in the complex located at Ellora, Maharashtra, India. Of these 34 monasteries and temples, the Kailasa (cave 16) is a remarkable example of Dravidian architecture on account of its striking proportion; elaborate workmanship architectural content and sculptural ornamentation of rock-cut architecture. It is designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. It is a megalith carved out of one single rock. It was built in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.

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39. Epigraphy means

A

The study of coins

B

The study of inscriptions

C

The study of epics

D

The study of geography

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions on rocks, pillars, temple walls, copper plates and other writing material. It is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; it is the science of identifying graphemes, clarifying their meanings, classifying their uses according to dates and cultural contexts, and drawing conclusions about the writing and the writers. It serves as primary documentary evidence to establish legal, socio-cultural, literary, archaeological, and historical antiquity on the basis of engravings.

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40. Which among the following has not been found in the excavation of Harappan sites ?

A

Drains and well

B

Fort

C

Reservoirs

D

Temple with Shikhar

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

Sikhara, a Sanskrit word translating literally to “mountain peak”, refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India. Sikhara over the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deity is enshrined is the most prominent and visible part of a Hindu temple of North India. Sikhara was a major feature of the medieval times.

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41. Which among the following MATH is related with Buddhism?

A

Dakhma

B

Chaitya

C

Khangah

D

Angeri

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

A chaitya is a Buddhist or Jain shrine including a stupa. In modern texts on Indian architecture, the term chaitya-griha is often used to denote assembly or prayer hall that houses a stupa. Chaityas were probably constructed to hold large numbers of devotees and to provide shelter for them.

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42. Where has the world`s largest monolithic statue of Buddha been installed ?

A

Bamiyan

B

Hyderabad

C

Kandy

D

Lhasa

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two 6th century monumental statues of standing buddha carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley in the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan. They were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001 by the Taliban, on orders from leader Mullah Mohammed Omar, after the Taliban government declared that they were idols. On 8 September 2008 archeologists searching for a legendary 300-metre statue at the site of the already dynamited Buddhas announced the discovery of an unknown 19-metre (62-foot) reclining Buddha, a pose representing Buddha`s passage into nirvana

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43. The Harappan Civilisation was discovered in the year :

A

1935

B

1942

C

1901

D

1922

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

In 1872–75 Alexander Cunningham published the first Harappan seal (with an erroneous identification as Brahmi letters). It was half a century later, in 1912, that more Harappan seals were discovered by J. Fleet, prompting an excavation campaign under Sir John Hubert Marshall in 1921–22 and resulting in the discovery of the civilization at Harappa by Sir John Marshall, Rai Bahadur Daya Ram Sahni and Madho Sarup Vats, and at Mohenjo-daro by Rakhal Das Banerjee, E. J. H. MacKay, and Sir John Marshall.

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44. The title Indian Napolean has been attached to

A

Chandra Gupta Maurya

B

Samudragupta

C

Chandragupta-I

D

Harshavardhana

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

Samudragupta (335-375 AD) of the Gupta dynasty is known as the Napoleon of India. Historian A V Smith called him so because of his great military conquests known from the Prayag Prashati written by his courtier and poet Harisena, who also describes him as the hero of a hundred battles. But some leading Indian historians criticise Smith and feel that Samudragupta was a far greater warrior than Napoleon, as the former never lost any battle.

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45. The Ajivikas were a

A

sect contemporary to the Buddha

B

breakaway branch of the Buddhists

C

sect founded by Charvaka

D

sect founded by Shankaracharya

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Ajivika (“living” in Sanskrit) was a system of ancient Indian philosophy and an ascetic movement of the Mahajanapada period in the Indian subcontinent. Ajivika was primarily a heterodox Hindu (Nastika) or atheistic system. The Ajivikas may simply have been a more loosely-organized group of wandering ascetics (shramanas or sannyasins). One of their prominent leaders was Makkhali Gosal. Ajivikas are is thought to be contemporaneous to other early Hindu nastika philosophical schools of thought, such as Charvaka, Jainism and Buddhism, and may have preceded the latter two systems.

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46. The organic relationship between the ancient culture of the indus Valley and Hinduism of today is proved by the worship of

A

Pashupati, Indra and the Mother Goddess

B

Stones, trees and animals

C

Vishnu and Lakshmi

D

Siva and Sakti

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

There has been evidence that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization believed in some form of animal and nature worship. The figure of deities on the seals indicates that they worshipped gods and goddesses in the human form. No major sculpture survives but for a bust thought to be of a major priest and the stunning bronze dancing girl. The Divine Mother appears to have been an important goddess, due to the countless terra-cotta statues of her that were found. It follows a school of thought that would become prevalent later as well, of the female energy being regarded as the source of all creation. What is most interesting is the existence of a male god which has been identified as a proto-type of an important God of the religion of Hinduism, lord Shiv. The fact that the same God is still worshipped today, and has been for the last five thousand years is one of the remarkable features of Indian culture. Even evidence of the Bhakti cult (loving devotion to a personal God) has been found at Indus Valley Civilization sites, and the Bhakti cult also has a large following even today. It can therefore be concluded that there is a close relationship between the beliefs of the Indus Valley Civilization and that of modern Hinduism.

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47. How was Burma (now Myanmar) known to ancient Indians ?

A

Malayamandalam

B

Yavadwipa

C

Suvarnabhumi

D

Suvarnadwipa

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Suvarnabhumi is a Sanskrit term meaning the “Golden Land” or “Land of Gold”, coined by the ancient Indians which refers broadly to Southeast Asian region across Gulf of Bengal and Eastern Indian Ocean; Lower Burma, Lower Thailand, Lower Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra. Although it seems to cover vast region in Southeast Asia, it is generally accepted that the name Suvarnabhumi was first used to refer more specifically to Lower Burma. Another term which was used by the ancient Indians is Suvarnadvipa which means the “Golden Peninsula/Island”. Suvarnabhumi may have been used primarily as a vague general designation of an extensive region in Southeast Asia, but, over time, different parts of it came to be designated by the additional epithets of island, peninsula or city

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48. With whom is Junagarh Rock Inscription associated ?

A

Rudradaman

B

Bimbisara

C

Chandragupta II

D

Gautamiputra Satakarni

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Junagadh rock inscription, found in Junagadh, was carved under the orders of King Rudradaman, who had obtained the title of Mahakshatrapa. He was the grandson of the famous Mahakshatrapa Chastana and was a Saka ruler from the Western Kshatrapa dynasty. The inscription is a chronicle about the rebuilding of a dam named Urjayat around the lake Sudarshana. The dam lay in the region of Saurashtra and the closest town appears to have been a place called Girinagar. It was fed by the rivers Suvarnasikata and Palasini, along with other smaller streams. The dam was originally built by Vaishya Pushyagupta who was the governor of the region under Chandragupta Maurya. Conduits from the dam were later built under orders of his grandson; Emperor Asoka

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49. Nalanda University was a great centre of learning, especially in

A

Buddhism

B

Jainism

C

Vaishnavism

D

Tantra

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Nalanda was an ancient centre of higher learning in Bihar, India. It was a Buddhist centre of learning from the fifth or sixth century CE to 1197 CE. Nalanda flourished between the reign of the Sakraditya (whose identity is uncertain and who might have been either Kumara Gupta-I or Kumara Gupta-II) and 1197 CE, supported by patronage from the Hindu Gupta rulers as well as Buddhist emperors like Harsha and later emperors from the Pala Empire.

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50. The Rathas of Mahabalipuram was built during the reign of the

A

Palas

B

Cholas

C

Rashtrakutas

D

Pallavas

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

The city of Mahabalipuram was largely developed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I in the 7th century AD. The mandapa or pavilions and the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed Shore Temple, erected half a century later, is built from dressed stone. The Pancha Rathas shrines were carved during the reign of King Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I. The purpose of their construction is not known, structures are not completed.

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51. Who is hailed as the “God of Medicine” by the practitioners of Ayurveda ?

A

Susruta

B

Chyavana

C

Dhanwantari

D

Charaka

Ancient History 0
Correct Answer : C
Explanation :

Dhanvantri is an Avatar of Vishnu from the Hindu tradition. He appears in the Vedas and Puranas as the physician of the gods (devas), and the god of Ayurvedic medicine. It is common practice in Hinduism for worshipers to pray to Dhanvantri seeking his blessings for sound health for themselves and/or others. Dhanvantri is depicted as Vishnu with four hands, holding medical herbs in one hand and a pot containing rejuvenating nectar called amrita in another. The Puranas state that Dhanvantri emerged from the Ocean of Milk and appeared with the pot of nectar during the story of the Samudra or Sagar manthan whilst the ocean was being churned by the devas and asuras, using the Mandara mountain and the serpent Vasuki.

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52. Which was the only Indus site with an artificial brick dockyard?

A

Lothal

B

Kalibangan

C

Harappa

D

Mohenjo Daro

Ancient History SSC Section Officer
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Lothal was one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilization. Located in Bhal region of the modern state of Gujarat and dating from 2400 BCE, it was discovered in 1954. Lothal was excavated from February 13, 1955 to May 19, 1960 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Lothal`s dock—the world’s earliest known, connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river on the trade route between Harappan cities in Sindh and the peninsula of Saurashtra when the surrounding Kutch desert of today was a part of the Arabian Sea.It was a vital and thriving trade centre in ancient times, with its trade of beads, gems and valuable orname

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53. Which dynasty succeeded the Chalukyas in the Western India?

A

Cholas

B

Kakatiyas

C

Pallavas

D

Rashtrakutas

Ancient History SSC Statistical Investigator
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

The Chalukya dynasty was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. The earliest dynasty, known as the “Badami Chalukyas”, ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century. The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of the Kadamba kingdom of Banavasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesin II. After the death of Pulakesin II, the Eastern Chalukyas became an independent kingdom in the eastern Deccan. They ruled from Vengi until about the 11th century. In the western Deccan, the rise of the Rashtrakutas in the middle of the 8th century eclipsed the Chalukyas of Badami before being revived by their descendants, the Western Chalukyas, in the late 10th century.

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54. Upto where did Chandragupta Maurya`s empire extend in the north-west ?

A

Beas river

B

Ravi river

C

Satluj river

D

Hindukush range

Ancient History SSC Statistical Investigator
Correct Answer : D
Explanation :

Prior to Chandragupta`s consolidation of power, small regional kingdoms dominated the northwestern subcontinent, while the Nanda Dynasty dominated the middle and lower basin of the Ganges. After Chandragupta`s conquests, the Maurya Empire extended from Bengal and Assam in the east, to Afghanistan and Balochistan, some part of the eastern and southeast Iran in the west, to Kashmir and Nepal in the north, and to the Deccan Plateau in the south. The vast empire extended from the Bay of Bengal in the east, to the Indus River in the west.

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55. Prince Ellara conquered Sri Lanka in the second century BC. With which of the following dynasties of Dravida ruler was he associated ?

A

Chera

B

Chola

C

Pandya

D

Pallava

Ancient History SSC Section Officer
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

After the Kannauj Assembly was concluded, Hiuen-Tsang was making preparations to go to his home, but Harsha invited him to attend another Assembly at Prayag which he used to hold after ever five years on the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna. Five such assemblies had already taken place and this was the sixth Assembly in which Hiuen-Tsang was invited. This ceremony was attended by the kings of eighteen kingdoms and about 5, 00,000 people including Sramanas. Hercetics, Nigranthas, the poor, the orphans etc, attended this assembly. The Prayag Assembly is a glorious example of the generosity of Harshavardhana as he gave all his personal wealth and belongings in charity during the assembly.

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56. Who was the first known Gupta ruler ?

A

Sri Gupta

B

Chandragupta I

C

Ghatotkacha

D

Kumaragupta I

Ancient History SSC CGL
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

Sri Gupta (240–280) was a pre-imperial Gupta king in northern India and start of the Gupta dynasty. The first evidence of Sri Gupta comes from the writings of I-tsing around 690 CE who describes that the Poona copper inscription of Prabhavati Gupta, a daughter of Chandra Gupta, describes “Maharaja Sri-Gupta” as the founder of the Gupta dynasty

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Wrong Answered :

57. Ashoka called the Third Buddhist Council at

A

Pataliputra

B

Magadha

C

Kalinga

D

Sarnath

Ancient History SSC CGL
Correct Answer : A
Explanation :

The Third Buddhist council was convened in about 250 BCE at Asokarama in Pataliputra, supposedly under the patronage of Emperor Asoka. The traditional reason for convening the Third Buddhist Council is reported to have been to rid the Sangha of corruption and bogus monks who held heretical views. It was presided over by the Elder Moggaliputta Tissa and one thousand monks participated in the Council.

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58. King Krishnadeva Raja of Vijaynagara composed a work on statecraft in Telugu which is know as

A

Ekkottara Satsthala

B

Amuktamalyada

C

Ettuthogai

D

Manucharitram

Ancient History JKPSI 2022 CBT
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

Krishnadevaraya, the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara, composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada.

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Wrong Answered :

59. During reign of which Gupta King did Hunas invaded India?

A

Samudragupta

B

Skandagupta

C

Chandragupta

D

Ramagupta

Ancient History JKPSI 2022 CBT
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

It was the in the reign of Skanda Gupta that the Hunas Invaded India. These Hunas came from central Asia via Khyber Pass, and eventually established there empire in the north western India which extended upto the Malwa region in central Asia.

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60. Which of the following historical sites in India belong to the Harappan Civilization?

A

Bhimbetka Rock Shelters

B

Rakhigarhi

C

Burzahom

D

Ajanta Caves

Ancient History JKPSI 2022 CBT
Correct Answer : B
Explanation :

Rakhigarhi

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Wrong Answered :

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