Ancient History Question Bank

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1- The Rigvedic deity not found in Avesta is:

(a) Indra

(b) Varuna

(c) Agni

(d) Mitra

 

2- The concept of ‘Brahma’ started with:

(a) Brahmanas

(b) Aranyakas

(c) Upanishads

(d) Vedas

  1. Who wrote ‘Natya Shashtra’?

(a) Bhavbhuti

(b) Matang

(c) Bharat Muni

(d) Bharavi

  1. Most of Smritis have been written in verse. Which of the following has been written in prose ?

(a)   Narad Smriti                         (b)   Brihaspati Smriti

(c)   Yajnavalakya Smriti                 (d)   Vishnu Smriti

  1. Which Mandal of the Rigveda is dedicated to ‘Soma’ ?

(a)   Eighth                               (b)   Ninth

(c)   Tenth                                (d)   Sixth

  1. To whom Gautam Buddha gave his last sermon at Kushinagar ?

(a)   Subhadd                             (b)   Anand

(c)   Sariputra                            (d)   Upali

  1. Read the statements (A) and (B) and choose the correct answer from the codes given below :

(A)  The sixth century B.C. was a period of great religious upheaval in all parts of the world.

(B)  The Vedic religion had become very complex.

Codes :

(a)   Both (A) and (B) are false.           (b)   Both (A) and (B) are true.

(c)   (A) is true, while (B) is false.         (d)   (A) is false, while (B) is true.

  1. The earliest known epigraphic evidence of Bhagvatism is :

(a)   Prayag Prashasti of Samudra Gupta   (b)   Nasik inscription of Gautami Balshri

(c)   Garuda column at Besnagar          (d)   Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva

 

  1. Buddhist text ‘Milindapanho’ throws light on which Indo-Greek ruler ?

(a)   Diodorus II                           (b)   Demetrius

(c)   Minender                            (d)   Strato I

  1. In which Vedic text the term ‘Varna’ is found referred for the first time ?

(a)   Rigveda                              (b)   Atharva veda

(c)   Sam veda                            (d)   Yajur veda

  1. There were different causes for the downfall of the Gupta empire. Which one was not the cause among the statements given below ?

(a)   Huna invasion

(b)   Feudal set-up of administration

(c)   Acceptance of Buddhism by the later Guptas

(d)   Arab invasion

  1. The first Christian missionary’ to come to India was :-

(a) St. Paul

(b) St. Thomas

(c) St. Augustine

(d) St. Francis

  1. Who was the author of the book ‘Natyashastra’*

(a) Bharatmuni

(b) Bhasa

(c) Vasumitra

(d) Nagarjuna

 

  1. “Saka Era” started from :-

(a)  78    A.D

(b)   320 A. D.

(c)   606   A.D.

(d    58 A.D.

  1. According to Milind Panho. who was the Buddhist monk to whom King Milind posed question?

(a) Anand (b) Ashvaghosh

(c) Nagasena (d) None of the above

  1. Who composed the Mandsaur Prasasti?

(a) Vasu                   (b)   Harisena

(c) Vats Bhatti                 (d    None

  1. ‘Yangana’ belongs to which Buddhist Pitaka?

(a) Sutla

(b) Vinaya

(c) Abhidhamma

(d) None of these

  1. At which of the following places Chandragupta Mauriya had received his higher education:-

(a) Takshila

(b) Vaishali

(c) Nalanda

(d) Vikramshila

  1. Which one of the following Gupta rulers is referred to as “Lichchhavi Dauhitra”?

(a) Chandragupta-I

(b) Chandragupta-II

(c) Skandgupta

(d) Samudragupta

  1. Which of the following inscriptions refers to the defeat of Hunas by Skandgupt?

(a) Gwalior Inscription

(b) Junagarh Inscription

(c) Mandsaur Inscription

(d) None of the above

  1. Kalibangan is in

(a)   Rajasthan     (b)   Punjab           (c)   Sind             (d)   Maharashtra

  1. Buddha attained Nirvana at

(a)   Taxila        (b)   Champa         (c)   Kausambi        (d)   Kushinagar

  1. Gupta Samvat started in

(a)   320 A.D.     (b)   319 A.D.        (c)   322 A.D.         (d)   321 A.D.

  1. Who among the following was also a poet and a musician who took delight in the title of ‘Kaviraja’ or king of poets ?

(a)   Chandra Gupta Maurya               (b)   Samudra Gupta

(c)   Skand Gupta                         (d)   None of these

  1. The founder of Sunga dynasty was

(a)   Agnimitra    (b)   Divakaramitra   (c)   Pushyamitra     (d)   Vasumitra

 

  1. Who were the originators of the Dravidian Style of architecture and sculpture in the South Indian peninsula ?

(a)   Cholas        (b)   Hoysalas        (c)   Pallavas         (d)   Pandyas

 

  1. The Italian traveller who left very praiseworthy account of the Vijayanagar Empire was

(a)   E. Barbosa    (b)   Manucci         (c)   Marco Polo      (d)   Nicolo Counti

 

  1. Gupta Empire declined in the fifth century A.D. as a consequence of

(a)   Chalukya invasions                  (b)   Greek invasions

(c)   Huna  invasions                      (d)   Pallava invasions

  1. Kanishka is associated with an era which is known as
  2. Saka-Shalivahan era
  3. Saka era
  4. Gupta era
  5. Vikram era
  6. In ancient India the name of Varahamihira was associated with
  7. Drama
  8. Astronomy
  9. Medicine
  10. Mathematics

 

31 Which was the oldest University ?

  1. Gandhara
  2. Kannauj
  3. Nalanda
  4. Vaishali
  5. Pre-Historic Paintings are present at-
  6. Son Valley
  7. Kashmir
  8. all the above
  9. Bhimbetka, Bhopal
  10. Ashtapradhan was a council of ministers –
  11. In the gupta administration
  12. In the chola administration
  13. In the vijaynagar administration
  14. In the Maratha administration
  15. Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6th century B.C?
  16. Magadh
  17. Kamboj
  18. Kashi
  19. Gandhar
  20. Fourth buddhist council held in Kashmir under emperor:
  21. Ashoka
  22. Ajatshatru
  23. Kanishka
  24. Kala Ashok
  25. The wheel was an important discovery of :-
  26. palaeolithic age
  27. Neolithic age
  28. Mesolithic age
  29. chalcolithic age
  30. Mauryan officer responsible for the slaughter-house

 

  1. Durgyapal
  2. Dyutadhyaksha
  3. Sunadhyaksha
  4. Paliwal

 

  1. In Buddhism, what does Patiomokkha stands for?
  2. The rules of the sangha
  3. A description of Mahayana Buddhism
  4. The question of the king Menander
  5. A description of Hinayana Buddhism
  6. The vedas contain all the truth was interpreted by ?
  7. Swami Dayananda
  8. Raja Rammohan Roy
  9. Swami Vivekananda
  10. None
  11. Where is the famous Virupaksha Temple located
  12. Hampi
  13. Bhadrachalam
  14. Chidambaram
  15. Srikalahasti
  16. Which of the following works of Kalidasa gives information about the Andhras?
  17. Meghaduta
  18. Sakuntala
  19. Malavikagnimitra
  20. Kumarasambhava
  21. The important port of Indus Valley people is
  22. Lothal
  23. Mohenjadaro
  24. Harappa
  25. Kalibangan
  26. After attaining the enlightenment Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon in which language?
  27. Prakrit
  28. Sanskrit
  29. Pali
  30. Maithili
  31. In Sanskrit dramas, written during the Gupta period, women and Sudras spoke
  32. Sanskrit
  33. Sauraseni
  34. Prakrit
  35. Pali

 

 

  1. Consider the following statements-
  • The Ikshvaku rulers of southern India were antagonistic toward Buddhism.
  • The Pala rulers of eastern India were patrons of Budhism

which of the following is/are correct

  1. 2 only
  2. none
  3. both
  4. 1 only
  5. Which of the Vedas is the oldest?
  6. Sam Veda
  7. Yajur Veda
  8. Atharva Veda
  9. Rig Veda
  10. Arthasastra was written by
  11. Kalidasa
  12. Vishakadatta
  13. Kautilya
  14. Megasthanese
  15. The famous frog hymn in Rig Veda throws light to –
  16. Vedic Literature
  17. Vedic Rituals
  18. Vedic Custumes
  19. Vedic education
  20. The Nadistuti sukta hymn of the rig Veda mentions
  21. 15 rivers
  22. 20 rivers
  23. 21 rivers
  24. 12 rivers
  25. The Idol workship in India dates back to:
  26. The Mauryan Period
  27. The Gupta Period
  28. The Pre Aryan Period
  29. The Kushan Period

 

 

 

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  • The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the
  • Kenopanishad
  • Mundakopanished
  • Kathopanished
  • Chhandogyopanishad
  • Among the four dynasties listed below, which one minted coins made of lead ?
  • Mauryas
  • Satavahanas
  • Western Kashatrapas
  • Guptas
  • The last great ruling dynasty of Magadha was
  • Kanva
  • Sunga
  • Kusana
  • Gupta
  • The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is
  • Dharmakirti
  • Chakravarti
  • Dharmadeva
  • Priyadasi
  • Which Chinese traveler visits Bhimnal:
  • Whensang
  • Sangyun
  • Fahyan
  • Issing
  • The great silk-route to the Indians was opened by –
  • Harsha
  • Ashoka
  • Fa-Hien
  • Kanishka
  • According to Buddha, the cause of all human sorrow is trishna which means
  • Worldly attachment
  • Desire for worldly things
  • Desire for material enjoyments and worldly things
  • Hyperactivity of mind

    •  

     

    1. Bhumisparsha mudra – hand position of Sarnath belogs to which of the following ages-
    2. Mauryan
    3. Gupta
    4. Sunga
    5. Kushan
    6. Bhrami Script of Ashoka was deciphered for first time by-
    7. V A Smith
    8. James Princep
    9. S R Goel
    10. William Jones
    11. Which one of the following sites excavated recently shows all the three stages of harappan occupation (pre-harappan, harappan, post-harappan).
    12. Desalpur
    13. All of these
    14. Rojdi
    15. Surkotda
    16. The word Hindu as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by
    17. the Romans
    18. the Greeks
    19. the Chinese
    20. the Arabs
    21. Which of the scripts depicted on Dharamraj Rath in Mahabalipuram?
    22. Malyalam script
    23. Granth Script
    24. Telgu Script
    25. Tamil Script
    26. Maximum number of verses in Rig Veda are devoted to-
    27. Indra
    28. Agni
    29. Vishnu
    30. Rudra
    31. Who was Nagarjuna?
    32. Saint of jainism
    33. Vedic Saint
    34. Greek emperor
    35. Buddhist Philosopher

     

    1. Which of the following religions does not believe in Judgement Day or Destruction of Universe
    2. Islam
    3. Budhism
    4. Budhism
    5. Jainism

     

    1. Hathigumpha inscription is attributed to which of the following emperors?
    2. Samudragupta
    3. Ashoka
    4. Chandragupta II
    5. Kharavela
    6. Rig Veda is
    7. A Collection of songs
    8. A Collection of hymns
    9. A Collection of spell
    10. None
    11. Buddha attained mahaparinirvana in the republic of:-
    12. Sakyas
    13. Mallas
    14. Palas
    15. Lichivis
    16. After Hazarat Mohammad Saheb, the religious teacher was called—
    17. Kazi
    18. Imam
    19. Maulvi
    20. Khalifa

    70.The language of Sangam Literature was

    1. Pali
    2. Sanskrit
    3. Prakrit
    4. Tamil

    71.The Great Hindu law giver was

    1. Kapila
    2. Kautilya
    3. Manu
    4. Vatsayana

     

    1. Mahoday is an old name of which city?
    2. Udaipur
    3. Allahabad
    4. Jaisalmer
    5. Kanauj
    6. Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements:(2011)
    7. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene,
    8. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 2 only
    2. 1 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    5. The word ‘Sindhan’ used by the Indus people denoted –
    6. Cotton
    7. Mother Goddess
    8. Indus River
    9. cereals
    10. What does Korralai stand for Sangam social system
    11. Traders
    12. A marriage custom
    13. Goddess of victory
    14. Comunity of hunters

    76 .Bull-Seal of Indus valley civilization was found at:

    1. Harappa
    2. Chanhudaro
    3. Lothal
    4. Mohenjodaro
    5. Which among the following places have given the earliest evidence of agriculture in Indian subcontinent?
    6. Pratapgarh
    7. Quetta
    8. Mehrgarh
    9. Kalat

     

     

    1. Kalsi rock inscriptions are related to
    2. Ashoka
    3. Bindusar
    4. Satvahana Kings
    5. Mugals
    6. Weapon never used by the Indus people
    7. stone
    8. none
    9. Sticks
    10. Sword

    79.The system Governing villages through autonomous elected panchayats was evolved by:

    1. Mauryas
    2. Dravids
    3. Kushans
    4. Aryans
    5. Which one of the following describes best the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism?
    6. A state of bliss and rest
    7. The complete annihilation of self
    8. The extinction of the flame of desire
    9. A mental stage beyond all comprehension
    10. The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by
    11. Mahayana Buddhism
    12. Hinayana Buddhism
    13. Jainism
    14. The Lokayata School
    15. Which of the following inscriptions mentioned the Sati practice for the first time
    16. Eran Inscription
    17. Sanchi Inscription
    18. Mandsaur Inscription
    19. Junagarh Inscription
    20. Buddhist Literature is written in which of the following language?
    21. Sanskrit
    22. Tamil
    23. Pali
    24. Prakrita

     

     

    1. The words Satyameva Jayata have been taken from the
    2. Mundaka Upanishad
    3. Tottreya Upanishad
    4. Kath Upanishad
    5. Ishovasya Upanishad
    6. Which of the followings were discused in”Kitabul Hind” by Al Beruni?
    7. Sculpture
    8. Astronomy
    9. Medicine
    10. All the above
    11. According to Buddha, the cause of all human sorrow is trishna which means
    12. Desire for material enjoyments and worldly things
    13. Desire for worldly things
    14. Worldly attachment
    15. Hyperactivity of mind
    16. ”The Wonder that was India” was written by
    17. James Prinsep
    18. L.Basham
    19. Arrian
    20. None
    21. The capital of Kalinga was
    22. Ujjain
    23. Suvarnagiri
    24. Taxila
    25. Toshali
    26. Which of the following is called as the Bible of Tamil Land
    27. Silppadikaran
    28. Tolkappiyam
    29. Kural
    30. Manimekalai

    90.Gupta empire declined in the fifth century A. D. as a consequence of

    1. Greek invasion
    2. Pallava raids
    3. Chalukya raids
    4. Hun invasion

     

     

    1. The illustrious names of Aryabhatta and Varahamihir are associated with the age of the
    2. Guptas
    3. Mauryas
    4. Palas
    5. Kushanas
    6. “Tripitaka” Texts are related with which religion:
    7. Vedic Religion
    8. Shaivism
    9. Jainism
    10. Budhism
    11. Which of the following caves are famous for Trimurti
    12. Ellora
    13. Ajanta
    14. Elephanta
    15. None
    16. Mahajanpad situated on bank of river godawari was:
    17. Assaka
    18. Avanti
    19. Vatsa
    20. Kamboja
    21. First Murti-Pooja(idol worship) in India was done for:
    22. Vishnu
    23. Buddha
    24. Brahma
    25. Shiv
    26. In Buddhism, Bodhisattvas were
    27. statues of Buddha
    28. Chinese Buddist pilgrims
    29. persons who attained enlightenment
    30. Buddhist scholars
    31. Paintings inscribed on walls of Ajanta are related to
    32. Budhism
    33. Jainism
    34. Hinduism
    35. All the Above three

     

     

    1. There was a sharp class division at harappa and mohen-jodaro. this is clear from the?
    2. different types of dwellings excavated
    3. Indus seals excavated
    4. religious beliefs of the Harappans
    5. tools and implements used by the Harappans
    6. Which among the following kings was also known as Mamallan (great wrestler)?
    7. Narasimhavarman I
    8. Pulakesi II
    9. Mahendravarman I
    10. None of the above
    11. The term ‘yavanapriya’ mentioned in ancient sanskrit texts denoted?
    12. a fine variety of Indian muslin
    13. damsels sent to the Greek court for dance performance
    14. pepper
    15. ivory
    16. Irrigation tax in ancient India was known as-
    17. Hirnaya
    18. Bidakbhagam
    19. Udrang
    20. Uparnika
    21. The craft of the famous blue pottery in rajasthan originated from:
    22. Sindh
    23. Afganistan
    24. Kashmir
    25. Persia
    26. After large scale destruction and death in the battle field angaist Sikander, womens of which of the following state raised arms-
    27. Kath
    28. Massang
    29. Galusai
    30. Abhisar
    31. Who among the following presided over the Buddhist council held during the region of kanishka at Kashmir
    32. Nagarjun
    33. Parvaska
    34. Sudraka
    35. Vasumitra

     

    105.Which one of the following travelers visited India during the Gupta period?

    1. Marco Polo
    2. Hiuen-Tsang
    3. Nicolo Conti
    4. Fa- Hien

    106 .Emperor harsha’s South ward march was stopped on the Narmada river by:-

    1. Vikramaditya 1
    2. pulkeshin 2
    3. Vikramaditya 2
    4. pulkeshin 1
    5. Which among the following is the correct set of the plays written by Harshavardhan in Sanskrit?
    6. Malavikagnimitram,Vikramorvashiiyam and Abhijñanasakuntalam
    7. Nagananda, Priyadarshika and Ratnavali.
    8. Svapna Vasavadattam, Pancharatra and Pratijna Yaugandharayaanam
    9. None of these.
    10. Which of the following historic places are not related to the life of Gautam Budha-
    11. Sanchi
    12. Kushinagar
    13. Sarnath
    14. Bodhgaya
    15. Which of the following dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexander’s invasion?
    16. Nanda
    17. Maurya
    18. Sunga
    19. Kanva
    20. During Sangam period Kon, Ko and Mannan is synonyms of:
    21. Army Chief
    22. Finance Minister
    23. King
    24. Prime Minister
    25. During Mourya period the Tax on Land was collected by officer:
    26. Shulka-adhyaksha
    27. Aka-Adhyaksha
    28. Agronomai
    29. Sita- Adhyaksha

     

     

    1. The ancient Chola kingdom existed in the delta of the river
    2. Tungabhadra
    3. Cauvery
    4. Krishna
    5. Godavari
    6. The main source of Knowledge about the in habitants of indus Valley Civilization is the discovery there of:
    7. Remains of towns
    8. Utensils, Jewellary, Weapons, tools
    9. Seals
    10. Scripts
    11. The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by
    12. HinayanaBuddhism
    13. MahayanaBuddhism
    14. Jainism
    15. Lokayukta School
    16. The Harappan civilization was discovered in
    17. 1853-54
    18. 1891-92
    19. 1920-21
    20. 1864-65
    21. In the Gandhara sculptures the preaching mudra associated with the Buddha’s First Sermon at Sarnath is—
    22. Dhyana
    23. Abhaya
    24. Dharmachakra
    25. Bhumisparsa
    26. ___________is believed to mark the main site of Hastinapur, which was capital of Kauravas and Pandava The imperial gazetteer of India quotes about which of the following places?
    27. Meerut
    28. Ghaziabad
    29. Faridabad
    30. Delhi
    31. At which among the following sites the where first evidence of cultivation of cotton has been found?
    32. Hathonora
    33. Piklihal
    34. Ghaligai
    35. Nal

     

    1. Famous greek ambassador magasthenes visited court of:
    2. Chandragupta Maurya
    3. Ashoka
    4. Harsha Vardhan
    5. Hemu
    6. Which Inscription has “ASHOK” name:
    7. Thirteenth Inscription
    8. Maski, Small Inscription
    9. Bhabru Inscription
    10. Rummindei Inscription
    11. Zero was invented by—
    12. Bhaskara I
    13. Aryabhatta
    14. Varahamihira
    15. None
    16. The art style which combines indian and greek feature is called:
    17. Sikhar
    18. Verra
    19. Gandhar
    20. Nagar
    21. Which of the following four vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells
    22. Samaveda
    23. Yajurveda
    24. Rigveda
    25. Atharveda
    26. Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period
    27. sudraka
    28. shaunaka
    29. Saumimilla
    30. susrutha

    125.Consider the following

    • God
    • soul
    • Rebirth
    • varna system

    which of the above was not accepted by Buddhist religion choose answer from the given code

     

     

     

    1. 1,2,3&4
    2. 1,2&4
    3. 1,2&3
    4. 2,3&4
    5. Which one of the following usages was a post-Vedic development ?
    6. Brahmacharya-Grihasthashrama-Vanaprastha-Sanyasa
    7. Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha
    8. Brahmana-Kshatriya-Vaishya-Shudra
    9. Indra-Surya-Rudra-Marut
    10. Consider the following statements:-
    • The chinese pligrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council Held by Kanishka.
    • The Chinese pligrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

    which of the following given statements is/are correct:-

     

    1. 1 only
    2. both 1 and 2
    3. 2 only
    4. Niether 1 and 2

     

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