Ancient History Question Bank

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

3. Who wrote ‘Natya Shashtra’?

(a) Bhavbhuti

(b) Matang

(c) Bharat Muni

(d) Bharavi

4. 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

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

(a)   Eighth                               (b)   Ninth

(c)   Tenth                                (d)   Sixth

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

(a)   Subhadd                             (b)   Anand

(c)   Sariputra                            (d)   Upali

7. 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.

8. 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

 

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

(a)   Diodorus II                           (b)   Demetrius

(c)   Minender                            (d)   Strato I

10. 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

11. 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

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

(a) St. Paul

(b) St. Thomas

(c) St. Augustine

(d) St. Francis

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

(a) Bharatmuni

(b) Bhasa

(c) Vasumitra

(d) Nagarjuna

 

14. “Saka Era” started from :-

(a)  78    A.D

(b)   320 A. D.

(c)   606   A.D.

(d    58 A.D.

15. 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

16. Who composed the Mandsaur Prasasti?

(a) Vasu                   (b)   Harisena

(c) Vats Bhatti                 (d    None

17. ‘Yangana’ belongs to which Buddhist Pitaka?

(a) Sutla

(b) Vinaya

(c) Abhidhamma

(d) None of these

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

(a) Takshila

(b) Vaishali

(c) Nalanda

(d) Vikramshila

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

(a) Chandragupta-I

(b) Chandragupta-II

(c) Skandgupta

(d) Samudragupta

20. 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

21. Kalibangan is in

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

22. Buddha attained Nirvana at

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

23. Gupta Samvat started in

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

24. 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

25. The founder of Sunga dynasty was

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

 

26. 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

 

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

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

 

28. 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

29. Kanishka is associated with an era which is known as
30. Saka-Shalivahan era
31. Saka era
32. Gupta era
33. Vikram era
34. In ancient India the name of Varahamihira was associated with
35. Drama
36. Astronomy
37. Medicine
38. 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

 

38. In Buddhism, what does Patiomokkha stands for?
39. The rules of the sangha
40. A description of Mahayana Buddhism
41. The question of the king Menander
42. A description of Hinayana Buddhism
43. The vedas contain all the truth was interpreted by ?
44. Swami Dayananda
45. Raja Rammohan Roy
46. Swami Vivekananda
47. None
48. Where is the famous Virupaksha Temple located
49. Hampi
50. Bhadrachalam
51. Chidambaram
52. Srikalahasti
53. Which of the following works of Kalidasa gives information about the Andhras?
54. Meghaduta
55. Sakuntala
56. Malavikagnimitra
57. Kumarasambhava
58. The important port of Indus Valley people is
59. Lothal
60. Mohenjadaro
61. Harappa
62. Kalibangan
63. After attaining the enlightenment Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon in which language?
64. Prakrit
65. Sanskrit
66. Pali
67. Maithili
68. In Sanskrit dramas, written during the Gupta period, women and Sudras spoke
69. Sanskrit
70. Sauraseni
71. Prakrit
72. Pali

 

 

45. 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

 

 

 

51. The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the
52. Kenopanishad
53. Mundakopanished
54. Kathopanished
55. Chhandogyopanishad
56. Among the four dynasties listed below, which one minted coins made of lead ?
57. Mauryas
58. Satavahanas
59. Western Kashatrapas
60. Guptas
61. The last great ruling dynasty of Magadha was
62. Kanva
63. Sunga
64. Kusana
65. Gupta
66. The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is
67. Dharmakirti
68. Chakravarti
69. Dharmadeva
70. Priyadasi
71. Which Chinese traveler visits Bhimnal:
72. Whensang
73. Sangyun
74. Fahyan
75. Issing
76. The great silk-route to the Indians was opened by –
77. Harsha
78. Ashoka
79. Fa-Hien
80. Kanishka
81. According to Buddha, the cause of all human sorrow is trishna which means
82. Worldly attachment
83. Desire for worldly things
84. Desire for material enjoyments and worldly things
85. Hyperactivity of mind

 

 

58. Bhumisparsha mudra – hand position of Sarnath belogs to which of the following ages-
59. Mauryan
60. Gupta
61. Sunga
62. Kushan
63. Bhrami Script of Ashoka was deciphered for first time by-
64. V A Smith
65. James Princep
66. S R Goel
67. William Jones
68. Which one of the following sites excavated recently shows all the three stages of harappan occupation (pre-harappan, harappan, post-harappan).
69. Desalpur
70. All of these
71. Rojdi
72. Surkotda
73. The word Hindu as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by
74. the Romans
75. the Greeks
76. the Chinese
77. the Arabs
78. Which of the scripts depicted on Dharamraj Rath in Mahabalipuram?
79. Malyalam script
80. Granth Script
81. Telgu Script
82. Tamil Script
83. Maximum number of verses in Rig Veda are devoted to-
84. Indra
85. Agni
86. Vishnu
87. Rudra
88. Who was Nagarjuna?
89. Saint of jainism
90. Vedic Saint
91. Greek emperor
92. Buddhist Philosopher

 

65. Which of the following religions does not believe in Judgement Day or Destruction of Universe
66. Islam
67. Budhism
68. Budhism
69. Jainism

 

66. Hathigumpha inscription is attributed to which of the following emperors?
67. Samudragupta
68. Ashoka
69. Chandragupta II
70. Kharavela
71. Rig Veda is
72. A Collection of songs
73. A Collection of hymns
74. A Collection of spell
75. None
76. Buddha attained mahaparinirvana in the republic of:-
77. Sakyas
78. Mallas
79. Palas
80. Lichivis
81. After Hazarat Mohammad Saheb, the religious teacher was called—
82. Kazi
83. Imam
84. Maulvi
85. 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

 

72. Mahoday is an old name of which city?
73. Udaipur
74. Allahabad
75. Jaisalmer
76. Kanauj
77. Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements:(2011)
78. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene,
79. 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

 

 

77. Kalsi rock inscriptions are related to
78. Ashoka
79. Bindusar
80. Satvahana Kings
81. Mugals
82. Weapon never used by the Indus people
83. stone
84. none
85. Sticks
86. 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

 

 

84. The words Satyameva Jayata have been taken from the
85. Mundaka Upanishad
86. Tottreya Upanishad
87. Kath Upanishad
88. Ishovasya Upanishad
89. Which of the followings were discused in”Kitabul Hind” by Al Beruni?
90. Sculpture
91. Astronomy
92. Medicine
93. All the above
94. According to Buddha, the cause of all human sorrow is trishna which means
95. Desire for material enjoyments and worldly things
96. Desire for worldly things
97. Worldly attachment
98. Hyperactivity of mind
99. ”The Wonder that was India” was written by
100. James Prinsep
101. L.Basham
102. Arrian
103. None
104. The capital of Kalinga was
105. Ujjain
106. Suvarnagiri
107. Taxila
108. Toshali
109. Which of the following is called as the Bible of Tamil Land
110. Silppadikaran
111. Tolkappiyam
112. Kural
113. 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

 

 

91. The illustrious names of Aryabhatta and Varahamihir are associated with the age of the
92. Guptas
93. Mauryas
94. Palas
95. Kushanas
96. “Tripitaka” Texts are related with which religion:
97. Vedic Religion
98. Shaivism
99. Jainism
100. Budhism
101. Which of the following caves are famous for Trimurti
102. Ellora
103. Ajanta
104. Elephanta
105. None
106. Mahajanpad situated on bank of river godawari was:
107. Assaka
108. Avanti
109. Vatsa
110. Kamboja
111. First Murti-Pooja(idol worship) in India was done for:
112. Vishnu
113. Buddha
114. Brahma
115. Shiv
116. In Buddhism, Bodhisattvas were
117. statues of Buddha
118. Chinese Buddist pilgrims
119. persons who attained enlightenment
120. Buddhist scholars
121. Paintings inscribed on walls of Ajanta are related to
122. Budhism
123. Jainism
124. Hinduism
125. All the Above three

 

 

98. There was a sharp class division at harappa and mohen-jodaro. this is clear from the?
99. different types of dwellings excavated
100. Indus seals excavated
101. religious beliefs of the Harappans
102. tools and implements used by the Harappans
103. Which among the following kings was also known as Mamallan (great wrestler)?
104. Narasimhavarman I
105. Pulakesi II
106. Mahendravarman I
107. None of the above
108. The term ‘yavanapriya’ mentioned in ancient sanskrit texts denoted?
109. a fine variety of Indian muslin
110. damsels sent to the Greek court for dance performance
111. pepper
112. ivory
113. Irrigation tax in ancient India was known as-
114. Hirnaya
115. Bidakbhagam
116. Udrang
117. Uparnika
118. The craft of the famous blue pottery in rajasthan originated from:
119. Sindh
120. Afganistan
121. Kashmir
122. Persia
123. After large scale destruction and death in the battle field angaist Sikander, womens of which of the following state raised arms-
124. Kath
125. Massang
126. Galusai
127. Abhisar
128. Who among the following presided over the Buddhist council held during the region of kanishka at Kashmir
129. Nagarjun
130. Parvaska
131. Sudraka
132. 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

 

 

112. The ancient Chola kingdom existed in the delta of the river
113. Tungabhadra
114. Cauvery
115. Krishna
116. Godavari
117. The main source of Knowledge about the in habitants of indus Valley Civilization is the discovery there of:
118. Remains of towns
119. Utensils, Jewellary, Weapons, tools
120. Seals
121. Scripts
122. The concept of Anuvrata was advocated by
123. HinayanaBuddhism
124. MahayanaBuddhism
125. Jainism
126. Lokayukta School
127. The Harappan civilization was discovered in
128. 1853-54
129. 1891-92
130. 1920-21
131. 1864-65
132. In the Gandhara sculptures the preaching mudra associated with the Buddha’s First Sermon at Sarnath is—
133. Dhyana
134. Abhaya
135. Dharmachakra
136. Bhumisparsa
137. ___________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?
138. Meerut
139. Ghaziabad
140. Faridabad
141. Delhi
142. At which among the following sites the where first evidence of cultivation of cotton has been found?
143. Hathonora
144. Piklihal
145. Ghaligai
146. Nal

 

119. Famous greek ambassador magasthenes visited court of:
120. Chandragupta Maurya
121. Ashoka
122. Harsha Vardhan
123. Hemu
124. Which Inscription has “ASHOK” name:
125. Thirteenth Inscription
126. Maski, Small Inscription
127. Bhabru Inscription
128. Rummindei Inscription
129. Zero was invented by—
130. Bhaskara I
131. Aryabhatta
132. Varahamihira
133. None
134. The art style which combines indian and greek feature is called:
135. Sikhar
136. Verra
137. Gandhar
138. Nagar
139. Which of the following four vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells
140. Samaveda
141. Yajurveda
142. Rigveda
143. Atharveda
144. Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period
145. sudraka
146. shaunaka
147. Saumimilla
148. 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