Ancient Indian History Quiz Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - Set 5

1)   Which of the following items were imported from Balkh during the early medieval period?
1. Horses
2. Saffron
3. Asafoetida
Select the correct option from the codes given below:


a. Only 1
b. Only 1 & 2
c. Only 2 & 3
d. 1, 2 & 3
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 2 & 3

Explanation:
The Indian merchants during the early medieval period did not go up to Central Asia but visited Iran up to the Oxus valley. They imported things like horses, saffron and asafoetida from Balkh.


2)   Which of the following constituted imports from the West during 600 A.D. to 1000 A.D.?
1. Incense
2.Copper
3. Dates
4. Corals
Select the correct option from the codes given below:


a. Only 1 & 2
b. Only 2 & 3
c. Only 1, 2 & 3
d. 1, 2, 3 & 4
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 2, 3 & 4

Explanation:
The imports from the West during 600 A.D. to 1000 A.D. comprised incense, copper, load, salt, dates, ivory, emeralds, coral and horses. The best breed of horses came to India from the Western and Central Asia.


3)   Which of the following are correctly matched regarding import in India from 650 A.D. to 1000 A.D.?
Items of import ----------- Region
1. Horses ----------------- Western and Central Asia
2. Wine ----------------- Kapisa
3. Dates ----------------- Basrsa
Select the correct option from the codes given below:


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Only 1 & 3
d. 1, 2 & 3
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 1, 2 & 3

Explanation:
Between 650 A.D. to 1000 A.D. the best breed of horses came to India from the Western and Central Asia. Wine was imported from Kapisa and dates were imported from Basra.


4)   Which of the following authors wrote Navasahasankacharita,?

a. Padmagupta
b. Jinasena
c. Sanmitracharita
d. Abhinanda
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Padmagupta

Explanation:
Padmagupta, who was also known as Parimala Kalidasa, and was the son of Mrigankagupta. He was the court poet of Paramara Navasahasankacharita is an important historical Kavya which was written by Padmagupta in about 1000 AD.


5)   Which of the following wrote Rasaratnakara?

a. Madhavakar
b. Nagarjuna
c. Sridhara
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Nagarjuna

Explanation:
In the seventh or eighth century A.D. Nagarjuna wrote Rasaratnakara. Nagarjuna was an Indian metallurgist and alchemist. The treatise describes methods for the extraction of metals like gold, silver, tin and copper.


6)   Which of the following was the author of Yogasutra?

a. Patanjali
b. Bhaskaracharya
c. Kasyapa
d. Vrinda
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Patanjali

Explanation:
The author of Yogasutra was Patanjali. It is a collection of 196 Sanskrit sutras on the theory and practice of yoga. It is a synthesized and organised knowledge about yoga and much older traditions.


7)   Which of the following composed Jnanapanchami-Katha?

a. Nandishena
b. Vijayasinha
c. Mahesvarasuri
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Mahesvarasuri

Explanation:
Mahesvarasuri composed Jnanapanchami-Katha which is a religious tale, in the latter half of the tenth century AD. Whereas Vijayasinha composed Bhuvanasundri-Katha in 975 AD.


8)   Which of the following succeeded Pulkshein II after pushing the Pallavas out of Badami?

a. Kirtivarman I
b. Vikramaditya I
c. Vikramaditya II
d. Vinayaditya I
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Vikramaditya I

Explanation:
The Chalukyan King Vikramaditya I succeeded in pushing the Pallavas out of Badami after the death of Pulkshein II and reestablished his authority over whole kingdom. He not only defeated the successive Pallava rulers but also captured their capital Kanchi.


9)   Which of the following was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga?

a. Kirtivarman I
b. Kirtivarman II
c. Vikramaditya I
d. Vikramaditya II
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Kirtivarman II

Explanation:
Kirtivarman II ruled from c.743 to 757 CE. He was the last ruler of Chalukyan dynasty who was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga. After the Chalukayas, the Rashtrakutas came into prominence.


10)   Jayasimha I was succeeded by which of the following in the Eastern Chalukyan territory?

a. Vijayaditya I
b. Vishnuvardhana III
c. Jayasimha II
d. Indravarman
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Indravarman

Explanation:
Jayasimha I was succeeded by his brother Maharaja Indravarman in the eastern Chalukyan region in about 663 AD. He is known by different names such as Indra-raja, Induraja, and Indrabhattaraka.


11)   After the death of Amogahvarsha II, which of the following kings ascended to the throne of the Rashtrakuta empire?

a. Govinda I
b. Govinda II
c. Govinda III
d. Govinda IV
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Govinda IV

Explanation:
According to the Kalasa record of Chikmagalur, Govinda IV was the younger brother of Amoghavarsha II. He became the Rashtrakuta emperor in 930 after assassinating his brother and then ruled the Rashtrakuta empire from 930A.D. to 935 A.D.


12)   Which of the following later Chalukyan king killed Munja, the Paramara king of Malava?

a. Vikramaditya V
b. Jayasimha I
c. Tailapa II
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Tailapa II

Explanation:
Taila or Tailapa II conquered Chedi, Orissa, Nepal and Kuntala. Consequently, the later Western Chalukyas took pleasure in calling themselves as Lords of Kuntala. Taila is also believed to have killed Munja, the Paramara king of Malava.


13)   Paramesvaravarman II was succeeded by which of the following kings?

a. Virakurcha
b. Dantivarman
c. Nandivarman I
d. Nandivarman II
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Nandivarman II

Explanation:
Paramesvaravarman II was succeeded by 12-year-old Nandivarman II who belonged to the collateral line of Pallavas called the Kadavas. Nandivarman II has a long reign as he ruled from 731 A.D. to 795 A.D.


14)   ‘Nattar’ refers to which of the following?

a. Province
b. District
c. Assembly
d. Guilds
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Assembly

Explanation:
Nadus or district in the Chola administration were also known as agricultural land whereas ‘nattar’ refers to the assembly of the leading men of a Nadu or district.


15)   Paraga nagaram was the corporate organisation of which of the following during the Chola administration?

a. Textile trade
b. Oil and ghee suppliers
c. Seafaring merchants
d. Oil merchants
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Seafaring merchants

Explanation:
The nagaram during the Chola administration was specific to different trades and specialised groups. Paraga nagaram was a corporate organisation of seafaring merchants whereas the Vaniya nagaram catered to the oil merchants.


16)   “Samaya” referred to which of the following in Chola administration?

a. Corporate organisations
b. Caravans
c. Villages
d. Peasants
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Corporate organisations

Explanation:
The corporate organisations during the Chola administration were also referred to as samaya as they were created through an agreement or contract. The members of samaya were governed by a code of conduct called bananju-dharma.


17)   The general assembly of the local residents of non brahmadeya villages in Chola empire was called as?

a. Ur
b. Sabha
c. Mahasabha
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Ur

Explanation:
During the Chola period the general assembly of the local residents of non brahmadeya villages or the vellanvagai villages was referred to as Ur. It used to discuss matters without any formal rule or procedure.


18)   The dancing figure of Shiva called the Nataraja belongs to which of the following periods?

a. Cheras
b. Pallavas
c. Cholas
d. Pandyas
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Cholas

Explanation:
The Chola period is noted for the aesthetic and technical finesse of its metal sculpture. The dancing figure of Shiva called the Nataraja belongs to the Chola period and is considered to be a bronze masterpiece.


19)   Which of the following kings succeeded the king Koccadiyan Ranadhira?

a. Arikesary Maravarman
b. Maravarman Rajasimha I
c. Varguna I
d. Nedum-Cheliyan
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Maravarman Rajasimha I

Explanation:
Maravarman Rajasimha I was a Pandya king of early medieval South India. He was the son and successor of Koccadiyan Ranadhira and ruled the Pandya empire from 730 A.D. to 765 A.D. He is remembered for his important successes against the Pallavas and in the Kongu country.


20)   Which of the following was the capital of Cheras?

a. Madurai
b. Uraiyur
c. Vanji
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Vanji

Explanation:
The Chera territory covered mostly the Kerala coast. The capital of the Cheras was located at Vanji/Karuvur. There emblem was Bow and the premium ports were Tondi and Muchiri.