Q. What is the meaning of Prashasti?
a). Law code
b). In praise of
c). Religious hymn
d). Trade
Answer: b). In praise of
Explanation: A prashasti, a Sanskrit word, meaning ‘in praise of’.
Q. Samudragupta was a famous ruler of which dynasty?
a). Maurya
b). Gupta
c). Kushana
d). Satavahana
Answer: b). Gupta
Q. Who composed the Prayag Prashasti?
a). Kalidasa
b). Harisena
c). Ashvaghosha
d). Chanakya
Answer: b). Harisena
Explanation: Harisena, the court poet of Samudragupta, wrote the Prayag (Allahabad) Prashasti glorifying the king’s conquests and administration. It was composed as a Kavya.
Q. What is the Samudragupta Prashasti famous for?
a). Describing the life of Buddha
b). Praising military conquests and achievements
c). Recording trade relations with Rome
d). Detailing the Gupta administration
Answer: b). Praising military conquests and achievements
Explanation: The Samudragupta Prashasti, engraved on the Allahabad Pillar by his court poet Harishena, glorifies Samudragupta’s victories, administration, and generosity, serving as an important historical source.
Q. Which ruler is known as the musical king in the Prayag Prashasti?
a). Chandragupta Maurya
b). Samudragupta
c). Ashoka
d). Harisena
Answer: b). Samudragupta
Explanation: Samudragupta is called the musical king because, besides being a great warrior and ruler, he was also skilled in playing the veena, as mentioned in the Prayag Prashasti.
Q. Who was the father of Samudragupta?
a). Chandragupta Maurya
b). Chandragupta I
c). Ashoka
d). Bindusara
Answer: b). Chandragupta I
Explanation: Samudragupta was the son of Chandragupta I, the founder of the Gupta dynasty, and succeeded him to expand the empire through military conquests.
Q. Who was the mother of Samudragupta according to inscriptions?
a). Durdhara
b). Kumaradevi
c). Mahadevi
d). Devaki
Answer: b). Kumaradevi
Explanation: Kumaradevi, a princess of the Lichchhavi clan, was the mother of Samudragupta, and her marriage to Chandragupta I strengthened the Gupta dynasty.
Q. Who succeeded Samudragupta as the ruler of the Gupta dynasty?
a). Chandragupta II
b). Chandragupta Maurya
c). Ashoka
d). Harisena
Answer: a). Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)
Explanation: Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya, who continued the empire’s expansion and cultural development.
Q. Who was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of Maharaj-Adhiraja?
a). Chandragupta Maurya
b). Chandragupta I
c). Samudragupta
d). Chandragupta II
Answer: b). Chandragupta I
Q. Which king is associated with starting the Vikram Samvat?
a). Ashoka
b). Chandragupta Maurya
c). Vikramaditya
d). Harshavardhana
Answer: c). Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II)
Explanation: King Vikramaditya of Ujjain established the Vikram Samvat era to commemorate his victory over foreign invaders, particularly the Sakas.
Q. In which year did the Vikram Samvat era begin?
a). 78 CE
b). 58 BCE
c). 320 CE
d). 4th century BCE
Answer: b). 58 BCE
Explanation: The Vikram Samvat era started in 58 BCE, marking King Vikramaditya’s triumph over the Sakas.
Q. King Harshavardhan belonged to which dynasty?
a). Maurya Dynasty
b). Gupta Dynasty
c). Vardhana Dynasty
d). Chola Dynasty
Answer: c). Vardhana Dynasty
Q. What was the capital of the Vardhana Dynasty?
a). Patna
b). Pataliputra
c). Thanesar
d). Ujjain
Answer: c). Thanesar
Q. Who was the author of Harshacharita?
a). Banabhatta
b). Kalidasa
c). Aryabhata
d). Bhaskaracharya
Answer: a). Banabhatta
Explanation: Harshacharita was written by Banabhatta, a court poet of King Harshavardhan, and it provides a detailed account of the king’s life and his rule.
Q. Who was the famous Chinese traveller who visited Harshavardhan’s court?
a). Marco Polo
b). Xuan Zang
c). Fa Hien
d). I-Tsing
Answer: b). b). Xuan Zang
Explanation: The famous Chinese traveler and scholar Hieun Tsang visited Harshavardhan’s court during his pilgrimage to India.
Q. Which ruler stopped Harshavardhan’s campaign to the south?
a). Pulakeshin II
b). Vikramaditya I
c). Mahendravarman I
d). Kumaragupta I
Answer: a). Pulakeshin II
Explanation: Harshavardhan’s southward campaign was halted by Pulakeshin II, the ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha in the Battle of the Narmada River, which prevented him from expanding further into the south.
Q. The Pallavas dynasty expanded their influence in which delta, known for its fertile land and agricultural significance?
a). Ganges Delta
b). Krishna Delta
c). Kaveri Delta
d). Mahanadi Delta
Answer: c). Kaveri Delta
Q. What was the capital of the Pallava dynasty?
a). Madurai
b). Kanchipuram
c). Ujjain
d). Pataliputra
Answer: b). Kanchipuram
Explanation: Kanchipuram, located in present-day Tamil Nadu, was the capital of the Pallava dynasty.
Q. Which dynasty succeeded the Pallava dynasty?
a). Chola Dynasty
b). Pandya Dynasty
c). Vijayanagara Dynasty
d). Chera Dynasty
Answer: a). Chola Dynasty
Q. What was the capital of the Chalukya dynasty during its early period?
a). Aihole
b). Kanchipuram
c). Hampi
d). Thanjavur
Answer: a). Aihole
Explanation: Chalukyas was centred around the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra.
Q. Who is the most well-known ruler of the Chalukya dynasty, renowned for his military conquests and cultural achievements?
a). Vikramaditya I
b). Pulakeshin II
c). Somesvara I
d). Kirtivarman I
Answer: b). Pulakeshin II
Explanation: Pulakeshin II checked the advance of Harsha.
Q. Which dynasty succeeded the Chalukya dynasty in South India?
a). Pallava Dynasty
b). Rashtrakuta dynasty
c). Pandya Dynasty
d). Vijayanagara Dynasty
Answer: b). Rashtrakuta dynasty
Q. Match the following titles with their respective roles or positions during the Gupta period:
1. Maha-danda-nayaka
2. Sandhi-vigrahika
3. Nagara-shreshthi
4. Prathama-kulika
a) Chief banker or merchant of the city
b) Chief craftsman
c) Chief judicial officer
d) Minister of war and peace
Options:
a) 1-c, 2-b, 3-d, 4-a
b) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d
c) 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b
d) 1-d, 2-b, 3-c, 4-a
Answer: c) 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b
Q. The leader of the merchant caravans in ancient India was known as:
a). Sarthavaha
b). Nagara Shreshthi
c). Ujjainika
d). Mahapratihara
Answer: a). Sarthavaha
Explanation: The Sarthavaha was the leader of merchant caravans in ancient India. He was responsible for organizing trade routes, managing goods, and ensuring the safe travel of merchants.
Q. During whose reign was the Samanta system a prominent feature?
a). Chandragupta Maurya
b). Harshavardhana
c). Ashoka
d). Samudragupta
Answer: b). Harshavardhana
Q. What was the main duty of Samantas under the king?
a). To collect taxes for themselves only
b). To maintain law and order and provide military support to the king
c). To perform temple rituals
d). To supervise trade routes
Answer: b). To maintain law and order and provide military support to the king
Explanation: Samantas managed their territories, maintained local administration, and supplied troops to the king during wars.
Q. How did Harsha pay his soldiers?
a). In gold coins only
b). In land grants instead of regular salary
c). In both cash and kind
d). In foreign currency obtained from trade
Answer: b). In land grants instead of regular salary
Explanation: Harsha often rewarded his soldiers and officials with land grants instead of paying them in cash.
Q. Match the following groups with their respective assemblies during the Pallava rule:
Group Assembly Name
1. Brahmins a. Nagaram
2. Ordinary villagers b. Sabha
3. Traders and merchants c. Ur
a). 1–b, 2–c, 3–a
b). 1–a, 2–b, 3–c
c). 1–c, 2–a, 3–b
d). 1–b, 2–a, 3–c
Answer: a). 1–b, 2–c, 3–a
Q. In which work did Kalidasa describe the eternal love between the characters Shakuntala and Dushyanta?
a). Raghuvamsa
b). Kumarasambhavam
c). Abhijnana Sakuntalam
d). Meghadutam
Answer: c). c). Abhijnana Sakuntalam
Explanation: c). Abhijnana Sakuntalam is the play by Kalidasa that describes the love story of Shakuntala and King Dushyanta. It is one of the most celebrated works in Sanskrit literature and has been adapted into various languages and art forms.
Q. Which Chinese traveller described the plight of untouchables in ancient India?
a). Fa-Xian
b). Xuan Zang
c). I-Tsing
d). Marco Polo
Answer: a). Fa-Xian
Q. Who is credited with introducing Islam in Arabia?
a). Ali ibn Abi Talib
b). Umar ibn al-Khattab
c). Prophet Muhammad
d). Abu Bakr
Answer: c). Prophet Muhammad
Explanation: Islam was a religion that laid stress on the equality and unity of all before Allah, the one supreme god.
Q. What is the sacred book of Islam called?
a). Bhagavad Gita
b). Bible
c). Quran
d). Torah
Answer: c). Quran