Ancient Indian History MCQs
Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient Indian History for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
1. Who was the first Saka king in India?
[A] Moga
[B] Rudradaman
[C] Azes
[D] Ghatotkacha
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Correct Answer: A [ Moga ]
Notes:
An Indo-Scythian king, Moga (or Maues) was the first Saka king in India who established Saka power in Gandhara and extended supremacy over north-western India.
2. With which among the following places, the twenty third Jain Tirthankara was associated?
[A] Vaishali
[B] Kausambi
[C] Varanasi
[D] Sravasti
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Correct Answer: C [ Varanasi ]
Notes:
The 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Lord Parshvanath was closely associated with Varanasi. He was born there to the ruling king and queen. After becoming an ascetic, he travelled widely but eventually returned to Varanasi for meditation and penance. He attained enlightenment under a tree on Sammet Shikhar near Varanasi. A famous Parshvanath temple stands at that site even today, which remains an important place of pilgrimage for Jains worldwide.
3. Dashkumarcharitam was composed by whom?
[A] Bharavi
[B] Dandin
[C] Varahmihira
[D] Kalidas
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Correct Answer: B [ Dandin ]
Notes:
Dashkumarcharitam was composed by Dandin, who was a Sanskrit author of prose romances and expounder on poetics in the 6th-7th century. The book, Dashkumarcharitam is a prose romance in Sanskrit that describes the adventures of ten young men, the Kumaras, all of whom are either princes or sons of royal ministers, as narrated by the men themselves.
4. Which Greek ruler sent Dionysuis as an ambassador in the court of Patliputra?
[A] Selecus Nicator
[B] Antiochus I
[C] Potlemy Phildelphos
[D] Antigonas
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Correct Answer: C [ Potlemy Phildelphos ]
Notes:
The Egyptian ruler, Ptolemy II Philadelphus had sent Dionysuis as an ambassador in the court of either Bindusara or Asoka.
5. Under whose reign the Chinese traveller Fa-hein came to India?
[A] Samudragupta
[B] Kumargupta I
[C] Skandgupta
[D] Chandragupta II
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Chandragupta II ]
Notes:
Fa-hein, the first Chinese Buddhist traveller and monk, came to India during the reign of Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and wrote the book “Si- Yu-Ki” that gives the detail account of the political and social condition of that time.
6. Which of the following are the famous temples of Gupta empire?
[A] Mukund Darra Temple, Kota
[B] Dasavtar Temple, Jhansi
[C] Vishnu Temple, Tigawa
[D] All of the above
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Correct Answer: D [ All of the above ]
Notes:
The famous temples of Gupta Age are as follows: a) Vishnu Temple, Tigawa(Jabalpur) b) Shiva Temple, Bhumara(Nagaud) c) Parvati Temple, Nachria Kuthara d) Dasavtar Temple, Deogarh(Jhansi) e) Shiva Temple, Koh(Nagaland) f) Bhitragaon Temple, Bhitragaon g) Lakshman Temple, Kanpur(Brick made) h) Lakshman Temple, Sirpur (Raipur) i) Mukund Darra Temple, Kota j) Dhammekh Temple, Sarnath k) Jarasangh’s Sitting, Rajgrih (Bihar)
7. Who among the following is compiled the work “Ravanavadham”?
[A] Bhatti
[B] Kalidasa
[C] Bhasa
[D] Banabhatta
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Correct Answer: A [Bhatti]
Notes:
Bhatti compiled the work “Ravanavadham”. It is the most influential version of Ramayanam.
8. What was the profession of Karmara in Vedic age?
[A] Blacksmith
[B] Potter
[C] Ratha (Chariot ) Makers
[D] Goldsmith
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Correct Answer: A [Blacksmith]
Notes:Some of the ancient professions and their names are as follows:
- Karmara – Blacksmith
- Takshan – Carpenter
- Vapta – Barber
- Charmana – Tanner
- Hiranayakara – Goldsmith
- Tantuvaya – weaver
9. Which of the following era / communities represent Jorwe culture?
[A] Vedic Era
[B] Chalcolithic Era
[C] Palaeolithic Era
[D] Later vedic Era
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Correct Answer: B [Chalcolithic Era]
Notes:
Jorwe culture was a Chalcolithic archaeological culture mostly spread in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
10. Which of the following rulers were closely associated with Yuehzhi nomadic people?
[A] Shaka
[B] Kushana
[C] Pahalva
[D] None of them
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Kushana ]
Notes:
The term Yuehzhi refers to nomadic people originally living in northwest China who moved to Central Asia in circa second century BC. The Kushana were a branch of these people, who reached the subcontinent in circa first century BCE.
