Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
The famous book ‘Brihat Katha’ was written by Gunadhya, who was the great scholar in the court of Satvahana King Hala.

Notes:
The second Buddhist Council took place at Vaishali in 383 BC. It was presided by Sabakami under Kalasoka of Shisunga dynatsy to settle down dispute between two opposing groups of monks of Vaishali and Patliputra and monks of Kausambi and Avanti regarding the code of discipline.

Notes:
The Dashavatara Temple or Vishnu Temple also called Gupta temple at Deogarh. It was built in the Gupta Period (320 to c. 600 AD ). Archaeologists have inferred that it is the earliest known Panchayatana temple in North India. A hindu temple is a Panchayatana one when the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines.

Notes:
Hunting animals and gathering wild fruits, vegetables and plants were the main occupations of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. They did not practice organized agriculture and were nomadic, moving from place to place for sustenance. Stone tools found at sites like Hunsgi Valley, Kurnool Caves, and Bhimbetka were probably used for skinning animals and cutting meat.

Notes:
In the Puranas, the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka is referred as Ashokavardhana. However, in the Rudradaman’s Junagarh rock edict, the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka is mentioned as Asoka Maurya.

Notes:
Arasar is a Tamil word used to refer to the rulers or kings of the Sangam period in ancient South India. The Sangam period spanned from the 6th century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The Sangam period refers to the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and parts of Sri Lanka.

The term “arasar” can also refer to the ruling class. The other castes in the Sangam period were:

• Anthanar, who played a significant role in the Sangam polity and religion
• Vanigar, who carried on trade and commerce
• Vellalar, who were agriculturists

The Sangam period dynasties were the Cheras, Cholas, and Pandyas. Important rulers included Cheran Senguttuvan, Karikala, and Neduncheliyan.

Notes:
Pushyamitra Sunga laid the foundation of Sunga Dynasty by assassinating Brihadratha Maurya (the last ruler of the Mauryan Empire). He was Commander-in-Chief in the army of Mauryan Emperor. Pushyamitra Sunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. Devabhuti, the last ruler of the Sunga dynasty, was overthrown by Vasudeva who founded Kanva dynasty in 75 BC.

Notes:
Yajurveda is the book of sacrificial prayers.The world’s oldest prose literature of the Indo-Europeans is contained in Yajurveda.. There are two primary versions or Samhitas of the Yajurveda : Shukla(white) and Krishna(black) This implies that the Krishna Yajurveda includes the Brahmana prose discussions within the Samhita (no Brahman) while the Shukla Yajurveda has separately a Brahmana text, Shatapatha.

Notes:
Malavikagnimitram is the Sanskrit play, which depicts Agnimitra as its hero. Malvika is a maid servant whom Agnimitra falls in love. This was known to his chief queen, who imprisions her. Later it was known that Malvika was of a royal birth and she was accepted as queen of Agnimitra. Malavikagnimitram gives account of Rajsuya Yajna of Pushyamitra Shunga, father of Agnimitra.

Notes:
Nigantha Nataputta refers to Mahavira. A Nirgrantha refers to Jains. A person who has attained kevalya can be a nirgrantha.