Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
The four Mattas, positioned in four directions of India i.e north, south, east, and west, were founded by Adi Shankara, the Indian philosopher in the early 8th century AD. These four Mattas are located in Sringeri in Karnataka, Puri in Orissa, Dwarka in Gujarat, and Jyotirmath in Uttarakhand respectively. This was part of his strategy to bring unity in a spiritually divided India during that time.

Notes:
Mimānsā is a Sanskrit word that means “reflection” or “critical investigation” and thus refers to a tradition of contemplation which reflected on the meanings of certain Vedic texts. It is anti-ascetic and anti-mysticist.

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Lothal, located in modern day Gujarat, India, is the only major Harappan city whose ruins clearly show an outer wall of baked bricks surrounding both its citadel mound and lower town. This indicates organized urban planning with a defensive perimeter wall to protect residents. Given Lothal’s coastal location, the wall provided security and control of river trade access. Uniform organization of housing also indicates governance policies and administration were practiced in Harappan cities over 4000 years ago.

Notes:
Beads unearthed from multiple Harappan sites indicate the majority were made from carnelian, a reddish-orange variant of mineral quartz. Small drill holes allowed stringing into necklaces and ornaments worn by people as decorative jewellery or status symbols. Rich variety of materials used – like faience, steatite, agate, coral – also showcase specialized craft skills.

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The early Harappan settlement at Kot Diji dating back to 2800 BCE was ultimately destroyed by devastating fires that ravaged parts of the site. Archaeologists have found successive layers of fiery destruction indicating the settlement was attacked and set ablaze by fire on multiple occasions between 2600 BCE and 2400 BCE before being abandoned.

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The most important Brahmana  which is the attechted to the Yajur Veda called the Satpatha Brahmana is the most exhaustive. It recommends ‘one hundred sacred paths’. Each of the Vedas has several Brahmanas attached to it.

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The Aranyakas are called the ‘forest books’ as they were mainly written by the hermits living in the jungles for their pupils. The Aranyakas deal with mysticism and philosophy. They oppose sacrifice.

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During the Later Vedic period changes in the material life of people naturally resulted in a change in their attitude towards the gods and goddesses as well. The two most important Gods of the Rig Vedic times, Indra and Agni, lost their importance and instead of them, Prajapati also known as the creator became supreme.

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During the sixth century BCE the centre of economic and political activity shifted from the North-West, Punjab, Haryana, and Western UP, to Eastern UP and Bihar, that is, the Ganga Basin.

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Bindusara was the second ruler of the Mauryan Empire. Different Greek sources mention that he had diplomatic relations with western kings. According to Strabo, Antiochus (Syrian king) sent Deimachus as an ambassador to Bindusara’s court.