Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
The Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaisali (or Vaishali), an ancient city in what is now the state of Bihar under the patronage of King Kalasoka while it was presided by Sabakami. Buddhism was divided into Sthaviravada and second Mahasamghikas.

Notes:
The archaeological site of Mohenjo-Daro is located on the banks of the River Indus in the Larkana District of Pakistan. Mohenjo-Daro is one of the most prominent and well-preserved sites of the Indus Valley Civilization, which thrived around 2600-1900 BCE. This ancient city is known for its sophisticated urban planning, advanced drainage system, and evidence of a highly organized society. It is a crucial site for understanding the history and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Notes:
Vijayalaya, the founder of the Chola dynasty, conquered the kingdom of Tanjore in 850 AD, which then became the capital of the Chola Kingdom. The city of Tanjore, also known as Thanjavur, is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is an important center of South Indian art, architecture, and religion, and was at the heart of the Chola empire, one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the world’s history.

Notes:
The Gandhara school of art came into existence in Mahayana sect. Mahayana sect believes in idols worship of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. The Gandhara School of art had also developed in first century AD along with Mathura School during reign of Kushana emperor Kanishka

Notes:
The term Neolithic Period refers to the last stage of the Stone Age when cereal cultivation and animal domestication was introduced. Towards the end of the Neolithic era, copper metallurgy is introduced, which marks a transition period to the Bronze Age, sometimes referred to as the Chalcolithic or Eneolithic Era.

Notes:
The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

1. Megasthanese visited India from 302–298 BC.
2. Fa-Hien visited India from 405–411 CE.
3. Hieun-Tsang visited India from 630–645CE.
4. I-Tsing visited India from 671–695 CE.

Notes:
It is the largest monument in Halebidu. The temple was built on the banks of a large man-made lake, and sponsored by King Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysala Empire. Its construction started around 1121 CE and was complete in 1160 CE.
Hoysala temples have features of both open (outer mantapa) and closed mantapa (innner mantapa). The ceilings of the mantapa are highly ornate bearing mythological figures and floral design.

Notes:
The Harappan bricks, which were integral construction materials in their cities, were mainly handmade. Standardized brick sizes in ratio of 1:2:4 have been documented, indicating organized town planning policies were implemented. Brick making involved preparing the clay, molding into shape, drying in the sun and finally baking into strength in kilns.

Notes:
There is no definitive evidence so far of sugarcane cultivation from any Harappan settlements. However, remains of wheat, barley, pulses, peas, sesame, cotton, dates, melons and Indian mainland millets have been confirmed through storage jars, grains, husks, leaves and artistic depictions. This indicates the Indus people practiced diverse agriculture with major staple cereal crops, fiber plants and fruits suited to the landscape.

Notes:
The archaeological site of Burzahom located in the Kashmir Valley has revealed unique evidence of the custom of placing domesticated dogs alongside human remains in graves dated to around 3000 BCE – a practice atypical in early Indian tradition but seen in Central Asia. This burial treatment to dogs implies their value possibly as work animals or even companions deserving ceremonial interment with deceased owners at this formative village predating the mature Harappan phase.