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.
11. Who among the following is compiled the work “Ravanavadham”?
[A] Bhatti
[B] Kalidasa
[C] Bhasa
[D] Banabhatta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bhatti]
Notes:
Bhatti compiled the work “Ravanavadham”. It is the most influential version of Ramayanam.
12. Who was Queen Trishala?
[A] Mother of Mahavira
[B] Mother of Gautam Buddha
[C] Mother of Kanishka
[D] Mother of Ashoka
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Correct Answer: A [Mother of Mahavira]
Notes:
Queen Trishala, also known as Trishala Devi, was the mother of Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara in Jainism. As per Jain texts, Trishala carried Mahavira in her womb for over a year and had a number of auspicious dreams indicating the divine nature of the unborn child. Trishala’s husband was King Siddhartha of Kundalpur in the Kingdom of the Videhas.
13. Which among the following has been used in the sculptures of Mathura school of Art?
[A] Red Sandstone
[B] Marble
[C] Granite
[D] Clay
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Correct Answer: A [Red Sandstone]
Notes:
The Mathura school of art is developed under the Kushans. The material used for the construction is Spotted Red Sandstone.
14. The ancient city of Raj Griha which is modern Rajgir near Patna was built by which of the following kings?
[A] Bimbisara
[B] Ajatshatru
[C] Prasenjit
[D] Ashoka
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Correct Answer: A [Bimbisara]
Notes:
The ancient city of Rajgriha which is modern Rajgir near Patna was built by Bimbisara. Bimbisāra also known as Seniya or Shrenika in the Jain histories was a King of Magadha and belonged to the Haryanka dynasty. He was the son of Bhattiya.
15. Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Gur Rimpoche) venerated as the representative reincarnate of Buddha. In which part of India it is held every year?
[A] Himachal Pradesh
[B] Assam
[C] Ladakh
[D] Orissa
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Correct Answer: C [Ladakh]
Notes:
The Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Gur Rimpoche) venerated as the representative reincarnate of Buddha. He is believed to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Shakia Muni Buddha
16. Which among the following is correct about Bhaddasala?
[A] He was a poet in the court of Chandragupta Maurya
[B] He was the general of the Nanda Army
[C] He was an ambassador of Ceylon King sent to Asoka’s court
[D] He was a playwright in the Gupta Era
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [He was the general of the Nanda Army]
Notes:
Bhaddasala was a general of the Nanda Army. The Nanda dynasty, preceding the Maurya Empire, was known for its wealth and military strength. Chandragupta Maurya later overthrew the Nandas to establish the Maurya Empire, which became one of the largest empires in ancient India. The Nandas were important for their administrative innovations and for laying the groundwork for Mauryan rule.
17. Which city was the capital of the Chola Kingdom?
[A] Tanjore
[B] Badami
[C] Vatapi
[D] Kanchi
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Correct Answer: A [Tanjore]
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.
18. The Gandhara School of Art flourished during which of the following periods?
[A] Satavahanas
[B] Guptas
[C] Mauryas
[D] Kushans
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Correct Answer: D [Kushans]
Notes:
The Kushan period is considered the Golden Period of Gandhara. Peshawar Valley and Taxila are littered with ruins of stupas and monasteries of this period. Gandharan art flourished and produced some of the best pieces of sculpture from the Indian subcontinent.
19. Which of the following rulers welcomed Magasthenes?
[A] Ashoka
[B] Harsha
[C] Chandragupta Maurya
[D] Vikramaditya
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Correct Answer: C [Chandragupta Maurya]
Notes:
Chandragupta Maurya welcomed Magasthenes. A clear picture of his Maurya administration is derived from two most important sources of history, namely, Kautilya’s Arthasastra and the Indika of Megasthenes.
20. Which one of the following archaeologists initially discovered the Mohenjo-Daro site of the Indus valley civilization?
[A] Sujohu Marshall
[B] Daya Ram Sahni
[C] Rakhal Das Banerji
[D] Sir Mortimer Wheeler
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rakhal Das Banerji]
Notes:
Mohenjo-Daro was discovered in 1922 by R. D. Banerji, an officer of the Archaeological Survey of India, two years after major excavations had begun at Harappa, some 590 km to the north. Large-scale excavations were carried out at the site under the direction of John Marshall, K. N.
