Ancient Indian History MCQs

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The Gupta civilization took pride in its education system and its mathematics in the ancient world. The number system that they created – which is now known as the ‘Arabic’ numeral system, was based on the number zero. The Gupta civilization was also very advanced in herbal medicine.

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There are 1000 hymns in the Rigveda, most of them dedicated to specific deities. Indra, a heroic god, slayer of Vritra and destroyer of the Vala, liberator of the cows and the rivers; Agni the sacrificial fire and messenger of the gods; and Soma, the ritual drink dedicated to Indra, are the most prominent deities.

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A manigramam was a large, influential guild of South Indian merchants during the period of Western Chalukyan rulers in 10th – 12th Century CE.

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Pit dwellings have been found in Gufkral in Kashmir and in Loe Banr and Kalako-deray in the Swat valley.

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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.

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Double burials, the practice of burying one male and one female in the same grave, have been evidenced at the Harappan site of Lothal in Gujarat indicating possible family ties. This is in contrast to the primary method of interring the dead individually. The double burial practice was likely not the norm but shows some variance in funeral customs existed. Lothal’s dockyard, bead factories and large warehouse buildings signify its role as a prominent trade center of the maritime Harappan networks.

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Bones and remains of camels have been found at the Harappan Civilization site of Kalibangan located along the dried river bed of the Ghaggar-Harka in Hanumangarh district of northern Rajasthan, India. This suggests the single-humped dromedary camel was present or traded during the Mature Harappan period in the third millennium BCE, much earlier than previously assumed. Camel figurines and motifs are also known from IVC artifacts.

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Major exports helping the Indus economy develop extensive trade networks with West Asia included cotton textiles, ornate terracotta pottery and some metal ware. Their fine quality crafts production would have had high demand. Importing stone, timber further enabled urban manufacturing industries in return.

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The Indus Valley people obtained copper from the Khetri mines located in the northeastern part of Rajasthan. Archaeological evidence suggests the mines were in operation during the Mature Harappan phase between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE. Ore was brought to the valley civilization sites and melted in furnaces to produce both tools and decorative items. Copper was a prized metal used extensively in urban Harappan centers.

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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.