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. Preservation of the genealogies of the gods, Risis and famous kings, is the duty of the Sutas or bards. Which among the following says this ?
[A] Vishnu Puran
[B] Vayu Puran
[C] Skand Puran
[D] Skand Puran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vayu Puran]
Notes:
The Vayu Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas of Hinduism.The Vayu Purana discusses its theories of cosmology, genealogy of gods and kings of solar and lunar dynasties, mythology, geography, manvantaras, the solar system and the movements of the celestial bodies. It talks about Preservation of the genealogies of the gods, Risis and famous kings, is the duty of the Sutas or bards.
12. Which of the following era / communities represent Jorwe culture?
[A] Vedic Era
[B] Chalcolithic Era
[C] Palaeolithic Era
[D] Later vedic Era
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chalcolithic Era]
Notes:
Jorwe culture was a Chalcolithic archaeological culture mostly spread in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
13. The Elephanta caves have been mostly ascribed to which among the following dynasty?
[A] Chalukyas
[B] Cholas
[C] Rasthrakutas
[D] Pallavas
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rasthrakutas]
Notes:
Rashtrakuta dynasty is credited with building the Elephanta caves. The caves were constructed by cutting the walls of high basalt rock walls. The caves are located on an island in the Sea of Oman, close to Bombay. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contain a collection of rock art linked to the cult of Shiva.
The caves were completed in the second quarter of the 6th century. Contemporary scholars attribute the caves to king Krishnaraja of the Kalachuri dynasty. The caves were commissioned by the warrior king Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyas of the Badami dynasty.
The island was known as Gharapuri, or “place of caves”, in ancient times. The name Elephanta was given by 16th-century Portuguese explorers after seeing a monolithic basalt sculpture of an elephant near the entrance.
14. What is the vedic name of river Chenab?
[A] Bipasa
[B] Askini
[C] Satudri
[D] Chandni
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Askini ]
Notes:
Chenab River was called Asikni in the Rigveda. The name Asikni means “dark colored waters”. The Chenab River is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi. It runs through the Jammu area of J&K and into Pakistan’s Punjab plains.
15. Which of the following terms is not associated with a tool tradition of ancient India / World?
[A] Mousterian
[B] Acheulean
[C] Oldowan
[D] Grotian
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Grotian ]
Notes:
The Mousterian refers to a techno-complex (archaeological industry) of flint lithic tools associated primarily with Neanderthals. Acheulean refers to the ancient industry of stone tool manufacture characterized by distinctive oval and pear-shaped “hand-axes” associated with Homo erectus and related species. Oldowan is the oldest-known stone tool industry and dates back as far as 2.5 million years ago. The term Grotian is related to international law and does not related to ancient stone tool industries.
16. Lothal is the excavation site of which of the following civilizations?
[A] Indus Valley Civilisation
[B] Sumerians
[C] Mesopotamians
[D] Vedic Aryan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Indus Valley Civilisation]
Notes:
Lothal is famous for the discovery of several ruins of Indus Valley Civilization. Lothal is located between the Sabarmati River and its tributary Bhogavo, in the Saurasthra region. The people of Lothal made significant and often unique contributions to human civilisation in the Indus era, in the fields of city planning, art, architecture, science, engineering, pottery and religion. Their work in metallurgy, seals, beads and jewellery was the basis of their prosperity.
17. Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?
[A] These are highly polished
[B] These are monolithic
[C] The shaft of pillars is tapering in shape
[D] These are parts of architectural structures
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [These are parts of architectural structures]
Notes:
Ashoka stone pillars were meant to spread his Dhamma (not the part of architectural structure.) The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka during his reign from c. 268 to 232 BC. The pillars of Ashoka are among the earliest known stone sculptural remains from India.
18. Which Harappan site has a stone fortification with square bastions at the corners and in the center of the longer sides?
[A] Sutkagendor
[B] Mohenjadaro
[C] Amri
[D] Banwali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Sutkagendor]
Notes:
The site of Sutkagen Dor located in Baluchistan, Pakistan near the Iranian border has remains of a unique stone fortification around the settlement with square projections or bastions at the corners and midpoint of its long walls. The walls protected the town located near an important coastal trade route. The bastions gave additional defensive capability allowing guards to monitor multiple angles, and target attackers attempting to scale the walls. Such large defenses imply maintaining control over a strategically located outpost was important.
19. Which of the following practice was not followed by the Indus people?
[A] Worship of trees, animals and birds
[B] Worship of idols of different gods
[C] Belief in ghosts and evil spirits
[D] Belief in life hereafter as suggested by the burial practices of the rich
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Worship of idols of different gods]
Notes:
No temples or large idols have been found at major Indus sites indicating worship through fire rituals, veneration of animals, trees, spirits – but no idol worship. Male deities resembling proto-Shiva, goddess figurines provide some clues but practices seemed more diffuse, less institutionalized.
20. Atharva Veda is divided into ho many kandas or books?
[A] 15
[B] 17
[C] 19
[D] 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [20]
Notes:
The Atharva Veda which is a collection of magic spells and charms to ward off the evil spirits and diseases is the last Veda and is considered a non-Aryan work. It is divided into 20 kandas or books which contain 711 hymns.
