Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
The Shatapatha / Satapatha Brahmana is a commentary on the Śukla Yajurveda. It is described as the most complete, systematic, and important of the Brahmanas. It contains details of cultivation process along with detailed explanations of Vedic sacrificial rituals, symbolism, and mythology.

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Charak was a contemporary of King Kanishka. Charak was a member of Kanishka’s court and is known as the “Father of Indian Medicine”. Charak was a major contributor to Ayurveda and is famous for writing the Charak Samhita.  Kanishka was the king of the Kushan dynasty, which ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia. Other scholars in Kanishka’s court included Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, and Mathara.

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Harsha (c. 590–647 CE), also known as Harshavardhana, was an Indian emperor who ruled North India. His biography Harshacharita (“Deeds of Harsha”) written by Sanskrit poet Banabhatta describes his association with Thanesar, besides mentioning the defence wall, a moat and the palace with a two-storied Dhavalagriha.

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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.

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The Greeks introduced the practice of military governorship in India. They appointed governors called “strategos”. Alexander is said to have left these military governors in the areas he won and ruled.
The term “strategos” is Greek for military general. In the Hellenistic world and the Eastern Roman Empire, it was also used to describe a military governor. In the modern Hellenic Army, it is the highest officer rank.

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Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin II was written by the Ravikirti, royal poet at the court of Chalukya King. Pulakeshi II ruled from 610 to 642 CE.

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Rummindei Pillar Inscription says that The Beloved of the Gods, the king Piyadassi, when he had been consecrated twenty years, came in person find referenced the place where Buddha Sakyamuni was born. He caused a stone enclosure to be made and a stone pillar to be erected. As the Lord was born here in the village of Lumbini, he has exempted it from tax, and fixed its contribution [i.e. Of grain] at one-eigth.

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The Saka Era was founded by Kanishka, the emperor of Kushana empire from the year 78 A.D. The Shaka era is a historical calendar era, corresponding to Julian year 78. It is commonly known in Indian languages as Shalivahana Śaka.

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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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Chalcolithic period saw the use of the metals among which the Copper was first. Chalcolithic period is also known as Eneolithic period.