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. Which among the following was used to create sculptures in the Mathura school of art that flourished around 1st century AD?
[A] Marble
[B] State stone
[C] Granite
[D] Red sandstone
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Red sandstone]
Notes:
The Mathura school of art is developed under the Kushanas. The material used for the construction is Spotted Red Sandstone.
12. What was the name given to Ravi river by historians of Alexander?
[A] Hydasphus
[B] Hydraster
[C] Arjikiya
[D] Vipasha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Hydraster ]
Notes:
Ravi river was called as ‘Hydraster’ and ‘Rhouadis’ by the historians of Alexander.
13. Who among the following advocated the philosophy of Vishista Advaita ?
[A] Sankaradeva
[B] Madhvacharya
[C] Nimbarka
[D] Ramanuja
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ramanuja]
Notes:
The philosophy of Vishista Advaita is known as Qualified Non-dualism (or qualified monism or attributive monism.). This philosophy was advocated by Ramanuja, who belongs to the village of Perumbudur, Tamilnadu. According to him, the relationship between individual and the divine is that of a part and the whole. Both have distinct quality. They are not identical, but everytjing conscious and un-conscious exits in the Divine.
14. In which sect, Gandhara school of art came into existence?
[A] Hinayana sect
[B] Vaishnava sect
[C] Shaiva sect
[D] Mahayana sect
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Mahayana sect]
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
15. Which astronomer’s treatise was named ‘Panchasiddhantika’?
[A] Varahamihira
[B] Aryabhatta
[C] Gargi
[D] Brahma Gupta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Varahamihira]
Notes:
Varahamihira wrote Panchasiddhantika(Five schools of Astronomy) in which he focused on three different branches of astronomy as studied during the period and they were; astronomy and mathematics, astrology.
16. Which Satvahana ruler adopted the title Tri-samudra-toya-pita-vahana?
[A] Vashishtiputra Pulumayi
[B] Gautamiputra Sri Satkarni
[C] Simuka
[D] Yajnasri Satkarni
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gautamiputra Sri Satkarni]
Notes:
Gautamiputra Sri Satakarni adopted the title Tri-samudra-toya-pita-vahana. Tri-samudra-toya-pita-vahana meant the ruler whose subjects drank the water of the three seas of the east, west and south viz. today’s Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
17. Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?
[A] Chaturvedimangalam
[B] Parishad
[C] Ashtadikgaja
[D] Manigrama
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Manigrama]
Notes:
A manigramam was a large, influential guild of South Indian merchants during the period of Western Chalukyan rulers in 10th – 12th Century CE.
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. Who among the following named the Indus valley civilization as the ‘Harappan civilization’ after the name of the Indus site of Harappa?
[A] Dr Sankhalia
[B] Dr S R Rao
[C] Sir ME M Wheeler
[D] Sir John Marshall
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Sir John Marshall]
Notes:
Sir John Marshall- Director-General of the ASI from 1902–1928 led to organisation of its work structure and departments. In the 1920s, he named the newly discovered Indus Valley civilization after Harappa, the first site excavated in Sahni’s 1921 work, thus giving the entire culture its nomenclature as the ‘Harappan civilization’.
20. Which of the following Indus site is located on the bank of Indus?
[A] Chanhudaro
[B] Banwali
[C] Lothal
[D] Ropar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chanhudaro]
Notes:
Chanhudaro is located on the bank of Indus.
Banawali is located on the bank of Sarasvati.
Lothal is located on the bank of Bhogava.
Ropar is located on the bank of Sutlej.
