Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Brihadrata was assassinated in 185 BCE during a military parade, by the commander-in-chief of his guard, the Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the throne and established the Sunga dynasty. Brihadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, held territories that had shrunk considerably from the time of emperor Ashoka, although he still upheld the Buddhist faith.

Notes:
In the Vedic era, the river Ghaggar-Hakra, which flowed through parts of present-day Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab in India, and Cholistan in Pakistan, was known as “Drishdvati” or “Drishadvati.” The Ghaggar-Hakra river system was an important river during the Vedic period and is mentioned in ancient Hindu texts such as the Rig Veda, Mahabharata, and Puranas.
It was one of the major rivers along which the early Vedic people settled and established their civilization. However, the Ghaggar-Hakra river system lost its prominence over time due to a number of factors, including tectonic activity and climate change. The river gradually dried up, leaving behind a dry channel that can still be seen today.

Notes:
Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, did not explicitly affirm or deny the existence of God. His teachings focused on personal enlightenment and the Four Noble Truths, emphasizing individual experience over theological speculation. This approach led to interpretations that he neither accepted nor rejected the concept of God, aligning with the agnostic stance. Buddhism generally does not center around a creator deity, distinguishing it from many other religions.

Notes:
Buddhism in Nepal started spreading since the reign of Ashoka through Indian and Tibetan missionaries. The Kiratas were the first people in Nepal who embraced Gautama Buddha’s teachings, followed by the Licchavis and Newars. Lumbini is considered to lie in present-day Rupandehi district, Lumbini zone of Nepal.

Notes:
The Nalanda Mahavihara site is in the State of Bihar, in north-eastern India. Its archeological remains is found in the vicinity of a village called ‘Bara Gaon’. The remains comprises of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE. It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone and metal.

Notes:
Narasimhavarman ruled from AD 630-668 and was considered the greatest of the Pallava Kings. He sent two naval expeditions to Ceylon. His greatest achievement however was the three successive triumphs over the Chalukya King Pulakesin II and annexed Vatapi to his kingdom.

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.

Notes:
The Saka Era was founded by Kanishka, the emperor of Kushana Empire from the year 78 A.D. The year of the modern Saka Calendar is tied to the Gregorian date of 22 March every year, except in Gregorian leap years when it starts on 21 March.

Notes:
Nirukta means “explained, interpreted” and refers to one of the six ancient Vedangas, or ancillary science connected with the Vedas – the scriptures of Hinduism.

Notes:
Alexander Cunningham is the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). He is often called as the father of Indian archaeology.