Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Sutkagendor in Baluchistan province of western Pakistan is the northernmost known site of the Indus Valley Civilization, located about 300 km west of Mohenjodaro. It was occupied between 2600 BCE and 1900 BCE. The site shows cultural continuity from early to mature Harappan phases with typical artifacts. Its strategic location shows the northwestward extent of Indus cultural influence.

Notes:
The Aranyakas are called the ‘forest books’ as they were mainly written by the hermits living in the jungles for their pupils. The Aranyakas deal with mysticism and philosophy. They oppose sacrifice.

Notes:
Ajivika sect was founded by Makkhali Gosala. Ajivikas wore no clothes. They were ascetic monks who lived in organised groups. They did not practice caste discrimination and people from all walks of life joined them.

Notes:
According to the Buddhist text known as Anguttara Nikaya the land between Himalayas and Narmada was divided into 16 independent states called as the Mahajanapadas. Mahajanapadas were large territorial states in North India.

Notes:
Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler who tried to consolidate small fragmented kingdoms and combined them to form the first empire of the Indian subcontinent. He was also Called Sandrocottus by the Greek scholar William Jones.

Notes:
In the Mauryan period, the kings directly dealt with the question of exemption of land from land tribute. The state officials such as the revenue collectors made a direct assessment of the land under cultivation. The villages that were exempted from taxation were called as Pariharaka.

Notes:
In the Mauryan period we can see that the material culture rapidly developed in the Gangetic plains. The new material culture which developed in the Gangetic valley revolved around the use of iron and iron implements.

Notes:
Trade started across the sea between India and the Eastern Roman Empires. Among the ports, the important ones were Broach, Sopara, Arikamedu, and Tamralipti. Broach, in particular, was the most important not only for exporting goods, but also for receiving them.

Notes:
The earliest Shaka ruler was Maues (80-65 BC) or Moga. He established Shaka power in Gandhara region. His capital was known as ‘’Sirkap’’ and he issued a large number of copper coins and few silver coins.

Notes:
Vima Kadphises was the second ruler of the Kushanas. He was an important ruler of the Kushanas as he integrated central Asia with north India as a part of a single empire. It resulted in the intermingling of different cultures and an increase in inter-regional trading.