Ancient Indian History MCQs

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The Nalanda University was founded by Gupta emperor Kumargupta I. He adopted the title of Mahendraditya. It was established in 5th century.

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In Theravada Buddhism, the Patimokkha is the basic code of monastic discipline,. It consists of 227 rules for fully ordained monks (bhikkhus) and 311 for nuns (bhikkhunis). It is contained in the Suttavibhanga, a division of the Vinaya Pitaka.

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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.

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After making a public speech calling everyone in his kingdom his children, he set out to help them. He began by building roads, rest hourses, hospitals and by making stone pillars with virtues on them, planting mango groves, and making shelters. He also became a vegetarian and limited Hindu animal sacrifices, but encouraged a tolerance in religion.

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Paithan, formerly Pratiṣṭhana, is a town with municipal council in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, India. Paithan is located 56 kilometres south of present-day Aurangabad on the Godavari River. It was the capital of the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled from the second century BCE to the second century CE.

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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.

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Bricks and weights were perhaps the most standardized products manufactured in the Harappan civilization. Standardized sizes of bricks in ratio of 1:2:4 have been documented. Uniform weights based on binary system have been found, implying established trade practices and regulated urban industries governed by administrative policies for greater economic integration across the far-flung Harappan domain.

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The most standard identifiable features of houses and residences excavated at major Harappan urban centers like Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira and Harappa itself include their brick and mortar construction often following grid patterns, rectangular design around a central courtyard, entrance passages, dedicated bathing areas, brick lined wells and covered drainage channels. Flat timber roofs supported on wooden beams were also typical across Harappan settlements. These reflect advanced architectural planning suiting the climate.

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Harappan stone sculptures were fashioned from materials like steatite, a form of soapstone which has a soft consistency allowing easy carving. Many figurines of women, animals and men, some seemingly engaged in ritual worship, have been found carved from steatite. This indicates skilled craftsmanship specialized in delicate stonework.

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During the Later Vedic period agriculture emerged as the chief means of livelihood. Large areas of forests were cleared by burning trees the mention of which is found in the Satapatha Brahamana. Cultivation was done by the plough.