Ancient Indian History MCQs

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Hsuan Tsang visited the kingdom of Pulkshein II. Hsuan Tsang describes that even though Pulkeshin II was Hindu, he was tolerant towards Buddhism and Jainism. Pulkhein II sent an embassy to Persian king Khusro II.

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Vikramaditya came to power in 1076 A.D. He founded a new era known which was known as Chalukya-Vikramakala and which started in 1076 AD only. He ruled for about 50 years.

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To commemorate the victory over the Pala ruler, Mahipal I, and the Western Chalukyas, Rajendra I assumed the title of Gangaikondachola and established a new capital named Gangaikondacholapuram. He also built a Shiva temple here and excavated a tank called Chodagarg.

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Maravarman Avanisulamani was the son and successor of King Kadungon. He ruled the Pandya dynasty from about 620 to 645 CE. Maravarman Avanisulamani played a key role in restoring Pandya power after the Kalabhra interregnum in South India. Records mention him as an early medieval ruler from present-day Tamil Nadu.

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Alexander, the Great captured the ancient city of Herat, Afghanistan in 330 B.C and built it’s ancient citadel. Alexander had his only son with a beautiful woman named Roxanne who is from the Balkhan province of Afghanistan.

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Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram were built under the Pallavas in the 7th and 8th centuries.

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‘Prince of pilgrims’ Hieun Tsang, the well-known Chinese traveller was a Buddhist scholar who visited India in the 7th century A.D., (630-644 A.D). He came to India to visit all the places connected with the life of the Buddha, to further his knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and to collect Buddhist manuscripts. The writings of this `prince of pilgrims` gives historians much authentic information about the political, social, economic and religious conditions of those days and in particular about the status of Buddhism in various kingdoms.

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Dhamek Stupa is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Dhamek Stupa is said to mark the spot where the Buddha gave the first sermon to his first five brahmin disciples after attaining enlightenment,“revealing his Eightfold Path leading to nirvana.”

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Arikamedu (in Puducherry ) was a coastal settlement where ships unloaded goods from distant lands. A massive brick structure, which may have been a warehouse, was found at the site.

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Fire had a very important role in the life of primitive people as it was useful in cooking, burning forest and fighting animals etc. Hence, Agni is the second most important Rig Vedic god as there are roughly 200 hymns dedicated to him. Many of the rituals during that time involved offering oblations in a burning fire. Agni was termed as an intermediary between the god and the people because the oblations offered in the fire during a ritual were supposed to be carried to the gods in the form of smoke. Hence, option d is correct.