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Ancient History MCQs – 10 ( Post Maurya Period )

Post Maurya Period MCQs with answers and explanations for preparation of UPSC, State PSCs and other Examinations

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1. The last Mauryan king was ?

A. Chandragupta
B. Ashoka
C. Brihadratha
D. Bindusara

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [C] Brihadratha

Brihadratha was the last king of the Mauryas. He was killed by his army chief Pushyamitra Sunga.
Pushyamitra Sunga established the Sunga Dynasty. He followed Brahmanism and some accounts portray him as a persecutor of Buddhists and a destroyer of stupas.
Pushyamitra Sunga performed vedic sacrifices such as Ashvamedha, Rajasuya and Vajapeya.
The language of Sanskrit gained more prominence during this time.
Pushyamitra was a brave warrior. He successfully repelled two Greek attacks from the north western side by Demetrius and Meander.

2. Pushyamitra Sunga was succeeded by ?

A. Vasumitra
B. Ashoka
C. Brihadratha
D. Agnimitra

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [D] Agnimitra

Agnimitra was Pushyamitra’s son who succeeded him to the throne.
His reign lasted from about 149 BC to 141 BC.
He is the hero of Kalidasa’s famous poem ‘Malavikagnimitram’.

3. The last Sunga king was ?

A. Vasumitra
B. Devabhuti
C. Brihadratha
D. Agnimitra

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [B] Devabhuti

The last Sunga king was Devabhuti.
Devabhuti was killed by his own minister, Vasudeva Kanva in around 73 BC.
This established the Kanva dynasty at Magadha. The Kanva dynasty then ruled over Magadha for about 45 years.

4. The first king of the Satavahana dynasty was ?

A. Simuka
B. Hala
C. Gautamiputra Satakarni
D. Agnimitra

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer -[A] Simuka

The last Kanva king, Susarman, was killed by Satavahanas.
The first king of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka.
In the northern region, the Mauryas were succeeded by the Sungas and the Kanvas. However, the Satavahanas succeeded the Mauryas in Deccan and in Central India.
The Satavahana kingdom majorly comprised present Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana region.
The kingdom had different capitals at different times. Two of the capitals were Amaravati and Pratishthana (Paithan).

5. Rulers of which dynasty started the practice of giving royal grants of land to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks?

A. Kanvas dynasty
B. Shungas dynasty
C. Satavahanas dynasty
D. Chedi/Cheti dynasty

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [C] Satavahanas dynasty

The Satavahanas are known for starting the practice of giving royal grants of land to Brahmans and Buddhist monks.
The cultivated fields and villages granted to them were declared free from royal taxes.

6. ‘Gatha Saptashati’ also called ‘Gaha Sattasai’ was written by which Satavahana king ?

A. Simuka
B. Hala
C. Gautamiputra Satakarni
D. Agnimitra

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [B] Hala

Gatha Saptashati was compiled by Satavahana king Hala.
It is a collection of poems with mostly love as the theme.

7. Which among the following rulers was called the ‘Destroyer of the Shakas’ in Nasik inscription ?

A. Simuka
B. Vashishthiputra Pulumayi
C. Gautamiputra Satakarni
D. Satakarni I

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [C] Gautamiputra Satakarni

Gautamiputra Satakarni has been described as the destroyer of the Shakas, Pahlavas, Yavanas (Greeks) and the restorer of the glory of the Satavahanas in Nasik inscription.
Nasik inscription was written by his mother Gautami Balashri.
The Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati in Maharastra became the major centers of Buddhism during the reign of Satavahanas.
Saatavahana also built many Chaitya and Viharas.
Examples – Karle Chaitya of Maharashtra, The Amaravati Stupa.
Their administration was largely influenced by the Mauryan administration.

8. Junagadh/Girnar inscription was issued by which among the following rulers ?

A. Kharavela of Kalinga
B. Rudradaman I
C. Gautamiputra Satakarni
D. Satakarni I

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [B] Rudradaman I

Rudradaman I (CE 130-150) was a Shaka ruler.
He issued the Junagadh/Girnar inscription which is the earliest Sanskrit inscription in India.
It provides the history of the Sudarsana lake located in Junagarh.
It is mentioned in the inscription that he repaired the embankments of the lake Sudarśana, which was constructed by the Mauryas for checking floods.
As per Junagarh Inscription, He defeated Satavahana king Vashishtiputra Satakarni and called himself as protector of all castes.

9. An important port in the time of Satavahanas was ?

A. Mathura
B. Nasik
C. Sopara
D. Taxila

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [C] Sopara

An important port during the time of Satavahanas was Sopara.
Other important ports during this time were Kalyan, Koddura, Chinnaganjam and Goa.

10. Kharavela of Kalinga belonged to ?

A. Ganga dynasty
B. Pala dynasty
C. Satavahanas dynasty
D. Chedi dynasty

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [D] Chedi dynasty

After the decline of Mauryas, Kalinga rose to power around the 1st century BC in the area of modern Odisha under the leadership of Mahameghavahana/Chedi dynasty.
Kharavela was the third ruler of this dynasty.
Hathigumpha inscription, found in a cave in Udayagiri near Bhubaneswar provided detailed information about Kharavela.
Kharvela followed Jainism.

11. Whose contemporary was the famous grammarian Patanjali ?

A. Vasudeva Kamba
B. Gautamiputra satakarni
C. Agnimitra
D. Pushya Mitra Sunga

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [D] PushyaMitra Sunga

The famous grammarian Patanjali was contemporary of PushyaMitra Sunga.
The famous works of Patanjali are Yoga Sutras, Mahabhashya in the Sanskrit language.
The Sunga dynasty was founded by Pushya Mitra Sunga.

12. Consider the following statements:

1. The Buddhist text Milindapanho records the dialogue between Meander II and Nagasena.
2. Meander II was a ruler of Satavahanas dynasty.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. None of the above
D. All of the above

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [A] 1 only

Menander-II was an Indo-Greek ruler who reigned between 90-85 BC.
He is also called as the mighty Yavana King of Sakala (Sialkot).
The Buddhist text Milindapanho records the dialogue between Meander II and Nagasena.
He followed Buddhism.
He issued coins that were engraved with ‘Dhammachakra’ of Buddhism.

13. Who among the following dynasties introduced the gold coins for the first time in India ?

A. Kushans
B. Sakas
C. Mauryas
D. Guptas

Answer with detailed explanation

Correct Answer – [A] Kushans

The Kushanas were the first to introduce gold coins in India.
The Kushan dynasty was established by Kujula Kadphises.
His son Wima Kadphises introduced the Gold coins for the first time in India on a large scale.
The most famous ruler of the Kushan dynasty was Kanishka-I who was the son of Wima Kadphises .
Under Kanishka, the Kushan Empire reached its zenith.
The territorial extent of the Kushan Empire during the reign of Kanishka extended from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan to Mathura, Kashmir and Kashi.
Kanishka’s main capital was Purushpura (Peshawar) and he also had many regional capitals.
Kanishka was a great patron of Buddhism and convened the 4th Buddhist council in the Kundalvana of Kashmir in 78 AD..
Many famous scholars adorned the court of Kanishka. Some of them were Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, Charaka.
The Kushanas were great admirers of art. The Gandhara, Mathura and Amravati Schools of art developed and flourished during Kushana reign.
It is to be noted that Kujula Kadphises and Kanishka-I adopted Buddhism, however Vima Kadphises adopted Shaivism and was a Shiva Devotee.