Ancient History MCQs – 10 ( Post Maurya Period )

Ans - 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.

Ans - C ( Sopara ).

• An important port during the time of  Satavahanas was Sopara.

• Other important ports during this time were Kalyan, Koddura, Chinnaganjam and Goa.

Ans - B ( Rudradaman I ).

• Rudradaman I (CE 130-150) issued the Junagadh/Girnar inscription which is the earliest Sanskrit inscription in India. 

• It provides the history of the Sudarsana lake located in Junagarh.

• He in fact repaired the embankments of the lake Sudarśana, which was constructed by the Mauryas for checking floods.

Ans - 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.

Ans - B ( Hala ).

• Gatha Saptashati was compiled by king Satavahana Hala.

• It is a collection of poems with mostly love as the theme. 

Ans - 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.

Ans - 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.
• The kingdom had different capitals at different times. Two of the capitals were Amaravati and Pratishthana (Paithan).

Ans - 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.

Ans - 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’.

Ans - 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 Ashvame dha, Rajasuya and Vajapeya.

• The language of Sanskrit gained more prominence during this time.