Ancient History MCQs – 12 ( Post Gupta Period )

Ans - D ( Rabikirti ).

• Aihole was located in the state of Karnataka and was the first capital of the Chalukyas. Many inscriptions have been found here but the inscription at the Meguti temple is popularly known as the Aihole Inscription. It contains many historical events of Chalukyas. It was written in Sanskrit and it uses the old Kannada script. 

• There are also references to the defeat of Harshavardhana by Pulakesin II and the victory of the Chalukyas on Pallavas. 

• There is a reference to the transfer of capital from Aihole to Badami by Pulakesin I. The Aihole inscription was written by Ravikirti, a court poet of the Chalukya king Pulakesin II. 

• Pulakesin II ruled from 610 to 642 CE.

Ans - C ( Huen-Tsang ).

• Huan-Tsang was a chinese traveler who came to India during 630 CE in the time of Harshavardhana.

• He was in India for 14 years. During this time he has studied Hindu and Buddhist religious text from Śīlabhadra for five years. 
• He mentioned Harshavardhana as the greatest king of north India and Pulakesin II as the greatest king of south India in his book Si-Yu-Ki.

• The University of Vikramshila was established by A. Dharmapala B. Mahipala C. Devpala D. Gopala Correct Answer: [A] Dharmapala

Ans - A ( Dharmapala ).

• Vikramashila was one of the three most important Buddhist monasteries in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda and Odantapuri.

• Its location is now the Bhagalpur district in Bihar.
• Vikramashila was established by the Pala emperor Dharmapala (783 to 820 AD) in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda.

•  It was destroyed by the forces of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji around 1193.

Ans - A ( Gauda dynasty ).

• Sasanka is considered as the first independent ruler of Bengal.

• Sasanka was a king of the Gauda Kingdom and the capital was Karnasubarna, in present-day Murshidabad in West Bengal.

• He reigned in the 7th century, and some historians place his rule approximately between 590 CE and 625 CE.

Ans - C ( Pala dynasty ).

• After the death of Harshavardhana, many kingdoms arose in North and Eastern India. In the Bengal region, After the fall of the Gauda kingdom, there was no central authority, which led to recurring wars between petty chieftains.

• Around 750 AD, The Pala empire was founded by Gopala. ‘Pala’ is a Sanskrit word which means "protector".

• The Palas were staunch supporters of Mahayana Buddhism.

Ans - D ( Gopala ).

• The Buddhist monastery at Odantapuri, Bihar, was founded by Gopala. 

• It was destroyed by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, a Turko-Muslim invader in the late 1100s.

Ans - B ( Banabhatta  ).

• Harshacharita written by Banabhatta.

• He was the court poet of Harsha. Besides Harshacharita, he wrote Kadambari.
• The chief sources for tracing the history of Harsha are the Harshacharita and the Travel accounts of Hiuen Tsang. 

• Besides these two, the dramas written by Harsha himself,namely Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyardarsika also provide useful information.

Ans - A ( Pushyabhuti dynasty  ).

• Harshvardhana belonged to the Pushyabhuti dynasty. Pushyabhutis were the feudatories of the Guptas.

• Harsh was the most important ruler of Pushyabhuti dynasty. He made Kanauj his capital.
• In his early life, Harsha was a devout Saiva but later he became an ardent Hinayana Buddhist. Hiuen Tsang converted him to Mahayana Buddhism.

• Harsha organized a religious assembly at Kannauj to honor the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang towards the close of his reign.

Ans - A ( The archive of the Harsha period ).

• The archive of the Harsha period was known as ‘Nilopitu’ and it was under the control of special officers.

• Both good and bad events that happened during his time had been recorded.

Ans - B ( Pulakesin II ).

• The most important military campaign of Harsha was against the Western Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II.

• Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II mentions the defeat of Harsha by Pulakesin, who after this achievement assumed the title ‘Paramesvara’.

• Hiuen Tsang’s accounts also confirm the victory of Pulakesin.