Ancient History Mock Test

Correct Answer -  (b) Inscriptions 

•  Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions that are engraved on stone tablets, metal plates, pillars, walls of caves, Woods, Palm leaves etc.
• It is an important technique to gain information and reconstruct the history of Ancient India.

Correct Answer - (a) It was Pictographic

• Harappan Script was written in the Boustrophedon style. 
• It is written in the first line from right to left and in the second line from left to right. 
• It was pictographic in nature with more than 400 signs.
• It is still undeciphered.

Correct Answer -  (a) Mohenjo-Daro

• One of the important findings of Mohenjo-Daro was its Great Bath.
• The Great Bath was a large rectangular tank in a courtyard surrounded by a corridor on all four sides.
• There were two flights of steps on the north and south leading into the tank.
• Mortars of gypsum were used to make the tank watertight.
• There were rooms on three sides.
• Scholars believe that it was used for some kind of ritual bathing.
• It was found from Mohenjo-Daro( Presently in the Sindh region of Pakistan ).

Correct Answer -  (a) Samudragupta

• Samudragupta was one of the greatest rulers of the Gupta dynasty. 
• He was the son of Chandragupta I and queen Kumaradevi.
• He was called Napoleon of India by the historian V. A. Smith. 
• He was a follower of Vaishnavism but tolerant of other religions.
• Samudragupta’s son Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya, succeeded him. 
• During his reign, the prosperity of the Gupta Dynasty reached new heights.

Correct Answer -  (b) Copper 

• Copper was the first metal discovered by humans. 
• When copper was melted over a fire, people learned to make bronze, an alloy that was much harder and stronger than copper. 

Correct Answer - (a) Harisena 

• Allahabad Prasasti also known as Prayaga Prashasti was written by Harisena
• Harisena was a court poet of Samudra Gupta

Correct Answer -  (c) Lothal 

• Lothal is part of the present state of Gujarat. 
• It was a seaport located on the banks of the river Bhogawa 
• In 1954, S.R. Rao had discovered it.
• Evidence of rice cultivation has been found in Lothal and Rangpur.

Correct Answer - (b) Chalcolithic period 

• Indus Valley civilization is also known as Harappan civilization. 
• It belongs to the Chalcolithic period and Bronze age. 

Correct Answer - (d) 18

• There are a total of 18 Puranas. 
• Puranas deal with mythology, cosmology, various legends, folk belief, codes of law and other miscellaneous topics. 
• The oldest purana is Matsya Purana

Correct Answer - (b) Summer 

• Indus people used to trade with the Sumerians, Mesopotamians (now southern Iraq) on waterways and land routes. 
• The Harappan region was known as Meluha in Sumar. 
• There was clear evidence of trading between these two civilizations. 
• The same seals were also found in both regions.

Correct Answer - (a) Kalibangan

• Kalibangan meaning 'black bangles' gets its name from the black bangles discovered on the surface of its mounds.
• Kalibangan was discovered by (b) K. Thapar. 
• It was situated on the banks of the river Ghaghara in present day Rajasthan.
• Other Major finding →  fire altars 

Correct Answer - (d) Mahavira 

• According to the Jains, a Tirthankara is a person who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth by himself and paved the way for others to follow. 
• There were 24 Tirthankars. 
• The first Tirthankar was Rishabhanath(a) The symbol used for him was the Bull. 
• The 23rd Tirthankara was Parshvanath and the symbol used for him was Snake. 
• The twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara was Mahavira and the symbol used for him was Lion.

Correct Answer - (d) Gandhara Art 

• Taxila was an important city of Ancient India on the eastern bank of the Indus river. 
• It had a famous University of Ancient India
• Panini(Who wrote Ashtadhyay ), Chanakya were the famous teachers of Taxila
• In the mid-nineteenth century, famous archaeologist Sir Alexander Cunningham discovered the remains of Takshila
• It is also famous for the Gandhara School of Art.

Correct Answer - (b) Shiva

• The primary deity in most Chola temples is the god Shiva
• Following are the major examples of Chola temples:
  • Gangaikonda Cholapuram
  • Brihadeeswarar Temple
  • Airavatesvara Temple

Correct Answer - (d) Kalidasa

• Kalidasa was not a contemporary of Kanishka All others were contemporary of Kanishka
• The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at Kundalvana, Kashmir in 72 AD under the patronage of Kushan king Kanishka
• The president of this council was Vasumitra, with Asvaghosa as his deputy.
• Nagarjuna was a Buddhist philosopher and writer who was a scholar in the court of Kanishka

Correct Answer - (b) Pulakesin II

• The Chalukya king Pulakeshin II defeated Harshavardhana in 618 CE on the banks of the Narmada River.
• After the battle, Pulakeshin II assumed the title of Dakshinapatheshwara

Correct Answer - (d) Angas

• • Angas are Jain literature.
  • The Jain literature is classified into following two major categories

• Svetambara literature:

• • • It contains twelve Angas, twelve Upangas, ten Prakirnakas, four Mulasutras and six Ched Sutras.
    • It is believed that the first of twelve Angas compiled based on the teachings of Mahavira

• Digambara literature:

• • It contains Purvas which were created by Mahavira’s chief disciples.

Correct Answer - (b) Deer

• Sarnath Pillar was built by Emperor Ashoka in around 250 BC .
• The Sarnath pillar is famous for its four-lion capital which was built to commemorate the Buddha's first sermon which was given in Sarnath.
• The state emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital which was adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950.
• In the original form, the piller contains four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus carrying sculptures of an elephant, a horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels.
• The words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning 'Truth Alone Triumphs', is also inscribed below the abacus.
• Deer are not carved on the Sarnath Pillar.

Correct Answer -  (b) 1 Only

• Ajatashatru was a king of the Haryanka dynasty of Magadha
• Ajatasatru murdered his father Bimbisara to ascend the throne.
• He was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira
• Ajatashatru founded the city of Pataliputra and fortified it; however he did not transfer his capital to Patliputra
• His successor Udayin shifted his capital to Patliputra

Correct Answer - (d) Cholas

• The Uttaramerur inscription provides information on the administration of Cholas.
• It was written under the rule of Chola king Parantaka I and provides the details of self-governance in villages.
• It is located in the Kanchipuram district of TamilNadu.

Correct Answer -  (a) 2 Only

• Buddhist Literature Tripitakas written in Pali language.
• The Tripitaka is divided into three parts:
  • Sutta Pitaka → Contains teachings of the Buddh(a)
  • Vinaya Pitaka → Contains the code of conduct to be followed by monks, nuns and Sangh(a)
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka → Contains a systematic and philosophical analysis of the Buddha’s teachings.

Correct Answer -  (d) Both of the above

• Mahendravarman and Narasimhavarman-I were the famous rulers of Pallava dynasty. Under them, Pallavas became a major political power.
• Narsimhavarman-I also known as ‘Mamalla’  is considered the greatest Pallava ruler. 
• He defeated Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II and destroyed the Chalukyan capital Vatapi and took the title ‘Vatapikonda’ (conqueror of Vatapi).

Correct Answer -  (c) Tamil Nadu

• The period roughly between the 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD in South India is known as Sangam Period.
• It has been named after the Sangam assemblies held during that period that were organized under the royal patronage of the Pandya kings of Madurai.
• The First Sangam was held at Madurai.
• The Second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram in present day Tamil Nadu.
• The Third Sangam was also held at Madurai.
• Major Sangam Literature → Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku and the two epics Silappathikaram and Manimegalai.

Correct Answer -  (d) Both of the above

• Rashtrakuta kingdom was founded by Danti Durga.
• Amoghavarsha I was a famous Rashtrakuta king.
• He was among the most prominent followers of Jainism.

Correct Answer - (b) Taxila 

• Bindusara sent prince Ashoka to suppress a rebellion in the city of Takshashila
• Bindusara appointed Ashoka as the viceroy of present-day Ujjain.