Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient Indian History GK for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
1. Which of the following is also known as the father of Ayurveda?
[A] Charaka
[B] Vasumitra
[C] Mathara
[D] Ashvagosha
A [Charaka]
Notes:
Charaka was one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda, a system of medicine that developed in India. He is also known as the father of Ayurveda. He wrote a book on medicine called Charaksamhita which is a Sanskrit text on Ayurveda and also wrote the Sasruta.
2. Which of the following were written by Kalidasa?
- 1. Abhijananashakuntalam
- 2. Malavikagnimitram
- 3. Vikramorvasiyam
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Kalidasa was the court of poet of Chandragupta II. He was one of the Navratnas. He is a renowned classical Sanskrit poet and playwright of India who wrote Abhijananashakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Vikramorvasiyam and became famous worldwide.
3. Which of the following is a poem describing the cycle of seasons?
[A] Ritusamhara
[B] Raghuvamsha
[C] Kumarasambhavam
[D] None of the above
A [Ritusamhara]
Notes:
Ritusamhara is a poem written by Kalidasa describing the cycle of seasons whereas Kumarasambhavam is a story about the birth of Shiva and Parvati’s son and also Raghuvamsha depicts Vishnu as the origin and the end of the universe.
4. Which of the following were the tributary chiefs of the Guptas?
[A] Vakatakas
[B] Maukharies
[C] Maitrakas
[D] Pushyabhutis
C [Maitrakas]
Notes:
The Maitrakas were the tributary chiefs of the Guptas. They established an independent kingdom in western India ruling over the Saurashtra region in Gujarat. They continued to rule until the middle of the 8th century.
5. Which of the following kings was the last Hindu ruler of Kashmir before it came under the rule of Muslims?
[A] Jayasimha
[B] Vajrayudha
[C] Yashovardhana
[D] Avantivarman
A [Jayasimha]
Notes:
King Jayasimha who ruled from 1127 to 1155 AD was the patron of Kalhana. Kalhana was the famous historian and poet of Kashmir. In the 14th century, Kashmir passed under the rule of the Muslims.
6. Where was the earliest capital of the Gangas situated?
[A] Banavasi
[B] Kolar
[C] Madurai
[D] Kanchi
B [Kolar]
Notes:
The earliest capital of the Gangas was located near Kolar. The Kolar supplied a lot of gold to the kingdom of Gangas. They made most of the land grants to the Jainas. They were earlier feudatories of the Pallavas.
7. During the reign of which of the following kings stotras and stavas came into existence in Buddhism?
[A] Gopala
[B] Sarvajnamitra
[C] Chandrakirti
[D] Santideva
B [Sarvajnamitra]
From 650 A.D. to 1000 A.D, there was the decay of pure Hinayanism and Mahayanism. The glorious days of Buddhist logic and philosophy were ended With Chandrakirti and Santideva and then came the days of stotras and stavas begun by Sarvajnamitra of Kashmir in the 8th century AD.
8. Which of the following kings led the restoration works of the sand-buried temple Sri Traikutaka?
[A] Dharmapala
[B] Devapala
[C] Gopala
[D] Mahendrapala
B [Devapala]
Notes:
Devapala was the third ruler of the Pala dynasty which was founded by King Gopala. He was also a zealous advocate of Buddhism. During the reign of this king restoration of the sand-buried temple, Sri Traikutaka and its enlargement happened.
9. Which of the following kings have built a temple at Kambay and consecrated a golden image of Mahavira?
[A] Lakshmanaraja
[B] Vatsaraja
[C] Raja Bhoja
[D] Upendra
B [Vatsaraja]
Notes:
The Pratiharas figured prominently in Jain literature. Vatsaraja or Vatsraja was grand-nephew of Nagabhata I. He is said to have built many Jain temples at Kanauj, Mathura, Anahilvada, Modhera, etc. Vatsraja also built a temple at Kambay and consecrated a golden image of Mahavira.
10. Which of the following Jain writers flourished in the court of Paramara kings?
- Dhanesvarasuri
- Dhanapala
- Santisuri
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 1 & 3
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, & 3
D [1, 2, & 3]
Notes:
The Paramara dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled Malwa and surrounding areas in west-central India from the 9th to 14th centuries. Many famous Jain writers like Dhanesvarasuri, Dhanapala, and Santisuri flourished in the court of Paramara kings.