1.
The term ‘nishka’ which meant an ornament in the Vedic period was used in later times
to denote a/an—
A. Weapon
B. Agricultural implement
C. Script
D. Coin
Ans : (D)
2. Which one of the following pairs of kings of ancient and medieval periods of Indian
history and the works authored by them is correctly matched ?
A. Krishnadevaraya : Samaranganasutradhra
B. Mehendravarman : Mattavilasaprahasana
C. Bhojadeva : Manasollasa
D. Somesvara : Amuktamalyada
Ans : (B)
3. The founder of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides movement was—
A. Charles Andrews
B. Robert Montgomery
C. Richard Temple
D. Baden Powell
Ans : (D)
4. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?
A. Dharamsastra : Works on religion and philosophy
B. Chaturvarnya : Four Ashrams
C. Shudra : Service to three varnas
D. Mahamatra : Superior Officials
Ans : (B)
5. Chanakya was known as—
A. Bhattasvamin
B. Rajasekhara
C. Vishnugupta
D. Visakhadatta
Ans : (C)
6. A lot of details regarding the village administration under the Cholas is provided by the
inscriptions at—
A. Thanjavur
B. Uraiyur
C. Kanchipuram
D. Uttaramerur
Ans : (D)
7. In Jainism ‘perfect knowledge’ is referred to as—
A. Jina
B. Ratna
C. Kaivalya
D. Nirvanas
Ans : (C)
8. Who among the following is NOT associated with medicine in ancient India ?
A. Dhanvantri
B. Bhaskaracharya
C. Charaka
D. Susruta
Ans : (B)
9. In Mughal paintings one notices the adoption of the principles of foreshortening whereby
near and distant people and things could be placed in perspective. This was due to the
influence of the—
A. British
B. Dutch
C. Portuguese
D. Danish
Ans : (C)
10. Ashokan inscriptions were first deciphered by—
A. Buhler
B. Robert Sewell
C. James Prinsep
D. Codrington
Ans : (C)
11. Among the four works mentioned below which one is encyclopaedic in nature ?
A. Amarakosa
B. Siddhantasiromani
C. Brhat Samhita
D. Ashtangahrdaya
Ans : (A)
12. Consider the following passage—
In the course of a career on the road spanning almost thirty years, he crossed the breadth of the
Eastern hemisphere, visited territories equivalent to about 44 modern countries and put behind
him a total distance of approximately 73000 miles.
The world's greatest traveller of pre-modern times to whom the above passage refers is—
A. Megasthenes
B. Fa Hien
C. Marco Polo
D. Ibn Battuta
Ans : (C)
13. The first political organisation established in India in 1838 was known as—
A. British India Society
B. Bengal British India Society
C. Settlers Association
D. Zamindary Association
Ans : (D)
14. The foundation of modern education system in India was laid by—
A. The Charter Act of 1813
B. Macaulay's Minutes of 1835
C. The Hunter Commission of 1882
D. Wood's Despatch of 1854
Ans : (B)
15. Uplift of the backward classes was the main programme of the—
A. Prarthana Samaj
B. Satya Shodhak Samaj
C. Arya Samaj
D. Ramakrishna Mission
Ans : (B)
16. The Ryotwari settlement was introduced by the British in the—
A. Bengal Presidency
B. Madras Presidency
C. Bombay Presidency
D. Madras and Bombay Presidencies
Ans : (D)
17. The Buddhist Sect Mahayana formally came into existence during the reign of—
A. Ajatashatru
B. Ashoka
C. Dharmapala
D. Kanishka
Ans : (D)
18. The last in succession of Jaina Tirthankaras was—
A. Parsvanatha
B. Rishabha
C. Mahavira
D. Manisubrata
Ans : (C)
19. The earliest rock cut caves in western India are those at—
A. Nasik, Ellora and Ajanta
B. Junnar, Kalyan and Pitalkhora
C. Ajanta, Bhaja and Kondane
D. Bhaja, Pitalkhora and Kondane
Ans : (A)
20. The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is—
A. Chakravarti
B. Dharmadeva
C. Dharmakirti
D. Priyadarsi
Ans : (D)
21. Which one of the following is a monument constructed by Sher Shah ?
A. Kila-i-Kuhna mosque at Delhi
B. Atala Masjid at Jaunpur
C. Barasona Masjid at Gaur
D. Quiwwat-al-Islam mosque at Delhi
Ans : (A)
22. Which among the following cities is considered as one of the oldest surviving cities in
the world ?
A. Mathura
B. Varanasi
C. Hardwar
D. Ayodhya
Ans : (A)
23. The earliest evidence of silver in India is found in the—
A. Harappan culture
B. Chalcolithic cultures of Western India
C. Vedic texts
D. Silver punch marked coins
Ans : (A)
24. Which one of the following is a language of Baluchistan but linguistically Dravidian ?
A. Brahui
B. Kui
C. Parji
D. Pengo
Ans : (A)
25. Which one of the following is the most fundamental difference between Mahayana
Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism ?
A. Emphasis on ahimsa
B. Casteless society
C. Worship of gods and goddesses
D. Worship of stupa
Ans : (C)
The first important and powerful dynasty in Magadha.
Bimbisara (558 BC – 491 BC)
Son of Bhattiya.
He ruled over Magadha from 544 BC to 493 BC.
Contemporary and follower of the Buddha. Was also said to be an admirer of Mahavira.
Had his capital at Girivraja (Rajgir).
Also known as Sreniya.
Was the first king to have a standing army.
He started the practice of using matrimonial alliances to strengthen his political position.
He had three wives: Kosaladevi (King of Kosala’s daughter and the sister of Prasenjit),
Chellana (daughter of the Lichchavi chief of Vaisali) and Khema (daughter of the king of
Modra, Punjab).
He followed a policy of conquest and expansion. Most notable conquest by Bimbisara
was that of Anga.
He had an effective and excellent administrative system. The officers occupying high
posts were divided into three – executive, military and judicial.
Ajatasatru (492 BC - 460 BC)
Son of Bimbisara and Chellana.
He killed his father and became ruler.
Embraced Buddhism.
He convened the First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha just after the death of Buddha in
483 BC.
Won wars against Kosala and Vaishali.
Udayin
Son of Ajatasatru.
Shifted the capital to Pataliputra (Patna).
Last of the major Haryanka rulers.
Succeeded by three kings – Aniruddha, Manda and Nagadasaka.
Sisunaga Dynasty
According to Sri Lankan chronicles, the people of Magadha revolted during the reign of
Nagadasaka and placed an amatya (minister) named Sisunaga as king.
Sisunaga
Was the viceroy of Kasi before becoming king of Magadha.
Capital was at Girivaraja.
He annexed Avanti and brought an end to the long rivalry between Magadha and Avanti.
Later shifted the capital to Vaishali.
Kalasoka
Son of Sisunaga.
Kalasoka shifted the capital to Pataliputra.
He conducted the Second Buddhist Council at Vaishali.
He was killed in a palace revolution that brought the Nanda dynasty to the throne.
Nanda Dynasty
This was the first non-Kshatriya dynasty. The first ruler was Mahapadma Nanda who usurped
the throne of Kalasoka.
Mahapadma Nanda
He is called the “first historical emperor of India.”
He murdered Kalasoka to become the king.
His origins are not clear. As per the Puranas, he was the son of the last Sisunaga king
from a Sudra woman. As per some Jain texts and Greek writer Curtius, he was the son of
a barber and a courtesan.
His reign lasted for twenty eight years from 367 BC to 338 BC.
He is also called “Sarva Kashtriyantaka” (destroyer of all the kshatriyas) and “Ekrat”.
The empire grew under his reign. It ran from the Kuru country in the north to the
Godavari Valley in the south and from Magadha in the east to Narmada on the west.
He conquered many kingdoms including Kalinga.
Dhana Nanda
He was the last Nanda ruler.
He is referred to as Agrammes or Xandrames in Greek texts.
Alexander invaded North-Western India during his reign; but he could not proceed
towards the Gangetic plains because of his army’s refusal.
He inherited a huge empire from his father. He possessed a standing army of 200,000
infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 3000 elephants and 2000 chariots. He became a powerful ruler
because of this.
He is said to be one of the 8 or 9 sons of Mahapadma Nanda.
He became unpopular with his subjects owing to an oppressive way of extorting taxes.
Also, his Sudra origins and an anti-kshatriya policy led to a large number of enemies.
Finally he was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya along with Chanakya, which led to
the foundations of the Maurya Empire in Magadha.
Geographical factors
Magadha was located on the upper and lower parts of the Gangetic valley.
It was located on the main land route between west and east India.
The area had fertile soil. It also received enough rainfall.
Magadha was encircled by rivers on three sides, the Ganga, Son and Champa making the
region impregnable to enemies.
Both Rajgir and Pataliputra were located in strategic positions.
Economic factors
Magadha had huge copper and iron deposits.
Because of its location, it could easily control trade.
Had a large population which could be used for agriculture, mining, building cities and in
the army.
General prosperity of the people and the rulers.
The mastery over Ganga meant economic hegemony. Ganga was important for trade in
North India.
With the annexation of Anga by Bimbisara, river Champa was added to the Magadha
Empire. Champa was important in the trade with South-East Asia, Sri Lanka and South
India.
Cultural factors
Magadhan society had an unorthodox character.
It had a good mix of Aryan and non-Aryan peoples.
Emergence of Jainism and Buddhism led to a revolution in terms of philosophy and
thought. They enhanced liberal traditions.
Society was not so much dominated by the Brahmanas and many kings of Magadha were
‘low’ in origins.
Political factors
Magadha was lucky to have many powerful and ambitious rulers.
They had strong standing armies.
Availability of iron enabled them to develop advanced weaponry.
They were also the first kings to use elephants in the army.
The major kings also developed a good administrative system.
