22 multiple-choice (MCQ / objective) questions from this chapter, in every exam-style shape used in the paper. Every question comes with an explanation along with the answer, so you remember why the option is correct, not just which one it is.
1 Direct Questions
Direct Questions
- 1 markEpigraphy is the study of:
(A) coins(B) inscriptions(C) manuscripts(D) sculpture - 1 markThe word “janapada”, used in both Prakrit and Sanskrit, literally means:
(A) a king’s fort(B) land free of taxes(C) the land where a jana sets its foot or settles(D) a settlement of traders - 1 markChandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan empire around:
(A) 321 BCE(B) 272 BCE(C) 185 BCE(D) 231 BCE - 1 markOf the six subcommittees Megasthenes mentions for coordinating military activity, which one’s activities the chapter describes as ‘rather varied’?
(A) transport and provisions(B) navy(C) foot-soldiers(D) elephants - 1 markThe title devaputra, “son of god”, was adopted by many rulers of the:
(A) Satavahanas(B) Kushanas(C) Guptas(D) Mauryas - 1 markThe Prayaga Prashasti, composed by the court poet Harishena, praises which Gupta ruler?
(A) Chandragupta II(B) Skandagupta(C) Samudragupta(D) Kumaragupta - 1 markNorthern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), found at many early historic urban sites, was:
(A) a tool used in irrigation(B) a weapon used by the Mauryan army(C) fine glossy pottery probably used by rich people(D) a kind of land-grant document - 1 markWhich dynasty issued the first gold coins in the subcontinent, and also the largest hoards of them?
(A) Indo-Greeks(B) Yaudheyas(C) Kushanas(D) Magadhan janapadas
2 Assertion-Reason
Assertion-Reason
- 1 markAssertion (A): The Mauryan empire had a uniform administrative system across its territory.
Reason (R): The regions within the empire, from hilly Afghanistan to coastal Orissa, were extremely diverse.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true - 1 markAssertion (A): Networks of trade in this period were not confined within political boundaries.
Reason (R): Hoards of Roman coins have been found at archaeological sites in south India, which was never part of the Roman empire.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A(B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A(C) A is true, but R is false(D) A is false, but R is true
3 Match the Following
Match the Following
- 1 markMatch List I with List II.
List I: (i) Prayaga Prashasti (ii) Sudarshana lake inscription (iii) Silappadikaram (iv) Harshacharita
List II: (a) describes gifts brought to the chief Senguttuvan (b) depicts life in a small village near the Vindhyas (c) praises Samudragupta (d) records Rudradaman’s repair of the lake
(A) i-c, ii-d, iii-a, iv-b(B) i-d, ii-c, iii-b, iv-a(C) i-c, ii-a, iii-d, iv-b(D) i-a, ii-d, iii-c, iv-b - 1 markMatch List I with List II.
List I: (i) vellalar (ii) uzhavar (iii) adimai (iv) chief
List II: (a) ploughman (b) slave (c) large landowner (d) receives gifts from subordinates and redistributes them
(A) i-b, ii-c, iii-d, iv-a(B) i-c, ii-a, iii-b, iv-d(C) i-d, ii-a, iii-b, iv-c(D) i-a, ii-d, iii-c, iv-b
4 Statement-Based Questions
Statement-Based Questions
- 1 markConsider the following statements.
Statement I: Most of Asoka’s inscriptions are in the Prakrit language, written in the Brahmi script.
Statement II: Some inscriptions in the northwest of the subcontinent are in Aramaic and Greek.
(A) Both statements are true, and Statement II explains Statement I(B) Both statements are true, but Statement II does not explain Statement I(C) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(D) Statement I is false, Statement II is true - 1 markConsider the following statements.
Statement I: Finds of gold coins taper off from about the sixth century CE onward.
Statement II: All historians agree that this decline proves an undisputed economic crisis.
(A) Both statements are true, and Statement II explains Statement I(B) Both statements are true, but Statement II does not explain Statement I(C) Statement I is true, Statement II is false(D) Statement I is false, Statement II is true
5 Chronological Ordering
Chronological Ordering
- 1 markArrange the following events in chronological order.
1. Accession of Chandragupta Maurya
2. Beginning of Gupta rule
3. Invasion of Alexander of Macedon
4. Arab conquest of Sind
(A) 1-3-2-4(B) 3-1-2-4(C) 3-2-1-4(D) 1-3-4-2 - 1 markArrange the following rulers/dynasties in their approximate chronological order.
1. Satavahanas
2. Samudragupta
3. Kushanas
4. Harshavardhana
(A) 3-1-2-4(B) 1-2-3-4(C) 3-2-1-4(D) 1-3-2-4
6 Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the Blanks
- 1 markBesides the capital Pataliputra, the five major political centres of the Mauryan empire included Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and ______.
(A) Girnar(B) Mathura(C) Suvarnagiri(D) Kaushambi - 1 markTo spread the message of dhamma, Asoka appointed special officers known as ______.
(A) mahamatyas(B) pativedakas(C) amatyas(D) dhamma mahamatta
7 Odd One Out
Odd One Out
- 1 markWhich of the following names does NOT belong to the chapter’s list of the most frequently occurring mahajanapadas?
(A) Vajji(B) Koshala(C) Matsya(D) Magadha
8 Passage-Based Questions
Passage-Based Questions
Passage
“Thus speaks king Devanampiya Piyadassi: In the past, there were no arrangements for disposing affairs, nor for receiving regular reports. But I have made the following (arrangement). Pativedakas should report to me about the affairs of the people at all times, anywhere, whether I am eating, in the inner apartment, in the bedroom, in the cow pen, being carried (possibly in a palanquin), or in the garden. And I will dispose of the affairs of the people everywhere.”
— an inscription of Asoka (Source 10)
— an inscription of Asoka (Source 10)
- 1 markAccording to the passage above, what were the pativedakas appointed to report on?
(A) military movements only, once a month(B) the affairs of the people, at all times and in every place(C) tax collection figures, once a year(D) boundary disputes only - 1 markThe ruler’s personal name, Asoka, does not appear anywhere in the passage above. How do epigraphists identify who issued it?
(A) the ruler cannot be identified at all(B) epigraphists simply guess based on the region where it was found(C) by matching titles such as devanampiya and piyadassi, content, style, language and palaeography across several inscriptions(D) the inscription must be a later forgery
9 True / False
True / False
- 1 markConsider the following statements.
(i) Every mahajanapada had a capital city, which was often fortified.
(ii) It is known for certain that pastoralists and forest peoples were also taxed by rulers.
(A) Both are true(B) Only (i) is true(C) Only (ii) is true(D) Both are false
Answer Key and Explanations
Direct Questions
- (B) Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions; the study of coins is called numismatics and the study of writing styles is called palaeography.
- (C) Janapada means the land where a jana, that is a people, clan or tribe, sets its foot or settles; a mahajanapada is simply a great janapada.
- (A) Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire c. 321 BCE and extended control as far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan.
- (A) The activities of the second subcommittee, transport and provisions, were ‘rather varied’: arranging bullock carts to carry equipment, procuring food and fodder, and recruiting servants and artisans to look after the soldiers.
- (B) Many Kushana rulers adopted the title devaputra, possibly inspired by Chinese rulers who called themselves sons of heaven.
- (C) The Prayaga Prashasti, also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription, was composed in Sanskrit by Harishena, court poet of Samudragupta, arguably the most powerful Gupta ruler.
- (C) NBPW was fine pottery bowls and dishes with a glossy finish, probably used by rich people, recovered along with a wide range of artefacts from early historic urban sites.
- (C) The Kushanas issued the largest hoards of gold coins from c. first century CE, virtually identical in weight to contemporary Roman and Parthian coins, indicating the enormous value of the transactions taking place.
Assertion-Reason
- (D) A is false: historians increasingly think a uniform administration was unlikely, precisely because the regions were far too diverse, which is what makes R true.
- (A) Both statements are true, and the Roman coin hoards in south India are exactly the evidence the chapter uses to show that trade crossed political frontiers, so R explains A.
Match the Following
- (A) The Prayaga Prashasti praises Samudragupta (i-c), the Sudarshana lake inscription records Rudradaman’s repair of the lake (ii-d), the Silappadikaram describes the gifts brought to Senguttuvan (iii-a), and the Harshacharita depicts life in a small village near the Vindhyas (iv-b).
- (B) The vellalar were large landowners (i-c), the uzhavar were ploughmen (ii-a), the adimai were slaves (iii-b), and a chief received gifts from his subordinates and redistributed them among his supporters (iv-d).
Statement-Based Questions
- (B) Both statements are true, but they describe two separate, independent facts about different regions of the empire, so Statement II does not explain why most inscriptions are in Prakrit and Brahmi.
- (C) Statement I is true. Statement II is false: historians are divided on this issue, with some blaming the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and others arguing that coins were simply circulating rather than being hoarded.
Chronological Ordering
- (B) Alexander’s invasion was c. 327-325 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya’s accession c. 321 BCE, the beginning of Gupta rule c. 320 CE, and the Arab conquest of Sind c. 712 CE: the order is 3-1-2-4.
- (D) The Satavahanas ruled from about the second century BCE, the Kushanas from about the first century BCE to the first century CE, Samudragupta c. 335-375 CE, and Harshavardhana c. 606-647 CE: the order is 1-3-2-4.
Fill in the Blanks
- (C) The five centres were the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centres Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri.
- (D) Asoka appointed special officers, known as the dhamma mahamatta, to spread the message of dhamma.
Odd One Out
- (C) Vajji, Koshala and Magadha are among the names that occur most frequently in the lists (with Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara and Avanti). Matsya is a mahajanapada shown on Map 1, but it is not among the most frequent names.
Passage-Based Questions
- (B) Asoka arranged that pativedakas should report to him about the affairs of the people at all times, anywhere, so that he could dispose of the people’s affairs everywhere.
- (C) The inscription uses the titles devanampiya and piyadassi instead of a name; after examining several such inscriptions and finding that they match in content, style, language and palaeography, epigraphists concluded they were all issued by the same ruler, whom other inscriptions do name as Asoka.
True / False
- (B) (i) is true. (ii) is false: the chapter states plainly that we do not really know whether resources were procured from pastoralists and forest peoples.
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