( Best 100+ ) Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Dasyus were the rivals of Indo Aryans of Vedas, who were Indo European and most possibly Iranic, who followed quite different religious ideas.

Notes:
All are correct statements. While framing this question, I was putting Cakhudane (Chakshu-Dan i.e. donating eye) in one of the options as Eye donation. But this term is ambiguous, so I did not use. Based on the context of those times, it appears that it Cakhudane to either ending blinding as a form of punishment or may be giving wisdom to someone.

Notes:
These people were aware of Gold, Silver, Copper, Brass, Bronze and Tin but did not know much about Iron. Copper was the most widely used metal.

Notes:
This carefully framed question needs slightly correct evaluation of the options. The first statement which says that “They were fond of fire” is correct. as fire gave them warmth and comforts in their cold homes. They lived in either caves or wooden or leafed houses. Pure water did not quench their thirst and they used beaverdges such as gauri, baruni and soma-rasa. The fourth statement, they practiced animal sacrifices is also correct. The third statement is incorrect. The early Aryans neither knew making the temples nor offered flowers, leaves and incense to their god. The most learned of the Aryans worshipped nature’s god and sought its blessing. They worshipped Him through the benevolent spirits of nature and did not made temples.

Notes:
The second statement related to Bharat’s Natyashashtra

Notes:
Apart from Surya, Aditi , Savitri, one more name of the sun it is necessarily to mention. Vishnu, which in later Hindu mythology has become a name of the Supreme Preserver of all beings, was a name of the sun in the Vedic age. The rising sun, the sun at zenith, and the setting sun were considered the three steps of Vishnu striding across limitless space. (R C Datt)

Notes:
Throughout the Gupta and Pala periods, Hinayana Buddhists remained a major segment of the Indian Buddhist community. Their continued cultivation of various aspects of Buddhist teaching led to the emergence of the Yogacara school, the second great tradition of Mahayana philosophy. A third major Buddhist tradition, the Vajrayana or Esoteric tradition, developed out of the Mahayana school and became a powerful and dynamic religious force. The new form of text associated with this tradition, the tantras, appeared during the Gupta period, and there are indications that distinctively Tantric rituals began to be employed at this time as well. It was during the Pala period (8th–12th centuries), however, that the Vajrayana/Esoteric tradition emerged as the most dynamic component of Indian Buddhist life.

Notes:
Aryabahata was the first Indian astronomer to state that the Earth is spherical and rotates on its axis. He went on to explain that the apparent daily east- west motion of the sun, moon, planets, and stars is due to the rotation of the Earth from west to east. He introduced two systems for reckoning time: (1) the audayika system, from sunrise to next sunrise, and (2) the ardharaatrika system, that is, midnight to midnight (sidereal time). The time for one sidereal rotation of the Earth is given as 23h 56m 4.1s (modern value: 23h 56m 4.091s). Responsible for the Indian mathematical renaissance, Aryabhata set the pattern and tone of modern mathematical investigations.

Notes:
The most significant Early Chola ruler is Karikala Chola, who ruled around 270 BC and is mentioned in the Sangam Literature. The meaning of his name “Kari + Kalan” refers to “Slayer of Elephants” but also means “the one with burnt limbs”. This indicates a fire accident in his early age, which left his legs charred. This is testified by one of the Sangam Poems.
• Karikala Chola is best known for winning the famous “Battle of Venni” in which both the Pandyas and Cheras were crushed by him. The current location of Venni is near Thanjaur.
• The “Battle of Venni” was a turning point in his career and he was established as a firm power in the South. Some legends say that he won the whole of Ceylon Kingdom, after the Battle of Venni.
• World’s earliest water-regulator structure in stone at Kallanai (Grand Anicut)on River Cauvery was built by Karikala Chola. It was constructed mainly to divert the water from Cauvery River for irrigation. This dam stands as a huge mass of 329 meters (1,080 feet) long and 20 meters (60 feet) wide, across the main stream of the Cauvery and is a major tourist attraction today.

Notes:
Gautamiputra Satakarni was known as Ekabrahmana. He is known for making Caste System Rigid during his reign. Yaudheya were the rulers of South-Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan. The Kanva dynasty was founded by Vasudeva Kanva, a Brahmin dynasty that replaced the Shunga dynasty in Magadha, and ruled in the Eastern part of India.