Ancient History (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

41. From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the: [1999]

Correct Answer: (c) South-East Asian trade
Solution:After the 3rd century AD Roman empire came to an end. Indian merchants meanwhile had begun to rely more heavily on the south-east Asian Trade.
With westward trade routes becoming unreliable, Indian merchants redirected their efforts towards the maritime trade networks extending east to Southeast Asia. This shift led to a greater reliance on trade with the East, which in turn saw a rise in Indian cultural and commercial influence in the Southeast Asian region. The increased trade facilitated the spread of Indian religions (like Hinduism and Buddhism), languages, scripts, political ideas, and artistic styles into Southeast Asia.

42. The following persons came to India at one time or another: [1999]

1. Fa-Hien

2. I-Tsing

3. Megasthanese

4. Hieun-Tsang

The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

Correct Answer: (b) 3, 1, 4, 2
Solution:Fa-Hien-405-411 CE; I-Tsing-671-695 CE; Megasthanese -302-298 BC; Hieun-Tsang-630-645CE
  1. Megasthenes: Visited India in the late 4th century BCE, around 302–298 BC, as the ambassador of Seleucus I to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
  2. Fa-Hien: A Chinese Buddhist monk who visited India from 405 to 411 CE.
  3. Hieun-Tsang (Xuanzang): Another Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India from 630 to 645 CE.
  4. I-Tsing (Yijing): A Chinese Buddhist monk who made his journey to India from 671 to 695 CE.

43. Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city state of India in the 6th century B.C.? [1999]

Correct Answer: (d) Magadh
Solution:Of the 16 Mahajanapadas, Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa and Avanti were more powerful. They fought amongst themselves for years and ultimately Magadha emerged victorious under Bimbisara (Haranyak dynasty) in 6th C BC.

About Magadha Empire

  • Magadha was the most powerful of all Mahajanapadas.
  • It was located in the Patna and Gaya areas of Bihar.
  • To the north of Magadha, the kingdom was the Republic of Vajjis, which consisted of eight clans. The most important were the Licchavis, who had their capital at Vaishali.
  • To the west of Magadha was the Kashi kingdom, with its capital at Varanasi.

    • Kosala later conquered it.

  • The struggle for power among these Mahajanapadas started in the sixth century. In this struggle, the kingdom of Magadha emerged victorious, which later culminated in the formation of the Magadhan Empire.

44. The Indo-Laws Kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century B.C. was: [1999]

Correct Answer: (a) Bactria
Solution:Bactria was the ancient civilizations of Iranian peoples. Ancient Bactria was located between the Hindu Kush mountain range and the Amu Darya river, covering the flat region that straddles modern-day Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Scythia: The Scythians were a nomadic group who invaded the Afghanistan region later, in the late 2nd century BC, and are not associated with the Indo-Greek kingdom’s establishment in the region.
Aria: While part of northern Afghanistan, this region was largely incorporated into the Persian empire by Cyrus the Great centuries earlier and not the location of the Indo-Greek kingdom.

45. The term 'Aryan' denotes: [1999]

Correct Answer: (c) a speech group
Solution:Aryan is in fact a linguistic term indicating a speech group of Indo-European origin, and is not an ethnic term.
The word has roots in ancient texts like the Rigveda and Avesta, where it signified speakers of Indo-Iranian languages, and its modern use in linguistics refers to the Indo-Aryan branch of Indo-European languages. The racist concept of an “Aryan race” was a later invention by 19th-century racial theorists and was tragically co-opted by the Nazis, a notion that has been thoroughly repudiated by modern scholars.

46. Which one of the following during the Gupta period? [1999]

Correct Answer: (a) Tamralipti
Solution:Tamralipta or Tamralipti was the name of an ancient city on the Bay of Bengal corresponding with Tamluk in modern-day India. Tamralipta may have been one of the most important urban centres of trade and commerce of early historic India, trading along the Silk Road with China, by Uttarapatha, the northern high road, the main trade route into the Middle East and Europe; and by seafaring routes to Bali, Java and the Far East.

47. ASSERTION and REASON [2000]

Assertion (A): The Aham and Puram poems of the Padinen Kilukanakku group formed a continuation of the Sangam composition.

Reason (R): They were included under the post-Sangam works as against the Sangam works proper.

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Solution:The didactic works of Sangam period are called Kilukanakku (18 minor groups) consisting of Tirukurral and Naladiyar. The Aham and Puram poems of the Kilukanakku group were composed in post-Sangam period. That's why R explains A.

About Sangam Age

  • The literal meaning of the term ‘Sangam’ is ‘confluence’.
  • However, in South India’s ancient history, the Sangam Age can be termed an assembly or an academy of learned people held under the patronage of South Indian kings, who were great lovers of literature and fine arts.
  • The Sangam Age is an essential chapter in South Indian history.
  • According to Tamil legends, there were three Sangams in ancient Tamil Nadu, popularly known as ‘Muchchangam’.
  • These Sangams flourished under the royal patronage of the Pandyas. The literary works of the Sangam Age help reconstruct history.

48. Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism. [2000]

Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests.

 

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Solution:Both statements are true and the reason is correct explanation of assertion.

About Jainism

  • Jainism, one of the world’s oldest religions, originated in India around the 6th century BCE, with roots tracing back even earlier.
  • Founded by Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, it emphasizes nonviolence (ahimsa), asceticism, and self-discipline as means to spiritual liberation.
  • Central to Jain philosophy is the belief in the soul’s eternal nature and the importance of karma in shaping one’s destiny.
  • Its rigorous ethical code, its emphasis on non-violence in thought, word, and deed, and its strict asceticism have profoundly influenced Indian culture and spirituality.

49. Assertion (A): The origin of feudal system in ancient India can be traced to military campaigns. [2000]

Reason (R): There was considerable expansion of the feudal system during the Gupta period.

Correct Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
Solution:Both the statements are true but do not explain each other.

The Indian feudal system was a decentralized system of social, economic, and political power based on land ownership, particularly prominent during the Gupta and medieval periods, where lords granted land (or fiefs) to vassals in exchange for loyalty and military service. This created a hierarchy where peasants or sub-vassals worked the land, providing produce and labor to the lords who, in turn, offered protection and a share of the harvest. Unlike European feudalism, the Indian model was shaped by land grants to religious institutions and officials, a decline in trade and urban centers, and the emergence of various intermediary classes like taluqdars and zamindars.

50. Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India. [2000]

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Solution:Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan empire in 261 BC. Though Ashoka abandoned the policy of physical occupation in favour of policy of cultural conquest after the Kalinga War, yet he retained Kalinga after its conquest and incorporated it into his empire. Thus R explains A.
  • Ashoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, was the third emperor of the Mauryan Empire, ruling from 268 to 232 BCE.
  • Ashoka is renowned for his profound transformation from a fierce warrior to a devout Buddhist.
  • After witnessing the immense suffering caused by his conquests, particularly the Kalinga War, Ashoka the Great embraced Buddhism and dedicated himself to spreading its teachings across Asia.
  • Ashoka promoted social welfare and issued edicts carved on pillars and rocks that outlined his policies and moral values.
  • Ashoka’s support for Buddhism and efforts to spread its message were crucial in shaping India’s cultural and religious landscape and beyond.