Ancient History (Part-III)

Total Questions: 54

31. With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhutti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshwara were famous [ [2021-11]

Correct Answer: (b) Playwrights
Solution:
  • Krishna Reddy's Book → Kalidasa, Bana, Bhavabhuti, and other authors are mentioned, who commented on the condition of women in the Gupta-Post Gupta period.
  • It can be in ferred that Bhava bhuti, Hastimallaand Kshemeshvara were playwriters/authors.
  • Bhavabhuti who lived at Kanyakubja in the early 8th century has three surviving plays "Malati and Madhava", "The Deeds of the Great Hero" (Mahaviracarita), and "The Later Deeds of Rama" (Uttarardmacarita).
  • Romila Thapar- also mentions about the authors- Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshmeshvara

32. Which one of the following statements is correct? [2021-11]

Correct Answer: (a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.
Solution:

Ajanta and Ellora caves, considered to be one of the finest examples of ancient rock-cut caves, are located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
The Ajanta and Ellora cave complex is adorned with beautiful sculptures, paintings, and frescoes and includes Buddhist monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples.
The Ajanta caves are 29 in number and were built between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD, whereas the Ellora caves are more spread out and 34 in number and date to the period between the 6th and 11th Centuries AD.
Ajanta Caves are mostly Buddhist sites and were used as a retreat by Buddhist monks. Ajanta Caves are located in the gorge of the Waghora River, specifically within a U-shaped gorge in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra.

33. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements: [2021-11]

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.

2. It is the only circular temple built in India

3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.

4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 4
Solution:
  • Circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty-king Devapala built it in 14th Century
  • Yogini represents the Shakti Worship and not Vaishnavism
  • Other Circular temples were built- eg. Maniar Math in Bihar

34. Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs? [2021-1]

Correct Answer: (a) Dholavira
Solution:
  • Dholavira was known for the Water Management
  • Surrounded by 2 channels, the natives had built dam, reservoir, step well and canal for effective water management.
    The ancient city of Dholavira, locally known as Kotada Timba, is one of the five largest sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Recent archaeological evidence suggests that Dholavira was occupied around 3500 BCE (pre-Harappan period) and lasted until around 1800 BCE, the late Harappan period. It is located on Khadir Bet Island in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, which also lies on the Tropic of Cancer. The excavation also tells the story of the seven stages of civilization, from development to maturity to decay. UNESCO has included Dholavira in the list of World Heritage Sites in 2021.

35. From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? [2021-1]

1. The Guptas of Magadha

2. The Paramaras of Malwa

3. The Pushyabutis of Thanesar

4. The Yadavas of Devagiri

5. The Yadavas of Devagiri

6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
Solution:
  • Can be solved via elimination, also given in TN Board- Std. 11
  • After the Guptas and before the rise of Harshavardhana different dynasties came to power in different parts of the country .
  • Yadavas of Deogiri came in the Medieval India .
  • Parmara of Malwas came to power in the 10th Century onwards Therefore, answer (b) 1, 3, 4 and 6.

36. Consider the following pairs: [2021-1]

Historical place: Well-known for

1. Burzahom Rock-cut shrines

2. Chandra-ketugargh: Terracotta art

3. Ganeshwar: Copper artefacts

Which of the pairs given above is correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (d) 2 and 3
Solution:
  • Burzhaom- is a Neolithic site, known for pit dwellings. It doesn't have Rock Cut Shrines.
  • Ganeshwar- Chalcolithic culture site, contemporary to IVC. It is known for copper smelting .
  • Chandraketugarh- located in Bengal
  • Post Mauryan period site, known for terracotta sculptures and Image
  • Chandraketugarh- mentioned in NCERT Class-12-themes in Indian history- Part 1. But no mention of terracotta art

37. With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2022-1]

1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.

2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim the right to the property during the lifetime of the father whereas, in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim the right to the property.

3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:
  • Not given in standard reference books.
  • Mitakasara- compiled by Vijneswara, it was a commentary on Yajvalkya Smriti .
  • Belonged to the court of Vikramadtiya VI of Kalyani Chalukyas.
  • This book haddetails about the sucession laws of Hindu families.

38. Consider the following pairs: [2022-11]

Site of Ashoka's major rock edicts Location in the State of
1. DhauliOdisha
2. ErragudiAndhra Pradesh
3. JaugadaMadhya Pradesh
4. KalsiKarnataka
Correct Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Solution:
  • Option (b) is correct: Only two pairs are correct.
  • Pair 1 is correct: Dhauli is located in Odisha.
  • Pair 2 is correct: Erragudi or Yerragudi is located in Andhra Pradesh
  • Pair 3 is wrong: Jaugada is located in Odisha.
  • Pair 4 is wrong: Kalsi is located in Uttarakhand. Ref: NCERT Class12

39. Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct? [2022-11]

Correct Answer: (b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
Solution:Sangam Literature has references to material culture so "(a)" is wrong. Sangam Literature contains references about material culture, warrior ethics and magical forces so (a), (c) and (d) are wrong. - Therefore by elimination the answer is (b).

According to Tamil scholars, three sangams (academies of Tamil poets) existed in ancient Tamil Nadu, also known as Muchchangam. Under the Pandyan dynasty's royal patronage, these Sangam flourished. These Tamil literary works continue to be valuable resources for rewriting Sangam age history.

First Sangam: Legendary gods and sages attended the first Sangam held in Madurai, although there are no recorded accounts of it.
Second Sangam: It was held in Kapadapuram in Tamilnadu. Except for Tolkappiyam, none of the literary works written during this Sangam survived.
Third Sangam: The third Sangam was established in Madurai by Mudathirumaran. Although many poets participated and created substantial work, only some persisted.
Tolkappiyam, Ettutogai, Pattuppattu, Pathinenkilkanakku, and the two epics Silappathigaram and Manimegalai are among the works in the Sangam literature corpus.

40. With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: [2022-11]

  1. Nettipakarana
  2. Parishishtaparvan
  3. avadanashataka
  4. trishashtikshana mahapurana
Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 4 only
Solution:# 1 is wrong: The Nettipakaraa is a legendary Theravada Buddhist scripture. #2 is right: Parishishtaparvan is a Sanskrit mahakavya written by Hemachandra in the 12th century that describes the lives of the first Jain instructors. # 3 is wrong:

The Avadanashataka is a Sanskrit collection of one hundred Buddhist stories. #4 is right: Trishashthilkshana or Mahapurana Mahapurana is a famous Jain scripture during the reign of Rashtrakuta monarch Amoghavarsha.