Indian History and World History (Part-8)

Post Gupta Period

Total Questions: 43

21. From the foreign travellers mentioned in the options below, who was the earliest to visit India? [S.S.C. JE Electrical Exam 28.10.2020 (Shift-I)]

(a) Fa Xian
(b) Megasthenes
(c) I-tsing
(d) Hieun Tsang

Correct Answer: (b) Megasthenes

Solution:The first of the given foreign travellers, ‘Megasthenes’ (messenger of Seleucus Nicator), came to India during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.

The name of the book written by him is ‘Indica’. Fahein came to India during the reign of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. I-tsing came to India in the 7th century. Hieun Tsang came to India in 7th century.

Traveller	Country	Period (Approx.)	Visited Ruler / Dynasty	Key Contribution
Megasthenes	Greece (Greek Ambassador)	4th century BCE	Chandragupta Maurya (Mauryan Empire)	Wrote “Indica”, describing Mauryan administration, society
Fa-Hien	China	5th century CE	Gupta Empire (Chandragupta II)	Described society, economy, and Buddhism in India
Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)	China	7th century CE	Harshavardhana (Vardhana Dynasty)	Wrote “Si-Yu-Ki”, rich details of Indian religion, education, politics
Al-Biruni	Central Asia (Khwarezm)	11th century CE	Mahmud of Ghazni	Wrote “Tahqiq-i-Hind”, scientific and cultural insights
Marco Polo	Italy (Venetian)	13th century CE	During Yadava dynasty (Deccan region)	Described India's wealth, trade, and culture
Ibn Battuta	Morocco	14th century CE	Muhammad bin Tughlaq (Delhi Sultanate)	Wrote “Rihla”, detailed account of political & social life
Niccolò de Conti	Italy	15th century CE	Vijayanagara Empire	Gave details of South India’s trade and culture
Duarte Barbosa	Portugal	16th century CE	Vijayanagara Empire	Observed India's coastal trade and society
Francisco Pelsaert	Netherlands	17th century CE	Mughal Empire (Shah Jahan)	Described economic life and Mughal administration

22. Which among the following was NOT a Chinese pilgrim to India? [S.S.C. Online MTS (T-I) 14.10.2017 (Shift-II)]

(a) Al-Biruni
(b) Fa-hien
(c) Xuan-Zang
(d) I-tsing

Correct Answer: (a) Al-Biruni

Solution:Among the options given are all other Chinese travellers except Alberuni. Alberuni came to India during the invasion of Mahmud Ghaznavi.

Traveller	Country	Period (Approx.)	Visited Ruler / Dynasty	Key Contribution
Megasthenes	Greece (Greek Ambassador)	4th century BCE	Chandragupta Maurya (Mauryan Empire)	Wrote “Indica”, describing Mauryan administration, society
Fa-Hien	China	5th century CE	Gupta Empire (Chandragupta II)	Described society, economy, and Buddhism in India
Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)	China	7th century CE	Harshavardhana (Vardhana Dynasty)	Wrote “Si-Yu-Ki”, rich details of Indian religion, education, politics
Al-Biruni	Central Asia (Khwarezm)	11th century CE	Mahmud of Ghazni	Wrote “Tahqiq-i-Hind”, scientific and cultural insights
Marco Polo	Italy (Venetian)	13th century CE	During Yadava dynasty (Deccan region)	Described India's wealth, trade, and culture
Ibn Battuta	Morocco	14th century CE	Muhammad bin Tughlaq (Delhi Sultanate)	Wrote “Rihla”, detailed account of political & social life
Niccolò de Conti	Italy	15th century CE	Vijayanagara Empire	Gave details of South India’s trade and culture
Duarte Barbosa	Portugal	16th century CE	Vijayanagara Empire	Observed India's coastal trade and society
Francisco Pelsaert	Netherlands	17th century CE	Mughal Empire (Shah Jahan)	Described economic life and Mughal administration

23. King Shashanka, against whom Harshvardhana declared war, was a ruler of the ______ kingdom. [S.S.C. Online M.T.S. (T-I) 14.10.2021 (Shift-III)]

(a) Gauda
(b) Magadha
(c) Junagarh
(d) Kanyakubja

Correct Answer: (a) Gauda

Solution:King Shashanka, against whom Harshavardhana declared war, was the ruler of the Gaur kingdom. Harshavardhana declared war against the killing of elder brother Rajyavardhana by the Gaur king Shashanka.

24. The leaning temple of Huma is dedicated to ______. [S.S.C. Online CHSL (T-I) 24.01.2017 (Shift-II)]

(a) Hanuman
(b) Shiva
(c) Rama
(d) Krishna

Correct Answer: (b) Shiva

Solution:The Leaning Temple of Huma is situated on the banks of Mahanadi in the Sambalpur district of Odisha state. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

25. Who was the first ruler of Pala dynasty? [S.S.C. Online CHSL (T-I) 25.01.2017 (Shift-II)]

(a) Gopala
(b) Vivyanathan
(c) Dharmapala
(d) Bhaskaran

Correct Answer: (a) Gopala

Solution:Gopala was the first ruler of the Pala dynasty. He was a believer of Buddhism and built a vihara at Nalanda. Gopala ruled from about 750-770 AD.

26. Who was the founder of Pala Dynasty? [S.S.C. Online CHSL (T-I) 17.03.2020 (Shift-II)]

(a) Dharmapala
(b) Gopala
(c) Ramapala
(d) Mahipala

Correct Answer: (b) Gopala

Solution:Gopala was the first ruler of the Pala dynasty. He was a believer of Buddhism and built a vihara at Nalanda. Gopala ruled from about 750-770 AD.

27. Vikramshila University was founded by—. [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 30.08.2016 (Shift-III)]

(a) Chandra Gupta Maurya
(b) Kanishka
(c) Dharmapala
(d) Pulakesin II

Correct Answer: (c) Dharmapala

Solution:The ruler of the Pala dynasty ‘Dharmapala’ (770-810 AD), founded Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur in Bihar in the late 8th or early 9th century. In addition to Buddhism and philosophy, education, philosophy, grammar, etc., were taught here.

28. Who founded the famous Vikramshila University in the ninth century? [S.S.C. Online C.H.S.L. (T-I) 10.08.2021 (Shift-II)]

(a) Samanta Sena
(b) Ballala Sena
(c) Dharmapala
(d) Gopala