Sixth century B.C.E. – Political Condition

Total Questions: 58

1. The earliest extant coins of India were of - [U.P.P.C.S. (GIC) 2010]

(a) Copper
(b) Gold
(c) Lead
(d) Silver

Correct Answer: (d) Silver
Note:

Aahat coins or Punch marked coins were the earliest extant coins in India made up of silver. The marks on them were made by the stamp, so they are called as Aahat coins or Punch marked coins.

2. Which of the following is not correctly matched ? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Anga - Champa
(b) Kosala - Ahichhatra
(c) Vatsa - Kaushambi
(d) Viratnagar

Correct Answer: (b) Kosala - Ahichhatra
Note:

The capital of Kosala kingdom was Saket and Shravasti. Rest of the other options are correctly matched.

3. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the code given below the lists : [U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2004, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]

(King)	(State)
A. Pradyot	1. Magadha
B. Udyan	2. Vatsa
C. Prasenjit	3. Avanti
D. Ajatshatru	4. Kosala

Code :

	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	2	3	4
(b)	4	3	2	1
(c)	3	2	4	1
(d)	4	1	3	2

Correct Answer: (c)
Note:

The Pali scriptures reveal that Pradyot was the king of Avanti. Udayana was the king of Vatsa Mahajanpada. Prasenjit was of Kosal and Ajatshatru was the king of Magadha.

4. Chand-pradyota was the ruler of which ancient republic ? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) Kasi
(b) Anga
(c) Avanti
(d) Vajji

Correct Answer: (c) Avanti
Note:

Pradyota is the ruler of Avanti. He is said to be the son of Pulika who is said to have killed his master at Ujjain, to make his son the King. Pradyota was a contemporary of Buddha & Bimbisara and found his name in Mahavagga (a part of Vinaya Pitaka) & Purans. He is said to have ruled for 23 years. Bimbisara sends his Doctor (Raj Vaidhya) Jivak to Pradyota for treatment of Jaundice.

5. The epigraphical evidence reveals that under the instructions of a Nanda king, a canal was dug in : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) Anga
(b) Vanga
(c) Kalinga
(d) Magadha

Correct Answer: (c) Kalinga
Note:

Hathigumpha inscription indicates the Kalinga victory of Nanda's King Mahapadmananda. According to this, King Nanda took away the statue of King Jinsen and built a canal in Kalinga.

6. What was the ancient name of Ujjain ? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]

(a) Taxila
(b) Indraprastha
(c) Avantika
(d) None of above

Correct Answer: (c) Avantika
Note:

Ujjain, located in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, is considered as the ancient historical town of India. This was one of the two capitals of Avanti which was one among the 16 Mahajanapadas. It is also known as Avantika.

7. The following map shows four of the sixteen mahajanapadas that existed in ancient India : [U.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]

The places marked A, B, C and D respectively are :

(a) Matsya, Chedi, Kosala, Anga
(b) Surasena, Avanti, Vatsa, Magadha
(c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga
(d) Surasena, Chedi, Kosala, Magadha

Correct Answer: (c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga
Note:

Options A, B, C, D show Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa and Anga Mahajanapada respectively. Matsya Mahajanapada was located in the Jaipur, Alwar and Bharatpur districts of Rajasthan. Viratnagar was its capital. Avanti Mahajanapada was located in the west and central region of Malwa. It had two parts-Northern Avanti (capital-Ujjayini) and Southern Avanti (capital-Mahishmati). Modern Prayagraj and Kaushambi districts constituted Vatsa Mahajanapada in ancient times. Its capital was Kaushambi. Modern Bhagalpur and Munger districts of Bihar were under the Anga Mahajanapada. Its capital was Champa.

8. The ancient city which is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Mahabhashya both [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Madhyamika (Nagari)
(b) Karkot
(c) Viratnagar (Bairat)
(d) Raidh

Correct Answer: (a) Madhyamika (Nagari)
Note:

The ancient city, which is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Mahabhshya is Madhyamika (Nagari) and Viratnagar. Viratnagar was founded by King Virat. It was the capital of Matsya Kingdom. Its history is found in both Mahabharata and Mahabhashya.

9. Who founded Pataliputra - [48ᵗʰ to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

(a) Udayin
(b) Ashoka
(c) Bimbisara
(d) Mahapadmanada

Correct Answer: (c) Bimbisara
Note:

Pataliputra was founded by Ajatshtru, who was the successor of Bimbisara. Udayin shifted the capital of the Magadha Empire from Rajgriha to Pataliputra. It was also the capital of Sisunaga dynasty, Nanda dynasty, and Maurya dynasty.

10. Which of the followings statements is true regarding Pataliputra, the capital of the Magadha Kingdom ? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

(a) Pataliputra was surrounded by the river Ganges in the East and by the river Champa in the North
(b) Pataliputra was surrounded by the river Ganges in the North and by the river Sone is the West
(c) Pataliputra was surrounded by the Vindhya mountain in the south and by the river Ganges in the East
(d) Patalipurta was surrounded by the Vindhya mountain in the South and by the river Champa in the West

Correct Answer: (b) Pataliputra was surrounded by the river Ganges in the North and by the river Sone is the West
Note:

Ancient Pataliputra (Modern Patna) was surrounded by the river ganga in the north and by the river Son in the West.

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