UGC NTA NET/JRF EXAM, December 2024 HISTORY

Total Questions: 100

91. Read the following passage and answer the questions:

The regimented cantonment of Harappa may suggest the priest-controlled industries of Sumer. It may even be permissible to propose a priest-king for Mohenjodaro. But all these points, real or imagined, may be ascribed rather to the inherent cousinship of a social phase than to literal, local interchange. They are common generalities, the product of stray seeds readily fertilized in similar historical and geographical settings.

The particularities, on the other hand, show abundant and significant local variation. In such sculptural art as the Indus has produced there is no real affinity with the sculpture of Sumer. No one would mistake a stone carving from Mohenjodaro for one from Tell Asmar or Mari. The Indus terracotta's are in a different world from those of Mesopotamia. The art of the Harappan seals has no close parallel in the whole history of glyptic.

Which one of the discoveries from Mohenjodaro are comparable to the discoveries from Tell Asmar in Mesopotamia?

Correct Answer: (c) Vessels bearing an over-all knobbed decorations
Solution:

Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are two major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. Mohenjo-daro was discovered by Rakhaldas Banerjee in 1922. Evidence of the Great Bath, granaries, a bronze statue of a dancing girl, a seal of Pashupati Shiva (the original Shiva), cotton cloth, terracotta and stone sculptures, seals, and pottery have been found here. The pottery found at Mohenjo-daro, with ornamentation around the knobs, which is unknown in Mesopotamia, bears similarities to the pottery found at Tell Asmar in Mesopotamia.

92. Which historian has argued that the decline in the lapis lazuli trade with Mesopotamia was a factor in the decline of the Harappan civilization?

Correct Answer: (b) Shireen Ratnagar
Solution:

Shirin Ratnagar (1981) argued that the decline of the Harappan civilization may have been due to a decline in the trade of lapis lazuli with Mesopotamia. Such arguments can never be universally accepted because it is practically impossible to imagine the importance of lapis lazuli and trade relations with Mesopotamia.

93. What can be inferred in the context of Mesopotamian links to the Harappa civilization in the light of more recent discoveries?

Correct Answer: (d) The Harappan civilization cannot be viewed entirely through Mesopotamian lens
Solution:

In the early years of the discovery of the Harappan civilization, its connection with Mesopotamia remained crucial for determining its dating. Some historians emphasized comparative studies between the two civilizations. As a result, confusion persisted regarding the origin, economy, and nature of the political system of the Harappan civilization. In light of recent discoveries, it has been accepted that the Harappan civilization should be viewed independently rather than through a Mesopotamian lens.

94. Which of the following Harappan sites has yielded terracotta model of a plough?

Correct Answer: (c) Banawali
Solution:

Banawali is located in the Hisar district of Haryana. Remains of three cultural phases (Pre-Harappan, Advanced Harappan, and Late Harappan) have been found here. It was discovered in 1973-74 under the leadership of Ravindra Singh Bisht. Evidence such as terracotta models of ploughs from Banawali and Cholistan, ploughed fields from Kalibangan, etc.. provide evidence of developed agriculture in the Harappan civilization.

95. Which scholar was the earliest to suggest that the Harappan state was ruled by the autocratic priest-kings?

Correct Answer: (a) Stuart Piggot
Solution:

The Harappan political structure was first theoretically illuminated by Stuart Piggott, a work also accepted by Mortimer Wheeler. Piggott believed that the Harappan state was a highly centralized empire ruled by autocratic priestly kings from the twin capitals of Mohenjodaro and Harappa.

96. Read the following passage and answer the questions :

"Described as charity hospitals established by the heads of the Vaisya families, Fa Hsien lists a cross section of poor and maimed people who were examined and given medicines for cute at these hospitals. The stay of the patients and provisioning for medicine was available in-house. In effect, the description seems to physically testify the existing form of the ideal type of an Ayurveda hospital that Charak had mentioned in his treatise.

Seen in conjunction with Emperor Asoka's edicts informing us about planting of medical herbs which are suitable for men and animals and a number of passages from Sanskrit and Pali literature talking about the merits of establishing 'Arogyashala' (halls for health) and medical institutions, Charaka's description of hospital does not seem to be historically untenable. They, in fact, lend a lot of credence to the Indic claim of being the place where institutional health care in South Asia evolved first."

Who, besides Charaka and Sushruta, is counted as the 'brihat-trai' (big three) of the Ayurveda?

Correct Answer: (c) Vagbhata
Solution:

The great trinity of Ayurveda are Charaka, Sushruta, and Vagbhata. Charaka was a great physician, while Sushruta was an excellent surgeon. Vagbhata was both a great physician and surgeon.

97. Which of the following is not covered under the Ministry of AYUSH?

Correct Answer: (b) Allopathy
Solution:

The Ministry of AYUSH was established on November 9, 2014, to revive the profound knowledge of ancient medical systems and to ensure the optimal development and dissemination of AYUSH systems of health. The Ministry of AYUSH encompasses Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, Yoga, Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan traditional medicine), and Naturopathy.

98. The earliest reference to the ideal-type of a civil hospital in Indian history can be had from :

Correct Answer: (d) Carakasamhita
Solution:

The earliest reference to the ideal form of a civil hospital in Indian history is found in the Charaka Samhita. The Charaka Samhita is a famous Ayurvedic text written in Sanskrit, divided into eight parts (sthanas) and 120 chapters. Fa-Hien also mentioned in his account that charity hospitals established by Vaishyas (merchants) treated the disabled and provided medicines. These hospitals also had accommodation for the sick. This description confirms the physical existence of the civil hospitals mentioned by Charaka.

99. Identify the city, being spoken about by Fa Hsien, in the given passage.

Correct Answer: (b) Pataliputra
Solution:

The city Fa-Hien refers to in the passage is Pataliputra. Fa-Hien arrived in India in 399 AD at the age of 60 to collect sacred Buddhist texts and stayed there until 412 AD (14 years). He returned to India by land and returned to China by sea. Fa-Hien wrote an account of his travels in his book, Fo-Kyon-Ki.

100. Emperor Asoka refers to having made provisions for medical treatment, planting beneficial medicinal herbs, roots, and fruits in which inscription?

Correct Answer: (a) Major Rock Edict 2
Solution:

Emperor Ashoka's Major Rock Edict No. 2 refers to the king's provision of medical treatment, planting of beneficial medicinal herbs and fruits. Emperor Ashoka established human and animal health facilities in his kingdom, his border states (Chola, Pandya, Satyaputra, Keralaputra, Tamraparni, Bhavan), and beyond. He had wells dug along the routes and planted fruit-bearing trees for human and animal consumption.