UPSC 1999 › Ancient History

7 questions · 1999 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Topics: Foreign Travellers & Accounts (1)Gupta Empire (1)Mahajanapadas & Early Kingdoms (1)Post-Gupta & Early Medieval Dynasties (1)Post-Mauryan & Foreign Invasions (1)Trade & Economy (1)Vedic Period (1)

One consistent feature found in the history of southern India was the growth of small regional kingdoms rather than large empires because of

(a) the absence of minerals like iron
(b) too many divisions in the social structure
(c) the absence of vast areas of fertile land
(d) the scarcity of manpower
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Answer: (c) the absence of vast areas of fertile land

The term ‘Aryan’ denotes

(a) an ethnic group
(b) a nomadic people
(c) a speech group
(d) a superior race
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Answer: (c) a speech group

Which one of the following ports handled the north Indian trade during the Gupta period?

(a) Tamralipti
(b) Broach
(c) Kalyan
(d) Cambray
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Answer: (a) Tamralipti

From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the

(a) African trade
(b) West European trade
(c) Southeast Asian trade
(d) Middle Eastern trade
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Answer: (c) Southeast Asian trade

The following persons came to India at one time or another: I. Fa-Hien II. I-Tsing III. Megasthenes IV. Hieun-Tsang The correct chronological sequence of their visits is:

(a) III, I, II, IV
(b) III, I, IV, II
(c) I, III, II, IV
(d) I, III, IV, II
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Answer: (b) III, I, IV, II

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

(a) Gandhar
(b) Kamboj
(c) Kashi
(d) Magadh
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Answer: (c) Kashi

The Indo-Greek kingdom set up in north Afghanistan in the beginning of the second century BC was

(a) Bactria
(b) Scythia
(c) Zedrasia
(d) Aria
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Answer: (a) Bactria