Ancient History – UPSC Prelims PYQs

What does Baudhayana theorem (Baudhayana Sulva Sutra) relate to?

Match List – I with List – II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List – I ( Finding / Invention / Calculation ) A. Time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun B. Calculation of the value of ‘pi’ C. Invention of the digit zero D. The game of snakes and ladders List – II ( Ancient Indian Scholar )

1. Aryabhatta
2. Bhaskaracharya
3. Budhayana
4. Gyandev

Code:

Who among the following laid the foundation of Rashtrakuta Empire?

Between

which of the following was the ancient town of Takshasila located?

With reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the correct chronological order?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Ikshvaku rulers of southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism.
2. The Pala rulers of Eastern India were patrons of Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The Allahabad Pillar inscription is associated with which one of the following?

Who among the following was not a contemporary of the other three?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
2. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to ancient Jainism, which one of the following statements is correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. Vardhamana Mahavira’s mother was the daughter of Lichchhavi chief Chetaka.
2. Gautama Buddha’s mother was a princess from the Kosha-lan dynasty.
3. Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, belonged to Banaras.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. The last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Sunga.
2. The last Sunga king, Devabhuti was assassinated by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva Kanva who usurped the throne.
3. The last ruler of the Kanva dynasty was deposed by the Andhra’s.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada River by

Match List I (Ancient site) with List II (Archaeological finding) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

1. Ploughed field
2. Dockyard
3. Terracotta replica of a plough
4. An inscription comprising ten large-sized signs of the Banawali Harappan script

List I (Ancient site) A. Lothal B. Kalibangan C. Dholavira D. ——— (site with Banawali inscription)

List II (Archaeological finding)

Codes:

The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on

Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly.

Reason (R): He wanted to popularise only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

Which one of the Chola kings conquered Ceylon?

Who among the following presided over the Buddhist Council held during the reign of Kanishka at Kashmir?

Which one of the following animals was NOT represented on the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan culture?

The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the

Which one of the following dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexander's invasion?

Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism.

Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing of insects and pests.

Assertion (A): The origin of feudal system in ancient India can be traced to military campaigns.

Reason (R): There was considerable expansion of the feudal system during the Gupta period.

Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire.

Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.

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

The term ‘Aryan’ denotes

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

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

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:

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

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

Assertion (A): According to Asoka’s edicts, social harmony among the people was more important than religious devotion.

Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion.

Which one of the following ancient Indian records is the earliest royal order to preserve food grains to be utilised during the crises in the country?

The given map relates to

The original map is not available for this question.

The Asokan major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts

What is the correct chronological order in which the following appeared in India? I. Gold coins II. Punch-marked silver coins III. Iron plough IV. Urban culture

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Asoka?

The following map shows four of the sixteen mahajanapadas that existed in ancient India. The places marked A, B, C and D respectively are

The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called

Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?

The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat, the year would be

The river most mentioned in early Vedic literature is

In the context of ancient Indian society, which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?

Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?

Match List I with List II

and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:

List I I. Visakhadatta II. Varahamihira III. Charaka IV. Brahmagupta

List II A) Medicine B) Drama C) Astronomy D) Mathematics

Who among the following was a Brahmavadini who composed some hymns of the Vedas?

Match List I with List II

and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:

List I (Eras) I. Vikrama era II. Saka era III. Gupta era IV. Kali era

List II (Reckoned from) A) 3102 B.C. B) 320 A.D. C) 78 A.D. D) 58 B.C. E) 248 A.D.

In Sanskrit plays written during the Gupta Period women and sudras speak

The name by which Asoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is

The term Yavanapriya, mentioned in ancient Sanskrit texts, denoted