Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
At the 20th anniversary of his enthronement, Asoka announced Lumbini as tax-free and proclaimed only 1/8th part as taxable. Description of this fact is found in the inscriptions of Nigliva and Rumindei.

Notes:
Jain religion is divided into two major sects: the Digambara and the Shvetambara. The Digambara sect, also known as the “sky-clad” sect, believes that monks should not wear any clothes as a symbol of their detachment from worldly possessions. The Shvetambara sect, also known as the “white-clad” sect, believes that monks should wear white robes as a symbol of their purity and simplicity.
The Shvetambara sect was formed under the leadership of Sthalabahu, while the Digambara sect was formed under the leadership of Bhadrabahu. These two sects have different beliefs, practices, and monastic traditions, but they both follow the basic principles of Jainism, which include non-violence, non-possession, and spiritual development. Both sects have their own set of scriptures and texts that are considered authoritative for their followers.

Notes:
Hunting animals and gathering wild fruits, vegetables and plants were the main occupations of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. They did not practice organized agriculture and were nomadic, moving from place to place for sustenance. Stone tools found at sites like Hunsgi Valley, Kurnool Caves, and Bhimbetka were probably used for skinning animals and cutting meat.

Notes:
In 1921, an Indian archaeologist Raj Bahadur Daya Ram Sahini discovered the Harappa site of the Indus Valley civilisation.

Notes:
In 2008, oil paintings were discovered in caves near the village of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan. The paintings have been radiocarbon dated to more than the 5th century CE, making them the oldest known oil paintings in the world.

Notes:
Brihadrata was assassinated in 185 BCE during a military parade, by the commander-in-chief of his guard, the Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the throne and established the Sunga dynasty. Brihadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, held territories that had shrunk considerably from the time of emperor Ashoka, although he still upheld the Buddhist faith.

Notes:
The Neolithic Revolution or Neolithic Demographic Transition, sometimes called the Agricultural Revolution, was the world’s first historically verifiable revolution in agriculture. It was the wide-scale transition of many human cultures from a lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of agriculture and settlement which supported an increasingly large population. Archaeological data indicates that various forms of plants and animal domestication evolved in separate locations worldwide, starting around 12,000 years ago.

Notes:
Mehrgarh, located in the Kacchi Plain of Balochistan, Pakistan, is one of the earliest sites with evidence of farming and herding in South Asia. Dated back to around 7000 – 5500 BCE, it is also known for its significant contribution in unearthing one of the earliest instances of pottery making.

Notes:
Bharuch derives its name from the great sage Bhrigu and the original name of Bharuch was ‘Bhrigukachchha’

Notes:
Bhaga was the primary source of revenue during the Mauryan period, levied at a rate of approximately one-fourth to one-sixth of a harvested crop. It played a significant role in the Maurya kingdom’s economic system, supplementing the administration’s financial resources and enabling it to carry out the vast administrative and welfare operations prevalent during its reign.