Ancient Indian History MCQs

Notes:
The Twelfth Rock Edict of Ashoka mentions the Ithijika Mahamatta. It appeals for toleration and to honor other sects. It also mentions that the beloved of the Gods does not consider gifts or honor to be important.

Notes:
It is believed that the Mauryans maintained a huge army. The army consisted of 6,00,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9,000 elephants, and 8,000 chariots. In Mauryan administration the security of frontier forts was the responsibility of Anta-Mahamattas.

Notes:
Demetrius who was the King of Bactria invaded India around 190 BCE. He also came into conflict with Pushyamitra Shunga. He conquered a huge part of the Mauryan empire.

Notes:
The Kushanas were nomadic tribal people who were originally from the steppes of north Central Asia. The Kushanas first displaced the Shakas, gradually seized  Gandhara, and set up their authority over the lower Indus basin and the greater part of the Gangetic basin.

Notes:
Ramgupta was the elder son of Samudragupta. Samudragupta was succeeded by Ramagupta according to some legends, but Chandragupta II killed him. It is also believed that during the tenure of  Ramagupta, the Gupta empire was invaded by a powerful Shaka kin.

Notes:
Both the Guptas and Vakatakas were the patrons of God Vishnu. There was also an emergence of worship of composite deities such as Hari-Hara, who is a part Vishnu and part Shiva. Religious syncretism can also be seen. For instance, Buddha was also considered as one of the ten Vishnu avatars.

Notes:
Prithvisena I was the second ruler of the Vakataka Nandivardhana branch. He is described as a righteous conqueror in later Vakataka inscriptions.  Due to his qualities like truthfulness, transparency, compassion, and humility, he was compared to the epic hero Yudhishthira.

Notes:
Kamrup is the modern region situated between the rivers the Manas and the Barnady in Western Assam. Bhaskar-varman was the ruler of Kamarupa in the time of Harsha. The kingdoms of Kamarupa acknowledged the overlordship of the Gupta kings but retained its autonomy in internal affairs.

Notes:
The founder of the Hoyasala dynasty was Sala who is also known as Nripakama. Vinayaditya who was the son and successor of Sala was a feudatory of the Chalukya, Vikramaditya VI. Vinayaditya was succeeded by his son Ereyanga who in turn was succeeded by Ballala I.

Notes:
Rugvinischaya or Madhava-Nidhana was the work of Madhavakar. The text treats of all diseases together. This book enjoyed great popularity during the medieval period.