Indian History & Culture

Indian History

No. Question Answer 01 Alexander invaded India in 326 BC 02 The Mauryan Empire was established in 322 BC 03 The First Mughal Emperor of India was Babur 04 Taj Mahal was built by Shahjahan 05 Lala Lajpat Rai was also known as Lion of Punjab 06 Chandragupta II was also known as Vikramaditya 07 The city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar 08 The Red Fort in Delhi was built by Shahjahan 09 Battle of Panipat was faught in 1761 AD 10 The first President of India was Dr.Rajendra Prasad 11 "Swaraj is my birthright!" was said by Bal Gangadhar Tilak 12 The capital of Mysore during the rule of Tipu Sultan was Srirangapatnam 13 Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 AD 14 The first Governor-General of Bengal under the East India Company was Warren Hastings 15 Ashoka was born in 269 BC 16 Permanent settlement in Bengal was introduced by Lord Cornwallis 17 The last Governor-General of India was C.Raja Gopalachari 18 The first session of the Indian National Congress was held at Bombay (Mumbai) 19 Quit India Movement started in the year 1942 AD 20 Sir Thomas Roe,English Ambassador, visited India during the reign of Jahangir 21 In the battle of Plassey, Lord Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daula 22 The city of Calcutta was founded in 1690 AD 23 The capital of king Vikramaditya's kingdom was Ujjain 24 The first Viceroy of India was Lord Canning 25 The name of the famous horse of Rana Pratap was Chetak 26 The Grand Trunk road was built during the reign of Shersa Suri 27 Tipu Sultan was born in 1750 AD 28 Home Rule Movement was started by Annie Besant 29 Shivaji was crowned in 1664 AD 30 East India Company was established in the year 1600 AD 31 The capital city of ancient India was Indraprastha 32 The first woman ruler in India was Razia Begum 33 The capital of the Mauryan was Patliputra 34 The construction of Qutb Minar in Delhi was completed by Ala-ud-din 35 Din-i-Ilahi was founded by Akbar 36 Rabindranath tagore was born in 1861 AD 37 The most famous king of Vijayanagar Empire was Krishnadevaraya 38 Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was also known as Frontier Gandhi 39 Samudra Gupta is popularly known as Napolean of India 40 The first Tamil hero who fought against the British was Veerapandya Kattabomman 41 Akbar's tomb is situated at Sikandrabad 42 Gautama Buddha was the son of Shuddhodan 43 Shivaji's mother was Jeejabai 44 Gandhiji's mother was Puthali Bai 45 The political teacher of shivaji was Dadoji Konddev 46 Timur invaded India in the year 1398 AD 47 Mahmud Ghazni was the son of Sabaktageen 48 The city of Ahmedabad was established by Ahmed Shah I 49 Rani padmini was Queen of Rana Ratna simha,the king of Chittoor 50 The real name of Babar was Zahiruddin Muhammed 51 The meaning of the word "Babar" is Tiger 52 Vijayasthamba is located at Chittoor Fort 53 Timur was the ruler of Samarkhand,Central Asia 54 The Indian social reformer who fought for the abolition of Sati was Rajaram Mohan Roy 55 The first British Governor General of free India was Lord Mountbatten 56 Dadabhai Naoroji was associated with the theory of "Drain of Wealth" 57 The kingdom of South India well known for its Naval power was The Cholas 58 Aligarh Muslim University was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan 59 The first Indian ruler who prohibited Sati was Akbar 60 The Mughal ruler who was to recruit Rajput nobles in his administration was Akbar 61 The reforms announced by the British Govt.in 1909 are known as The Morle-Minto Reforms 62 The architect who designed the capital City of New Delhi was E.L.Lutyens 63 At the time of independence, the number of princely states in India were 552 64 The Indian Prime Minister known as "Man of Peace" was Lal Bahadur Shastri 65 The Indian king who fought the last Anglo-Mysore War against the English was Tipu Sultan 66 Kohinoor Diamond was taken away by Nadir Shah 67 The full name of Shahjehan was Khurram Shihabuddin Mohammed Shahjehan 68 The Bardoli satyagraha was started by Mahatma Gandhi 69 The founder of Arya Samaj was Swamy Dayanand Saraswati 70 The Governor General who abolished Sati was Lord William Bentinck 71 Bihar was earlier known as Magadha 72 Agra was earlier known as Akbarabad 73 "Harsha Charit" was written by Banabatta 74 Chandragupta Maurya spent the last days of his life at Sravanabelagola 75 Jalianwala Bagh Massacre took place at Amritsar 76 Vijayanagar kingdom was situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra 77 In 1498,the sea route to india was discovered by Vasco-da-gama 78 King Bhoja was from the which dynasty Pratihara 79 The period 1206 Ad to 1526 AD is known as The Delhi Sultanate 80 Agra city was founded by Sikandar Lodhi 81 Vijaynagar Empire was founded by Harihara and Bukka 82 The Vijayanagar kings fought frequent wars with the Bahamani Sultans 83 The last king of the Vijayanagar empire was Rama Raya 84 Shankaracharya was associated with which movement Bhakti 85 Ramanuja preached the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita 86 The followers of Ramanuja are known as Vaishnavas 87 Kabir was the disciple of Ramanand 88 The founder of Sikh religion was Guru Nanak 89 Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the year 1526 AD 90 Babar died in the year 1530 AD 91 Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri 92 Humayun died at the age of 48 years 93 Akbar was crowned in the year 1556 AD 94 In the second battle of Panipat, Akbar defeated Himu 95 Akbar died in the year 1605 Ad 96 The original name of Nurjahan was Mehrunisa 97 Jehangir was known for his Justice 98 Jehangir died in the year 1627 AD 99 Aurangzeb was the son of Shahjehan 100 Aurangzeb died in the year 1707 AD 101 The first Guru of the sikhs was Guru Nanak Dev 102 The tenth Guru of the sikhs was Guru Gobind Singh 103 Amritsar was founded by Guru Ram Das 104 The Golden Temple was built by Guru Arjan Dev 105 The Akal Takht was built by Guru Hargobind 106 Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1666 AD 107 The `Khalsa' at Anandpur Sahib was founded by Guru Gobind Singh 108 Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born in 1780 AD 109 Bahadur Shah Zafar died in the year 1862 AD 110 Shivaji died at age of 50 years 111 In tne year 1798,who was appointed as the Governor-General Wellesley 112 Wellesley started the policy of Subsidiary Alliance 113 Dalhousie became the Governor-General in 1848 AD 114 The first war of Indian Independence fought in 1857 is also known as The Sepoy Mutiny 115 The Lady ruler who participated in the 1857 Revolt was Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi 116 The Indian Association was formed in 1876 at Calcutta 117 The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885 AD 118 The Rowlatt Act was passed in the year 1919 AD 119 The Jalianwala Bagh Massacre took place in the year 1919 AD 120 The movement launched in 1920 is known as The Non-Co-operation Movement 121 The Simon Commission came to India in the year 1928 AD 122 Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by Bindusara 123 Ashoka invaded Kalinga in the year 261 BC 124 Ashoka died in the year 232 BC 125 Ashoka ruled for a period of 40 years 126 The last king of Maurya dynasty was Brihadratha 127 Chandragupta was succeeded by Samudragupta 128 The Iron Pillar near Qutb Minar was erected by Chandragupta II 129 Fahien, a Chinese traveller visited india during the reign of Chandragupta II 130 Harshavardhana ascended the throne at the age of 16 years 131 Harshavardhana was defeated by Pulakeshin II 132 The Chinese traveller who visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana was Hieun Tsang 133 Akbar was succeeded by Jehangir 134 Jehangir was succeeded by Shahjehan 135 In ancient times this river was called Shatadru. How do we know it now? Sutlej. 136 In the Rigveda there is a reference to the "Dasharajna Yuddha". What does this refer to? It was a battle of 10 kings fought between Sudasa, a king of the Tritsu family on one side, and a confederacy of 10 tribes on the other. It was fought on the banks of the Parushni (Ravi). Sudasa defeated his enemies in this battle. 137 Who was the ruler of the territory between the Jhelum and the Ravi when Alexander invaded India? Paurava or Porus as the Greeks called him. 138 When Porus surrendered to Alexander, Alexander asked him how he wished to be treated. What was Porus' reply? "As one King would treat another". This was his famous reply that has become a classic. Hearing this Alexander not only reinstated Porus on the throne, but he also added territories towards the east and domains of many republican states to the existing kingdom of Porus (according to Plutarch). 139 Who was Megasthenes? Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan Court. 140 Who sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to the Mauryan Court? Seleucus Nikator. 141 Where did Seleucus Nikator rule? Babylon. He gradually extended his empire from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus. 142 Whom did Chandragupta Maurya defeat to establish his kingdom? The Nanda dynasty of Magadha. 143 Who helped Chandragupta Maurya defeat the Nanda rulers? Kautilya also called Chanakya. 144 Of which territories was Ashoka the Viceroy before he became the king? Taksha-Shila and Ujjain. 145 "Beloved of the gods" and "of amiable appearance". Ashoka used these titles in his inscriptions. Can you give the original titles? "Devanampiya" and "Piyadassi" (Devanampriya and Priyadarshin). 146 What was unique about the personal bodyguards of the Maurya rulers? They were women. 147 Who was the last Maurya King? Brihadratha. 148 Who overthrew Brihadratha? Pushyamitra, who was his Commander-in-chief. 149 What was the name of the dynasty that succeeded Mauryan dynasty? The Shunga dynasty. (Pushyamitra founded this dynasty after he overthrew the Mauryan ruler) 150 From which source have historians got some details of the overthrow of the Mauryan dynasty? Bana's Harshacharita written almost eight centuries after the event. 151 The Allahabad Pillar inscription is the most authentic record about the reign of a famous Emperor. Identify that Emperor. Samudra Gupta 152 The Hindu kingdom of Champa flourished outside the present boundaries of India. Where would the kingdom be located in today's context? Vietnam. During this period, the country was considered a great centre of Vedic education. 153 What is Theravada in the context of Buddhism? It is a major form of Buddhism prevalent in Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. 154 Where is Angkor Vat located? It is located in the ancient kingdom of Kambuja (modem Cambodia). It means Temple (Vat) of the city (Angkor). 155 Who constructed Angkor Vat? Suryavarman II. 156 To whom is Angkor Vat dedicated? Vishnu. 157 Who wrote Uttara-Rama-Charitam? Bhavabhuti. 158 What is the Gandhara art also known as? Indo-Greek. The Gandhara sculptures drew their inspiration from the Hellenic (Greek) art of Asia Minor. 159 After whom have the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu been named? The five Pandavas and Draupadi. 160 To which dynasty did Gautamiputra Shatakarni belong? Shatavahanas. 161 Who founded the Shatavahana dynasty? The founder of the family was Simuka but it was Shatakarni I who raised it to eminence. 162 Who wrote the Buddha Charita? Ashvaghosha. 163 To which dynasty did Kanishka belong? The Kushana dynasty 164 On the banks of which river did Harappa lie? Ravi. Mohenjodaro was on the bank of the Sindhu (Indus.) 165 Name the trading station of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Lothal. 166 The 'Sapta Sindhu' was the area of the initial Aryan settlement. To what region did it refer? The land of the Sindhu (Indus) and its principal tributaries. 167 Which is the crime that is most often mentioned in the Rjgveda? Cattle-lifting. 168 What does the word 'Sangam' refer to in Tamil History? It is the literary assembly of Tamil scholars held at Madurai under the patronage of the Pandyan Kings. 169 Which great Chola Emperor started the tradition of installing epigraphs with historical introductions? Rajaraja Chola. 170 Nalanda and Vikramshila were very famous in ancient India. What was the reason for their fame? These were the centres where the famous Buddhist Universities flourished. 171 What were Nalanda, Vikramshila in reality? Buddhist monasteries. They later took on the shape of universities. 172 What does the term Bhagavata relate to? CC. 173 Greek sources refer to him as Sandrocottus (Androcottus). How do we know him? Chandragupta Maurya. 174 What does the term 'dwija' mean? 'Dwija' describes those who wear the sacred thread after Upanayanam. Literally 'Dwija' means twice-born. 175 What was the reason for the importance of Kaveripattanam during the Sangam period? It was among the chief ports of the Tamil countries that carried on trade with the Romans. 176 What was the intoxicating drink that was consumed by the Rig Vedic Aryans during religious ceremonies? Soma. 177 How do we better know "Sakyamuni" (Shakyamuni)? Buddha. 178 Who was the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the Jains? Vardhamana Mahavira 179 On the basis of the Dhamma that Ashoka propagated, what is "Shusrusha"? Shusrusha meant obedience to father, mother, teacher and men of high caste. 180 What is the literal meaning of Mohenjodaro? Mound of the dead. 181 What is a Stupa? It is a kind of tomb where the relics of Buddha or other Buddhist monks are kept. 182 What were the four sights which Gautam saw, while being driven around the city? An old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic. 183 Who was the chief deity of the Sangam Period? Murugan (Karttikeya) 184 Which Gupta ruler is also known as 'Kavi Raja'? Samudragupta. 185 Samudragupta is represented on coins as playing a particular musical instrument. Which musical instrument is that? Veena. 186 What is common to the following: Kumarasambhava, Ritusamhara, Raghuvamsham and Meghdootam? They are all works of Kalidasa. 187 What was the name of Harsha's sister? Rajyashri 188 What was the title assumed by Harsha when he ascended the throne? Shiladitya 189 Whom did Harsha succeed? His elder brother, Rajyavardhana. 190 Mahendra, the son of Ashoka, was sent as a Buddhist missionary to a particular kingdom. Identify the kingdom. Sri Lanka 191 In ancient times, who were the foreigners who were called Yavanas? The Greeks. The word was derived from the Old Persian form of the word 'Yauna', signifying originally the Ionian Greeks, but later, all people of Greek nationality. In the medieval times it came to be used for all foreigners irrespective of their place of origin. 192 What was Sumatra called as, in ancient times? Suvarnadvipa. 193 Who systematised the rules of Sanskrit grammar (4 Century BC) in the work Ashtadhyayi? Panini. 194 One of the chief sources of revenue from villages mentioned in the Ashokan inscriptions is the "Bhaga". What is it? Bhaga: King's share of the produce of the soil, usually l/6th. The other source of revenue was the Bali. The Bali was the land tribute paid to the King. 195 In the Mauryan times if someone were referring to the Karshapana, what would he be talking about? The Karshapana was a copper coin that was in use during the Mauryan times. Dharana was a Silver coin and the Kakani were smaller copper coins. 196 Where is Gandhara art found? The ruins of Taksha-shila, in modern Pakistan and Afghanistan. 197 What were the Jains originally called? Nirgrantha. 198 In Jainism a small group of people were called Ganadharas. Who were they? The close disciples of Mahavira were called Ganadharas. 199 For a while, Bhagavatism and Brahmanism were separate sects. How did the two merge into one? When Krishna, the main deity of Bhagavatism, began to be identified with Vishnu, the main deity of Brahmanism, the two sects merged into one. 200 What is the importance of the Khyber and Bolan passes in Indian history? The land route between India and West Asia lies through these passes. 201 Which city in ancient India was famous for its textile industry? Mathura 202 What is Stridhana? It is the exclusive property of a married lady, something she often inherits from her mother. 203 According to the Arthashastra the Senapati was an important member of the Mantri Parishad. What was his role? Commander-in-Chief of the army. 204 Jyotisha is one of the Vedangas. What does it deal with? Astronomy and astrology 205 Two popular assemblies used to control the affairs of the Vedic kingdoms. Name them. Sabha: - Body of the elders. Constituted of               Brahmins and rich patrons. Samiti: - An assembly of common people.          Meant for the discharge of administration. 206 Who or what are the 'Uttariya' and 'Antariya'? In ancient India, antariya (dhoti) a lower garment was worn by all common people. Uttariya was the garment that covered the upper part of the body. In addition to these the well-to-do people wore Prapata around the waist. Around the prapata, the rich wore Rasana, usually of gold. Ushneesha was used to cover the head and Stanapatta was worn to cover the breasts. 207 Who built the rock-cut temples at Ellora? The Rashtrakuta king, Krishna I. 208 In the context of Buddhism, what is Vinaya Pitaka? It is the work that deals with the governance of the life of Buddhists. It also describes the gradual development of the Sangha and the life and teachings of Buddha. 209 What is contained in the Sutta Pitaka? Sutta Pitaka incorporates the greatest literary works of Buddhism. Of the five collections, the first four consist of discourses of Buddha. 210 Patanjali's Mahabhashya refers to some of the stories about Krishna's early life. Who does Patanjali call Samkarshana? Balarama. 211 With which modern township would you identify the ancient port of Suppara (also known as Surparaka)? Nala Sopara an extended suburb of modern Mumbai. 212 What was the basis of barter for common articles during the Vedic period? Paddy. 213 In which script were a majority of the Ashoka inscriptions written? Brahmi. Brahmi script was used in the whole of the country, except the northwest. 214 What script did Ashoka use in the inscriptions of the Northwest of India? Kharoshti script. 215 The Jaina texts were finally compiled in the sixth century A.D. in Vallabhi in Gujarat. In which language were they written? Prakrit. 216 Who wrote the Arthashastra? Kautilya. 217 Which is a very important source of information for the social, political and economic life of the people living in the Tamil Naidu area in the early Christian era? Sangam literature. 218 Who is the author of the Greek work "Indika"? Megasthenes. This book, however, is not available to us in its entirety and survives only in quotations by subsequent classical writers. 219 When did the Vikram Samvat begin in India? It began in 57 B.C. 220 Over which part of present-day India did the Pala dynasty rule? Bengal. 221 When did the Shaka era begin in India? 78A.D. 222 Who started the Shaka era? Kanishka of the Kushana dynasty. 223 When did the Gupta era begin in India? In 320 A.D., after Chandragupta of the Gupta dynasty. 224 Over which kingdom did Kharavela rule? Kalinga. 225 According to Buddhist sources, a dreaded dacoit had a transformation of heart and took refuge in Buddha's Dhamma. Who was he? Angulimala. 226 An accomplished and rich dancer gave away her mango-grove to the Sangha of Buddha and became his disciple. Name her. Amrapali. 227 Why was the Indus Valley Civilisation originally called the Harappan Civilisation? It was so called because the first site of this civilization was discovered (in 1921) at the modern site of Harappa, in present day Pakistan. 228 What was the basis of the town planning of the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation? It was the Grid System. In the format that they used all roads cut across each other almost at right angles. This led to the city being divided into blocks. 229 What was the most important public place in Mohenjodaro? It was the Great Bath. It was probably used for ritual bathing. 230 What religion did Kharavela patronise? Jainism. 231 The Greeks called cotton "Sindon". There is a reason behind this name. What is it? The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation were the first to produce cotton and therefore the Greeks called it Sindon. This word is derived from the name Sindh. 232 Karikala Chola founded a famous city. What was it? Puhar. Identified with Kaveripatnam the Chola capital. 233 To which Age does the Indus Valley Civilisation belong? The Bronze Age. Iron was not known to them. 234 What is the birthplace of Shankaracharya? Kaladi. Shankaracharya was a famous exponent of the Advaita philosophy. Advaita literally means not two. Advaita believes in an eternal being and holds that the plurality is nothing but illusion. 235 How many books or Mandalas does the Rig Veda contain? Ten. 236 Who introduced chariots drawn by horses into India? The Aryans 237 Who was born to Siddhartha and Trishala in the year 540 B.C.? Vardhamana Mahavira 238 According to the Arthashastra, the Purohita was an important member of the Mantri Parishad. What was his role? He was the High Priest. 239 In ancient India handicraftsmen were organised into economic corporations or guilds. What were these Guilds called? Shreni. 240 Who wrote Kadambari? Banabhatta. 241 At what age did Mahavira abandon the world and become an ascetic? At the age of 30 yrs. 242 Where and when did Mahavira pass away? In 468 B.C at Pavapuri, in modern Bihar. 243 Jainism was divided into two sects. Name them. Shvetambara: - Those clad in white. Digambara: - Those who are sky-clad (or are                      naked) 244 Where was Buddha born? Buddha was born in the royal grove in Lumbini near Kapilavastu. 245 Where did Buddha deliver his first sermon? At Sarnath. 246 What was the path to be followed to be free from misery according to Buddha? He recommended following the eight-fold path, (ashtanga magga) 247 Under whose rule did Magadha first attain prominence? Bimbisara. According to Ashwaghosha, Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty. 248 Who was the Royal Physician at Bimbisara's court? Jivaka. 249 Which was the capital of the kingdom of Magadha before Pataliputra? Girivraja. Also called Rajagriha or Rajgir. 250 Who succeeded Bimbisara to the throne of Magadha? Ajatashatru. 251 Which dynasty succeeded the dynasty of Bimbisara? The Shishunagas. They conquered the kingdom of Avanti, and made it a part of the Magadhan empire. 252 Where was Pataliputra situated? It was situated at the confluence of the Gandak, the Son, and the Ganga. It is present-day Patna. 253 What were the reasons behind the refusal of the Greek soldiers to accompany Alexander beyond the Beas? They were war weary and home sick. The hot climate of India did not suit them. Having experienced the fighting abilities of the Indian people they were apprehensive about the power of the Nandas. All these reasons contributed to their refusal. 254 What theme does Vishakhadatta's play, Mudrarakshasa, deal with? The strategies adopted by Chanakya against the enemies of Chandragupta Maurya. 255 Which were the four divisions of the army in ancient India? Infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots. 256 Why did Ashoka exempt the village of Lumbini from 'Bali' (tribute paid to the king)? Because this was the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. 257 Menander, also known as Milinda, was the most famous of the Indo-Greek kings. Where was his capital city? Sakala, modern Sialkot. 258 Who was the Buddhist monk who converted Menander into Buddhism? Nagasena or Nagarjuna. 259 What is the Milinda Panha? It is a book, which records the conversation between Nagarjuna and Menander. Milinda Panha literally means Questions by Milinda. 260 Who issued the first long inscription in chaste Sanskrit? Rudradaman, the famous Shaka ruler. 261 We know of two successive dynasties of the Kushanas. Who founded them? The first dynasty was founded by Kadphises I and the second by Kanishka. 262 The Shakas and the Kushanas completely identified themselves with Indian culture. What factors helped them in this? They did not have a script of their own nor did they have any organised religion. 263 What were the articles of clothing introduced in India by the Shakas and the Kushanas? Trousers, long coat, tunic and turban. The turban, however, is mentioned as a head dress in ancient India (Ushneesha) 264 How were the foreign elements like Shaka, Pahlava and the Kushanas assimilated into Indian society? Since they came as conquerors they were classified as Kshatriyas. 265 Buddhism was divided into two sects. What were they? Mahayana: - The Great wheel. Hinayana: - The Lesser wheel. 266 Name the two Buddhist centres located in present day Andhra Pradesh? Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati. 267 What was the contribution of the Greeks to Indian theatre techniques? The use of curtain was borrowed from the Greeks. The curtain was called "Yavanika". 268 Over which areas did the Shatavahana dynasty rule? The Deccan and Central India. 269 Over which area of India did Rashtrakutas rule? Northern Maharashtra. 270 Who were Gandhikas? Artisans who are mentioned as giving donations to the Buddhists. Originally Gandhika meant perfumes but was later used to describe shopkeepers. The name Gandhi is said to have been derived from it. 271 What was the Buddhist temple known as? Chaitya. 272 What was a Buddhist monastery known as? Vihara. 273 What were the main articles of trade of the Southern Kingdoms of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas? Spices especially pepper, ivory, pearls, muslin and silk. 274 Name two of the epics of the Sangam Age. Silappadikaram, Jivakachintamani and Manimekalai. 275 What was the Uttarapatha? It was the route that was used for trade. It ran from Taksha-shila to Broach on the Western coast. 276 Which empire rose on the remains of the Kushan Empire? The Gupta Empire. 277 Who were Lichchhavis? What are they known for? Lichchhavis ruled over a vast area from Magadha to Nepal. They were best known for the democracy they practised. It would not be correct to compare it with democracy as understood today. Some preferred to call it oligarchy. 278 Who wrote 'Hitopadesha'? Narayana Bhatta. Hitopadesha is a collection of stories, most of which were drawn from the Panchatantram of Vishnu Sharma. 279 Who is regarded as the first important King of the Gupta dynasty? Chandragupta I. 280 Which Gupta ruler adopted the title 'Vikramaditya'? Chandragupta II. He is regarded as the greatest of the Gupta rulers (376 to 414 AD). 281 Who was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the time of Chandragupta II? Fa-Hien. 282 Who was the first Gupta king to assume the title 'Rajadhiraja"? Chandragupta I. In addition to 'Rajadhiraja', Samudragupta assumed the titles 'Parambhattaraka' and 'Paramabhagavata'. 283 What was the image on the royal seal of the Guptas? Garuda. 284 Who was the author of the play 'Mrichchhakatikam'? Shudraka. 285 Which empire rose on the ruins of the empire of the Pallavas of Kanchi? The Chola Empire. 286 A ruling dynasty at Thanesar, (in modern Haryana), extended its authority over the feudatories of the Gupta Empire. Who was the ruler who achieved this? Harsha. 287 Which city did Harsha make his capital? Kanauj. 288 Who was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the time of Harsha? Hiuen Tsang. 289 Who was the ruler of South India who prevented Harsha from extending his kingdom southwards? The Chalukya King Pulakesin II. 290 What religion did Harsha follow during his early years? He was a devotee of Shiva. 291 Which religious sect did Harsha patronise in his later years? The Buddhist. 292 What are the Vedangas? The limbs of the Vedas. It was necessary to learn the Vedanga to understand the Vedas. The Vedangas were : a) Shiksha (phonetics) b) Kalpa (rituals) c) Vyakarana d) Nirukta (etymology) e) Chhanda (metrics) f) Jyotisha (astronomy) 293 Who was reputed to be the author of the following books: Priyadarshika, Ratnavali and Nagananda? Harsha. 294 In which book would you find the famous Gayatri mantra? Rigveda. 295 In the Rigveda, a daughter is sometimes referred to as 'duhitr'. What is the literal translation of the word? One who milks the cow. 296 Who was the first person to hold that the earth was a sphere and rotated on its axis? Aryabhata. He also declared that the eclipses were not the work of Rahu but were caused by the shadow of the earth falling on the moon. Varahamihira and Brahmagupta later astronomers did not agree with his view. Aryabhata also gave an accurate approximation ofn. 297 What is the 'Dharmachakrapravartana'? The preaching of the first sermon by Buddha. 298 Who was responsible for establishing the order of nuns in Buddhism? Ananda, the personal attendant of Buddha, was largely responsible for the admission of Gautami (the widowed stepmother of Buddha) into the Sangha. This was the beginning of the order of nuns. 299 Who deciphered the Asokan inscriptions? James Prinsep. 300 The word 'Aryan' originates from the Sanskrit word 'Arya'. What was the meaning of the word? Of good famil No. Question Answer 301 What was the complaint of Pliny the elder, against India? He complained that India drained Roman wealth by selling luxury articles at high prices to Romans 302 What was the name of the son of King of Takshashila who offered Alexander help in invading India? Ambhi. This was the first recorded instance of an Indian King turning traitor. 303 What was the name the Greeks used to refer to Ambhi? Omphis. 304 By which name do we know the ancient city of Prayag? Allahabad. 305 Of the five Siddhantas (Indian astronomical works) two are said to be of Western origin. Which? Romaka Siddhanta and Paulisa Siddhanta. This shows that Indian astronomy was considerably influenced by Western thoughts. 306 What is the modern name for the ancient city of Purushapura? Peshawar. 307 From which language is the word 'Sindoora' (vermilion) derived? Chinese. (From the Chinese word Tsin-sung.) 308 According to Chinese sources Kaundinya an Indian Prince, formed a kingdom in south East Asia. Where was this kingdom located? Cambodia. 309 Who was Buddha's personal physician? Jivaka. Jivaka was the personal physician of Bimbisara. During his visit to Buddha, Bimbisara offered the services of Jivaka, who became Buddha's personal physician. 310 Who were the Ajivikas? They were one of the prominent religious sects during the time of Mahavira and Buddha. 311 In Vedic times, who was referred to as a 'Grihapati'? The master of the house. 312 Which common seasoning ingredient of today finds no reference in the Rig Veda? Salt. 313 What was the name of the famous tract of land that lay between the Saraswati and the Drishadvati? Kurukshetra. 314 What was the Rajasuya sacrifice (yajna)? It was the yajna to mark the royal consecration. It included offerings to the gods in the houses of officials and a formal abhisheka by the priest. Other popular rites that followed were a cow-raid and a game of dice in which the king was made the Victor. 315 What was the Vishwajit sacrifice? In the Vishwajit sacrifice, the (yajamana) performer had to give away all that he possessed. 316 Who succeeded Chandra Gupta I? Samudragupta. 317 According to legend, who succeeded Samudragupta? His son Rama Gupta. He was a weak ruler who surrendered his wife to a Shaka tyrant. Her honour was saved by the younger brother of Rama Gupta, Chandra Gupta, who killed the Shaka ruler, replaced his brother on the throne and married Dhruvadevi. 318 Who succeeded Chandra Gupta II? His son Kumara Gupta, who ruled from AD 415 to 455. 319 Who or what were the Huns? They were a race of fierce, warlike people, whose original home was in the steppes of Central Asia. They spread terror and destruction both in the West (i.e. the Roman Empire) and India. 320 Which Gupta ruler successfully defended his empire against the invading Huns? Skanda Gupta. 321 Which Gupta ruler performed the Ashwamedha yajna? Samudra Gupta. 322 Into which group of people were the Huns assimilated by the Indian society? The Rajputs. 323 Which dynasty claimed its descent from Lakshmana, the brother of Shri Rama? The Pratiharas. By the ninth century the influence of Pratiharas extended from the Punjab to central India and from Kathiawar to north Bengal. 324 Who invented the decimal place value system? Aryabhata invented the decimal place value system. Scholars hold that it cannot be said with certainty that the system was invented by Aryabhata. It seems it was known to astronomers who came before him. 325 The Cholas extended their territory in South India and also conquered the northern part of Sri Lanka. Who was the ruler who made northern Sri Lanka a province of his empire? Rajaraja Chola. 326 Which part of India did the Arabs first conquer? Sindh. Mohammed Ibn-Kasim, the nephew and son-in-law of the governor of Iraq, defeated Dahir Sen in 712 A.D. 327 What are the four sources of Law according to the law giver, Manu? a. Sruti or the Vedas. b. Smriti (expanded version of the Dharma     shastras). Smriti is also regarded as the only     authentic source of Hindu Law and social     customs, c. Customs of holy men d. One's own inclination. 328 By what name was the area of western and northwestern Bengal known? Gauda. The name was applied both to the people and their country. 329 Where in Maharashtra are frescoes that depict the Jataka Stories? At Ajanta, near Ellora caves. 330 What was the language used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization? Historians have as yet not been able to determine the language used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The script used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization has also not been deciphered. 331 Which was the animal that was most engraved on Indus Valley Civilization seals? The Humpless Bull. 332 What was unique about the ascension to the throne by Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty in Gauda (present day West Bengal)? He was not a hereditary ruler, but was elected by the people to rule over them. 333 Which was the seat of power of the Pallava dynasty? Kanchipuram. The Pallavas founded the first great empire in south India. Under the Pallavas, Kanchi became a great centre of Brahminical and Buddhist learning. 334 Who was the Chola ruler who crossed the Ganga and defeated the rulers there? Rajendra Chola. 335 When did the first invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni take place? 1000 A.D. 336 Who was the first Indian ruler defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni? Jayapala of the Hindushahi dynasty. 337 Where is Ghazni? In modem Afghanistan. 338 Why were temples the main target of Mahmud of Ghazni? They had immense wealth stockpiled. 339 Who was the Arab traveller whose work on India is referred to as a mirror of 11"1 century India? Alberuni. 340 At whose request did Alberuni travel to India? Mahmudof Ghazni. 341 At which battle did Prithviraj Chauhan defeat Mohammed of Ghori? In the first Battle of Tarain in 1190-91. 342 Which medieval ruler is reputed to be an author of almost 20 books on subjects as diverse as medicine, architecture and astronomy? Raja Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty. The Paramara dynasty ruled over the Malwa region. 343 Identify the person who was in charge of Mohammad of Ghori's possessions in India. Qutbuddin Aibak. 344 To which deity was the temple of Somnath dedicated? Shiva. 345 Who wrote the Ramayana in Tamil? Kamban. 346 Who was the founder of the Slave dynasty? Qutbuddin Aibak. 347 Why is the term "Slave dynasty" an inaccurate term? Only three sultans (Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban) were slaves, and later even they were released from slavery by their masters. They were slaves, but only in the early part of their lives. 348 Who was the only woman to ascend the throne of Delhi? Razia Sultana. 349 Which Persian historian accompanied Alauddin Khalji on his expedition to Chittor? Amir Khusrau. 350 The Choda Ganga dynasty of Orissa was responsible for the construction of some famous temples. Can you identify them? The Jagannath temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark. 351 Name the king of Mewar who is said to have built thirty two forts during his reign? RanaKumbha 352 How did Rana Kumbha celebrate his victory over Mahmud Khalji of Malwa? He built the Tower of Victory in Chittor. It is called the Vijayastambha. 353 Who helped Humayun save himself after the Battle of Chausa? A water carrier helped Humayun cross the Ganga and to safety. 354 Over which kingdom did Chand Bibi rule? She ruled over Ahmadnagar as a Regent. 355 What articles of trade was the kingdom of Golconda known for? Diamonds and textiles. 356 Who founded the city of Hyderabad? Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. 357 Who was the Qutub Minar dedicated to? The Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and not Qutbuddin Aibak as people mistakenly assume. 358 In which language did Shankaradeva, a Bhakti Saint, propagate his views? Assamese. 359 In which language did Surdas sing? Brij. 360 Where is the famous Kamakhya temple (Kamakshi)? At Guwahati. 361 Which Mughal Emperor adopted the Zoroastrian practice of Navroz? Akbar. 362 Which were the provinces added by Aurangzeb to the Mughal Empire? Bijapur and Golconda. 363 Who took care of Shah Jahan when he was kept imprisoned by Aurangzeb? Jahanara, Shah Jahan's daughter. 364 Who installed a chain of bells outside his palace gate? Jahangir. 365 Why was the chain of bells installed? This was the "Chain of Justice" installed to ensure that all citizens of the country had access to justice. 366 During the reign of which Mughal Emperor was the peacock throne made? Shah Jahan. 367 Which place did Vasco da Gama reach when he found a new route to India? Calicut. Now known as Kozhikode 368 What were the European Factories that are referred to in Indian history? Factories were nothing but fortified trading stations established by the European powers in India. 369 Where did the English set up their first factory? Surat. 370 Who was the Englishman who succeeded in getting a farman from the Mughals exempting the English from paying any inland toll? Sir Thomas Roe. 371 What prompted Jahangir to allow the English to set up a factory in Surat? The British defeated the Portuguese naval squadrons. Jahangir wanted to use the English as a counter against the growing Portuguese power. 372 What were the reasons why the British wanted to secure Bombay from the Portuguese? Those controlling Bombay controlled trade on the west coast. And there was no interference from either the Mughals or the Marathas on this sea. 373 Which city did Job Charnock establish? Colcutta. 374 Which Saint inspired the Marathas with ideals of social reform and national regeneration? Saint Samarth Ramdas. 375 Near which fort, acquired early in his career, did Shivaji build Raigarh? Torna. 376 Between 1649 and 1655 Shivaji suspended offensive operations against Bijapur. Why did he do so? His father had been arrested and was released only on the condition that Shivaji suspend his military activities. 377 Alauddin Khalji was the nephew and son-in-law of a Delhi Sultan whom he later murdered. Who was the sultan? Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji. 378 One of the more interesting causes for a battle fought in Indian history has been vividly described by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in his epic Padmavat. What, according to Malik Muhammad Jayasi was the cause of the battle? That Allaudin Khalji invaded Chittor because he was infatuated by Padmini, the queen of Rana Ratan Singh of Mewar. 379 Why did Muhammad-bin-Tughluq shift his capital from Delhi? He shifted his capital to Deogir (Deogiri) because it held a central position in the empire and therefore, would be safe from Mongol invasions. 380 Who was the first Afghan to be seated on the throne of Delhi? Buhlul Khan Lodi (in April 1451). 381 Which kingdom came into existence during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq? Bahmani kingdom. 382 Where is Babur buried? He is buried in Kabul. 383 Poems of which Kashmiri poet are the oldest of the ones still available with us? LallaDidi(LalDed) 384 The ruler of Bihar conferred upon the young Farid a title. What was the title and why was it conferred upon him? Sher Khan, for killing a tiger single-handed. 385 What was the name assumed by Farid when he ascended the throne? Sher Shah. 386 Who were the opponents in the battle fought at Chausa? Humayun and Sher Shah. 387 How did Sher Shah die? Sher Shah died due to an accidental explosion of gunpowder while attempting to capture the fort Kalinjar in 1545. 388 Which ruler helped Humayun recover Kandahar and Kabul? The Ruler of Persia. 389 Who proclaimed Akbar the Emperor? Bairam Khan in 1556. 390 What words did Saint Ramanuja use to describe the scheduled castes? Tirukulattar (Belonging to the family of God). 391 At what age did Akbar ascend the thorne? Thirteen years. 392 How did Humayun die? Humayun tumbled down the stairs of his library when he was responding to the call of muezzin for evening prayers. 393 What was the occupation of Himu (also spelt Hemu) before he rose to prominence in politics? He was a grocer. 394 Who fought the second battle of Panipat? Akbar and Himu. 395 Who wrote Lilavati, a treatise on Algebra? Bhaskaracharya. 396 What title did Himu adopt after he occupied Agra and Delhi by defeating its Mughal governor? Raja Vikramaditya 397 Who did Iltutmish nominate as his successor His daughter Razia. 398 Himu, in the battle of Panipat, gained initial success against the Mughal forces. How did the tide turn in the favour of the Mughals? A chance arrow struck Himu in the eye rendering him unconscious. Deprived of his leadership his soldiers dispersed in confusion. 399 The Mughal forces defeated a Rajput ruler at the pass of Haldighat. Which ruler are we talking about? Rana Pratap. 400 Which work describes the romantic story of the marriage of Sanyogita the daughter of the Gahadavala king Jaichandra with Prithviraj Chauhan? Prithviraja Raso. 401 Marco Polo was a traveller (from Venice) who is very well known for his adventures. Which south Indian dynasty does he mention in his travelogues? The Kakatiya dynasty. 402 Timur or Tamerlane, a central Asian Turk (and an ancestor of Babur) invaded India and ransacked Delhi. Who was the ruler of Delhi at that time? Sultan Mahmud Shah. 403 Name the ruler of the Tughluq dynasty who was well versed in Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine. Muhammad bin Tughluq. 404 A particular dance form gained prominence during the Vijayanagara period. What was the dance form? Yakshagana. 405 Who fought the battle of Talikota? The battle was fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the combined forces of the Deccan Sultans. The Sultan of Berar however did not take part in this battle. 406 Who won the battle of Talikota? The Vijayanagara forces were comprehensively defeated and this eventually led to their downfall. 407 Where was the Battle of Talikota fought? It was fought in the area between the villages of Rakassi and Tangadi (Tagdi). Due to the bloodshed and ruin that this battle brought on the Vijayanagara Empire it was also called 'Raktakshi Tangadi'. 408 Who were the opponents at the battle of Khanua? Rana Sanga and Babur. 409 What was the name of RanaPratap's horse? Chetak. 410 Who was the Jesuit missionary who held personal discussions with Akbar? Anthony Monserrate. 411 How do we better know Mihr-un-nisa in Indian history? NurJahan. 412 What was the title given to Mihr-un-nisa by Jahangir? Nur Mahal (the light of the Palace). The title was later changed to Nur Jahan (Light of the World). 413 Who was the Mughal queen whose name was written on all the imperial Mughal farmans of her time and inscribed on coins? Nur Jahan. 414 After Akbar secured victory in Gujarat he undertook an activity to commemorate this victory. What was that activity? He founded the city of Fatehpur Sikri. 415 By which name was Ramtanu Mishra known? Tansen. He was earlier in the employment of the Raja of Rewah. 416 Name the Mughal emperor who was an accomplished veena player. Aurangzeb 417 The Razmnama in Persian was a compilation by several scholars. Of which Hindu epic was this a translation? Mahabharata 418 Name Aurangzeb's daughter who wrote under the pen name Makhi and produced a collection of poems. Zebunnisa.