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Ancient History

101 questions asked in UPSC Prelims.

2020 · Q24Ancient HistoryPost-Gupta & Early Medieval Dynastiesmoderate

Consider the following events in the history of India : 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman – I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka – I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time ?

  1. (a)2 – 1 – 4 – 3
  2. (b)3 – 1 – 4 – 2
  3. (c)2 – 4 – 1 – 3
  4. (d)3 – 4 – 1 – 2
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Official answer(c) 2 – 4 – 1 – 3

2019 · Q10Ancient HistoryGupta Empiremoderate

With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in India during the Gupta period, which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. (a)It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.
  2. (b)It was totally absent in the Madhya Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the Gupta Empire.
  3. (c)The forced labourer was entitled to weekly wages.
  4. (d)The eldest son of the labourer was sent as the forced labourer.
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Official answer(a) It was considered a source of income for the State, a sort of tax paid by the people.

2017 · Q2Ancient HistoryVedic Perioddifficult

With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them. 2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron. 3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(c) 1 and 3 only

2017 · Q8Ancient HistoryVedic Perioddifficult

Which one of the following statements is correct ?

  1. (a)Rights are claims of the State against the citizens.
  2. (b)Rights are privileges which are incorporated in the Constitution of a State.
  3. (c)Rights are claims of the citizens against the State.
  4. (d)Rights are privileges of a few citizens against the many.
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Official answer(c) Rights are claims of the citizens against the State.

2013 · Q6Ancient HistoryForeign Travellers & Accountsmoderate

The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang) who visited India recorded the general conditions and culture of India at that time. In this context, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery. 2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person. 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 and 3 only
  3. (c)1 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(b) 2 and 3 only

2012 · Q21Ancient HistoryScience & Technologymoderate

With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct? 1. Different kinds of specialized surgical instruments were in common use by 1st century AD. 2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of 3rd century AD. 3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD. 4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD. Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)3 and 4 only
  3. (c)1, 3 and 4 only
  4. (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
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Official answer(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

2012 · Q82Ancient HistoryTrade & Economymoderate

With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient India that played a very important role in the country's economy, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them. 2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild. 3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members. Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

  1. (a)1 and 2 only
  2. (b)3 only
  3. (c)2 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(c) 2 and 3 only

2011 · Q56Ancient HistoryTrade & Economymoderate

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/explanations ?

  1. (a)As compared to other countries, India had a better ship-building technology in ancient and medieval times
  2. (b)The rulers of southern India always patronized traders, brahmin priests and buddhist monks in this context
  3. (c)Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages
  4. (d)Both (a) and (b) are convincing explanations in this context
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Official answer(c) Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages

2011 · Q100Ancient HistoryVedic Periodmoderate

The "dharma" and "rita" depict a central idea of ancient Vedic civilization of India. In this context, consider the following statements: 1. Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one's duties to oneself and to others. 2. Rita was the fundamental moral law governing the functioning of the universe and all it contained. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
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Official answer(c) Both 1 and 2

2010 · Q141Ancient HistoryBuddhism & Jainismmoderate

Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times ? 1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism. 2. The invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists. 3. The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)1 and 3 only
  3. (c)2 and 3 only
  4. (d)1, 2 and 3
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Official answer(a) 1 only