UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 14: Post-Mauryan Kingdoms – Sungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Sakas and Kushanas (21 MCQs)
UPSC Ancient India – Chapter 14: Post-Mauryan Kingdoms – Sungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Sakas and Kushanas (21 MCQs) – 19 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.
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The founder of the Sunga dynasty was:
Correct Answer: B [Pushyamitra]
Explanation:
Pushyamitra, commander of the last Mauryan king Brihadratha, killed his master and founded the Sunga dynasty in about 185 BCE.
Heliodorus, who set up the pillar at Besnagar, was an envoy of:
Correct Answer: B [Antialcidas]
Explanation:
The Besnagar inscription says Heliodorus came from Taxila as envoy of the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas to the Sunga court.
The Hathigumpha inscription records the achievements of:
Correct Answer: D [Kharavela]
Explanation:
The Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri near Bhubaneswar records Kharavela's reign year by year, including his campaigns and public works.
The Nasik inscription of Gautami Balashri describes the achievements of:
Correct Answer: C [Gautamiputra Satakarni]
Explanation:
Queen Gautami Balashri's Nasik inscription praises her son Gautamiputra Satakarni as destroyer of the Sakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas.
The Prakrit anthology Gathasaptashati is traditionally attributed to:
Correct Answer: C [Hala]
Explanation:
Tradition credits the Satavahana king Hala with compiling the Gathasaptashati, seven hundred Prakrit verses.
The Pali text Milindapanho is a dialogue between Menander and:
Correct Answer: A [Nagasena]
Explanation:
The Milindapanho records the questions of King Menander (Milinda) and the answers of the Buddhist monk Nagasena.
The first long inscription in chaste Sanskrit was issued by:
Correct Answer: B [Rudradaman I]
Explanation:
Rudradaman I's Junagadh inscription of 150 CE is the first long inscription written in chaste Sanskrit.
Consider the following statements about the Satavahanas:
1. Their kings often used their mothers' names.
2. They granted tax-free land to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks.
3. Their inscriptions are mostly in Sanskrit.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]
Explanation:
Kings used matronymics like Gautamiputra and granted tax-free land, but their inscriptions are in Prakrit, so only 1 and 2 hold.
Assertion (A): Heliodorus called himself a Bhagavata.
Reason (R): He was a devotee of Vasudeva and set up a pillar at Besnagar in his honour.
Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]
Explanation:
Heliodorus's devotion to Vasudeva, shown by his Garuda pillar at Besnagar, is exactly why he called himself a Bhagavata.
Kanishka's capital was:
Correct Answer: D [Purushapura]
Explanation:
Kanishka ruled from Purushapura (Peshawar), with Mathura as an important second centre.
The genealogy of the Kushana kings is given in the inscription found at:
Correct Answer: C [Rabatak]
Explanation:
The Rabatak inscription, found in Afghanistan, lists Kanishka's predecessors and so gives the Kushana genealogy.
The Kanva dynasty was founded by:
Correct Answer: D [Vasudeva]
Explanation:
Vasudeva, minister of the last Sunga king Devabhuti, replaced him and founded the Kanva dynasty in about 73 BCE.
The Parthian king associated with the tradition of St Thomas is:
Correct Answer: D [Gondophernes]
Explanation:
Christian tradition says St Thomas the Apostle came to the court of the Parthian king Gondophernes.
India's national calendar is based on the:
Correct Answer: A [Saka era]
Explanation:
The national calendar adopted on 22 March 1957 is based on the Saka era, which begins in 78 CE.
Arrange the following in chronological order:
1. Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman
2. Founding of the Kanva dynasty
3. Founding of the Sunga dynasty
4. Beginning of the Saka era
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer: C [3-2-4-1]
Explanation:
c. 185 BCE, c. 73 BCE, 78 CE, 150 CE.
Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated the Kshaharata ruler:
Correct Answer: B [Nahapana]
Explanation:
Nahapana, the Kshaharata Saka ruler of the north-western Deccan, was defeated by Gautamiputra Satakarni, as the Nasik inscription records.
Kalidasa's play Malavikagnimitra has as its hero a prince of the:
Correct Answer: A [Sunga dynasty]
Explanation:
Agnimitra.
Kharavela claimed to have broken up a confederacy of:
Correct Answer: C [Tamil states]
Explanation:
The Hathigumpha inscription claims Kharavela broke up a long-standing confederacy of Tamil states (Tramira-desa-sanghata).
In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
Correct Answer: A [Kanganahalli]
Explanation:
the Satavahana-period stupa at Kanaganahalli, Karnataka.
➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U01 · Ancient India (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-ancient-india
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