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Unit 1 - Practice Quiz

HIS291

1 Which of the following best defines a primary source in the context of ancient history?

A. A textbook written by a modern historian
B. An artifact or document created during the time period under study
C. A documentary film explaining ancient events
D. An encyclopedia entry summarizing a dynasty

2 Which branch of historical study deals specifically with the study of inscriptions?

A. Numismatics
B. Epigraphy
C. Archaeology
D. Palaeography

3 The study of coins is known as:

A. Epigraphy
B. Numismatics
C. Iconography
D. Ethnography

4 Who is popularly known as the 'Father of Indian Archaeology'?

A. John Marshall
B. Alexander Cunningham
C. Mortimer Wheeler
D. James Prinsep

5 Which of the following is an example of secular indigenous literature?

A. Rigveda
B. Tripitaka
C. Arthashastra
D. Agama Sutras

6 The Radio-Carbon Dating method utilizes the decay of which isotope to determine the age of organic materials?

A.
B.
C.
D.

7 The Boghaz-Koi inscription (1400 BCE) found in Asia Minor is significant because it mentions:

A. The trade relations between India and Rome
B. Vedic deities like Indra, Varuna, Mitra, and Nasatyas
C. The construction of a Buddhist Stupa
D. The invasion of Alexander the Great

8 Which of the following texts is a biographical work on King Harshavardhana written by Banabhatta?

A. Harshacharita
B. Kadambari
C. Ratnavali
D. Priyadarshika

9 The Rajatarangini, written by Kalhana in the 12th century, is a historical chronicle of which region?

A. Magadha
B. Kashmir
C. Gujarat
D. Bengal

10 Who deciphered the Brahmi script used in the Ashokan edicts in 1837?

A. William Jones
B. Max Muller
C. James Prinsep
D. Charles Wilkins

11 Which Greek ambassador wrote the book 'Indika', providing a detailed account of the Mauryan administration?

A. Deimachus
B. Megasthenes
C. Dionysius
D. Herodotus

12 The Tripitakas are the sacred texts of which religion?

A. Jainism
B. Buddhism
C. Hinduism
D. Ajivikas

13 Which Chinese traveler visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (Gupta Empire)?

A. Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
B. Fa-Hien (Faxian)
C. I-Tsing (Yijing)
D. Sung Yun

14 The Junagadh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman I is famous for being the first major inscription composed in which language?

A. Prakrit
B. Pali
C. Sanskrit
D. Tamil

15 Which category of coins were the earliest coins of India, primarily made of silver?

A. Gold Dinaras
B. Punch-marked coins
C. Lead coins
D. Die-struck coins

16 Palaeography is the study of:

A. Ancient rocks
B. Ancient scripts and writing styles
C. Prehistoric tools
D. Fossil remains

17 The 'Periplus of the Erythraean Sea' gives information primarily about:

A. Mauryan administration
B. Gupta art and culture
C. Indo-Roman trade and maritime routes
D. The spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

18 Which of the following is a Sangam literature text?

A. Mahabharata
B. Silappadikaram
C. Ramayana
D. Kumarasambhava

19 The Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayaga Prashasti) describes the conquests of which Gupta king?

A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Skandagupta

20 Which Vedic text deals primarily with magical charms and spells?

A. Rigveda
B. Samaveda
C. Yajurveda
D. Atharvaveda

21 The Aihole Inscription was composed by which court poet?

A. Kalidasa
B. Harisena
C. Ravikirti
D. Banabhatta

22 Which dynasty is most famous for issuing lead coins?

A. Guptas
B. Mauryas
C. Satavahanas
D. Kushanas

23 The book 'Natural History' written in the 1st century CE belongs to:

A. Ptolemy
B. Pliny the Elder
C. Strabo
D. Justin

24 Which archaeological pottery type is associated with the Later Vedic Period?

A. Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP)
B. Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
C. Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)
D. Black and Red Ware (BRW)

25 The Jataka stories are related to:

A. The previous births of the Buddha
B. The lives of Jain Tirthankaras
C. The exploits of Vedic gods
D. The genealogy of Mauryan kings

26 The Hathigumpha Inscription provides details about which king?

A. Ashoka
B. Kharavela
C. Gautamiputra Satakarni
D. Kanishka

27 Which scholar wrote 'Kitab-ul-Hind' (Tahqiq-i-Hind)?

A. Al-Masudi
B. Ibn Battuta
C. Al-Biruni
D. Firdausi

28 The Vedangas are auxiliary texts meant to assist in the study of the Vedas. How many Vedangas are there?

A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 108

29 Who was the first King to issue gold coins in India on a wide scale?

A. Vima Kadphises
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Pushyamitra Shunga
D. Simuka

30 Megaliths in South India are primarily associated with:

A. Temple architecture
B. Burial sites
C. Palace foundations
D. Irrigation tanks

31 The literary work 'Mudrarakshasa' by Vishakhadatta describes:

A. The love story of Udayana
B. The ascent of Chandragupta Maurya to power
C. The conquests of Samudragupta
D. The administration of Harsha

32 In the context of ancient Indian history, 'Prashasti' refers to:

A. A land grant charter
B. A eulogy or praise of a king in an inscription
C. A religious curse
D. A type of tax

33 Which of the following sites is a Neolithic site famous for pit-dwellings?

A. Bhimbetka
B. Burzahom
C. Lothal
D. Kalibangan

34 Who wrote the grammar text 'Ashtadhyayi'?

A. Patanjali
B. Panini
C. Katyayana
D. Bhartrihari

35 The bilingual inscriptions of Ashoka found in Kandahar are in which two scripts?

A. Brahmi and Kharoshthi
B. Greek and Aramaic
C. Sanskrit and Pali
D. Persian and Arabic

36 Which Chinese traveler's account is known as 'Si-Yu-Ki'?

A. Fa-Hien
B. Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang)
C. I-Tsing
D. Hwui-Li

37 The Puranas are generally considered to be how many in number (Maha Puranas)?

A. 12
B. 18
C. 24
D. 108

38 Which Gupta king is depicted playing the Veena on his coins?

A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Kumaragupta
D. Skandagupta

39 The Maski Edict is historically significant because:

A. It was the first edict found
B. It mentions the name 'Ashoka' explicitly
C. It describes the Kalinga War
D. It is written in Tamil

40 Thermoluminescence dating is primarily used for dating:

A. Fossil bones
B. Pottery and ceramics
C. Iron tools
D. Wooden artifacts

41 Which ancient text is primarily a book on law and social conduct?

A. Manusmriti
B. Charaka Samhita
C. Sushruta Samhita
D. Natyashastra

42 The Besnagar Pillar Inscription (Heliodorus Pillar) is associated with which religion/sect?

A. Buddhism
B. Jainism
C. Bhagavatism (Vaishnavism)
D. Shaivism

43 In the context of numismatics, the term 'Obverse' refers to:

A. The side of the coin bearing the principal design (Head)
B. The side of the coin bearing the secondary design (Tail)
C. The edge of the coin
D. The metal content of the coin

44 The Geography written by Ptolemy (2nd Century CE) is significant because:

A. It maps the conquest of Alexander
B. It provides coordinates for Indian ports and towns
C. It details the philosophy of Upanishads
D. It translates the Vedas into Greek

45 Epigraphia Indica is a publication primarily dedicated to:

A. Publishing Indian inscriptions
B. Excavation reports
C. Numismatic findings
D. Anthropological studies

46 Which of the following is considered a Secondary Source?

A. The Ashokan Edicts
B. The ruins of Hampi
C. Romila Thapar's 'History of Early India'
D. The diary of a Mughal courtier

47 The Sohgaura Copper Plate inscription is known for being:

A. The longest Sanskrit inscription
B. An early Mauryan record of famine relief measures
C. A record of land grants to Brahmins
D. A military treaty

48 Which ancient Indian mathematician wrote 'Aryabhatiya'?

A. Varahamihira
B. Brahmagupta
C. Aryabhata
D. Bhaskara II

49 The Banskhera Inscription contains the signature of which Emperor?

A. Ashoka
B. Harshavardhana
C. Kanishka
D. Chandragupta II

50 Stratigraphy in archaeology refers to:

A. The study of coin metals
B. The study of rock layers (strata) and layering
C. The chemical analysis of pottery
D. The decipherment of scripts