Unit 4 - Practice Quiz

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1 Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire?

A. Ashoka
B. Brihadratha
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. Bindusara

2 Which Greek ambassador visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya and wrote the book 'Indica'?

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

3 Which text is attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya) and serves as a primary source for Mauryan administration?

A. Arthashastra
B. Mudrarakshasa
C. Indica
D. Mahavamsa

4 In Greek sources, Bindusara is referred to as:

A. Amitrochates
B. Sandrokottos
C. Devanampiya
D. Piyadassi

5 The Kalinga War, a turning point in Ashoka’s life, is described in which Major Rock Edict?

A. Rock Edict I
B. Rock Edict X
C. Rock Edict V
D. Rock Edict XIII

6 What title did Ashoka generally use in his inscriptions?

A. Devanampiya Piyadassi
B. Maharajadhiraja
C. Vikramaditya
D. Chakravartin

7 Which script was predominantly used in Ashoka’s inscriptions found in the North-Western part of the empire?

A. Greek
B. Brahmi
C. Aramaic
D. Kharoshthi

8 The 'Saptanga Theory' of the state, detailing the seven limbs of administration, is found in which text?

A. Divyavadana
B. Indica
C. Rajatarangini
D. Arthashastra

9 Which Mauryan officer was responsible for the collection of revenue?

A. Sannidhata
B. Antapala
C. Samharta
D. Pradeshta

10 The term 'Dhamma' used by Ashoka is the Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word:

A. Dharma
B. Moksha
C. Dhyana
D. Karma

11 Which officer was specifically appointed by Ashoka to spread the message of Dhamma?

A. Rajukas
B. Yuktas
C. Pradeshikas
D. Dhamma Mahamattas

12 In the context of Mauryan art, what is the most striking feature of the Ashokan pillars?

A. Wooden structural support
B. Intricate marble carvings
C. Use of burnt bricks
D. Monolithic polished sandstone

13 The Lion Capital at Sarnath, adopted as India’s national emblem, originally supported:

A. A Dharma Chakra
B. A Bull
C. A statue of Buddha
D. A trident

14 According to the Arthashastra, who were the 'Gudhapurushas'?

A. Priests
B. Soldiers
C. Tax collectors
D. Spies

15 Which Mauryan ruler is said to have fasted to death at Shravanabelagola according to Jain tradition?

A. Dasharatha
B. Bindusara
C. Ashoka
D. Chandragupta Maurya

16 The Rummindei Pillar Inscription is significant because it:

A. Commemorates Ashoka's visit to Buddha's birthplace
B. Lists the animals protected by the king
C. Mentions the Kalinga War
D. Describes the city administration of Pataliputra

17 Who was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty?

A. Samprati
B. Salisuka
C. Kunala
D. Brihadratha

18 Which historian suggested that a 'Brahmanical reaction' against Ashoka's pro-Buddhist policies was a cause of the Mauryan decline?

A. D.D. Kosambi
B. Romila Thapar
C. H.P. Shastri
D. H.C. Raychaudhuri

19 The rock-cut caves at Barabar and Nagarjuni hills were primarily donated to which sect?

A. Jains
B. Shaivites
C. Ajivikas
D. Buddhists

20 The standard silver coin during the Mauryan period was known as:

A. Nishka
B. Suvarna
C. Dinara
D. Karshapana or Pana

21 Which Major Rock Edict mentions the replacement of 'Bherighosa' (sound of war drums) with 'Dhammaghosa' (sound of Dhamma)?

A. Rock Edict I
B. Rock Edict IV
C. Rock Edict VI
D. Rock Edict XI

22 According to Megasthenes, the administration of Pataliputra was conducted by:

A. A council of 30 members divided into 6 committees
B. Directly by the King
C. A single governor
D. Military generals

23 The 'Didarganj Yakshi' is a famous example of:

A. Gandhara School of Art
B. Gupta Sculpture
C. Mauryan Folk Art
D. Mauryan Court Art

24 What was the 'Sitadhyaksha' responsible for in the Mauryan administration?

A. Crown lands and agriculture
B. Trade and commerce
C. Tolls and customs
D. Royal mint

25 The Third Buddhist Council was convened at Pataliputra under the patronage of:

A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Kanishka
D. Bindusara

26 Which scholar argued that the 'economic crisis' was the primary cause of the decline of the Mauryan Empire?

A. V.A. Smith
B. H.C. Raychaudhuri
C. R.K. Mookerji
D. D.D. Kosambi

27 In the Mauryan judicial system, the 'Dharmasthiya' court dealt with:

A. Criminal cases
B. Foreign affairs
C. Treason
D. Civil disputes

28 Which Ashokan edict advocates for religious tolerance and respect for all sects?

A. Rock Edict IX
B. Rock Edict XII
C. Rock Edict VII
D. Rock Edict II

29 The drama 'Mudrarakshasa', which narrates the ascent of Chandragupta Maurya, was written by:

A. Vishakhadatta
B. Kalidasa
C. Bhana
D. Harisena

30 What was 'Vishti' in the Mauryan period?

A. A religious ritual
B. A gold coin
C. Forced labor
D. A type of tax on water

31 The Mauryan pillars were transported from the quarries of:

A. Amravati
B. Mathura
C. Taxila
D. Chunar

32 The 'Rajukas' in Ashoka's administration were equivalent to modern:

A. District Collectors/Magistrates
B. Ambassadors
C. Generals
D. Judges

33 Which of the following animals is NOT depicted on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital?

A. Deer
B. Bull
C. Horse
D. Elephant

34 Ashoka's contemporary Greek king 'Antiyoka' mentioned in the edicts has been identified as:

A. Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia
B. Antiochus II Theos of Syria
C. Ptolemy II Philadelphus
D. Alexander the Great

35 The elaborate palace of Chandragupta Maurya at Pataliputra was primarily made of:

A. Wood
B. Stone
C. Marble
D. Burnt Brick

36 Who was the commander of the army in the Mauryan administration?

A. Dandapal
B. Senapati
C. Durgapala
D. Nayaka

37 The tax known as 'Udaka-bhaga' refers to:

A. House tax
B. Sales tax
C. Road cess
D. Irrigation tax

38 Which historian advocated the 'Pacific Policy' of Ashoka as the main cause for the military weakness and decline of the empire?

A. H.C. Raychaudhuri
B. V.A. Smith
C. R.C. Majumdar
D. Romila Thapar

39 The Ashokan pillar at Rampurva is distinct because it features a capital with a:

A. Bull
B. Lion
C. Horse
D. Elephant

40 According to the Arthashastra, what was the standard rate of 'Bhaga' (land revenue)?

A.
B.
C.
D.

41 Which province of the Mauryan empire had its capital at Taxila?

A. Dakshinapatha
B. Avantiratha
C. Prachya
D. Uttarapatha

42 The Lomas Rishi cave in the Barabar hills is famous for its:

A. Statue of Ashoka
B. Multiple stories
C. Chaitya arch entrance
D. Detailed frescoes

43 Ashoka's son who is said to have ruled Kashmir and established a Shiv temple there was:

A. Mahendra
B. Tivala
C. Kunala
D. Jalauka

44 What is the primary language of the Kandahar Edict of Ashoka?

A. Greek and Aramaic
B. Tamil
C. Prakrit only
D. Sanskrit

45 The term 'Bherighosa' refers to:

A. Sound of drums declaring war
B. Royal announcement of taxes
C. Sound of temple bells
D. Sound of chanting monks

46 Who was the 'Sannidhata' in the Mauryan administration?

A. Chief Justice
B. Head of Spies
C. Commander in Chief
D. Chief Treasurer

47 Which Buddhist text chronicles the history of the island of Sri Lanka and mentions Ashoka’s son Mahinda?

A. Anguttara Nikaya
B. Jataka
C. Milindapanho
D. Mahavamsa

48 Ashoka's Dhamma did NOT include which of the following?

A. Obedience to parents
B. Worship of specific gods
C. Non-injury to animals
D. Respect for Brahmans and Shramanas

49 The division of the Mauryan empire after Ashoka’s death is believed to have split into:

A. Northern and Southern parts
B. Eastern and Western parts
C. City-states
D. Three independent kingdoms

50 The monolithic pillars of the Mauryas are often compared to the art of which civilization due to the 'bell' capital shape?

A. Egyptian
B. Achaemenid (Persian)
C. Greek
D. Roman