CHAPTER 11: New Empires and Kingdoms (Date : 25-07-2018)

Question 1:

Which of the following rulers had poet Harisena, in his court?

  1. Chandragupta I

  2. Samudragupta

  3. Chandragupta II

  4. Shri Satakarni

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Harisena was the court poet of Samudragupta, a famous ruler of the Gupta dynasty.

Question 2:

The inscription on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad provide information about which of the following rulers?

  1. Chandragupta Maurya

  2. Chandragupta I

  3. Chandragupta II

  4. Samudragupta

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

We know about Samudragupta from a long inscription, actually a poem in Sanskrit, composed by his court poet, Harisena nearly 1700 years ago. This was inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad.

This inscription is of a special kind known as a prashasti, a Sanskrit word, meaning ‘in praise of’.

Question 3:

In the context of the description provided by Harishena about Samudragupta and four different kinds of rulers, which of the following statements is/are not correct?

  1. Samudragupta uprooted nine rulers of Aryavarta and merged their kingdoms into his empire.

  2. He defeated all the 12 rulers of Dakshinapatha and made their kingdoms, a part of his empire.

  3. The inner circle of neighboring states brought tribute, followed his orders, and attended his court.

  4. The rulers of the outlying areas, submitted to him and offered daughters in marriage.

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Question 4:

Which of the following rulers adopted the title of Maharajadhiraja?

  1. Chandragupta I
  2. Samudragupta
  3. Chandragupta II
  4. Kumar Gupta

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. 1 only

  2. 1 and 2 only

  3. 1 and 3 only

  4. 2 and 4 only

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Chandragupta, was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of Maharajadhiraja, a title that Samudragupta also used. His great grandfather and grandfather are mentioned simply as maharajas.

Question 5:

Which of the following rulers is known as Shakas conqueror?

  1. Chandragupta I

  2. Chandragupta II

  3. Samudragupta

  4. Kumaragupta

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Chandragupta II led an expedition to western India, where he overcame Rudra Singh III, the last ruler of Shakas, and came to be known as Shakas conqueror.

Question 6:

Which of the following rulers was Kalidasa the court poet of?

  1. Samudragupta

  2. Ashok

  3. Chandragupta I

  4. Chandragupta II

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

According to later belief, Chandragupta II’s court was full of learned people, including Kalidasa the poet, and Aryabhata the astronomer.

Question 7:

Which of the following rulers was Banabhatta the court poet of?

  1. Kumaragupta

  2. Skandagupta

  3. Vishnugupta

  4. Harshavardhana

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

Harshavardhana, who ruled nearly 1400 years ago, was one such ruler. His court poet, Banabhatta, wrote his biography, the Harshacharita, in Sanskrit. This gives us the genealogy of Harsha, and ends with him becoming king.

Question 8:

Which of the following pilgrims came to India during the reign of Harsha?

  1. Fa Xian

  2. Xuan Zang

  3. Megasthenes

  4. Dionysius

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, also spent a lot of time at Harsha’s court and left a detailed account of what he saw.

Question 9:

Which of the following rulers stopped Harshavardhana, when he tried to cross the Narmada to march into the Deccan?

  1. Pulakeshin I

  2. Pulakeshin II

  3. Vikramaditya I

  4. Vikramaditya II

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Although Harshavardhana was successful in the east, and conquered both Magadha and Bengal, he was not as successful elsewhere. He tried to cross the Narmada to march into the Deccan, but was stopped by a ruler belonging to the Chalukya dynasty, Pulakeshin II.

Question 10:

Which of the following ruling dynasties was Kanchipuram the capital of?

  1. Satavahana

  2. Chalukyas

  3. Pallavas

  4. Cholas

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

The kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the region around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta.

Question 11:

Which of the following states was the capital of the ruling dynasty of Chalukyas?

  1. Madurai

  2. Aihole

  3. Mahabalipuram

  4. Vallabhi

Correct Answer : B

Explanation

Aihole, the capital of the Chalukyas, was an important trading centre. It developed as a religious centre, with a number of temples.

Question 12:

Ravikirti was the court poet of which of the following rulers?

  1. Chandragupta II

  2. Chandragupta I

  3. Pulakeshin I

  4. Pulakeshin II

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

Ravikirti was the court poet of Pulakeshin II.

Pulakeshin II was the best-known Chalukya ruler. We know about him from a prashasti, composed by his court poet Ravikirti. This tells us about his ancestors, who are traced back through four generations from father to son. Pulakeshin evidently got the kingdom from his uncle.

Question 13:

Consider the following statements—

  1. The Pallavas and Chalukyas frequently raided one another’s lands.
  2. Both the Pallavas and the Chalukyas gave way to new rulers belonging to the Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

Both the above statements are correct.

Question 14:

In the context of the earlier administration of the kingdoms, consider the following statements:

  1. Some important administrative posts were now hereditary.
  2. The city was the basic unit of administration.
  3. Sometimes, one person held many offices.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. 1 and 3

  4. 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

Question 15:

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:

List I

List II

A. Nagara-shreshthi

1. Leader of the merchant caravans

B. Sarthavaha

2. Head of the scribes

C. Prathama-kulika

3. Chief banker or merchant of the city

D. Kayasthas

4. Chief craftsman

  1. A     B     C     D

    2     1     3     4

  2. A     B     C     D

    1     2     3     4

  3. A     B     C     D

    3     1     4     2

  4. A     B     C     D

    1     3     4     2

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

Important men probably had a say in local administration. These included the (a) Nagara-shreshthi or chief banker or merchant of the city, (b) the Sarthavaha or leader of the merchant caravans, (c) the Prathama-kulika or the chief craftsman, (d) and the head or the Kayasthas.

Question 16:

In the context of the Samantas, consider the following statements:

  1. There were military leaders who provided the king with troops whenever he needed them.
  2. They were not paid regular salaries.
  3. Whenever the ruler was weak, samantas tried to become independent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 only

  2. 2 and 3 only

  3. 3 only

  4. 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

All the statements given above are correct.

Question 17:

In the context of the assemblies in the southern kingdoms, consider the following pairs:

1. Sabha     :     Assembly of brahmin land owners

2. Ur          :     Village assembly

3. Nagaram :    Organization of craftsmen

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. 1 and 2 only

  4. None of the above

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

The inscriptions of the Pallavas mention a number of local assemblies. These included the Sabha, which was an assembly of brahmin land owners. This assembly functioned through subcommittees, which looked after irrigation, agricultural operations, making roads, local temples, etc. The Ur was a village assembly found in areas where the land owners were not brahmins. And the Nagaram was an organisation of merchants. It is likely that these assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.

Question 18:

Which of the following poets had written the famous play of Abhijnana Shakuntalam?

  1. Harishena

  2. Ravikirti

  3. Kalidas

  4. Barabhatta

Correct Answer : C

Explanation

Kalidasa’s most famous play, Abhijnanasakuntalam, is the story of the love between a king named Dushyanta and a young woman named Shakuntala.

Question 19:

In the context of the features of Kalidasa’s plays, consider the following statements—

  1. Kalidasa is known for his plays depicting life in the king’s court.
  2. An interesting feature about these plays is that the king and most brahmins use Prakrit, while women and men other than the king and brahmins are shown as speaking Sanskrit.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : A

Explanation

Statement 2 is not correct. An interesting feature about these plays is that the king and most brahmins are shown as speaking Sanskrit, while women and men other than the king and brahmins use Prakrit.

Question 20:

In the context of Islam, consider the following statements—

  1. Prophet Muhammad introduced a new religion, Islam, in Arabia.
  2. Within a hundred years Islam spread to north Africa, Spain, Iran and India.
  3. Arab sailors, who were already familiar with the coastal settlements of the subcontinent, now brought the new religion with them.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 2 only

  2. 1 and 2 only

  3. 3 only

  4. 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : D

Explanation

All the statements given above are correct.