Test: Class 6 History NCERT Based- 2 - UPSC MCQ

Samudragupta’s Prashasti was inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. It was of course not built by him. The Allahabad pillar is an Ashoka Stambha, one of the Pillars of Ashoka, erected by Ashoka, Emperor of the Maurya dynasty, who reigned in the 3rd century BCE.

• Rulers of Aryavarta, the nine rulers who were uprooted, and their kingdoms were made a part of Samudragupta’s empire.

• Harshavardhana, the ruler of Vardhana dynasty was defeated by the ruler belonging to the Chalukya dynasty, Pulakeshin II.

• The descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas, and the ruler of Sri Lanka, who submitted to him and offered daughters in marriage.

All are Mahajanapadas. There were sixteen of such Mahajanapadas: Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Machcha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja.

• Let's evaluate each statement:

• Samudragupta was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the grand title of maharaj-adhiraja.

  • This statement is Incorrect. The correct answer is Chandragupta I. Chandragupta I was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the title of Maharajadhiraja. Chandragupta I was a son of the Gupta king Ghatotkacha, and a grandson of the dynasty's founder Gupta, both of whom are called Maharaja in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.

• Nagaram was an organization of merchants controlled by rich samantas.

  • This statement is correct. Nagaram was an organization of merchants in ancient South India, but it was not controlled by samantas (local feudal lords)..

• Fa Xian visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana.

  •  Fa-Hien, also known as Faxian, Fadyan, and Fa-Hien was a Chinese traveler. Fa-Hien was a disciple of Kumarajiya and came to India in the 5th AD during the reign of Chandragupta II.

• Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas.

  • Aihole in Karnataka state, India, is known as the Cradle of Indian architecture. It was the first capital of Chalukyas where they built numerous temples dating back to the 6th century CE. Later the capital was changed to Badami by Pulkeshin 1 in 543

• Based on the evaluations:

• Statement 1 is Incorrect.
• Statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 is incorrect.
• Statement 4 is Correct

• Therefore, the correct answer is:

• 2 and 4 Only

• The first varna was that of the brahmin. Brahmins were expected to study (and teach) the Vedas, perform sacrifices and receive gifts. In the second place were the rulers, also known as Kshatriyas. Both the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas could perform sacrifices.

• Evidence has been found that Some payments were probably made using punch-marked coins.

• Rajagriha (present-day Rajgir) in Bihar was the capital of Magadha for several years.

Ravikiriti belongs to the Chalukya dynasty. Ravikirti was the court poet of Pulakeshin II, the best-known Chalukya ruler. Ravikirti composed Prashastis in praise of Pulakeshin II.

• Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kusinara are associated with Buddha's life.

• Bodhgaya: It is located in Bihar on the bank of river Niranjana {this river was known as Uruwela at that time}. It is known for the place of enlightenment of Buddha.

• Sarnath {also known as Mrigadava, Migadaya, Rishipattana, Isipatana} is the deer park where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon or Dhammachakra Pravartan Sutta. At the time of Buddha, it was a part of Kashi Janapada.

• Kushinagar: Kusinara or Kushinagara is located in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh. It is the site of Buddha’s death and mahaparinirvana. At the time of Buddha’s death, it was the capital of Malla janapada.

• UJJAIN: Is a famous Hindu pilgrimage centre.It is not associated with buddha's life, however according to the Sinhalese Buddhist tradition, king Ashoka's children Mahendra and Sanghamitra, who preached Buddhism in modern Sri Lanka, were born in Ujjain.

• Important men probably had a say in local administration. These included the nagara shreshthi or chief banker or merchant of the city, the sarthavaha or leader of the merchant caravans, the prathama-kulika or the chief craftsman, and the head of the kayasthas or scribes.

• The inscriptions of the Pallavas mention many local assemblies. These included the sabha, which was an assembly of brahmin landowners. 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 landowners were not brahmins. And Nagaram was an organisation of merchants. These assemblies were likely controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.

• Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script. Ashoka was the first ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions. Brahmi script used on the Indian Subcontinent and in Central Asia, during the final centuries BCE and the early centuries CE.

• People in the Asoka's empire followed different religions, and this sometimes led to conflict. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems. So, he appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma.

• Lion capital is most celebrated Ashokan pillars, erected at Sarnath, the site of Buddha’s First Sermon where he shared the Four Noble Truths (the dharma or the law). Currently, the pillar remains where it was originally sunk into the ground, but the capital is now on display at the Sarnath Museum. It is this pillar that was adopted as the national emblem of India.

• The various names of Ashoka include Buddhashakya, Dharmasoka, Devanampiya (Sanskrit Devanampriya meaning Beloved of the Gods) and Piyadasi.

Hymns in the Rigveda are in the form of dialogues between a sage named Vishvamitra, and two rivers, Beas and SUTLEJ.

• Later Vedic period was the beginning of the use of Iron introduced around 1000BCE and is mentioned as Krishna/Shyama Ayas.

• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”. These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.

• Sometimes, the people who composed the hymns described themselves as Aryas and called their opponents Dasas or Dasyus.

• These were people who did not perform sacrifices, and probably spoke different languages. Later, the term dasa (and the feminine dasi) came to mean slave.

• The word stupa means a mound. While there are several kinds of stupas, round and tall, big and small, these have certain common features.

• Generally, there is a small box placed at the centre or heart of the stupa. This may contain bodily remains (such as teeth, bone or ashes) of the Buddha or his followers, or things they used, as well as precious stones, and coins.