History Test - UPSC MCQ

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro each had its own citadel, which was probably occupied by members of the ruling class. Below the citadel in each city lay a lower town, which was inhibited by the common people. The houses in the cities followed the grid system. According to it, roads cut across one another almost at right angles. Water flowed from the houses to the streets which had covered drains. The street drains were equipped with manholes. They used burnt bricks in the Harappan cities.

There is evidence to show that the Chalcolithic communities traded and exchanged materials with other contemporary communities. Large settlements like Ahar, Gilund, Nagada, Navdatoli, Eran, Prabhas, Rangpur, Prakash, Daimabad and Inamgaon would have served as major centres of trade and exchange. It appears that Ahar people, settled close to the copper source, supplied copper tools and objects to other contemporary communities in Malwa and Gujarat. It has been suggested that most of the copper axes found in Malwa, Jorwe and Prabhas cultures bear some identification marks, which are almost identical, suggesting that they may be the trademarks of the smiths who made them.

Palaeolithic sites include Bhimbetka (present day Madhya Pradesh), Sohan Valley/ Soan Valley – Punjab (Pakistan), Narmada Valley, Krishna Valley, Chotanagpur plateau, Hunsgi and Kurnool caves. Neolithic sites include Mehrgarh, Paiyampalli, Mahagara, Burzahom, Koldihwa, Chirand etc.

Agni was revered as the messenger between the earth and the heaven. Further, Agni is the only God who is regarded as present among all the categories of Gods. There were no temples and no idol worship during the early Vedic period.

The Paleolithic Age was spread in almost all parts of India except in the alluvial plains of the
Ganga and Indus. The characteristic tools of the Mesolithic Age were microliths.

- Great Bath: Excavations at Mohenjo-Daro revealed a large public bath, constructed with burnt bricks, featuring a sophisticated drainage system. This indicates advanced urban planning.
- Large Granary: The presence of a granary suggests surplus food production essential for urban settlement sustenance.
- Seals Made of Steatite: Numerous steatite seals discovered, bearing inscriptions and animal motifs, reflect trade and administrative practices.
- Dancing Girl Statue: Though iconic, the bronze statue of the "Dancing Girl" was found at Mohenjo-Daro, not brass.

Thus, the correct code is C: 1, 2, and 4 only.

Most of the Harappan seals are square or rectangular. Mesopotamian employed cylinder seals. Most of the Harappan seals were made of soft stone called steatite, whereas, Mesopotamian were rolled on clay tablets

The phrase ‘Satyameva Jayate’ is taken from Mandukyopanishad.

The emergence of a monarchical state involved multiple processes of conflict and increase
emphasis to territory. Rajan became ambitious causing greater control on kingship through
hereditary approach. Purohita performed rituals that gave king legitimacy, and in return king
patronised Purohita.

Harappan script is a pictographic script. It was written from right to left in one line and then left
to right in other and so on. This type of script is called ‘Boustrophedon’ . It has not been
deciphered so far but around 400 unique symbols have been identified.
A large building (probably a palace or the Governor’s house) has been excavated at the citadel in Mohenjo-Daro. However, it is not clear whether the Harappan people were governed by a king or a committee of citizens.

The Atharva Veda is a collection of magical spells and charms to ward off the evil spirits and diseases. The Sama Veda is the collection of verses mostly taken from the Rig Veda, but
arranged in a poetic form to facilitate singing

Vedanta (NOT VEDANGA) literally means the ‘end of the vedas’. They denote the last phase of vedic period. They are the supplementary texts that aid in the proper recitation and
understanding of the Vedas. However, these do not qualify as Shruti as they are considered of
human origin (not revealed by the gods) and are written in the form of Sutras.

Sabha – An assembly of Brahmans, both men and women; Samiti – Assembly of Villagers

Nyaya – Gautama
Samkhya – Kapil Muni

Archaeological ruins at Mohenjo-Daro in Pakistan is the only Indus valley civilization site to be included in UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Rajagriha was the capital of Magadha, near modern Rajgir.

Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct are the three jewels or Triratna philosophy of Jainism. Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration and Right Understanding are the eight interconnected activities of Buddhist philosophy---Called Eight Fold Path.

The majestic free-standing Ashokan pillars may symbolize the axis of the world (axis mundi) that separated heaven and earth.

They are made of sandstone quarried at Chunar. They are considered to be monoliths.

The pillars have a lustrous, polished surface. They do not have a base, and the plain, smooth circular shaft tapers slightly upwards.

A cylindrical bolt joins the lop of the shaft to the ''capital'—a stone carved in the shape of an inverted lotus (often referred to as the ''bell capital''). On top of this is the abacus (platform) which supports the crowning animal or animals.

Most of the Persian pillars have a fluted surface, while the Maurya pillars are smooth.

First Buddhist Council was held at Rajgriha.
Second Buddhist Council was held at Vaishali.
Third Buddhist Council was held at Patliputra.

A is the correct option.

• The Shunga dynasty was a Brahmin dynasty, established in 185 BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death.
• The Indo-Greek kingdom was ruled by over 30 Hellenistic (Greek) kings in the northwest and north India from the 2nd century BC to the beginning of the first century AD. The kingdom started when Graeco-Bactrian king Demetrius (son of Euthydemus I) invaded India around 180 BC.
• The Indo-Greek rule lasted from about 180 BC till about 55 BC. The Sakas (also written Shakas), alternatively known as Indo-Scythians, invaded northwest India in the first century BC onwards.
   

At Sanchi, the birth of the Buddha is usually represented by Maya seated on a lotus

The Buddha’s enlightenment is represented by the Bodhi tree.

The first sermon at Sarnath is represented by the wheel.

Kanishka has started the Shaka Era (78 CE).
Kanishka has held the fourth Buddhist council which was presided by Vasumitra.
Kanishka has built a giant stupa at his Capital Purushapura

Answer:

Mentions Pataliputra was built wholly of wood.
King regularly presided over in open darbar for ensuring Justice.
An ever-present danger to king is seen through very stringent precautions in his security.

Agnimitra son of Pushyamitra Sunga, who seems to have been king during his father's lifetime, is known from Kalidasa's drama Malvika Agnimitra.

It is the earliest written Sanskrit document we possess.

Rudradaman is credited for the inscription.

He Junagadh rock also contains inscriptions of Ashoka (fourteen of the Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradaman I and Skandagupta.

The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It was these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the Bodhi tree.
The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
The truth of the origin of suffering (Samudaya)
The truth of the cessation of suffering (Nirodha)
The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (Magga)

The split of Buddhism into Hinayana and Mahayana occurred during the Fourth Buddhist council organized by Kanishka.
Hinayana considers the highest goal of human life should be to achieve Nirvana and become an Arhat.

Chandragupta Maurya adopted Jainism and went to the hills of Shravana Belagola with Bhadrabahu and committed Sallekhana.
Bindusara was believed to have joined the Ajivika sect.
Ashoka was biggest proponent of Buddhism. However, he coined his own Dhamma philosophy and followed it.

None of the Buddha’s speeches were written down during his lifetime. The Lord Buddha’s teachings were compiled at first buddhist council held at Rajgriha after the Death of Buddha.
Satavahanas encouraged the spread of Buddhism. They granted lands to Buddhist monks.