Chapter Test: When, Where and How - 2 - CTET & State TET MCQ

In ancient times, the area along Ganga and its tributaries to the south of the Ganga was known as Magadha. Here are some important points related to Magadha:

• Magadha was a major political and cultural center in ancient India, and it played an important role in the development of several religions such as Buddhism and Jainism.
• The Magadha empire was founded by Bimbisara, who ruled from around 543 BCE to 491 BCE. He was succeeded by his son Ajatashatru, who further expanded the empire.
• Magadha was located in present-day Bihar and parts of Jharkhand and West Bengal. The Ganga and its tributaries, such as the Sone and the Gandak, flowed through the region, making it fertile and conducive to agriculture.
• The ancient cities of Pataliputra and Rajgir were important political and cultural centers of Magadha. Pataliputra was the capital of several ancient Indian empires, including the Maurya empire and the Gupta empire.
• Magadha was also home to several famous universities and centers of learning, such as Nalanda and Vikramashila. These centers attracted scholars and students from all over the world, and they played an important role in the spread of knowledge and culture.

The Garo Hills are located in the northeastern part of India. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (d) North-east.

The Garo Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in the Indian state of Meghalaya. Meghalaya is one of the seven states in the northeastern region of India and is known for its picturesque landscapes, hills, and diverse indigenous cultures. The Garo Hills are primarily inhabited by the Garo tribe, one of the major tribal communities in Meghalaya.

In summary, the Garo Hills are situated in the northeastern region of India, making the correct answer to the question (d) North-east.

• The word India is derived from the name of the river Indus, which is called the Sindhu in Sanskrit.
• The Indus River is one of the longest rivers in Asia, flowing through India and Pakistan.
• The name Sindhu was pronounced as Hindu in Persian, which was the language used by the Mughals and other Central Asian dynasties who ruled over India.
• Eventually, the name Hindu was used to refer to the people who lived in the region around the river Sindhu, and the land they inhabited was known as Hindustan or India.

• Rice was first grown at least 9,400 Years Ago in the region north of Vindhyas.
• The places where rice was first grown are to the north of Vindhya.
• The areas to the south of Ganga was known as Magadha now lying in the state of Bihar and is separated from the rest of Asia by seas, hills and mountains.
• Garo hills lie to the north-east of India.
• The Vindhyas are in central India.
• These are the areas where man developed agriculture.

• The Sulaiman and Kirthar hills, located in present-day Pakistan, were one of the first places where people began to cultivate crops like wheat and barley.
• This region is part of the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the earliest urban civilizations in the world, which flourished around 2500 BCE.
• Agriculture played a vital role in the development of this civilization, and the people living in this region were among the first to adopt an agrarian lifestyle.
• The fertile alluvial soil and the presence of rivers like the Indus provided favorable conditions for agriculture.

In temples and monasteries

- Temples and monasteries were important centers of learning and knowledge in many ancient civilizations.
- Manuscripts were often kept safe in these religious institutions due to their significance in preserving and transmitting knowledge.
- The spiritual and sacred nature of temples and monasteries made them ideal locations for the preservation of important texts.
- Monks, priests, and scholars within these institutions were responsible for the maintenance and protection of manuscripts.
- Libraries were established within temples and monasteries to store and organize the vast collection of manuscripts.
- The manuscripts were carefully stored in specially designed cabinets or shelves to ensure their long-term preservation.
- Monastic communities dedicated their time and effort to copying and transcribing important texts, further contributing to the preservation of knowledge.
- The manuscripts were considered valuable treasures and were safeguarded against theft, damage, and decay.
- The quiet and controlled environments within temples and monasteries provided suitable conditions to prevent deterioration caused by exposure to light, humidity, and pests.
- Many manuscripts were passed down through generations within these religious institutions, ensuring their continuity and protection.

Therefore, the correct answer is b. In temples and monasteries.

The manuscripts were written in Sanskrit.

• Sanskrit is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent.
• It is considered the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and has been used for religious and scholarly purposes for centuries.
• Many ancient texts, including religious scriptures, philosophical treatises, and literary works, were composed in Sanskrit.
• It was also the language of choice for documenting historical events, scientific knowledge, and cultural traditions.
• Sanskrit manuscripts are written in a script known as Devanagari, which is still used today for writing several modern Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Nepali.

Therefore, the manuscripts in question were written in Sanskrit, making option B the correct answer.

Iranians and the Greeks came from the Northwest to India.

Explanation:

The Persian invasion was traced back to 550 BCE when Cyrus invaded the northwestern part of India. Greeks invaded in 327 BC when Alexander invaded North-west.  

Persians invasion:

• The Achaemenid Empire founder, Cyrus from ancient Iran invaded the North-west front in 550 BCE.  

• During that time, there were small provinces like Madra, Kamboja who were constantly fighting one another.  

• Bimbiasara of the Haryanka dynasty was ruling over Magadha at that time.  

• During that period Cyrus succeeded in bringing under Persian control over all the Indian tribes west of the Indus lake like Gandhara.  

• Darius I Cyrus's grandson annexed Punjab and Sindh.  

• Son of Darius, Xerxes, was not able to conquest further because of the war with the Greeks.  

Greeks invasion:  

• Alexander was attracted to India's wealth.  

• There were many small rulers like Ambhi of Taxila and Porus of Jhelum, just before Alexander's invasion.  

• Initially, Ambhi accepted the sovereignty of Alexander.

• Alexander granted their territory back, as he was impressed with Porus. The battle between him and Porus is called the " Battle of Hydaspes".  

• After his army crossed the river, Chenab annexed the tribes Chenab and Ravi.  

• His army was exhausted and refused to cross the river, Beas.  

• Alexander was forced to retreat in 326 BCE, he died on his way back to Babylon in 323.  

Hence, the Iranians and the Greeks invaded from the northwest side of India.  

The correct answer is D: The Iranians and the Greeks.

Explanation:

The word "India" has its roots in the ancient Persian word "Hindu" or "Hindus," which referred to the people living beyond the Indus River. The Persians used this term to describe the inhabitants of the region that is now Pakistan and northwest India.

Later, the Greeks adopted the term and called the region "Indos" or "India," which eventually became the standard name for the country. The Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BCE, was one of the first to use the term "India" to refer to the region beyond the Indus River.

So, the correct answer is D: The Iranians and the Greeks.

Pages of the manuscript books were made of Palm leaves

• Palm leaves were commonly used for making pages of manuscript books in ancient times.
• Palm leaves are known for their durability and longevity.
• They have the ability to withstand the test of time and last for centuries when properly maintained.
• This made them an ideal material for manuscript pages, ensuring that the written content would be preserved for future generations.