Test: SSC CGL Previous Year Questions: History (2023-20) - 2 - SSC CGL MCQ

Only I. Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda dynasty in Eastern Magadha. He established Pataliputra (Patna, Bihar) as his kingdom's capital. He is called the “rst historical emperor of India.”

Tax assessment. Ocers during the Mauryan administration: Shulkadhyaksha (Ocer-in-charge of royal income), Koshadhyaksha (Treasury ocer), Lakshanadhyaksha (Coin minting), Rajjukas (Land measurer), Yukta (Subordinate revenue ocer), Sannidata (Treasury head), Panyadhyaksha (Oce of commerce department).

Seleucus I Nicator (founded the Seleucid Empire) was a Macedonian Greek general, ocer and successor of Alexander the Great. Chandragupta Maurya - Became a Jain monk and committed Sallekhana (Practice of fasting till death) at Shravanabelagola.

Sarnath Lion Capital - Erected by Ashoka (Around 250 BCE) in commemoration of Dhammachakra pravartana or the rst sermon of Buddha. The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath is the Indian National Emblem. The inscription Satyamev Jayate is taken from the Mundaka Upanishad.

Five. Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka: Rock Edict I - prohibits animal slaughter. Rock Edict II - describes Chola, Pandyas, Satyapur and Keralaputra Kingdom of South India. Rock Edict IV - Impact of Dhamma on society. Rock Edict VIII - Describes Asoka’s rst Dhamma Yatra to Bodhgaya and Bodhi Tree. Rock Edict XIII: Asoka’s victory over Kalinga. The victory of Asoka’s Dhamma over Greek Kings, Antiochus, Ptolemy, Antigonus, Magas, Alexander and Cholas, and Pandyas. This is the Largest Edict. It mentions Kamboj, Nabhaks, Bhoja, and Andhra.

Both I and II. Ashoka’s inscription was written in Brahmi Script. Brahmi Script was deciphered by James Prinsep.

Suvara Bhoomi (Indian Subcontinent), appears in many ancient Indian literary sources and Buddhist texts such as the Mahavamsa, Jataka tales, the Milinda Panha, and the Ramayana. The famous book on India: Megasthenes- ‘Indica’, Fahein- ‘Fo - kwo - ki’, Hiuen Tsang- ‘Si-yu-ki', Al-Biruni- ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’, and Ibn Batuta- ‘The Rihla’.

Rupnath. Minor rock edicts of Ashoka - Kandahar (Afghanistan), Lampaka (Afghanistan), Bahapur (Delhi), Bairat (Rajasthan), Bhabru (Rajasthan), Gujarra (Madhya Pradesh), Rupnath (Madhya Pradesh), Panguraria (Madhya Pradesh), Sasaram (Bihar), Barabar Caves (Bihar), Rajula-Mandagiri, Andhra Pradesh, Suvarna Giri (Andhra Pradesh), Brahmagiri (Karnataka), JatinaRameshwara, Karnataka, Siddapur (Karnataka), Maski (Karnataka), Nittur (Karnataka), Udegolam (Karnataka), Palkigundu and Gavimath (Karnataka).

Alexander Cunningham published a set of Ashokan inscriptions in the year 1877. He was the founder of the Archaeological Survey of India. In 1851, he explored the Buddhist monuments of Central India. He had conducted excavations at Sarnath, Sankasya and Sanchi.

Chandragupta II (successor of Samudragupta). He adopted the title ‘Vikramaditya’. Kumaragupta I: He was also known as Shakraditya and Mahendraditya. He founded Nalanda Mahavihara in 5th century CE. His successor - Skandagupta.

Chandragupta II - He was the son of Samudragupta and Datta Devi. He ruled the Gupta Empire from 380 to 415 AD during the Golden Age of India. He established the Mehrauli iron pillar. Gupta Empire (320 - 550 CE) - It stretched across northern, central and parts of southern India.

Bengal. Fa-Xian (Chinese traveller) started his journey back home from Bengal by boarding a merchant ship. He traveled from China to India on foot to acquire Buddhist texts. He came to India, under the reign of Chandragupta II, and arrived at Pataliputra from the northwest.

Bihar. Kumaragupta (Shakraditya) of the Gupta dynasty founded Nalanda University in modern Bihar in the early 5th century. Bakhtiyar Khilji (general of Qutbuddin Aibak) was demolished in the 12th century (1193 AD). Nalanda: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Institute of National Importance, Famous scholars (Nagarjuna (Madhyamika Sunyavada) and Aryabhatta), 3 buildings (Ratnasagar, Ratna Dadhi, and Ratna Ranjak), Visitors (Hiuen Tsang, I-Tsing).

Administrative unit. In Gupta's period, there was a hierarchy of administrative divisions from top to bottom. The empire was called by various names such as Rajya, Rashtra, Desha, Mandala, Prithvi, and Avani. It was divided into provinces, which were further divided into Vishayas. A Vishayapati administered the Vishaya. A part of the Vishaya was called Vithi.

Chandragupta-I was a Gupta ruler and married a girl from the licchavi clan. Chandragupta married a girl named Kumaradevi who belonged to the Lichchavi clan. The licchavi clan was headquartered at Vaishali in present-day Bihar during the time of Gautama Buddha.

Chandragupta II. Prabhavati Gupta was a Gupta princess and Vakataka queen who was the consort of Maharaja Rudrasena II. She ruled the Vakataka kingdom as regent from about 390 to 410.

Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) - Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled from China to India to study Buddhism and obtain Buddhist scriptures during the reign of King Harsha Vardhan. Assembly of Prayag (Maha Moksha Parishad) - Harsha Vardhan gave all his belongings in charity for the welfare of the public.

Harsha Vardhan. In 641 AD Harshavardhan sent an envoy to Taizong (Tai-Tsung), the Tang emperor of China and in return, the Chinese ruler sent three embassies to Harsha court. Hiuen-Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim who visited Harsha’s court, wrote a book ‘Si-Yu-Ki’ (the world of the west) after going back to China. Hiuen-Tsang in his book also praised two other kings than Harsha Vardhan Narsimha Varman of the Pallava dynasty and Pulakesin II of the Chalukya dynasty.

Harishena - He was the court poet of Samudragupta (Gupta dynasty).

Rajyavardhana. He was the eldest son of Prabhakaravardhana and a member of the Pushyabhuti Dynasty. He ascended the throne after his father's death and was succeeded by his younger brother Harsha.

Rajaraja I: The greatest ruler of the Chola Dynasty (Founder - Vijayalaya). Other temples made by the Chola Rulers: Rajaraja I - Tiruvalisvaram temple (Brahmadesam); Aditya I - Balasuramanya temple (Kannanur); Rajendra Chola - Gangaikondachola -puram temple; Kulothunga III - Kampahareswarartemple (tribhuvanam).

Rajaraja Chola II. Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple built in the Dravidian style of architecture. Dedicated to - Lord Shiva. Rajaraja Chola I - Built Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (Founder of Jaipur)..

Forced labour. Cholas (8th - 12th century AD) - A southern region ruling dynasty began when they defeated the Pallavas to come into power. The empire was founded by Vijalaya. Some types of taxes in their empire: Kadmai or Irai - Tax on land; Pattam and ayam - Taxes imposed on non-agricultural professions like artisans and merchants; Nirvilai or nirkkirai - Water tax; Ulku and sungam - Toll tax; Tattar-pattam - A tax levied on gold -smiths; Sangam - Export and import taxes; Kannala Kanam - Marriage tax; Poorvi - War tax.

985. Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 AD) is the greatest Chola ruler. He was known as "Rajaraja the Great''. Other names - Arunmozhivarman and Ponniyin Selvan. He built Rajarajeshwara temple (Brihadeshwara) in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. He conquered Sri Lanka.

Thanjavur is an important agricultural centre located in the Kaveri Delta (Tamil Nadu), built by Vijayalaya who belonged to the Chola family of Uraiyur. Tiruppur (Located on the banks of Noyyal River in Tamil Nadu, built during the reign of Cholas and Pandyas), Madurai (Located on the river of Vaigai), Tiruchirappalli (located in Kaveri delta in Tamil Nadu).

Vijayalaya founded the Chola Empire and captured Thanjavur (Capital of Chola Empire) in 850 CE. He constructed a temple for the goddess Nishumbhasudini in Thanjavur. Aditya I succeeded him in 871 CE. Parantaka I was successor of Aditya I. He was known as the destroyer of Madurai (the capital city of the Pandyas). Gandaraditya succeeded Parantaka I

Pandaya and Pallava. The Pallava dynasty (275 CE to 897 CE, Capital - Kanchipuram) ruled in Deccan (Tondaimandalam). Pandya (Capital - Madurai). The Cheras (Capital - Vanji), Greatest ruler of Cheras - Senguttuvan, also known as Red Chera.

Senas Dynasty: A hindu dynasty that ruled over eastern Bengal and western Bihar for about two centuries. Important Rulers - Vijaya Sena, Ballal Sena, Lakshmana Sena. Deva dynasty - Ruled over eastern Bengal after the Sena dynasty. Maukharis dynasty - A post-Gupta dynasty that ruled over the vast plains of Ganga-Yamuna for over six generations.

Kadamba dynasty (Founder - Mayurasharma) was an ancient Indian dynasty that ruled over parts of South India, particularly the present-day Karnataka region, from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE. They are originally the tributary princes under the Kadambas of Banavasi who ruled the Kanara coast from about the 4th century AD.

Bharhut and Amravati. Bharhut Stupa is located in Satna, Madhya Pradesh. It was discovered in a ruined state by Alexander Cunningham and his team. The discovered railing and gateway are now on display at the Indian Museum (Kolkata). Amravati Stupa was discovered by Colin Mackenzie (1797). It has a circular altar, which depicts Lord Buddha in his human form atop an elephant. The high platforms of the stupa are spread in four directions.