Ancient History Flashcards
(204 cards)
1
Q
Timeline of Old stone age
A
2mn to 10,000 BCE
2
Q
Archeological remains of prehistoric age
A
Stone tools, pottery, artefacts and metal implements were used by the people of prehistoric age.
3
Q
The important site of the old stone age (2mn to 10,000BCE) in India were
A
Soan valley and Patwar plateau in the Shivalik Hills on North India, Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, Adamgarh Hills in Narmada Valley, Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and Attirampakkam near Chennai.
4
Q
The food was obtained by
A
hunting and gathering edible plants and tubers.
5
Q
Mesolithic or middle stone age
A
10,000 to 6000 BCE
In this age horticulture and primitive cultivation started.
6
Q
Neolithic age
A
6000 BCE - 4000 BCE
Wheels were used to make pottery
The mud houses were built instead of grass huts.
7
Q
Metal age of Chalcolithic
A
(Copper-Stone 4000-2000BCE) Instead of stone, Copper was adopted to made tools.
8
Q
Iron age
A
1200-600BCE
belonged to Vedic culture. Weapons, tools now started to be made with Iron
9
Q
The Harappan civilization
A
Indus Valley Civilization, Indus Civilization (2300-1750BCE)
The earliest excavations in the Indus valley were done at Harappa in West Punjab and Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh (Both now in Pakistan).
10
Q
The Great Bath was found at
A
Mohenjo-Daro.
39ft length, 23ft breath and 8 ft height.
Floor was made of burnt bricks.
10
Q
Jainism is about
A
Vardhamana Mahavira (539 — 467 BCE)
11
Q
Life of Vardhamana Mahavira
A
He is the 24th Tirthankara of Jain tradition, born at Kundagrama to Siddharta and Trisala, embraces asceticism at 30, wandering for 12 years.
At the 13th year, he attained Kevala Jnana, becoming Mahavira and Jine. He dies at 72 in Pava near Rajgriha.
11
Q
Mahavira organized
A
the Sangha to spread teachings.
12
Q
Jainism found patronage from rulers like
A
Chandragupta Maurya, Kharvela of Kalinga, and dynasties in South India.
13
Q
Name of the two sects:
A
Shvetambaras (white- clad) led by Sthalbahu and Digambarad (skyclad or naked) led by Bhadrabahu.
14
Q
The first Jain council in Pataliputra (3rd century BCE) was led by
A
Sthulbadhra
15
Q
The second council in _______ presided over by _________, led to the final compilation of ____ and ______.
A
Vallabhi (512 CE), Devarddhigani kshamashramana, 12 Angas and 12 Upangas.
16
Q
Who founded Buddhism
A
Mahatama Buddha (567 - 487 BCE)
17
Q
When was Siddhartha Gautama born?
A
In 567 BCE in Lumbini Garden
18
Q
At what age did Gautama Buddha leave home and also when he enlightened under which tree and where did he deliver the first sermon?
A
At 29, he left home and enlightened at 35 under bodhi tree in Bodhgaya and delivered the first sermon in Sarnath.
19
Q
Buddha had which two types of disciples?
A
Monks (bhikshu) and lay worshippers (upasakas)
20
Q
Who were Buddhas notable monk disciples?
A
Sariputta and Moggallanna.
21
Q
The first, second, third and fourth councils of Buddha were at
A
Rajagriha, Vaishali, Patliputra under Ashoka, Kashmir.
22
Q
Who led the fourth counsil?
In BUDDHISM
A
Kanishka
23
The 4th council included
Ashvaghosha
24
Tripitakas, Buddhist texts in pali, comprise
Sutta pitakas, Vinaya pitakas, and Abhidhamma pitakas.
25
Which Buddhist literature gives a list of 16 great kingdoms called?
Anguttara Nikaya gives a list of 16 great kingdoms called Sixteen Mahajanapadas.
26
Finally in 6th century how many kingdoms survived and which one?
Only 4 kingdoms survived - Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala and Magadha.
27
Capital of Vatsa
Kaushambi near modern Allahabad (Prayagraj).
28
Capital of Avanti
Ujjain and the ruler were Pradyota.
29
Capital of Kosala
Shravasti (Ayodhya) and the ruler was King Prasenjit.
30
Capital of Magadha
Rajgriha and the rulers was Bimbisara, Ajatsatru.
31
Against whom Bimbisara won the battle?
Brahmdutta of Anga and expanded his kingdom.
32
Bimbisara built friendly relationships with whom?
Avanti
33
Ajatasatru fought for 16 years against whom which made him more powerful?
Kosala and Vaishali.
34
Who followed Ajatshatru as the ruler?
Udayin
35
Who brought Avanti under Magadhan empire?
Shishunaga
36
Mahapadma ruled strongly for how many years?
Ten years
37
Mahapadma had how many sons
Eight
38
Who is the son of Mahapadma who ruled the last?
Dhana Nanda
39
Kautilya's Arthashashtra was written by
Kautilya
40
Who is the contemporary of Chandragupta Maurya?
Kautilya
41
What is the most important literary source of the history of the Maurya?
Kautilya's Arthashashtra
42
Kautilya was also known as
Indian Machiavelli
43
Meaning of Machiavelli
Cunning or scheming person especially in politics.
44
The manuscript of Arthashashtra was first discovered by
R. Sharma Shashtri in 1904.
45
Who wrote Indica?
Megasthenes
46
What is the meaning of Bindusara?
Slayers of enemies.
46
Who was the founder of Mauryan empire?
Chandragupta Maurya (322 - 298 BCE)
47
Who was Megasthenes?
Greek Ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
48
What did Greeks call Bindusara?
Amitraghatha
49
Bindusara supported
Aajivikas, a religious sect
50
Bindusara appointed his son Ashoka as what?
As the governor of Ujjain.
51
What is the most important event of Ashoka's reign ?
The victorious war with Kalinga in 261 BCE.
52
What was the effect of the Kalinga war on Ashoka?
As an effect, Ashoka embraced Buddhism under the influence of Buddhist monk, Upagupta.
53
What did Ashoka and Dasaratha gifted Aajivika's?
Caves
53
What is the only remaining of Mauryan period?
The stupa of Sanchi
54
Who is the son of Ashoka?
Dasaratha
55
Where are the caves situated?
At Barabar hills near Bodhgaya.
56
Who replaced Mauryan rule?
Shunga dynasty
57
Who is the founder of Shunga dynasty?
Pushyamitra Shunga
58
Pushyamitra followed?
Brahmanism
59
Who was the last Shunga ruler?
Devabhuti
60
How did Shunga dynasty ended?
The minister of Devabhuti, Vasudeva Kanva, the founder of Kanva murdered Devabhuti.
61
Satavahanas is also known as
Andhras
62
Satavahanas established their independent rule after
decline of the Maurya's in the deccan.
63
Who was the founder of the Satavahanas dynasty?
Simuka
64
Simuka is succeeded by
Krishna upto Nasik
65
Who was the greatest ruler of Satavahanas dynasty?
Gautamiputra Satkarni (106 - 130 BCE)
66
Who repaired the old Amaravathi Stupa?
Vashisthiputra Pulumavi
67
This Satavahanas built
Chaityas and Viharas
68
The Kushanas were a branch of the
Yuchi Tribe
69
The founder of the Kushanas dynasty was
Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises
70
The son of Kujula conquered
Wima Kadphises conquered the whole of northwestern India as far as Mathura.
71
The most important ruler of the Kushana Dynasty was
Kanishka(78 - 120 CE)
72
Who was the founder of the Saka era which started from 78 CE?
Kanishka, the most important ruler of Kushana dynasty.
72
When did saka era started?
78 CE
73
The capital of Kanishka
Purushapura is the capital and Mathura was another important city in his empire.
74
What did Kanishka followed?
Buddhism
75
Last important ruler of the Kushana Dynasty
Vasudeva
76
What was the three existed Sangams popularly called
Muchangum
77
The first sangam held at
Madurai
77
Who attended the first sangam and what literary work of this sangam is available
the first sangam was attented by gods and legendary stages but no literary work of this sangam was available.
77
The second sangam was held at
Kapadapuram
78
The third sangam at Madurai was founded by
Moda Thirumaram
78
What is the literary work of second sangam
All the literary works had perished except Tolkappiyam.
79
The corpus of third sangam.
Tolkappiyam Ettuhogai, Pattuppattu, Panthinenkil- Kanakku, and the two epics- Silappathikaram and Manimegalai.
79
The Ashokan inscriptions mentioned
The Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas on the South of the Mauryan Empire.
80
Where does the excavations reveal the overseas commercial activities of the Tamils.
Arikkamedu, Poompuharm, Kodumanal and other places.
81
Which three countries was Tamil country ruled by?
Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.
82
The Capital of Cheras
Vajji
82
The important seaports of Cheras
Tondi and Musiri
83
Famous rulers of Cheras dynasty
Udiyan Cheralatan, Imayavaramban Nedum Cheralathan and Cheran Senguttuvan
84
The famous king of Cholas
Karaikala
85
The capital of Pandyas
Madurai
86
Who wrote Maduraikkanji?
Mangudi Maruthanar
87
What does Maduraikkanji describes?
the socio-economic condition of the Pandyas.
88
The last famous king of Pandyas kingdom during the Sangam Period?
Uggira Peruvaludhi
89
What was the reason of decline Off Pandya Dynasty?
the invasion of Kalabhras.
90
The primary deity was
Murugan or Seyon
91
Who were also worshiped?
Mayon (Vishnu), Vendan (Indiran), Varunan and Korravai were also worshipped.
92
Eminent rulers of the Gupta Empire Were:
* Chandragupta I (320- 335 or 340 CE)
* Ramagupta (late 4th century)
* Chandragupta II (nearly 380- 413 CE or 415 CE)
* Kumargupta (near about 415- 455 CE)
* Skandagupta (455 - 467 CE)
* Purugupta (467 - 469 CE)
* Buddhagupta (477- nearly 500 CE)
93
Books written by Vishakhadutta provide information regarding the rise of Guptas.
Devichandraguptam and Mudhrarakshasam
94
Who is the Chinese traveler during the reign of Chandragupta II?
Fa-Hien
95
Who is the founder of Gupta dynasty?
Sri Gupta2
96
Who is the first person to be called Maharajadhiraja (the great kings of kings)?
Chandragupta I
97
Who was hailed as Indian Nepoleon?
Samudragupta
98
why was samudragupta hailed as Indian nepoleon?
because of his military achievements
99
What are the military achievements of Samudragupta?
His magnanimity towards his foes, his polished intellect, his poetic skills, and his proficiency in music.
100
Samudragupta's image depicting him with Veena is found in?
The coins issued by him.
101
Who is the last ruler of Saka Satrap?
Rudrasimha III
102
Rudrasimha III was defeated by
Chandragupta II
103
Besides of Rudrasimha, who else was defeated by Chandragupta II
The confederacy of enemy chiefs in Vanga
104
What kind of valuable info was provided by Fa-Hien about the condition of the Gupta empire?
the info on the religious, social, and economic conditions.
105
Who is the son and the successor of Chandragupta II?
Kumargupta
106
Who laid the foundation of Nalanda University?
Kumargupta
107
What emerged as an institution of international reputation?
Nalanda University
108
Why did Gupta power disappeared?
Due to Hunas invasion and later by the rise of Yasodharman in Malwa
109
Who were Vaishnavas?
Most of the Gupta kings were Vaishnavas
110
What sacrifices did Vaishnavas performed?
Ashvamedha
111
What is Ashvamedha Sacrifice?
Sacrificing a sacred horse.
112
What art styles evolved during the Gupta period?
Nagara and Dravidian styles of art
113
What literature were composed during the Gupta Period?
religious literature like puranas
114
Who was a great mathematician and astronomer?
Aryabhatta
115
Which book did Aryabhatta wrote in 499 CE?
Aryabhatiyam
116
What did Aryabhatta declare the first?
He was the first to declare that the earth was spherical and that it rotates on its axis.
117
What is First astronomical systems?
Pancha Siddhanta
118
Who composed Pancha siddhanta?
Varahamihira
119
What is the standard work on astrology of Varahamihira?
Brihadsamhita is a great work by him in Sanskrit literature. Brihadjataka is a standard work on astrology.
120
Who was the last of the great medical trio of ancient India?
Vagbhata
121
Vagbhata was the author of?
Ashtangasamgraha
122
Who were the two great scholars that lived before the Gupta age?
Charaka and susruta
123
Period of age of Harshavardhana
606-647 CE
124
Who wrote Harshacharitra?
Banabhatta, a celebrated poet and historian who authored the Harshacharita and Kadambari.
(The court poet of Harsha)
125
The name of the Chinese traveller who visited India in the 7th century CE.
Hiuen Tsang
126
Name the dramas written by Harsha.
Ratnavali, Nagananda, and Priyadarshika.
127
Which inscriptions are helpful to know the ecology of Harsha?
Madhuben plate inscription and the Sonpat Inscription
128
Which inscription contains the signature of Harsha?
Banskhera inscription, a larger kingdom in North India?
129
Who is the founder of family of Harsha?
Pushyabhuti
130
who is the first important king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty?
Prabhakarvardhana
131
The capital of Prabhakarvardhana
Thaneswar, north of Delhi
132
Harsha led a campaign against
The ruler of Sindh
133
Hiuen Tsang converted Harsha into
Mahayana Buddhism
134
The religious assembly by Harsha was organized at?
Kannauj
135
what was the purpose of the religious assembly organized by Harsha at Kannauj?
to honor the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang that went on Continuously for 23 days.
136
Which period does the Lakshmana temple at Sirpur belongs?
Harsha Period
137
Who patronized Nalanda University?
The successors of Kumar Gupta and later by Harsha
138
The Rashtrakutas dynasty was found by?
Dantidurg
139
who built the Kailasha temple at Ellora?
Krishna I
140
Who is credited for building cave Shrine Elephants dedicated to Shiva?
Rashtrakutas
141
King Amoghavarsha of Rashtrakuta dynasty wrote
the first Kannada poetry Kavirajmarga
142
Who constructed the Sun temple at Konark?
Narsimhadeva
143
where is the sun temple ?
Konark
144
Gangas dynasty ruled
Orrissa
145
Which temple in built by Anantravarman?
The Jagannath temple
146
Where is the Jagannath temple?
At Puri
147
Who are Kesaris
Kesaris ruled before Gangas and built Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar
148
Where is Lingaraja temple?
Bhubaneshwar
149
Who found Pallavas dynasty?
Simhavishnu
150
What is the capital of Pallava dynasty?
Kanchi
151
Which town was founded by Narsimhavarmas?
Mamallapuram (Mahabalipupram)
152
Narsimhavarmas built?
rock-cut rathas and even pagodas
153
Palas is known as
Dharmapala
154
The capital of Palas
Monghyr
155
The greatest ruler of Pratihara
Bhoja or Mihir (Mihir-Bhoja) also known as Adivaraha
156
Khajuraho temple was built during the reign of
Chandellas of Bundelkhand
157
Capital of Chalukya
Vatapi
158
Chalukya dynasty is founded by
Jayasimha
159
Jayasimha is contemporary to
Harshavardhan
160
The four divided clans of Rajputs
(Pratiharas, Chauhans, Chalukya/Solankis, Parmaras) Dynasties.
161
Pratiharas ruled
Southern Rajasthan
162
Chauhans ruled
Eastern Rajasthan
163
Chalukya/Solankis ruled
Kathiawar
164
Parmaras ruled
Malwa
165
Who founded Cholas dynasty?
Vijayalaya
166
What is the capital of Cholas dynasty?
Tanjore
167
whom did Aditya from Cholas dynasty wipe out and weakened?
Aditya I wiped out the Pallavas and weakened the Pandyas.
168
Purantaka I captured?
Madurai
169
Purantaka I was defeatead by
Rashtrakuta ruler Krishna III at the battle of Takkolam
170
Rajaraja I lived
AD 985-1014
171
Rajaraja I led a Naval Expendition against
the Shailendra empire (Malaya Peninsula)
172
Rajaraja I conquered
Northern Sri Lanka
173
Who constructed Rajarajeshwari shiva temple at Tanjore?
Rajaraja I
174
Rajarajeshwari shiva temple is also known as
Brihadeshvara temple
175
Who is Rajendra I ?
He lived for AD 1014-1044. Annexed the whole Sri Lanka took the title of Gangaikonda and founded Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
176
What is the dancing figure of Shiva known as
Nataraja
177
Nataraja belongs to the
Chola period
178
Local government existed in
Chola Period
179
famous sites of middle stone age
Langhanj were in Gujarat, Adamgarh in Madhya Pradesh, some places in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
180
Important sites of Neolithic age
Kashmir valley, Chirand in Bihar, Belan Valley in UP, several places in the Ocean, South India - Maski, Brahmgiri, Halles, Kodikal, Paiyapalli, Guntur
181
Major sites of Metal age
Ahar (Rajasthan), Diamabad (Maharastra) and Navdatoli (Madhya Pradesh).
182
Important sites of iron age
Hallur, Maski, Nagarjunakonda, Adichanallur
183
What reveals the existence of pre Harappan culture?
The excavations at Mehargarh 150 miles to the northwest of Mohenjodaro
184
what remains the evidence for the early Harappan stage?
The sites of Amri and Kot Diji remain the evidence for the early Harappan culture
185
Total span of Harappan culture should be
between 2300 and 1750 BCE
186
The important sites of Harappan civilisation
Kot Diji in Sindh, Kalibangan in Rajasthan, Ropar in Punjab, Banawali in Haryana, Lothal, Surkotoda, Dholavira in Gujarat
187
The Great Bath must be served as
Ritual bathing site
188
The floor of the Great Bath was made up of
Burnt bricks
189
Foreign trade was mainly conducted with
Mesopotamia, Afghanistan and Iran
190
Who is Pashupati?
(proto-Siva)- the chief male deity
191
How was Pashupati represented?
represented in seals as a sitting yogic position with three faces and two horns. He is surrounded by four animals (elephant, tiger, rhino and buffalo)
192
People of Harappan period used to worship
Pashupati
193
It is believed that the decline of Harappan culture was due to
Natural calamities
194
The destruction of forts is mentioned in
Rig Veda
