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1. Which Harappan site is famous for its dockyard?
a. Kalibangan
b. Lothal
c. Banawali
d. Ropar
2. The Great Bath was discovered at:
a. Harappa
b. Mohenjo-Daro
c. Dholavira
d. Chanhudaro
3. Which metal was unknown to the Indus Valley Civilization?
a. Copper
b. Bronze
c. Gold
d. Iron
4. The Rigveda mainly consists of:
a. Laws
b. Hymns
c. Stories
d. Medical texts
5. Which Veda is associated with sacrificial formulas?
a. Rigveda
b. Samaveda
c. Yajurveda
d. Atharvaveda
6. Sabha and Samiti in the Vedic age were:
a. Taxes
b. Assemblies
c. Weapons
d. Rituals
7. Which river is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda?
a. Ganga
b. Yamuna
c. Saraswati
d. Narmada
8. The Gayatri Mantra is found in:
a. Rigveda
b. Yajurveda
c. Atharvaveda
d. Samaveda
9. The Upanishads primarily deal with:
a. Agriculture
b. Philosophy
c. Trade
d. Warfare
10. Mahavira was the:
a. 21st Tirthankara
b. 22nd Tirthankara
c. 23rd Tirthankara
d. 24th Tirthankara
11. Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment at:
a. Sarnath
b. Kushinagar
c. Bodh Gaya
d. Lumbini
12. Buddha delivered his first sermon at:
a. Rajgir
b. Vaishali
c. Sarnath
d. Taxila
13. The sacred text of Buddhism is:
a. Agamas
b. Vedas
c. Tripitaka
d. Puranas
14. The First Buddhist Council was held at:
a. Rajgir
b. Pataliputra
c. Vaishali
d. Sarnath
15. Who convened the Third Buddhist Council?
a. Ashoka
b. Ajatashatru
c. Kanishka
d. Bimbisara
16. The capital of Magadha under Bimbisara was:
a. Pataliputra
b. Rajgir
c. Taxila
d. Champa
17. Who founded the Mauryan Empire?
a. Ashoka
b. Bindusara
c. Chandragupta Maurya
d. Pushyamitra
18. Megasthenes visited India during whose reign?
a. Ashoka
b. Chandragupta Maurya
c. Harsha
d. Bindusara
19. ‘Indica’ was written by:
a. Fa-Hien
b. Banabhatta
c. Megasthenes
d. Hiuen Tsang
20. Ashoka embraced Buddhism after:
a. Hydaspes War
b. Tarain War
c. Kalinga War
d. Panipat War
21. Ashokan inscriptions were mostly written in:
a. Sanskrit
b. Tamil
c. Greek
d. Prakrit
22. Which script was used in Ashoka’s northwestern inscriptions?
a. Brahmi
b. Kharosthi
c. Nagari
d. Grantha
23. Arthashastra was written by:
a. Kalidasa
b. Banabhatta
c. Kautilya
d. Panini
24. The Sungas succeeded the:
a. Kushanas
b. Mauryas
c. Guptas
d. Satavahanas
25. Kanishka belonged to the:
a. Maurya dynasty
b. Gupta dynasty
c. Kushana dynasty
d. Chola dynasty
26. The Fourth Buddhist Council was held under:
a. Harsha
b. Ashoka
c. Samudragupta
d. Kanishka
27. Gandhara School of Art developed under:
a. Kushanas
b. Mauryas
c. Cholas
d. Palas
28. The Gupta Age is known as the:
a. Stone Age
b. Golden Age
c. Iron Age
d. Dark Age
29. Who is called the “Napoleon of India”?
a. Harsha
b. Samudragupta
c. Chandragupta II
d. Chandragupta I
30. Prayag Prashasti was composed by:
a. Harisena
b. Kalidasa
c. Aryabhata
d. Vishakhadatta
31. Aryabhata was famous for:
a. Medicine
b. Sculpture
c. Astronomy
d. Politics
32. Kalidasa flourished during the reign of:
a. Harsha
b. Ashoka
c. Chandragupta II
d. Samudragupta
33. Harshacharita was written by:
a. Banabhatta
b. Kalidasa
c. Panini
d. Patanjali
34. Nalanda University was famous for:
a. Military studies
b. Buddhist learning
c. Agriculture
d. Commerce
35. Fa-Hien visited India during:
a. Harsha
b. Chandragupta II
c. Ashoka
d. Kanishka
36. Hiuen Tsang visited India during the reign of:
a. Ashoka
b. Samudragupta
c. Harsha
d. Bimbisara
37. The Satavahanas ruled mainly in:
a. Punjab
b. Bengal
c. Deccan
d. Kashmir
38. Sangam literature is associated with:
a. Gujarat
b. Tamil region
c. Bengal
d. Odisha
39. Silappadikaram belongs to:
a. Sanskrit literature
b. Persian literature
c. Pali literature
d. Tamil literature
40. Brihadeshwara Temple was built by:
a. Rajendra I
b. Rajaraja I
c. Vijayalaya
d. Kulottunga
41. Earliest agricultural evidence in India comes from:
a. Harappa
b. Taxila
c. Mehrgarh
d. Ujjain
42. Which Harappan site is located in Gujarat?
a. Kalibangan
b. Banawali
c. Lothal
d. Alamgirpur
43. Panini is known for his work on:
a. Astronomy
b. Grammar
c. Medicine
d. Sculpture
44. According to tradition, the founder of Jainism was:
a. Mahavira
b. Parshvanatha
c. Rishabhanatha
d. Neminatha
45. Mahajanapadas refer to:
a. Coins
b. Great Kingdoms
c. Temples
d. Trade Routes
46. Which Mahajanapada became most powerful?
a. Avanti
b. Kashi
c. Vatsa
d. Magadha
47. The official language of most Mauryan inscriptions was:
a. Tamil
b. Sanskrit
c. Prakrit
d. Greek
48. Who defeated the last Nanda ruler?
a. Ashoka
b. Bindusara
c. Chandragupta Maurya
d. Pushyamitra
49. Earliest Buddhist texts were written in:
a. Pali
b. Sanskrit
c. Greek
d. Tamil
50. Which Harappan site is famous for fire altars?
a. Mohenjo-Daro
b. Harappa
c. Kalibangan
d. Ropar
51. Dholavira is located in:
a. Punjab
b. Rajasthan
c. Gujarat
d. Haryana
52. Which Harappan site is known for a stadium-like structure?
a. Dholavira
b. Harappa
c. Banawali
d. Kalibangan
53. The Indus Valley people worshipped primarily:
a. Zeus
b. Nature and fertility symbols
c. Roman gods
d. None of these
54. Which Veda is known as the “Book of Chants”?
a. Rigveda
b. Yajurveda
c. Samaveda
d. Atharvaveda
55. Atharvaveda mainly deals with:
a. Music
b. Magic spells and charms
c. Warfare
d. Law
56. The term ‘Gotra’ first appeared in:
a. Gupta Period
b. Rigvedic Period
c. Later Vedic Period
d. Mauryan Period
57. The two epics of ancient India are:
a. Vedas and Upanishads
b. Ramayana and Mahabharata
c. Tripitaka and Jatakas
d. Arthashastra and Manusmriti
58. The author of the Ramayana is:
a. Vyasa
b. Kalidasa
c. Valmiki
d. Panini
59. Mahabharata was composed by:
a. Valmiki
b. Vyasa
c. Kalidasa
d. Banabhatta
60. Jainism strongly advocates:
a. Human sacrifice
b. Ahimsa
c. Idol worship only
d. Polytheism
61. Mahavira was born at:
a. Vaishali
b. Kapilavastu
c. Lumbini
d. Taxila
62. Buddha was born at:
a. Bodh Gaya
b. Kushinagar
c. Lumbini
d. Sarnath
63. Buddha belonged to which clan?
a. Maurya
b. Shakya
c. Gupta
d. Nanda
64. The Buddhist doctrine of non-soul is known as:
a. Ahimsa
b. Nirvana
c. Anatman
d. Karma
65. Ajatashatru belonged to the:
a. Maurya dynasty
b. Haryanka dynasty
c. Gupta dynasty
d. Sunga dynasty
66. The capital of the Mauryan Empire was:
a. Taxila
b. Ujjain
c. Pataliputra
d. Vaishali
67. Bindusara was the son of:
a. Ashoka
b. Chandragupta Maurya
c. Harsha
d. Bimbisara
68. Which Mauryan ruler was known as “Amitraghata”?
a. Ashoka
b. Bindusara
c. Chandragupta Maurya
d. Dasharatha
69. Ashoka’s “Dhamma” emphasized:
a. Military conquest
b. Ritual sacrifice
c. Ethical conduct
d. Expansionism
70. The lion capital of Ashoka is located at:
a. Sanchi
b. Sarnath
c. Bodh Gaya
d. Taxila
71. The emblem of India is adopted from:
a. Amaravati Stupa
b. Sanchi Stupa
c. Sarnath Lion Capital
d. Ajanta Cave
72. Who wrote Mudrarakshasa?
a. Vishakhadatta
b. Banabhatta
c. Kalidasa
d. Harisena
73. The Kushanas originally belonged to:
a. China
b. Central Asia
c. South India
d. Persia
74. Kanishka’s capital was:
a. Purushapura
b. Pataliputra
c. Ujjain
d. Mathura
75. Mathura School of Art is associated with:
a. Gupta Age
b. Kushana Period
c. Maurya Period
d. Chola Period
76. The founder of the Gupta dynasty was:
a. Chandragupta I
b. Samudragupta
c. Sri Gupta
d. Kumaragupta
77. Chandragupta I assumed the title:
a. Devanampriya
b. Maharajadhiraja
c. Chakravarti
d. Vikramaditya
78. The Allahabad Pillar inscription relates to:
a. Ashoka
b. Harsha
c. Samudragupta
d. Chandragupta II
79. Who defeated the Shakas?
a. Samudragupta
b. Chandragupta II
c. Kumaragupta
d. Harsha
80. The author of Abhijnanasakuntalam is:
a. Banabhatta
b. Kalidasa
c. Panini
d. Vishakhadatta
81. Ajanta caves are mainly associated with:
a. Buddhism
b. Jainism
c. Islam
d. Christianity
82. Ellora caves are famous for:
a. Only Buddhist monuments
b. Rock-cut architecture
c. Brick temples
d. Wooden palaces
83. The famous Kailasa Temple at Ellora was built by:
a. Mauryas
b. Rashtrakutas
c. Guptas
d. Cholas
84. Harsha belonged to the:
a. Pushyabhuti dynasty
b. Gupta dynasty
c. Maurya dynasty
d. Chola dynasty
85. Harsha’s capital was:
a. Thanesar and Kannauj
b. Ujjain
c. Pataliputra
d. Taxila
86. Banabhatta was the court poet of:
a. Samudragupta
b. Harsha
c. Ashoka
d. Chandragupta II
87. Sangam Age is associated with:
a. Andhra Pradesh
b. Tamil Nadu
c. Punjab
d. Bengal
88. The three crowned kingdoms of Sangam Age were:
a. Chola, Chera, Pandya
b. Maurya, Gupta, Kushana
c. Pallava, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta
d. Sunga, Satavahana, Gupta
89. Which Sangam kingdom was famous for spice trade?
a. Chola
b. Chera
c. Pandya
d. Pallava
90. Pattinappalai is associated with:
a. Vedic literature
b. Sangam literature
c. Buddhist literature
d. Jain literature
91. The earliest coins in India were:
a. Gold coins
b. Silver dinars
c. Punch-marked coins
d. Copper paisa
92. The study of coins is known as:
a. Epigraphy
b. Archaeology
c. Numismatics
d. Paleography
93. The study of inscriptions is called:
a. Numismatics
b. Epigraphy
c. Anthropology
d. Geology
94. Brahmi script was deciphered by:
a. Alexander Cunningham
b. James Prinsep
c. John Marshall
d. Max Muller
95. The earliest inscriptions in India are those of:
a. Harsha
b. Ashoka
c. Samudragupta
d. Kanishka
96. Which ruler issued the first gold coins in large numbers?
a. Mauryas
b. Kushanas
c. Sungas
d. Nandas
97. The Sanchi Stupa was commissioned by:
a. Ashoka
b. Kanishka
c. Harsha
d. Samudragupta
98. Amaravati School of Art flourished under:
a. Satavahanas
b. Mauryas
c. Guptas
d. Cholas
99. The Jataka tales are related to:
a. Jainism
b. Buddhism
c. Shaivism
d. Vaishnavism
100. The word ‘Veda’ means:
a. Sacrifice
b. Knowledge
c. Kingdom
d. Prayer
101. Which Indus site is located on the banks of River Ravi?
a. Lothal
b. Harappa
c. Kalibangan
d. Dholavira
102. Which Harappan site has yielded evidence of ploughed fields?
a. Harappa
b. Mohenjo-Daro
c. Kalibangan
d. Chanhudaro
103. The Indus Valley Civilization belongs to the:
a. Neolithic Age
b. Chalcolithic Age
c. Iron Age
d. Megalithic Age
104. The Purusha Sukta is found in:
a. Atharvaveda
b. Samaveda
c. Yajurveda
d. Rigveda
105. Which Vedic deity was known as the god of fire?
a. Varuna
b. Indra
c. Agni
d. Soma
106. The Later Vedic Period saw the rise of:
a. Urban civilization
b. Territorial kingdoms
c. Sea trade
d. Foreign invasions
107. Which text contains rules of conduct and social duties?
a. Arthashastra
b. Manusmriti
c. Indica
d. Milindapanho
108. The Buddhist concept of ultimate liberation is:
a. Karma
b. Ahimsa
c. Nirvana
d. Yoga
109. Which Jain sect accepts clothing for monks?
a. Digambara
b. Shvetambara
c. Ajivika
d. Hinayana
110. The symbol of Jainism is most closely associated with:
a. Trident
b. Wheel
c. Hand with Ahimsa
d. Lotus
111. Which dynasty overthrew the Nandas?
a. Guptas
b. Mauryas
c. Kushanas
d. Sungas
112. The Greek ambassador Deimachus visited the court of:
a. Ashoka
b. Chandragupta Maurya
c. Bindusara
d. Harsha
113. Ashoka’s Minor Rock Edicts mention:
a. Revenue reforms
b. Personal conversion to Buddhism
c. Gupta administration
d. Sangam trade
114. The term “Devanampriya” was used by:
a. Samudragupta
b. Ashoka
c. Harsha
d. Chandragupta II
115. Which ruler founded the Sunga dynasty?
a. Pushyamitra Sunga
b. Agnimitra
c. Vasumitra
d. Devabhuti
116. The Indo-Greek king associated with Buddhism was:
a. Seleucus
b. Menander
c. Demetrius
d. Antiochus
117. Milindapanho records dialogues between:
a. Ashoka and Moggaliputta Tissa
b. Menander and Nagasena
c. Buddha and Ananda
d. Chandragupta and Chanakya
118. The Gupta era began in:
a. 320 CE
b. 78 CE
c. 606 CE
d. 232 BCE
119. Nalanda University reached great fame under:
a. Mauryas
b. Guptas
c. Cholas
d. Delhi Sultanate
120. Who composed the Sanskrit grammar Ashtadhyayi?
a. Patanjali
b. Panini
c. Kalidasa
d. Bana
121. The decimal system in India developed significantly during:
a. Maurya Period
b. Gupta Period
c. Vedic Period
d. Sangam Period
122. Which Gupta ruler founded Nalanda Mahavihara?
a. Kumaragupta I
b. Samudragupta
c. Chandragupta I
d. Skandagupta
123. The Hun invasion took place during the reign of:
a. Ashoka
b. Samudragupta
c. Skandagupta
d. Harsha
124. The Chinese pilgrim who studied at Nalanda was:
a. Fa-Hien
b. Al-Biruni
c. Hiuen Tsang
d. Ibn Battuta
125. Which dynasty patronized Ajanta paintings?
a. Vakatakas
b. Mauryas
c. Guptas
d. Pallavas
126. The famous Dasakumaracharita was written by:
a. Bana
b. Dandin
c. Kalidasa
d. Bhavabhuti
127. Which ancient port was important in the Satavahana period?
a. Surat
b. Bharuch
c. Panipat
d. Kannauj
128. The Satavahanas mainly issued coins made of:
a. Lead
b. Platinum
c. Aluminium
d. Nickel
129. The cave complex at Karle is associated with:
a. Buddhism
b. Jainism
c. Shaivism
d. Sikhism
130. Which ruler is associated with the Vikrama era?
a. Chandragupta II
b. Ashoka
c. Kanishka
d. Harsha
131. The Chola administration was noted for:
a. Tribal governance
b. Local self-government
c. Nomadic rule
d. Military dictatorship
132. Uttaramerur inscriptions relate to:
a. Gupta taxation
b. Chola local administration
c. Mauryan trade
d. Kushana art
133. Which Chola ruler invaded Sri Lanka?
a. Rajaraja I
b. Rajendra I
c. Vijayalaya
d. Aditya I
134. The Sangam work “Manimekalai” is associated with:
a. Buddhism
b. Jainism
c. Shaivism
d. Vaishnavism
135. Which ancient Indian text deals with polity and economics?
a. Natyashastra
b. Arthashastra
c. Raghuvamsha
d. Meghaduta
136. The author of Natyashastra was:
a. Bharata
b. Kalidasa
c. Panini
d. Bana
137. Which temple style is associated with South India?
a. Nagara
b. Dravida
c. Vesara
d. Gandhara
138. The Brihadeshwara Temple is located at:
a. Madurai
b. Kanchipuram
c. Thanjavur
d. Mysore
139. Which ruler adopted the title “Vikramaditya”?
a. Chandragupta II
b. Bindusara
c. Ashoka
d. Pushyamitra
140. The Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription mentions:
a. Ashoka
b. Chandragupta II
c. Harsha
d. Kanishka
141. Which Gupta ruler faced Hun invasions?
a. Kumaragupta I
b. Chandragupta I
c. Skandagupta
d. Samudragupta
142. The Ajivika sect was patronized by:
a. Ashoka and Bindusara
b. Harsha and Bana
c. Samudragupta and Kalidasa
d. Kanishka and Menander
143. Which ancient text is a dialogue between Yajnavalkya and Gargi?
a. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
b. Arthashastra
c. Manusmriti
d. Ramayana
144. Which Vedic god was known as the wielder of thunderbolt?
a. Varuna
b. Agni
c. Indra
d. Soma
145. The earliest Tamil grammar work is:
a. Tolkappiyam
b. Silappadikaram
c. Manimekalai
d. Pattinappalai
146. Which ancient Indian ruler maintained a large standing army as described by Megasthenes?
a. Harsha
b. Chandragupta Maurya
c. Kanishka
d. Samudragupta
147. The main occupation of Vedic people was:
a. Fishing
b. Agriculture and cattle rearing
c. Mining
d. Shipbuilding
148. Which Buddhist sect emphasized worship of Buddha as a deity?
a. Hinayana
b. Mahayana
c. Ajivika
d. Digambara
149. The Kharosthi script was written from:
a. Left to right
b. Right to left
c. Top to bottom
d. Bottom to top
150. Which ancient Indian university was located in present-day Bihar?
a. Takshashila
b. Vallabhi
c. Nalanda
d. Ujjain