Kings, Farmers and Towns : MCQ

 Kings, Farmers and Towns : Early States and Economies

HISTOR– XII

THEME-2

MCQ

Kings, Farmers and Towns : Early States and Economies

1. Who was known as Devanama Piyadasi? 

A. Vardhamana Mahavir

B. Chandragupta Maurya 

C. Gautama Buddha 

D. King Asoka 

Ans: D 

Explanation: Most of the early inscriptions mentioned a king referred to as Piyadassi — meaning "pleasant to behold" concluded by epigraphists to be Mauryan 

king Asoka. Hence, D is the correct option.

2.Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts? 

A. Colin Mackenzie 

B. James Prinsep 

C. D.C Sircar 

D. A. Cunningham 

Ans: B 

Explanation: In 1830s, James Prinsep, an officer in the mint of the East India Company, deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi, two scripts used in the earliest inscriptions and coins. He 

found that most of these mentioned a king referred to as Piyadassi — meaning "pleasant to behold"; Hence, B is the correct option.

3. Kautiltya's Arthashastra is a book on- 

A. Economic relations 

B. Principal and practices of statecraft 

C. foreign policy 

D. duties of king 

Ans: B 

Explanation: Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire. Source that is often used is the Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya. Hence, B is the correct option.

4. To which dynasty did Ashoka belong? 

A. Satavahana 

B. Kushan 

C. Maurya 

D. Gupta 

Ans: C 

Explanation: The growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the Mauryan 

Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the empire, extended control as far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and his grandson Asoka, arguably the 

most famous ruler of early India, conquered Kalinga. Hence, C is the correct option.

5. Megasthenes, the composer of Indica was- 

A. Greek Ambassador 

B. Chinese piligrime 

C. Egyptian traveller 

D. Iranian Scholar 

Ans: A 

Explanation: Megasthenes was an ambassador of Greek king Seleucus I Nicator, to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He wrote the book Indica. Hence, A is the correct option.

6. Special officers appointed by Asoka to spread the 

message of Dhamma were called— 

A. Rajuka 

B. Dhamma Sharmana 

C. Kumar Amatya 

D. Dhamma mahamatta 

Ans: D 

Explanation: Special officers, known as the dhamma mahamatta, were appointed to spread the message of dhamma. This included respect towards elders, generosity towards Brahmanas and those who renounced worldly life, treating slaves and servants kindly, and respect for religions and traditions other than one's own. Hence, D is the correct option.

7. The Prayaga Prashasti (Allahabad inscription) was 

composed by- 

A. Vishakhdatta 

B. Upa gupta 

C. Harishena 

D. Ashvaghosha 

Ans: C 

Explanation: The Prayaga Prashasti (also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription) composed in Sanskrit by Harishena, the court poet of Samudragupta, arguably the most powerful of the Gupta rulers. Hence, C is the correct option.

8. The famous Sudarshana lake is located in which 

state? 

A. Gujarat 

B. Maharashtra 

C. Bihar 

D. Andhra Pradesh 

Ans: A 

Explanation: The Sudarshana lake in Gujarat was an artificial reservoir. It is mentioned in a rock inscription (c. second century CE) in Sanskrit, composed to  record the achievements of the Shaka ruler Rudradaman. Hence, A is the correct option.

9. The Jatakas were written in— 

A. Prakrit 

B. Pali 

C. Sanskrit 

D. Tamil 

Ans: B 

Explanation: The Jatakas were written in Pali around the middle of the first millennium CE. Hence, B is the correct option.

10). The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana, 

the ruler of Kanauj, composed by his court poet— 

A. Banabhatta 

B. Harishena 

C. Ashvaghosh 

D. Jaidev 

Ans: A 

Explanation: The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana, the ruler of Kanauj, 

composed in Sanskrit by his court poet, Banabhatta. Hence, A is the correct option.

11. The Queen who had independent access to land, 

against the provisions of Sanskrit legal texts 

A. Salavati 

B. Vijaya Satakani 

C. Prabhavati Gupta 

D. Yana Sakasena 

Ans: C 

Explanation: An inscription indicated that Vakataka Queen (one of the few queens known from early Indian history) Prabhavati Gupta, the daughter of Chandragupta 11 had access to land, which she then granted. According to Sanskrit legal texts, 

women were not supposed to have independent access to resources such as land. Hence, C is the correct option.

12. According to the tradition who scribed the Mahabharata— 

A. Lord Shiva 

B. Lord Ganesha 

C. Lord Bramha 

D. Lord Vishnu 

Ans: B 

Explanation: According to tradition, Vyasa dictated the stories to lord Ganesha, who then scribed the Mahabharata . Hence, B is the correct option.

13. Numismatics is the study of— 

A. Numbers 

B. Pottery 

C. Coins 

D. Sculptures 

Ans: C 

Explanation: Numismatics is the study of coins, including visual elements such as 

scripts and images, metallurgical analysis and the contexts in which they have been 

found. Hence, C is the correct option.

14. The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by— 

A. Guptas 

B. Mauryas 

C. Nandas 

D. Indo-Greeks 

Ans: D 

Explanation: The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by the Indo-Greeks, who established control over the north-western part of the subcontinent c. second century BCE. Hence, D is the correct option.

15. The first to issue gold coins were— 

A. Kushanas 

B. Satavahanas 

C. Pandyas 

D. Cholas 

Ans: A 

Explanation: The first gold coins were issued c. first century CE by the Kushanas. These were virtually identical in weight with those issued by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian rulers of Iran. Hence, A is the correct option.

16. What is Gandatindu ? 

A. Inscription 

B. Jataka 

C. Prashasti 

D. Shreni or Guild 

Ans: B 

Explanation: The Jatakas were written in Pali around the middle of the first millennium CE. One story known as the Gandatindu Jataka describes the plight of the subjects of a wicked king. Hence, B is the correct option.

17. Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded in the year— 

A. 1801 

B. 1757 

c. 1784 

D. 1858 

Ans: C 

Explanation: The Asiatic Society was founded by civil servant Sir William Jones on 15 January 1784, At the time of its foundation, this Society was named as "Asiatic Society". In 1832 the name was changed to "The Asiatic Society of Bengal" and again in 1936 it was renamed as "The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal". Hence, C is the correct option.

18.Which of the following is not one of the major political centres of Mauryan Empire? 

A. Taxila 

B. Tosali 

C. Suvarnagiri 

D. Kandahar 

Ans: D 

Explanation: There were five major political centres in the empire — the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centres of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri, all mentioned in Asokan 

inscriptions. Taxila and Ujjayini were situated on important long-distance trade routes, while Suvarnagiri (literally, the golden mountain) was possibly important for tapping the gold mines of Karnataka. Hence,D is the correct option.

19.Which one of the following places has no Ashokan edict 

A. Girnar 

B. Kandahar 

C. Patliputra 

D. Shahbazgarhi 

Ans: C 

Explanation: Major Rock Edicts are Located at- kalsi(Dehradun), Girnar(Gujarat), Yerragudi(Andhra Pradesh), Sannati(Karnataka), Sopara(Mumbai), Dhauli & Jaugada(Odisha), Mansehra & Shahbazgarhi(Pakistan, Kharoshti script ), Kandahar( 

Pakistan, in Greek). Hence, C is the correct option.

20. All of the following statements regarding inscriptions are 

correct except — 

A. Inscriptions are writings engraved on hard surfaces such as 

stone, metal or pottery. 

B. They usually record the achievements, activities or ideas of 

those who commissioned them. 

C. Inscriptions are virtually permanent records, some of which 

carry dates 

D. The earliest inscriptions were written in Sanskrit. 

Ans: D 

Explanation: The earliest inscriptions were written in Prakrit. Hence, D is the correct option.

21. All of the following statements regarding Magadha are 

correct except — 

A. Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially 

productive 

B. Gold mines were accessible and provided resources for kingdom. 

C. In the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to 

Pataliputra 

D. The Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and 

convenient communication 

Ans: B 

Explanation: Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially productive. Iron mines (in present-day Jharkhand) were accessible and provided resources for tools and weapons. 

Initially, Rajagaha was the capital of Magadha, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to Pataliputra by Udayin. The Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and 

convenient communication. Hence, B is the correct option.

22. All of the following statements regarding increasing 

agricultural production in 6th century BCE are correct except —

 

A. Parts of Punjab and Rajasthan adopted iron ploughshare 

B. Irrigation was adopted to increase agricultural production 

C. Production of paddy was dramatically increased by the 

introduction of transplantation 

D. The iron-tipped ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in 

areas which had high rainfall 

Ans: A 

Explanation: The iron-tipped ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in areas which had high rainfall. Parts of Punjab and Rajasthan did not adopt it till the twentieth century. 

In some parts of the Ganga valley, production of paddy was dramatically increased by the introduction of transplantation. Irrigation was adopted to increase agricultural production. 

Hence, A is the correct option.

23. Consider the following statements about Asoka and mark the 

correct statement: 

A. Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages on stone 

surfaces 

B. He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to be 

dhamma. 

C. Neither A nor B 

D. Both A and B 

Ans: D 

Explanation: Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his subjects and officials on stone surfaces — natural rocks as well as polished pillars. He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to  be dhamma. Hence, D is the correct option.

24. Consider the following statements about Mahajanapadas and mark the correct statement: 

A. While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some, 

known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies 

B. Both Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to such ganas 

C. Neither A nor B 

D. Both A and B 

Ans: D 

Explanation: While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies, where power was shared by a number of men, often collectively 

called rajas. Both Mahavira (Vajji) and the Buddha (Gandhar) belonged to such ganas. In some instances, as in the case of the Vajji sangha Hence, D is the correct option

25. Consider the following statements: 

I. Many Mauryan rulers adopted the title devaputra, or "son of god" 

II. Kushanas ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central to 

South India. 

Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct ? 

A. only 1 

B. only 11 

C. Both 1 and 11 

D. Neither I nor 11 

Ans: D 

Explanation: Kushanas ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central Asia to northwest India. Many Kushana rulers adopted the title devaputra, or "son of god" Hence, D is the correct option.

26. Consider the following statements: 

I. Samantas maintained themselves through local resources 

including control over land. 

II. They offered homage and provided military support to rulers. 

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct about Samantas? 

A. only 1 

B. only 11 

C. Both 1 and 11 

D. Neither I nor 11 

Ans: C 

Explanation: Samantas, maintained themselves through local resources including control over land. They offered homage and provided military support to rulers. Powerful samantas could become kings: conversely, weak rulers might find themselves being reduced to positions of subordination. Hence, C is the correct option.

27. Consider the following statements: 

I. The term Gahapati was often used to designate small peasants 

as well as large landlords. 

II. Sangam texts also mention different categories of people-like 

vellelar, uzhavar and adimai 

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct about rural 

societies in Mahajanapada period? 

A. only 1 

B. only 11 

C. Both 1 and 11 

D. Neither 1 nor 11

Ans: C 

Explanation: The term gahapati was often used in Pali texts to designate small peasants and large landholders. Early Tamil literature (the Sangam texts) also mentions different categories of people living in the villages — large landowners or .vellalar, ploughmen or uzhavar and slaves or adimai. Hence, C is the correct option

28. Consider the following statements: 

I. The Manusmrti is one of the best-known philosophical texts of 

early India. 

II. It was written in Sanskrit and compiled between c. 2nd century BCE and c. 2nd century CE Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct about Manusmriti? 

A. Only I 

B. only II 

C. Both I and II 

D. Neither I nor II 

Ans: B 

Explanation: The Manusmrti is one of the best-known legal texts of early India, written in Sanskrit and compiled between c. second century BCE and c second century CE. Hence, B 

is the correct option.

29. Consider the following pairs: 

1. Magadha- Rajgir 

2. kasi- Vaishali 

3. Gandhar- Taxila 

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? 

A. 1 and 2 only 

B. 2 only 

C. 1 and 3 only 

D. 2 and 3 only 

Ans: C 

Explanation: Capitals of Magadha, kasi, Gandhar are Rajgir, Varanasi and Taxila respectively. Hence, C is the correct option.

30. Consider the following pairs: 

1. Shahbazgarhi edict- Greek script 

2. Girnar edict-Brahmi script 

3. Kandahar edict- Kharosthi script 

Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? 

A. 1 and 2 only 

B. 2 only 

C. 1 and 3 only 

D. 2 and 3 only 

Ans:B 

Explanation: Major Rock Edicts are Located at- Mansehra & Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan, Kharoshti script); Kandahar (Pakistan, in Greek ; kalsi(Dehradun); Girnar Gujarat); Yerragudi(Andhra Pradesh); Sannati(Karnataka ; Sopara(Mumbal); Dhau i & 

Jaugada(Odisha). Hence, B is the correct option.