Ancient Indian History Quiz: SSC CGL July 2023

Saptanga Theory

• 'Amatya' represents the council of ministers in Kautilya's Saptanga theory.

Mahajanapadas

• The Magadha Mahajanapada was surrounded by the rivers Ganges and Son.
• Kosala Mahajanapada was situated in the modern-day state of Uttar Pradesh in the 6th century BCE.
• The capital of Vajji Mahajanapada was Vaishali.
• The last ruler of the Nanda dynasty was Dhana Nanda.
• The first ruler of Magadha from the Haryanka dynasty was Bimbisara.

Philosophy and Texts

• The Samkhya school of philosophy was founded by Kapila.
• The Rajatarangini text provides a detailed description of the kings of Kashmir.

Archaeology

• Evidence of pit dwellings has been found in the archaeology of Mehrgarh.
• A 'Homo erectus' skull was found in the prehistoric Indian site of Narmada Valley.
• Megaliths with stone pieces set in a circular shape around the tomb are known as Cairn Circles.

Ancient Indian Rulers

• Kautilya is traditionally credited as the author of an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy written in Sanskrit.
• The last king of the Shunga dynasty was Devabhuti.
• Ashoka conquered Kalinga and later renounced war.
• Ashoka sent a mission to spread the doctrine of Dhamma, led by his son and daughter, to Sri Lanka.
• Ashoka was appointed as the viceroy to solve social problems in his area.

Battles and Wars

• The battle of the Hydaspes was fought between Alexander the Great and Porus.
• Ashoka's mission was sent to Sri Lanka after the battle of Kalinga.

Geography and History

• The iron implement site of Hastinapur is located in the present-day state of Uttar Pradesh.
• During the Rigvedic or early Vedic period, the Saraswati was considered a river goddess.
• The Dharmasutras include rules and regulations for the Vedic period.

Vedas

• The Samaveda is related to music.
• The Rigveda is considered the oldest among the Vedas.
• 30 Rig Veda manuscripts dating from 1800 to 1500 BCE were included in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in the year 2007.

Medieval India

• Ghurid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud defeated Mahmud of Ghazni in his first invasion in the year 1001 AD.
• Ashoka was known as 'Devanam Piya'.
• The Bahmani Sultanate was established by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah.
• The Chandela dynasty built the Khajuraho temples in Central India between 950 and 1050 AD.
• The Kadamba dynasty was an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka.