11. Who started the Saka Era and when?

1.  Kadphises in 58 BC
2.  Rudradaman I in AD 78
3.  Vikramaditya in 58 BC
4.  Kanishka in AD 78

Answer: D.Kanishka in AD 78
Explanation: Most of what is known about Kanishka derives from Chinese sources, particularly Buddhist writings When Kanishkacame to the throne is uncertain. His accession has been estimated as occurring between his reigns is believed to have lasted 23 years. The year 78 marks the beginning of the Saka era, a system of dating that Kanishka might have initiated.

12. Worship of Mother Goddess was associated with

1.  Aryan Civilization
2.  Mediterranean Civilization
3.  Indus Valley Civilization
4.  Later Vedic Civilization

Answer: C.Indus Valley Civilization
Explanation: In view of the large number of figurines found in the Indus valley, some scholars believe that the Harap pan people worshipped a Mother goddess symbolizing fertility, a common practice among rural Hindus even today.

13. Mahabalipuram is an important city that reveals the interest in arts of

1.  Pallavas
2.  Cheras
3.  Pandyas
4.  Chalukyas

Answer: A.Pallavas
Explanation: Mahabalipuram was a 7th century port city of the South Indian dynasty of the Pallavas around 60 km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The name Mamallapuram is believed to have been given after the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who took on the epithet Maha-malla (great wrestler), as the favourite sport of the Pallavas was wrestling. It has various historic monuments built largely between the 7th and the 9th centuries, and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

14. Lord Mahavira died at

1.  Saravana Belagola
2.  Lumbini Garden
3.  Kalugumalai
4.  Pavapuri

Answer: D.Pavapuri
Explanation: Pawapuri is a holy site for Jains located in the Nalanda district in Bihar. Around 500 BC, Lord Mahavira, the last of the 24 Tirthankaras achieved Moksha or Nirvana. He was cremated at Pawapuri, also known as Apapuri (the sinless town).

15. The gold coins were introduced first in India by

1.  The Kushanas
2.  The Greeks
3.  The Sakas
4.  The Parthians

Answer: B.The Greeks
Explanation: The Indo-Greek kings were the first to issue gold coins in India and their coins were special in the sens that each king had his own distinctive coins by which he could be definitely identified. The names of at least thirty Bactrian kings are known with the help of numerous coins, and they help in the reconstruction the history of the kings. The coins carry legends in Greek and also in Kharosthi and Brahmi.

16. Which of the following dynasties conquered Sri Lanka and South East Asian countries?

1.  The Pandyas
2.  The Chalukyas
3.  The Cholas
4.  The Rashtrakutas

Answer: C.The Cholas
Explanation: The Chola navy played a vital role in the expan of the Chola Empire, including the conquest of the Ceylon islands and Sri Vijaya (present day Indonsia), the spread of Hinduism, Dravidian architecture and Dravidian culture to Southeast Asia and in curbing the piracy in Southeast Asia in the 900 CE. Inscriptions and historical sources assert that the Medieval Chola king Rajendra Chola I sent a naval expetion to Indo-China, the Malay peninsula and the Indonesian archipelago in 1025 in order to subdue the Srivijaya Empire.

17. The most distinguished ruler of the Chalukyan dynasty was

1.  Jayasimha II
2.  Vikramaditya VI
3.  Somesvara II
4.  Pulakesin II

Answer: D.Pulakesin II
Explanation: Pulakesin-II was the most famous ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. In his reign the Chalukyas of Bad ami saw their kingdom extend over most of the Deccan. Pulikeshi-II routed the Pallava king Mahendra varman-I in the battle of Pullalur. In a decisive battle fought on the banks of the river Narmada, Pulakesin defeated Harshavardhana.

18. “Harsha Charita” was written by

1.  Kalidasa
2.  Banabhatta
3.  Valmiki
4.  Vyasa

Answer: B.Banabhatta
Explanation: The Harshacharita is the biography of Indian Emperor Harsha by Banabhatta, also known as Bana, who was a Sanskrit writer of 7th century in India. Hewas the ‘Asthana Kavi’, meaning ‘Court Poet’, of King Harsha.

19. Tripitaka’ is the religious book of

1.  Jains
2.  Sikhs
3.  Buddhists
4.  Hindus

Answer: C.Buddhists
Explanation: Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the Buddhist canon. As the name suggests a Tripitaka traditionally contains three “baskets” of teachings: a Sutra Pitaka, a Vinaya Pitaka and an Abhidharma Pitaka.

20. Which of the following materials was mainly used in the manufacture of Harappan seals?

1.  Terracota
2.  Bronze
3.  Copper
4.  Iron

Answer: A.Terracota
Explanation: Seals are an impressive part of surviving art of Harappan culture. Of these the great majority has animals engraved on them and a short inscription They are mainly made of terracotta which is a type of earthenware, or clay-based unglazed or glazed ceramic where the fired body is porous.