Ancient History: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Rajendra I was a notable ruler of the Chola dynasty in South India. He succeeded his father, Rajaraja I, and further expanded the Chola Empire through extensive military campaigns.

Option (c) is correct: Among Rajendra I significant achievements was the invasion and annexation of Ceylon in the early 11th century. This conquest marked the incorporation of Ceylon into the Chola realm for a substantial period.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Aditya I was son of Vijayalaya Chola, Aditya I maintained diplomatic relations with Cheras but did not conquer Ceylon. Rajaraja I expanded the Chola empire significantly but did not conquer Ceylon. His major conquests were in the South Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean region. Vijayalaya Chola founded the Chola dynasty in the 9th century but did not conquer Ceylon. He focused on establishing Chola power in Tamil Nadu, not Sri Lanka.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: The Harappan civilization (c. 2600-1900 BCE) is known for red and black pottery, not Painted Grey Ware (PGW), which is associated with the later Vedic period (1200-600 BCE).

Option (b) is correct: The Kushans (1st-4th century AD) patronized the Gandhara School of Art, which blended Greek, Roman, and Indian artistic styles, primarily in Buddhist sculptures.

Option (c) is incorrect: The Ajanta Paintings belong to the Gupta period (5th-6th century CE), long before the Mughals (16th-18th century CE). The Mughals are known for miniature paintings rather than Ajanta murals.

Option (d) is incorrect: The Pahari School of Painting developed in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu during the Rajput period, not under the Marathas (17th-18th century CE), who were more associated with Deccan-style paintings.

Explanation

The Hoysala dynasty (10th-14th centuries CE) ruled over present-day Karnataka, known for their patronage of art and architecture. They played a key role in resisting northern invasions in South India.

Option (b) is correct: Hoysala architecture is renowned for its intricate detailing, evident in the temples at Halebid and Belur in Karnataka. These monuments reflect unique craftsmanship and religious art of the period.

Option (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect Hampi and Hosper relate to Vijayanagara architecture. Mysore and Bangalore are not prominent Hoysala sites. Sringeri and Dharwar are not primarily known for Hoysala temples.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: Ashoka annexed Kalinga after the brutal Kalinga War (261 BCE), which deeply impacted him and led to his adoption of Dhamma (Buddhist principles). Reason (R) is true: Kalinga held a strategic position with control over important land and sea routes to South India, which made it economically and militarily significant. He retained Kalinga after its conquest and incorporated it into his empire over its sheer importance with respect to land and sea trade connectivity. Thus, R explains A. Hence, Option (a) is correct.

Explanation

Military governorship in ancient India, particularly during the periods of the Mauryan, Gupta, and Kushana empires, was a key feature of the administrative structure. Amongst the given options, Greeks were the first who introduced military governorship in India. They appointed their Governors called Strategos. These military governors had both military and administrative authority and were responsible for maintaining control and collecting taxes. The practice was further continued by subsequent foreign invaders and Indian rulers as well such as Sakas, Parthians and later Mughals.

Explanation

The Alexander’s invasion of India in 326 B.C is a pivotal moment in ancient history, marking the encounter between Greek and Indian civilizations. At the time of Alexander’s invasion in 326 B.C., the northern part of India was under the rule of the Nanda dynasty (343 - 321 BCE). The king of the Nanda dynasty at the time of Alexander’s invasion of India was Dhanananda.

Explanation

The feudal system in ancient India was a socio-economic and political structure characterized by a hierarchy of landownership and obligations, where land was held in exchange for service, primarily military or administrative. Assertion(A) is true: The feudal system, a hierarchical system of land-use and protection, originated in ancient India due to military campaigns. This is true because, during wars and conquests, victorious rulers granted land to military officers and local chiefs as a reward for their service. These landholders, called samantas, later became hereditary lords, leading to the emergence of feudal structures. Reason (R) is also true: During the post Mauryan and Gupta period feudal system became the main state apparatus as the Guptas granted large land tracts (agraharas and bhukti) to Brahmins, officers, and feudatories (samantas). These landholders gained administrative and military control, further decentralizing power. Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion(A):

Feudal system expanded through other factors, not simply the Gupta period.The emergence of feudalism in India was influenced by the arrival of various foreign invaders and rulers.

Explanation

"Aryan" primarily refers to a linguistic or speech group rather than an ethnic or racial group. It is associated with the Indo-Aryan languages, which are a branch of the larger Indo-European language family. The term was historically used to describe the speakers of these languages, who migrated to the Indian subcontinent and other parts of Asia. However, the details of the migration and the exact identity of these groups remain subjects of scholarly debate.

Explanation

The Huns, a nomadic group originating from the Asian steppes, were a significant force during period. Their invasions played a key role in the broader process of the Western Roman Empire’s decline. After the Hun invasion in the 4th to 5th century, the Roman Empire weakened. This led Indian traders to shift their focus to Southeast Asia. With the decline of Roman trade routes, maritime trade increased with Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, and Cambodia. Indian merchants also spread Hinduism, Buddhism, and Indian culture to these regions. During this time, Indian-influenced kingdoms like Srivijaya and Funan became important trade partners.

Explanation

The Indo-Greek Kingdom was a Hellenistic state that existed in parts of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Northwestern India from the 2nd century BC to the early 1st century AD.

Option (a) is correct: Bactria was the ancient civilizations of Iranian peoples. Ancient Bactria was located between the Hindu Kush mountain range and the Amu Darya river, covering the flat region that straddles modern-day Afghanistan and Tajikistan. After the conquests of Alexander the Great, Bactria became a Greek kingdom and later came under the rule of various Indo-Greek kings.

Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Scythia kingdom comprised the region around Central Asia and north-eastern Europe. It was only in the late 2nd century BC that they invaded the Afghanistan region. Zedrasia is incorrect because there is no historical region or kingdom known as "Zedrasia" associated with the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Aria was important in ancient Persian and Greek history, it was not the area where the Indo-Greek Kingdom was established.