Best G.K. (History) - 9

Agriculture was the backbone of the Indus Valley economy, supported by the fertile floodplains of the Indus River. While trade was also significant, agriculture provided the primary sustenance for the population.

The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered mantra from the Rigveda, which is the oldest of the four Vedas. It is dedicated to Savitr, the solar deity.

The early Vedic Aryans settled in the region known as Sapta Sindhu, which corresponds to the modern-day Punjab region and parts of Pakistan.

The Great Bath is one of the most famous structures of the Indus Valley Civilization, located at the site of Mohenjodaro. It is believed to have been used for ritual bathing.

Archaeological evidence, including seals found at Indus Valley sites, suggests extensive trade contacts between the Indus Valley Civilization and the contemporary civilization of Sumeria in Mesopotamia.

Sutras are a genre of ancient Indian texts that serve as manuals or aphoristic instructions on various subjects, including rituals, grammar, and philosophy.

In Hindu tradition, there are traditionally 18 major Puranas, known as the Mahapuranas, which cover topics like cosmology, mythology, and genealogy.

Kaivalya, meaning isolation or liberation, is the ultimate goal in Jain philosophy, representing the state of an enlightened soul free from the cycle of rebirth.

Samudragupta was a devout follower of Brahmanical Hinduism and is known for performing the Ashvamedha sacrifice, whereas Ashoka and Harsha were famous patrons of Buddhism.

The Sangam literature refers to the ancient Tamil literature produced during the Sangam period in South India, written in the classical Tamil language.

The Lion Capital of Ashoka, found at Sarnath, is a sculpture commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka to commemorate the site of Buddha's first sermon.

Varanasi, also known as Kashi, was historically renowned as a major center for textile production, particularly high-quality silk, during ancient times.

Charaka, the author of the Charaka Samhita, was a prominent physician in the court of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka.

Historian A.V. Smith famously referred to Samudragupta as the Napoleon of India due to his extensive military conquests and expansion of the Gupta Empire.

The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli is widely attributed to the Gupta period, specifically to Chandragupta II, due to the inscriptions and metallurgical style.

The Pushyabhuti dynasty, also known as the Vardhana dynasty, had its capital at Thaneshwar before it was shifted to Kannauj by Harsha.

The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE to house relics of the Buddha.

The Cheras, along with the Pandyas and Cholas, are mentioned in early Tamil literature and foreign accounts as ancient dynasties of South India, with the Cheras often cited among the earliest.

The bronze statue of Nataraja, depicting Shiva as the Lord of Dance, is the most iconic representation of Chola period art and metallurgy.

Kamarupa was an ancient kingdom located in the Brahmaputra valley, which corresponds to the modern-day state of Assam.

The earliest capital of the Magadha Kingdom was Girivraja, which is located in the modern-day town of Rajgir (Rajagriha).

The Neolithic Age is defined by the transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled agricultural lifestyle, involving the domestication of plants and animals.

Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, was the mentor and Prime Minister to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire.

Mahapadma Nanda is credited with founding the Nanda dynasty after overthrowing the Shishunaga dynasty.

Prithviraj Chauhan belonged to the Chahamana (Chauhan) dynasty, which is not listed among the other choices, making None of these the correct answer.