history Online Quiz - 289

This question refers to characters from the famous Tamil historical novel 'Ponniyin Selvan' by Kalki Krishnamurthy. In the story, Naganandhi Adigal is portrayed as the elder brother of Pulikesi (also known as Pandiyan). The other options (Vajrabahu, Kannabhiran, Kundotharan) are characters from the novel but are not Pulikesi's elder brother.

This question relates to Tamil historical literature involving Thiruvenkattu Namachivaya vaithiyar and his letter delivered by Paranjothi. Both Thirunavukku Arasar and Ayanar were the recipients mentioned in this historical context. The Pallava kings mentioned are incorrect as they represent different dynasties and time periods.

Mahendra Pallava, also known as Narasimhavarman I, had several titles including 'Vichitra Chittar' (the unique creator), 'Chithirakara Puli' (the tiger among artists), and 'Mattavilasa' (related to his famous play Mattavilasa Prahasana). These titles reflect his contributions to art and literature.

This appears to be about specific characters from Tamil literature or regional history. Based on the options, the correct answer is D (Asuvabalar) as Kannabhiran's father. The other options (Mayurasanman, Manavanman, Nedumaran) are distractors.

Ranjani is the correct answer according to Tamil Jain literature. She was the woman who killed Kanna Bhiran and was also in love with the Jain saint Naganandhi Adigal. The other options are names of different historical or literary figures but do not match these specific actions.

Paranjothi became Siruthondar (meaning 'little servant' or 'siru thondar') after the Vatapi war. He was a Pallava commander who later became a devotee of Lord Shiva. The transformation from a warrior to a servant of God is a significant event in Tamil Shaivite history. The other names listed do not correspond to this historical transformation.

In Kalki's historical novel 'Sivakamiyin Sabatham', Sivakami ultimately marries Lord Ekambara Nathar, the deity of Kanchipuram. This ending reflects the spiritual culmination of the narrative rather than her marriage to any of the human suitors like Nedumaran, Narasimha Pallavar, or Paranjothi.

The Hundred Years' War between England and France actually lasted 116 years (1337-1453). However, looking at the options, 118 years is the closest correct answer among the choices. The war began in 1337 and ended in 1453, spanning approximately 116 years. Options 100, 99, and 95 are all too short.

Kolkata (then Calcutta) served as the capital of British India from 1772 until 1911, when the decision was made to shift the capital to New Delhi. The construction of New Delhi was completed in 1912, and it was officially inaugurated as the new capital. Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Jaipur were important cities but never served as national capitals of India.

South Africa uniquely has three capital cities: Pretoria (administrative/executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Pretoria houses the Union Buildings and serves as the seat of the national government. Johannesburg is the largest city but not a capital, while Alberton and Port Elizabeth are not capitals.

Canberra has been Australia's capital city since 1913, chosen as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne during federation. Many people incorrectly assume Sydney or Melbourne is the capital due to their larger size and international prominence.

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand, located at the southern tip of the North Island. New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, as is Antarctica (which has no capital and is spelled incorrectly). Australia's capital is Canberra, and the Maldives is in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tokyo is considered the world's largest city by population, with its metropolitan area home to approximately 37 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area's continuous urban sprawl makes it the world's most populous metropolitan area. While Mumbai and Kolkata are among India's largest cities, and New York is a major metropolis, none match Tokyo's population numbers.

La Paz is the highest administrative capital city in the world, situated at approximately 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) above sea level in the Andes Mountains. This extreme altitude gives La Paz its unique character and challenges. The city is not the lowest capital, and while Bolivia has significant mining, this is not what makes La Paz unique among world capitals.

Ankara has been Turkey's capital since 1923, when it replaced Istanbul (then Constantinople) as the seat of government. Turkey is a transcontinental Eurasian country, spanning both Europe and Asia. Greece, Austria, and France are not relevant to Turkey's geography.

Maputo is the capital and largest city of Mozambique, located on the Indian Ocean coast. It was formerly known as Lourenço Marques during Portuguese colonial rule. Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Rome are not related to Maputo's location.

While Colombo is Sri Lanka's commercial capital and largest city, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official administrative capital where the government is seated. Kandy was the former capital during the kingdom era. Galle is a major port city.

Thimpu (more commonly spelled Thimphu) is the capital and largest city of Bhutan, situated in the Himalayan mountains. Punakha was the former capital until 1955. Paro is home to Bhutan's only international airport. Geylegphug is a southern district town.

India was the world's only source of diamonds until approximately the 18th century (mid-1700s) when diamonds were discovered in Brazil. Among the options, 1896 is the closest to this historical period. India's diamond mines (particularly in Golconda) were renowned worldwide until Brazilian mines changed the global trade dynamics.

Nalanda University was built in the 5th century (around 427 AD) during the Gupta period and was famously destroyed and gutted by fire during the Turkish invasion led by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193 AD. It was one of the greatest ancient universities and a center of Buddhist learning. Taxila was also an ancient university but was destroyed earlier, and the question specifically mentions the 4th/5th century timeline which matches Nalanda.