History
Ancient and Medieval Indian Rulers
3,431 Questions
Ancient and medieval Indian rulers cover dynasties, major empires, administrative reforms, and historical monuments. This is a highly scored area in history sections of competitive exams. Practice these questions to strengthen your history foundation.
Maratha administrationGupta dynastyAncient kingdomsMedieval income sourcesRashtrakuta empire
Ancient and Medieval Indian Rulers Questions
Which Pallava ruler is credited with the construction of the Kailasanatha Temple?
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Simhavishnu
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Mahendravarman I
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Narasimhavarman I
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Rajasimha Pallava
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Rajasimha Pallava, also known as Narasimhavarman II, built the Kailasanatha Temple in Kanchipuram.
What was the name of the Pallava dynasty's last ruler?
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Nandivarman II
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Aparajita Pallava
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Vijayalaya Chola
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Parantaka Chola II
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Aparajita Pallava was the last ruler of the Pallava dynasty before it was succeeded by the Chola dynasty.
Which Pallava ruler is known for his patronage of Sanskrit literature?
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Simhavishnu
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Mahendravarman I
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Narasimhavarman I
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Dantivarman
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Dantivarman was a great patron of Sanskrit literature and is credited with commissioning several literary works.
What was the name of the Pallava dynasty's first capital?
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Kanchipuram
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Mahabalipuram
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Uragapura
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Vengi
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Uragapura was the first capital of the Pallava dynasty before it was moved to Kanchipuram.
Which Pallava ruler is associated with the construction of the Pancha Rathas?
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Simhavishnu
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Mahendravarman I
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Narasimhavarman I
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Rajasimha Pallava
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Narasimhavarman I is credited with the construction of the Pancha Rathas, a group of five monolithic temples in Mahabalipuram.
Which Pallava ruler is known for his victory over the Chalukyas at the Battle of Perumbudur?
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Simhavishnu
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Mahendravarman I
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Narasimhavarman I
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Paramesvaravarman I
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Paramesvaravarman I defeated the Chalukyas at the Battle of Perumbudur, securing the Pallava's dominance in the region.
Which Pallava ruler is known for his construction of the Shore Temple?
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Simhavishnu
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Mahendravarman I
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Narasimhavarman I
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Rajasimha Pallava
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Rajasimha Pallava, also known as Narasimhavarman II, built the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram.
Which historical figure is believed to have visited the Ajanta Caves in the 7th century CE?
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Emperor Ashoka
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Harshavardhana
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Xuanzang
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Alauddin Khilji
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The Chinese traveler Xuanzang visited the Ajanta Caves in the 7th century CE and left detailed accounts of the site's beauty and significance.
The Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia was built during the reign of:
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Jayavarman VII
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Suryavarman II
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Jayavarman II
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Udayadityavarman II
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Angkor Wat temple complex was built during the reign of Suryavarman II, who ruled the Khmer Empire from 1113 to 1150.
Who is considered the father of Indian historiography?
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Kautilya
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Megasthenes
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Kalhana
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Al-Biruni
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, is considered the father of Indian historiography. He was a political strategist and economist who lived in the 4th century BCE. He is best known for his work, the Arthashastra, which is a treatise on statecraft and economics.
Which of the following is a major historian of ancient India?
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Megasthenes
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Kalhana
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Al-Biruni
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All of the above
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Megasthenes, Kalhana, and Al-Biruni are all major historians of ancient India. Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in the 4th century BCE. He wrote a book called Indica, which is a valuable source of information about ancient India. Kalhana was a Kashmiri historian who lived in the 12th century CE. He wrote a book called Rajatarangini, which is a history of Kashmir. Al-Biruni was a Persian scholar who visited India in the 11th century CE. He wrote a book called Kitab al-Hind, which is a valuable source of information about ancient Indian culture and society.
What is the Arthashastra's view on the role of the king?
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The king should be a benevolent ruler
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The king should be a strong and decisive leader
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The king should be a wise and just ruler
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All of the above
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Kautilya believed that the king should possess a combination of benevolence, strength, wisdom, and justice.
Which ancient Indian kingdom was known for its powerful cavalry?
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Magadha
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Maurya
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Gupta
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Chalukya
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The Maurya Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in the 4th century BCE, was known for its powerful cavalry. The Mauryan cavalry was instrumental in the empire's military successes, including the conquest of much of the Indian subcontinent.
Which ancient Indian king is credited with the development of the military strategy known as ' vyuha '?
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Ashoka
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Chandragupta Maurya
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Samudragupta
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Krishna Deva Raya
D
Correct answer
Explanation
Krishna Deva Raya, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century CE, is credited with the development of the military strategy known as ' vyuha '. Vyuha was a complex system of military formations and tactics that was designed to give the Vijayanagara army an advantage in battle.
What was the name of the ancient Indian military unit that consisted of a group of elephants trained for warfare?
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Gaja Sena
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Ashva Sena
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Ratha Sena
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Nara Sena
A
Correct answer
Explanation
The Gaja Sena was an ancient Indian military unit that consisted of a group of elephants trained for warfare. Elephants were used in battle for their size, strength, and ability to cause fear and disruption in the enemy ranks.