History

Ancient and Medieval Indian Rulers

3,486 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

Multiple choice

What work did Sumant or Dabir perform in the Maratha Empire?

  1. He looked after the Revenue Administration.

  2. He kept daily record of activities of the royal family.

  3. He managed military forces and administered lands.

  4. He managed foreign affairs and received ambassadors.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the Maratha administrative system, the Sumant or Dabir was the foreign minister responsible for managing diplomatic relations, receiving ambassadors from other states, and handling matters related to external affairs and interstate correspondence.

Multiple choice

Gujarat and Malwa came under Maratha control during the reign of

  1. Shivaji

  2. Peshwa Baji Rao

  3. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath

  4. Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Peshwa Baji Rao I (1720-1740) expanded Maratha power significantly, bringing Gujarat and Malwa under Maratha control through military campaigns. His reign marked the peak of Maratha expansion in North India before the disaster at Panipat. Shivaji founded the empire but didn't reach these regions. Balaji Vishwanath focused on securing recognition from the Mughals. Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb) ruled later.

Multiple choice

Which confederacy of the Maratha Empire was ruled over by the Bhonsales?

  1. Nagpur

  2. Gwalior

  3. Baroda

  4. Pune
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Bhonsle clan ruled the Nagpur confederacy of the Maratha Empire. Raghuji Bhonsle established Nagpur as a major Maratha center in eastern India. Gwalior was ruled by Scindias. Baroda (Vadodara) was ruled by Gaekwads. Pune was the seat of the Peshwas themselves, not a confederacy.

Multiple choice

Who was the Peshwa whose reign witnessed the zenith of the Maratha power?

  1. Shahu

  2. Baji Rao I

  3. Balaji Baji Rao

  4. Balaji Viswanath
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb) witnessed the zenith of Maratha power during his reign from 1740-1761. Under his leadership, the Maratha Empire reached its greatest territorial extent, extending from Punjab in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. This period included the famous Battle of Panipat in 1761, which marked the turning point and decline.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. Prithvi Raj II, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan (1149-1192 CE), was a king of the Hindu Kshatriya Chauhan (Chauhamana) dynasty.
  2. Prithviraj Chauhan defeated the Muslim ruler Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori in a battle in 1191.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong: Prithvi Raj III, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan (1149-1192 CE), was a king of the Hindu Kshatriya Chauhan (Chauhamana) dynasty. Statement 2 is correct: Prithviraj Chauhan defeated the Muslim ruler Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The most remarkable king of the Magadhan kingdom was Srenika.
  2. The capital of Bimbisara's kingdom was Rajgir.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The most remarkable king of the Magadha kingdom was Srenika or Bimbisara (558 BC—491 BC). Statement 2 is incorrect: The capital of Bimbisara's kingdom was Girivraja. The modern town of Rajgir in the Patna district was built by Bimbisara. He had named it Rajagriha or the king's house.

Multiple choice

The term 'pativedakas', during the Maurya period, referred to

  1. religious texts

  2. revenue officials

  3. unit of administration

  4. spies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Mauryas divided their dominions into provinces subdivided into districts called ahara, vishya and pardesh. The secret emissaries who enquired into and superintended all that went in the empire were called pativedakas.

Multiple choice

Read the following facts.

  1. The Greeks called him Amitrochates.
  2. During his reign, the empire expanded southwards.
  3. He conquered the Highland of Deccan. The above given facts refer to

  1. Ashoka

  2. Bindusara

  3. Chandragupta Maurya

  4. Sushima
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (Born 320 BC, ruled: 298 - 272 BC) after Chandragupta Maurya the Great. During his reign, the empire expanded southwards. The Greeks called him Amitrochates - the Greek transliteration for the Sanskrit word 'Amitraghata'. Bindusara conquered the Highland of Deccan during his reign of 28 years and was succeeded his son Ashoka in 273 BC.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true in relation to the Mauryan Empire?

  1. The chief sources of their revenue were the bhaga and the bali.
  2. The bali was the king's share of the produce of the soil; the bhaga was an extra impost levied on special tracts for the subsistence of certain officials.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The chief sources of revenue were the bhaga and the bali. The bhaga was the king's share of the produce of the soil, which was normally fixed at one-sixth, though in special cases it was raised to one-fourth or reduced to one-eighth. Bali was an extra impost levied on special tracts for the subsistence of certain officials.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to the Satvahanas?

  1. Satavahanas ruled over large area of modern western and southern India.
  2. Satavahana kings ruled much of Deccan plateau from 50 B.C. to 250 A.D.
  3. Satakarni I, belonging to the Satavahana family in present day Andhra Pradesh founded the Satavahana dynasty after defeating the Mauryan rule in the Deccan.
  4. Buddhism flourished throughout the period and the rulers were also devoted to Vedic ritualism.

  1. 1, 2, 3 and 4

  2. Only 1, 2 and 3

  3. Only 1, 2 and 4

  4. Only 1 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It was King Simuka, belonging to the Satavahana family in present day Andhra Pradesh who founded the Satavahana dynasty after defeating the Mauryan rule in the Deccan.

Multiple choice

Which of the following claims is made in the Hathigumpha inscription?

  1. Kharavela of Kalinga defeated Pushyamitra Sunga

  2. Pushyamitra Sunga defeated Brihadrata

  3. Construction of the Sudarshan lake of Kathiawar by Pushyagupta

  4. Conquest of Kalinga by Ashoka
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

After the overthrow of Brihadrata, Pushyamitra Sunga waged a few wars to consolidate his position. Evidence shows that Pushyamitra Sunga defeated the Yavanas. This is confirmed by Patanjali's Mahabashva. And the claim made in the Hathigumpha inscription that Kharavela of Kalinga defeated Pushyamitra Sunga cannot be sustained because Kharavela ruled in the second half of the first century B.C.