Ancient History Test 5

Answer – A

• Chalukya administration was highly centralized unlike that of the Pallavas and the Cholas. Village autonomy was absent under the Chalukyas.
• The Chalukyas had a great maritime power. Pulakesin II had 100 ships in his navy. They also had a small standing army

Answer – C

• Besides the Pallavas, the Western Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan constitute important political forces.
• Both these kingdoms had their rivals in the far south, namely the Pallavas and later the Cholas.

Answer – D

• Badami Chalukyas were Brahmanical Hindus but they gave respect to other religions. Importance was given to Vedic rites and rituals. The founder of the dynasty Pulakesin I performed the asvamedha sacrifice. A number of temples in honour of Vishnu, Siva and other gods were also built during this period.
• Hiuen Tsang mentioned about the decline of Buddhism in western Deccan.
• But Jainism was steadily on the path of progress in this region. Ravikirti, the court poet of Pulakesin II who composed the Aihole inscription was a Jain.

Solution: d)

Many crafts persons and merchants now formed associations known as shrenis.
These shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product.
Then shrenis of merchants organised the trade.
Shrenis also served as banks, where rich men and women deposited money.
This was invested, and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.

Solution: b)

Their inscriptions refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds of taxes.
The most frequently mentioned tax is vetti, taken not in cash but in the form of forced labour, and kadamai, or land revenue.
There were also taxes on thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.

Solution: b)

Administration: The Chalukya administration was highly centralized unlike that of the Pallavas and the Cholas. Village autonomy was absent under the Chalukyas.
Architecture: The Chalukyas were great patrons of art. They developed the vesara style in the building of structural temples. However, the vesara style reached its culmination only under the Rashtrakutas and the Hoysalas.
Cave temple architecture was also famous under the Chalukyas. Their cave temples are found in Ajanta, Ellora and Nasik.
The best specimens of Chalukya paintings can be seen in the Badami.

Solution: b)

The Vijayanagar army was well-organized and efficient. It consisted of the cavalry, infantry, artillery and elephants.
The top-grade officers of the army were known as Nayaks or Poligars. They were granted land in lieu of their services. These lands were called amaram. Soldiers were usually paid in cash.

Ans b
Violent crime was rare, but the roads and river routes were exposed to brigands as Hiuen – tsang fell victim to them more than once. Criminal law was exceptionally severe. Imprisonment for life was the ordinary penalty for violation of the statute law and conspiracy against the sovereign; prisoners were not treated as human beings. but on festive and joyous occasions they were, however, released. The punishment were of cruel nature as mutilation of the nose, ears, hands or feet being inflicted as the penalty of serious offences. Sometimes the offenders were deported to another country. Ordeals by fire, water or poison were sometimes taken recourse to establish the innocence or guilt of a person. The severity of the criminal law acted as a deterrent to violation of law.

Ans b
11th Ancient NCERT BY R S SHARMA P – 61, 62

Ans c
The more likely accounts of early transplants deal with skin transplantation. The first reasonable account is of the Indian surgeon Sushruta in the 2nd century BC, who used autografted skin transplantation in nose reconstruction rhinoplasty.

Ans b
Also asked in 1960

Ans c

Ans c
The ‘ara-ghatta’ originates from the blend of the words “ara” which means talked and “ghatta” which means pot. There is confirmation to contend that this arrangement of lifting water from open wells was presumably designed in the India of the past

Ans c

Ans c
Economic History of India By N. Jayapalan (Page 67) The craft guild (Sreni) was headed by a chief called the Elder Uyeshtaka Sansknt, Jethaka Pall), who was assisted by a council of senior craftsmen and merchants. The Jethaka was often the richest craftsman in the trade and his office was hereditary. He was influential and his advice was sometimes sought by the king. Each guild was a corporate body and enjoyed considerable autonomy. h had its own court with full jurisdiction over all members and distinguishing insignia like banners and chamaras, which were carried in festive processions. Major guilds had their own militias, which fought along with the king’s army if required. The guild council framed rules of work and fixed standards, wages and prices. if any member violated a ruic he was tried by the guild court, whose judgement.

Ans d
Medival India S. K. Pandey Chapter no 8

Ans b
Just before the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, realized enlightenment, it is said the demon Mara attacked him with armies of monsters to frighten Siddhartha from his seat under the bodhi tree. But the about-to-be Buddha did not move. Then Mara claimed the seat of enlightenment for himself, saying his spiritual accomplishments were greater than Siddhartha’s. Mara’s monstrous soldiers cried out together, “I am his witness!” Mara challenged Siddhartha–who will speak for you? Then Siddhartha reached out his right hand to touch the earth, and the earth itself roared, “I bear you witness!” Mara disappeared. And as the morning star rose in the sky, Siddhartha Gautama realized enlightenment and became a Buddha. Pasted from http://buddhism.about.com/od/eightauspicioussymbols/a/earthwitness.htm

Ans d
Taniyur, is a large village under Chola administrative division.

Eripatti was a special category of land known in South india. This land was donated by individuals, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank.

Land grants and generous donations were given to educational institutions like Ghatikas and Mathas. Mathas were residential schools for early education in Pallava kingdoms.

Anas b
Champaka is modern day Chamba, Kuluta is Kullu and Durgara is Jammu.

Ans d
Buddha traveled to Rajagaha, capital of Magadha, to visit King Bimbisara. During this visit, Sariputta and Maudgalyayana were converted by Assaji, one of the first five disciples.
Buddha belonged to Shakya clan whose capital was Kapilavastu, and who were later annexed by the growing Kingdom of Kosala during the Buddha’s lifetime

Ans c
Economic History of India By N. Jayapalan (Page 67) The craft guild (Sreni) was headed by a chief called the Elder Uyeshtaka Sansknt, Jethaka Pall), who was assisted by a council of senior craftsmen and merchants. The Jethaka was often the richest craftsman in the trade and his office was hereditary. He was influential and his advice was sometimes sought by the king. Each guild was a corporate body and enjoyed considerable autonomy. h had its own court with full jurisdiction over all members and distinguishing insignia like banners and chamaras, which were carried in festive processions. Major guilds had their own militias, which fought along with the king’s army if required. The guild council framed rules of work and fixed standards, wages and prices. if any member violated a ruic he was tried by the guild court, whose judgement.