Post Guptas Age MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Post Guptas Age - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Brahmins.

Key Points

• During the post-Gupta period, agrahara lands were granted to Brahmins as a mark of respect and for religious purposes.
• Brahmins, as recipients of these lands, held administrative and fiscal control over the agrahara lands.
• These lands were exempted from taxation, and Brahmins were responsible for managing agricultural production and collecting revenue.
• The grants were often documented on copper plates and were intended to support Brahmins in their religious and scholarly duties.
• The agrahara system played a crucial role in strengthening Brahminical influence and promoting Vedic traditions in society.

Additional Information

• Agrahara Lands:
  • Agrahara refers to villages or lands granted to Brahmins by rulers for religious and educational purposes.
  • These lands were typically tax-free and were intended to support Brahmins economically.
• Post-Gupta Period:
  • This period (circa 6th to 12th century CE) saw the rise of feudal practices and decentralization of authority.
  • Land grants, including agrahara lands, became a common feature of administration.
• Brahmins’ Role:
  • Brahmins were not only religious leaders but also managed the administration of granted lands.
  • They contributed to the spread of Sanskrit education and upheld Vedic traditions.
• Feudal Lords and Village Assemblies:
  • While feudal lords and village assemblies played roles in governance, they were not directly involved in the administration of agrahara lands.
  • These entities managed other aspects of rural administration.

The correct answer is Province.

Key Points

• The term 'Bhukti' in post-Gupta period referred to an administrative division or a province.
• Bhuktis were governed by officers known as 'Uparikas', who were appointed by the king.
• Each Bhukti consisted of multiple 'Vishayas' or districts, which were smaller administrative units.
• The Vishayas were managed by officers called 'Vishayapatis', who reported to the Uparikas of the Bhukti.
• Bhuktis were a key feature of the decentralized administrative structure during the post-Gupta era.

Additional Information

• Uparika: The head of a Bhukti, appointed by the king, who held administrative and judicial authority over the province.
• Vishaya: A sub-division of a Bhukti, equivalent to a district, managed by Vishayapatis.
• Post-Gupta Polity: This period saw a shift towards a more decentralized administrative system, with provinces playing a critical role in governance.
• Decentralization: The post-Gupta administration was characterized by a division of power between central and provincial authorities.
• Gupta Administration: The Gupta era laid the foundation for administrative units like Bhuktis and Vishayas, which continued in post-Gupta polity.

The correct answer is Pulakesin II

• The Pallava King Mahendravarman I got defeated by the Chalukya King Pulakesin II.

Important Points

• Narasimhavarman I (the son of Mahendravarman I) took the revenge of his father from Pulakesin II by defeating and killing him in the Battle of Vatapi in 642 AD and captured the Chalukyan capital, Vatapi.
• After the battel of vatapi he assumed the title of ‘Vatapikonda’ (Conqueror of Vatapi).

The correct answer is Kannauj.

Key Points

• Kannauj, located in western Uttar Pradesh, was an ancient city and a significant political center in northern India.
• The Maukharis were a dynasty that ruled over Kannauj before it became a prominent city under the later rulers such as the Gurjara-Pratiharas.
• Over time, Kannauj replaced Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) as the political and cultural center of northern India.
• Kannauj is known for its historical significance and its strategic location which made it a focal point of power struggles among various dynasties.

Additional Information

• Maukharis Dynasty:
  • The Maukharis were a dynasty that ruled parts of northern India during the early medieval period, roughly between the 6th and 7th centuries.
  • They initially served as vassals of the Gupta Empire but later established their independence.
  • The most notable ruler of the Maukharis was Isanavarman, who expanded their territory and consolidated power.
  • The Maukhari dynasty is known for its contribution to the political and cultural landscape of northern India during its time.
• Kannauj:
  • Kannauj, also known as Kanyakubja, has a rich history dating back to ancient times.
  • It was a major center of trade, culture, and politics and remained so through various dynasties, including the Maukharis, Harshavardhana, and the Gurjara-Pratiharas.
  • Kannauj is famously known for its production of perfumes and essential oils, particularly the traditional "attar" (perfume).
  • Throughout its history, Kannauj has been a coveted city, leading to numerous battles and power struggles among regional powers.
• Pataliputra:
  • Pataliputra, modern-day Patna, was the capital city of several ancient Indian empires, including the Maurya and Gupta Empires.
  • It was a major political, economic, and cultural hub during its peak.
  • Over time, the political center shifted from Pataliputra to other cities like Kannauj as different dynasties rose to power.
  • Pataliputra is historically significant for its role in the administration and governance of ancient Indian empires.

The correct answer is Kanchipuram.

Key Points

• The ca pital city of the Pallavas was Kanchipuram.

• The Pallavas emerged as a formidable power in the South around the 4th century AD and were at the height of their power in the seventh century AD.
• They were able to sustain their rule for about 500 years.
• They buil t great cities, centres of learning, temples, and sculptures and influenced a large part of Southeast Asia in culture. ​

Important Points

• Simha Vishnu is considered the founder of the Pallavas.
  • He put an end to the political disturbances created by Kalabhras.
  • The Land up to Kaveri was acquired by him. 
• Mahendravarman I is considered to be the greatest ruler of the Pallavas.
  • His reign was marked by many architectural and literary achievements which would lay the foundations of the future Art and Culture of South India.
• Narasimhavarman II built the Shore Temple and the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple at Mahabalipuram.
• These temples are based on the Rajsingh style.
• Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas, during the reign of Narasimha Varman I.​

Additional Information

The correct answer is Kanchipuram.

Key Points

• The ca pital city of the Pallavas was Kanchipuram.

• The Pallavas emerged as a formidable power in the South around the 4th century AD and were at the height of their power in the seventh century AD.
• They were able to sustain their rule for about 500 years.
• They buil t great cities, centres of learning, temples, and sculptures and influenced a large part of Southeast Asia in culture. ​

Important Points

• Simha Vishnu is considered the founder of the Pallavas.
  • He put an end to the political disturbances created by Kalabhras.
  • The Land up to Kaveri was acquired by him. 
• Mahendravarman I is considered to be the greatest ruler of the Pallavas.
  • His reign was marked by many architectural and literary achievements which would lay the foundations of the future Art and Culture of South India.
• Narasimhavarman II built the Shore Temple and the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple at Mahabalipuram.
• These temples are based on the Rajsingh style.
• Hiuen Tsang visited Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas, during the reign of Narasimha Varman I.​

Additional Information

The correct answer is Pulakesin II.

Important Points

• Aihole inscription was written by Ravikirti who was a poet during the reign of Pulakeshi II.
• Aihole is situated in Karnataka and is widely recognized as the Cradle of Indian Architecture.
• It served as the capital of Chalukyas.
• This inscription gives information about the conquests of Pulakesin, especially how he defeated Harshavardhana.

Additional Information

• Pulakeshin II, the King of the Chalukya dynasty defeated Harshavardhana when he seeks to enlarge his Empire into the southern peninsula of India.
• Chalukya king Pulakesin II had defeated Harshavardhan on the banks of River Narmada in 618 AD.

The correct answer is Pulakesin II.

Key Points

• Pulakesin II defeated Harshavardhana when he invaded the Chalukya kingdom in the Deccan.
• Pulakeshin II, the King of the Chalukya dynasty defeated Harshavardhana when he sought to enlarge his Empire into the southern peninsula of India.
• He defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada river in 618-619 AD.
• The Aihole inscription was written by the Ravikirti, court poet of Chalukya King, Pulakesin II who reigned from 610 to 642 CE.

Additional Information

• Chalukya dynasty:  
  • It lasted from 543 A.D. to 755 A.D.
  • Pulakesin I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty. He established a small kingdom with Vatapi or Badami as its capital.
  • The Western Chalukyas ruled over an extensive area in the Deccan for about two centuries after which the Rashtrakutas became powerful.
  • The family of Western Chalukyas had its offshoots like the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and the Chalukyas of Kalyani.
  • Kirtivarman II was the last of the rulers of the Chalukyas.
  • He was defeated by Dantidurga, the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.

The correct answer is Sanskrit.

Key Points

• The Harshacharita is the biography of Indian emperor Harshavardhana, who ruled North India from 606 to 647 CE and was a ruler of the Vardhana dynasty.
• It was written by Banabhatta, who was a Sanskrit writer in the seventh century CE and was the Court Poet (Asthana Kavi) of Harshavardhana.
• It was the first composition of Banabhatta and marks the beginning of the writing of historical poetic works in the Sanskrit language.
• It was written in poetic prose which narrates the biography of the emperor Harsha in eight chapters.
• It was translated into English by Edward Byles Cowell and Frederic William Thomas in 1897.​

Additional Information

• Banabhatta also wrote the drama 'Kadambri’.
• Emperor Harshavardhana wrote the book Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika.
• Pushyabhuti was the founder of the Vardhana dynasty or Pushyabhuti dynasty.​

The correct answer is Pallava. Key Points

• The Pallava dynasty was an early 4th-century to late 9th-century CE line of rulers in southern India.
• Pallava was able to sustain their rule for about 500 years.
• Mahendravarman I is considered to be the greatest ruler of the Pallavas.
• Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas.
• Their territories at the height of their powers extended from the northern part of Andhra Pradesh to River Kaveri in the South.
• Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram and the Kanchi Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram are famous temples constructed during the reign of Pallavas.
• The Pallavas were great patrons of learning.
• The symbol of the Pallavas was the Lion (Simha) and the Bull (Nandi), It was interchangeable depending on the preference of the ruler. 

Additional Information

• Pandya.
  • Pandya dynasty started near about 6th century BC and ended around the 15th century AD.​
  • The capital of Pandyas was Madurai.
  • The symbol of the Pandya Dynasty was the fish.
• ​Chera.
  • ​The Chera Dynasty is also called the Keralaputra dynasty.
  • Their capital was Muziri also known as Vanchi.
  • Uthiyan Cheralathan, and is widely considered the founder of the Chera Dynasty.
  • Rama Varma Kulakshekhra was the last king of the Chera Dynasty.
  • The bow was the royal emblem of the Chera Kingdom.
• ​Chola.
  • Vijayalaya was the founder of the Imperial Chola dynasty.​
  • Thanjavur (Tanjore) was the capital of Cholas.
  • Jumping Tiger was the royal emblem of the Cholas.
  • Rajendra Chola III Was the last king of this dynasty​

The Correct Answer is Option (4) i.e. Krishneshwara Temple.

Key Points

• Krishneshwara Temple at Rameshwaram was built by Krishna III of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
• Krishna III ruled from 936-968 AD and was famous for his expeditions. He defeated the Cholas at Takkolam.
• The Rashtrakuta dynasty ruled from 755 to 975 AD. Dantidurga was the founder of the dynasty.

The correct answer is Harshavardhana's court poet was Harishena.

Key Points

• Banabhatta was the court poet of king Harshavardhana. Banabhatta wrote Harshvardhan's biography Harshacharita in Sanskrit.
• Harshavardhana was born in 590 AD.
• He belonged to the Vardhana dynasty.
• He ruled North India from 606 AD to 647 AD.
• Kannauj city, present-day Uttar Pradesh was his capital.
• The Chinese Traveller Xuanzang visited the king and wrote about his reign.
• Emperor Samudragupta's court poet was Harisena.

Additional Information

• Harshavardhana was defeated by the south Indian emperor Pulkesin II of the Chalukya Dynasty in the Battle of Narmada.
• Harsha is widely believed to be the author of three Sanskrit plays "Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyadarshika "
• The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang visited India during his reign.
• Harshavardhana established a large centre of knowledge which was called Bhadra Vihar at Kannauj.
• Banabhatta's Harshacharita and an account of Hieun Tsang was the major source of information about Harsha's period

The correct answer is Aihole.

Key Points:

• Aihole in Karnataka state, India, is known as the Cradle of Indian architecture.
• It was the first capital of Chalukyas where they built numerous temples dating back to the 6th century CE. 
• Later the capital was changed to Badami by Pulkeshin 1 in 543.

Additional InformationChalukya dynasty:

• It lasted from 543A.D. to 755 A.D.
• Pulakesin I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty.
• He established a small kingdom with Vatapi or Badami as its capital.
• The Western Chalukyas ruled over an extensive area in the Deccan for about two centuries after which the Rashtrakutas became powerful.
• The family of Western Chalukyas had its offshoots like the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and the Chalukyas of Kalyani.
• Kirtivarman II was the last of the rulers of the Chalukyas.
• He was defeated by Dantidurga, the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.

The correct answer is Kannauj.

Key Points

• King Harshvardhan established a large centre of knowledge which was called 'Bhadra-Vihar' at Kannauj.
• King Harshvardhan who ruled from AD 606-647 was the younger son of Prabhakarvardhana.

Important Points

• Kannauj was the capital of Harshavardhana's kingdom which was shifted by him from Thaneshwar.
• King Harshvardhan was one of the greatest kings of the Indian subcontinent.

Additional Information

• The extensive information regarding Harshavardhana's reign is provided by the Harsha Charita of Banabhatta.
• Chinese traveller, Hiuen Tsang, described that Harsha conquered the entire country within the first six years of his reign but he did not occupy even North India completely nor his wars and conquests were limited to the first six years of his reign.

The correct answer is Gauda.

Key Points

• Emperor Harshavardhana
  • He is better known as Harsha, lived from 590 to 647 CE and was the last ruler of the Vardhana Empire, the last great empire in ancient India before the Islamic Invasion.
  • He ruled from 606 CE to 647 CE. After Harshavardhana's death, however, the Vardhana or Pushyabhuti Dynasty came to an end and its empire dissolved.
  • Rajyashri was Harshavardhana's sister.
  • Rajyashree was married to Maukhari King Grihavarman. After many years, Grihavarman was defeated and killed in the battle by Devagupta, the king of Malwa.
  • Widow Rajyashree was also taken prisoner. Seeing such untoward happening to his family, Rajyavardhan attacked Malwa and defeated Devgupta.
  • After this, Shashank, the ruler of the Gaur dynasty of West Bengal, made close relations with Rajyavardhan. But Shashank had met the king of Malwa.
  • Shashank betrayed and killed Rajyavardhan.
  • After his brother's death, at the age of 16, Harshavardhana became the undisputed ruler of Thaneshwar and declared war on Shashanka to avenge his brother and embarked upon a campaign of Digvijay, i.e. to conquer the world (which in this context means conquering whole India). 

Additional Information

• Kanyakubja Brahmins
  • It is a Brahmin community found in central India and certain parts of the east, mainly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Nepal, and Orissa. The word Kanyakubja means Brahmins of the Kannauj region.
• Junagadh
  • It is a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
  • Mahabat Maqbara is the huge 19th-century mausoleum of a local ruler, which showcases intricate Indo-Islamic architectural details.
  • Uparkot Fort, founded around 300 BC, has city views from its ramparts. Within the fort are the stone-cut step-wells Adi Kadi Vav and Navghan Kuwo, plus Buddhist caves. To the west, Darbar Hall Museum is housed in a former palace. 
• Magadha
  • It was a region and one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, 'Great Kingdoms' of the Second Urbanization in what is now south Bihar at the eastern Ganges Plain.
  • Magadha was ruled by the Brihadratha dynasty, the Pradyota dynasty, the Haryanka dynasty, and the Shaishunaga dynasty.