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Important Personalities in Ancient India
Ancient India
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
49 MCQs
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1–20
of 49 MCQs
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1
Who is known as the 'Napoleon of India' for his military conquests?
Answer:
Samudragupta
Samudragupta (Gupta Dynasty) was called the 'Napoleon of India' by historian V.A. Smith due to his extensive military campaigns and conquests across India.
2
Which ancient Indian physician is known as the 'Father of Surgery'?
Answer:
Sushruta
Sushruta wrote the 'Sushruta Samhita', a foundational text on medicine and surgery. He is renowned for describing plastic surgery and surgical instruments.
3
Who authored the 'Arthashastra', a treatise on statecraft and economic policy?
Answer:
Kautilya (Chanakya)
Kautilya (also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta) was the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya and wrote the Arthashastra.
4
The Greek ambassador Megasthenes visited the court of which Indian ruler?
Answer:
Chandragupta Maurya
Megasthenes was sent by Seleucus Nicator to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He wrote the book 'Indica'.
5
Who is considered the 'Shakespeare of India'?
Answer:
Kalidasa
Kalidasa is regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. His famous works include Shakuntalam and Meghaduta.
6
Which Gupta ruler founded the Nalanda University?
Answer:
Kumaragupta I
Kumaragupta I (Mahendraditya) is credited with founding the Nalanda University, which became a great center of learning.
7
The Chinese traveler Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of:
Answer:
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)
Fa-Hien visited India in the early 5th century AD during the reign of Chandragupta II to collect Buddhist scriptures.
8
Who wrote 'Harshacharita', the biography of King Harshavardhana?
Answer:
Banabhatta
Banabhatta was the court poet of King Harsha and wrote his biography 'Harshacharita' as well as the novel 'Kadambari'.
9
Which Kushana ruler is famous for organizing the Fourth Buddhist Council?
Answer:
Kanishka
Kanishka organized the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana (Kashmir), where Buddhism split into Hinayana and Mahayana.
10
Who was the author of the grammar book 'Ashtadhyayi'?
Answer:
Panini
Panini (circa 4th century BCE) wrote the Ashtadhyayi, the foundational text of Sanskrit grammar.
11
The mathematician Aryabhatta is associated with which period?
Answer:
Gupta Period
Aryabhatta lived during the Gupta period. He wrote the Aryabhatiya and is credited with the concept of zero and calculating the value of Pi.
12
Who composed the 'Prayag Prashasti' (Allahabad Pillar Inscription)?
Answer:
Harisena
Harisena was the court poet of Samudragupta and composed the Prayag Prashasti, praising the king's conquests.
13
Which ruler defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada river?
Answer:
Pulakeshin II
Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya king of Vatapi, defeated Harsha and stopped his expansion into the Deccan.
14
Who is the author of 'Mudrarakshasa'?
Answer:
Vishakhadatta
Vishakhadatta wrote Mudrarakshasa, a play describing how Chanakya won over the subjects for Chandragupta Maurya.
15
The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited the court of:
Answer:
Harshavardhana
Hiuen Tsang visited India in the 7th century AD and spent considerable time at the court of King Harshavardhana.
16
Who was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty?
Answer:
Simuka
Simuka is considered the founder of the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled the Deccan region.
17
Which ruler assumed the title 'Vikramaditya'?
Answer:
Chandragupta II
Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty is the most famous ruler to assume the title 'Vikramaditya' after defeating the Shakas.
18
Who wrote 'Mahabhasya', a commentary on Panini's grammar?
Answer:
Patanjali
Patanjali wrote the Mahabhasya. He is also credited with compiling the Yoga Sutras.
19
Charaka was a famous court physician of:
Answer:
Kanishka
Charaka, the author of Charaka Samhita (a text on Ayurveda), was a contemporary of the Kushana king Kanishka.
20
Who was the Jain monk that accompanied Chandragupta Maurya to South India?
Answer:
Bhadrabahu
Bhadrabahu was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya. They traveled to Shravanabelagola where the king performed Sallekhana (death by fasting).
