The Indian History Quiz

ByAshwin Murali

About this Quiz• 20 Questions• Questions on different eras given equal

weightage • You’ll find many Questions from South Indian

History as I feel that it is not given as much importance as North Indian History.

• So gear up to face questions on Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas, well not quite all of them.

• Have Fun!!

1. In 326 BC, X, a Paurava King fought against Y, a Macedonian, at the Battle of the Hydaspes River. X lost the battle. Y reportedly asked X, "How would you like to be treated?” X replied, "As befits a king." Y was so impressed with X’s courage that he released him.

Identify X and Y.

A Toughie

2. The World’s first known Republic was

Arwad (modern day Syria). The World’s Second Republic was in Ancient India. Name it.

(Hint: Vaishali was its Capital)

3. Identify this Ancient

Indian Emperor

4. X authored the book Nitishastra; but his another book, translated as the “Science of Politics”, is more famous and is regarded as a masterpiece. Identify X.

5. Love, Courage, Patience, Peacefulness, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, Selflessness, Self sacrifice, Truthfulness, Righteousness, Justice, Mercy, Graciousness, Humility, Empathy, Sympathy, Supreme knowledge, Supreme wisdom, Supreme moral, Love for all beings, Hope, trust, or faith in the goodness of God or nature.

What are these virtues from Ancient India, represented by, in Modern India?

6. The _________ were legendary assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Three assemblies are said to have happened, the first two of which were held in cities which no longer exist, and the third of which was held during the 4th century BC in the present-day city of Madurai. This period produced some Literary masterpieces, which are popularly known as the _______ Literature. Fill in the blanks (same word in both blanks).

7. Identify this South

Indian Emperor, arguably the greatest.

(The one standing behind the Rishi)

8. Name the sons of Bimbisara and Bindusara.

9. Name the book, which is considered to be

one of the masterpieces in Sanskrit Literature, which tells the story of a Yaksha (spirit of trees), who tries to woo his lover by sending “a cloud as a messenger”. Also name the famous author/poet.

10. Name the Indian king who is considered to

be the “Napolean of North India” and who is said to have performed the Ashwamedha Yaga.

11. The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune has this statue. Whose statue is it?

12. Under whose reign was this temple built?

13. During which Emperor’s reign did Hieun

Tsang visit India?

14. Which South Indian Empire’s capital city was Belur (Halebidu)?

15. Name the Emperor from the Delhi

Sultanate, whose General Malik Kafur defeated Veera Pandiyan and built a mosque at Rameshwaram.

16. Name the last Hindu Emperor of Delhi, who

was dethroned by Akbar.

17. How do we better know Maheshdas Bhat

in the History of Medieval India?

18. What was founded by Harihara and Bukka under the direction of Saint Vidyaranya?

19. Identify the two persons.

20. Though people popularly believe that the First War of Indian Independence was in 1857, the first recorded revolt against the British took place in 1806 in this city. The cause of the revolt was the ban on wearing religious marks on the forehead of the Hindu Soldiers and the forcing of Muslim soldiers to shave off their beards. Which city was it?

Answers

1. In 326 BC, X, a Paurava King fought against Y, a Macedonian, at the Battle of the Hydaspes River. X lost the battle. Y reportedly asked X, "How would you like to be treated?” X replied, "As befits a king." Y was so impressed with X’s courage that he released him.

Identify X and Y.

X – King Porus Y – Alexander the Great

A Toughie

2. The World’s first known Republic was

Arwad (modern day Syria). The World’s Second Republic was in Ancient India. Name it.

(Hint: Vaishali was its Capital)

Lichchaavi

3. Identify this Ancient

Indian Emperor

Chandragupta Maurya

4. X authored the book Nitishastra; but his another book, translated as the “Science of Politics”, is more famous and is regarded as a masterpiece. Identify X.

Chanakya

5. Love, Courage, Patience, Peacefulness, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, Selflessness, Self sacrifice, Truthfulness, Righteousness, Justice, Mercy, Graciousness, Humility, Empathy, Sympathy, Supreme knowledge, Supreme wisdom, Supreme moral, Love for all beings, Hope, trust, or faith in the goodness of God or nature.

What are these virtues from Ancient India, represented by, in Modern India?

The 24 Spokes of Ashoka Chakra present in the Indian National Flag

6. The _________ were legendary assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Three assemblies are said to have happened, the first two of which were held in cities which no longer exist, and the third of which was held during the 4th century BC in the present-day city of Madurai. This period produced some Literary masterpieces, which are popularly known as the _______ Literature. Fill in the blanks (same word in both blanks).

Sangam

7. Identify this South

Indian Emperor, arguably the greatest.

(The one standing behind the Rishi)

Raja Raja Chola

8. Name the sons of Bimbisara and Bindusara.

Bimbisara’s son is AjatashatruBindusara’s son is Ashoka

9. Name the book, which is considered to be

one of the masterpieces in Sanskrit Literature, which tells the story of a Yaksha (spirit of trees), who tries to woo his lover by sending “a cloud as a messenger”. Also name the famous author/poet.

Book – Meghadootam Author - Kalidasa

10. Name the Indian king who is considered to

be the “Napolean of North India” and who is said to have performed the Ashwamedha Yaga.

Samudra Gupta

11. The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune has this statue. Whose statue is it?

Aryabhatta

12. Under whose reign was this temple built?

Narasimhavarman I

The temple is the Rock cut temple at Mamallapuram

13. During which Emperor’s reign did Hieun

Tsang visit India?

Harsha Vardhana

14. Which South Indian Empire’s capital city was Belur (Halebidu)?

Hoysala Empire

15. Name the Emperor from the Delhi

Sultanate, whose General Malik Kafur defeated Veera Pandiyan and built a mosque at Rameshwaram.

Alauddin Khilji

16. Name the last Hindu Emperor of Delhi, who

was dethroned by Akbar.

Hemu also known as Hemu Vikramaditya

17. How do we better know Maheshdas Bhat

in the History of Medieval India?

Birbal

18. What was founded by Harihara and Bukka under the direction of Saint Vidyaranya?

Vijayanagar Empire

19. Identify the two persons.

Chatrapati Shivaji and Jijabai

20. Though people popularly believe that the First War of Indian Independence was in 1857, the first recorded revolt against the British took place in 1806 in this city. The cause of the revolt was the ban on wearing religious marks on the forehead of the Hindu Soldiers and the forcing of Muslim soldiers to shave off their beards. Which city was it?

Vellore

Thank You