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www.ssbcrackexams.com History ANCIENT

Pre History Palaeolithic Age or Mesolithic Age or Neolithic Age or Old stone age Late Stone age New Stone age (500,000-10,000 BC) (10,000-4,000 BC) (6,000-1,000 BC) Pre Historic Phases Stone Age Primary Culture Major Site Importance Lower Palaeolithic Flakes,Chopper Kashmir, Punjab, Whole India except - Head axe and pebble tools, Fossil of Chopping Culture Sind and Kerala. Main :- Sohan(Punjab), Homo Erectus from Hathnaura Singrauli basin (U.P.), Chhotanagpur (Narmada basin) (Jharkhand), Assam, Narmada, Andhra - Represented by Sohan Culture (now Pradesh, Karnataka. in Pakistan.) Middle Scraper/Booer Culture Navasa (Maharashtra), Didwana - Varieties of Blades, Points, Borer and Palaeolithic (Rajasthan), Bhimbetka (MP), Bankura Scraper made of Flakes. and Purulia (West ), Narmada - 200 rock shelters and caves are Valley etc. located on Bhimbetka hills having thousands of paintings. Upper Palaeolithic Blade and Burin A.P. (Kurnool, Chittor) Karnataka, - The age of Neanderthal Man Culture Central MP, Jharkhan Plateau, U.P., - Earlier "Homo Sapiens" Rajasthan, Gujrat - Harpoon, blade tools from Renugunta (A.P.) - Bone tools from Kurnool. Meslithic Age Microliths Culture or Karnataka, Rajasthan (Bagor, Tilwara), - Microlith (a great technological Fluting & Gometrical Gujrat (Langhanj), M.P., Tamil development, introduction of tools Nadu,West Benal (Birbhanpur), U.P. compound tools) (Sarai Nahar Rai) - Man still a savage but pottery maing (Tilwara) and permanent habitation found, still a hunder, fisher. - Earlies Farming community - Kinship became the basis of social organisation - Pit dwelling houses Kashmir (Burzahom, Gufkral), Assam - Food begain to be cooked by fire (Daojili Hading), Garohill Meghalaya, Neolithic Age Polished tool culture -Evidence of dogs, circular huts made Bihar (Chirand), Peninsular India, Amri, of bamboo, bone-tools, hand made Kotdiji, Mehargarh etc pottery etc - Also called "Neolithic Revolution" -Boat making, spinning cotton and wool. IMPORTANT HARAPPAN SITES

Year of Name of Sites Excavators Region/River Features Excavation 1. City followed grid planning Montgomery 2. Row of six granaries district of Punjab Harappa 1921 Daya Ram Sahni 3. Only place having evidences of coffin burial (Now in Pak) on the 4. Evidence of fractional burial and coffin burial left bank of Ravi 5. Cemetery-H of alien people. 1. City followed grid planning 2. A large granary and Great Bath, a college Larkana district in 3. Human skeletons showing invasiona and massacre. Sind on the right Mohenjodaro 1922 R.D.Banarjee 4. Evidence of Horse come from superficial level. bank of Indus (N ow 5. A piece of woven cotton alongwith spindle whorls and in Pak) needles 6. Town was flooded more then seven times. 1. The city has no citadal 2. Famous for bead makers shop N. Gopal Situtated in Sind on 3. A small pot, possibly an inkpot Chanhu-daro 1931 Majumdar, the bank of Indus 4. Foot prints of a dog chasing a cat Mackey 5. Three different cultural layers, Indus,Jhukar and Jhangar 1. Shows both Pre Harappan and Harappan phase Situated in 2. Evidence of furrowed land Kalibangan 1953 A. Ghos h Rajasthan on the 3. Evidence of seven fire altars and camel bones Bank of Ghaggar 4. Many houses had their own well 5. Kalibangan stand for black bangles 6. Evidence of wooden furrow 1. A titled floor which bears intersecting design of circles Situated in Gujarat 2. Remains of rice husk on Bhogava river 3. Evidence of horse from a terracotta figurine Lothal 1953 S.R. Rao near Gulf of 4. A ship designed on a seal Cambay 5. Beads & trade ports 6. An instrument for measuring angles,pointing to modern day compass Situated in Hissar 1. Shows both Pre-Harappan and Harppan phase Banwali 1974 R.S. Bisht district of Haryana 2. Good quantity of barley found here Situated in Sind on Amri 1935 N.G. Majumdar 1. Evidence of antelope the bank of Indus 1. Seven cultural stages Situated in Gujarat 2. Largest site Dholavira 1985-90 R.S. Bisht in Rann of Kutch 3. Three party of city 4. Unique water management Situated on the M.S. Vats, B.B. Rangpur 1953 bank of Mahar in 1. Rice was cultivated Lal & S.R. Rao Gujarat 1. Evidence of burying a dog below the human bural Situated in Punjab 2. One example of rectangular mudbrick chamber was Ropar 1953 Y.D. Sharma of the banks of noticed Sutlej 3. Five fold cultures - Harappan, PGW, NBP, Kushana - Gupta and Medieval 1. The impression of cloth on a trough is discovered Situated on Hindon Alamgirpur 1958 Y.D. Sharma in Ghaziabad 2. Usually considered to be the eastern boundary of the Indus culture MAHAJANPADS : AT A GLANCE The Sakas Mahajanpads Places • The Sakas were a nomadic tribe of Central Asia who were Anga Bhagalpur and Monghyr in Bihar driven out of their land by another tribe, Yeuh-Chi. Magadha Patna and Gaya in Bihar • They established many kingdoms of which the most Kashi Banaras important were those of Taxila, Mathura, Nasik and Ujjain. Koshala Oudh in Rudradaman of Ujjain was the most powerful Saka ruler Vajji North Bihar who assumed the title of ‘Mahakshtrap’. Malla Eastern U.P. Gupta Empire Chedi Bundelkhand in Vatsa • Under the Gupta kings, India made such a progress in almost Kuru Delhi and Meerut every field that it is regarded as the ‘Golden Age’. This Panchala Rohilkhand division in U.P. dynasty ruled for a little more than two hundred years (from Matsya Jaipur and Alwar 320 A.D. to 540 A.D.). Surasena Mathura in U.P. • Chandragupta I was the first important ruler of this dynasty. Assaka Godavari Valley • Chandragupta I was succeeded by his illustrious son and Avanti Malwa and a part of Madhya Pradesh one of the noblest kings of ancient India, Samudragupta. Gandhara Part of Afghanistan • He covered a long distance of 3,000 miles through dense Kamboj Part of Kashmir and Afghanistan forests with the same boldness as that of Alexander and Napoleon. • Magadha was the cradle of most of the important and powerful Indian empires. • The most authentic source of information about • Soon this kingdom lost to the Nandas (361–321 BC) and Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar in the Allahabad Fort. finally to the Mauryas. Mahapadma Nanda was the most It has an inscription composed by poet Harisena. famous ruler of the Nanda Dynasty. • Chandragupta II the son and successor of Samudragupta, • Chandragupta Maurya, the founder and the most powerful was another powerful ruler of the the Gupta dynasty. He is king of the Mauryan dynasty overthrew the last Nanda ruler popularly known as Vikramaditya (or Sun of Power) and is and established his own empire. often identified with Vikramaditya of Ujjain who patronised • He was supported by an efficient minister Chanakya who the famous Nav Ratnas. authored the Arthasastra (a political treatise) that formed • Chandragupta II was succeeded by Kumargupta. It was the basis of political agenda practiced by most Hindu during his reign that the Hunas, a barbaric nomadic tribe of sovereigns. Central Asia, invaded India. • Alexander of Greece (327 BC) entered North-West India • Their first invasion was repulsed by the brave Gupta king pursuing his chain of victories over Gandhara. He died on Skandgupta. But soon after they conquered Punjab and his way back to Babylon, Iraq in 323B.C. Kashmir, their invasions shok the Gupta empire which soon • Greek writers belonging to the Mauryan times stated that broke into pieces. after Alexander’s death, Seleucus Nicator ruled the eastern part of Alexander’s Empire. Harshavardhana • Bindusara succeeded Chandragupta and further expanded • After the fall of the Gupta empire chaos and disorder the empire. prevailed everwhere. The Huna invasions created more New Empires and Kingdoms confusion. It all led to the emergence of small kingdoms. Thanesar, near Kurukshetra, was one of them. It made great • Post-Mauryan India was a scene of struggle with one progress under Prabhakarvardhana and his son Harsha. dynasty vying with another for regional dominance. • Harshavardhana is regarded as the last great ruler of ancient • Pushyamitra Shunga was the founder of Shungas Dynasty. India. • Pushyamitra’s dominions extended up to Eastern Punjab • The first task that Harsha accomplished after his accession and included Jalandhar and Sakala, Magadha in east with to the throne of Thanesar was to march towards Kannauj, Pataliputra as its capital and Kosala with Ayodhya as its where first of all he saved his sister Rajyashri and then capital and central India with Vidisa as its capital. united the two kingdoms of Thanesar and Kannauj. • Simuka was the founder of the Satavahan Dynasty. Thereafter, he made Kannauj his capital. Sangam Age • According to Hieun Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim, Harsha spent • The Iron Age in South India laid the foundation stone for a six years of his reign (606 A.D. to 612 A.D.) in conquering golden period which began in 300 BC and lasted till 300 AD. the Five Indies, i.e., Eastern Punjab, Kannauj, Bengal, Bihar This period, popularly known as SANGAM AGE, is widely and Orissa and many other states. regarded as the golden age of the Tamils. The Chalukyas • The literature collectively produced by the ancient Tamilian poets is commonly known as the Sangam literature. • Pulakesin I (543 – 567 A.D.) established his own sovereign • Sangam literature makes a mention of three kingdoms— state at Vatapi (or modern Badami in Bijapur district) as his Chola, Chera and Pandiyan. capital. • His successors also extended the Chalukya empire. But the • Under him, the Cholas became a paramout power in the greatest ruler of this dynasty was Pulakesin II (608–647 South. A. D.). • Rajaraja I was a great builder. He constructed the beautiful MEDIEVAL INDIA Brihadesvara Temple of Shiva at Tanjore. Rajendra Chola (A.D. 1016 – 1044) • In India, the Medieval period is considered to be the time • Rajendra succeeded his father Rajaraja I and carried on the period between the 8th century A.D. and the 18th century aggressive policy. A.D. • He conquered the whole of Sri Lanka. It was made a province The Palas of Bengal and Bihar of Chola empire and named Mummadi Cholamandalam.ANS • The Palas ruled over Bengal and Bihar for almost four The period between A.D. 1206 and A.D. 1526 in the History of centuries. India is known as the Period of the Delhi Sultans. The Rashtrakutas (A.D. 750 – 973) Rulers of Delhi : at a Glance • The Rashtrakutas belonged to the Deccan. They came to Ø Rajput Dynasties power after the fall of the Chalukyas of Badami in the Deccan. Tomaras Early twelth century –1165 • Dantivarman, also known as Dantidurga, was the founder of Ananga Pala 1130 – 1145 this dynasty who rose to power in 753, in modern Maharashtra. Chauhans 1165 – 1192 Prithviraj Chauhan 1175 – 1192 The Turkish Invasions of India Ø Early Turkish Rulers 1206 –1290 • The first attempt of the Muslims to enter India through Sind Qutab–ud-din Aibak 1206 – 1210 had failed miserably. It were the Turks who established Shamsuddin Iltutmish 1210 – 1236 themselves in India in the 12th and 13th centuries A.D. Raziyya 1236 – 1240 Ghiyasuddin Balban 1266 – 1287 Mahmud of Ghazni Ø Khalji Dynasty 1290 – 1320 • Mahmud was the first Turkish invader to invade India from Jalaluddin Khalji 1290 – 1296 the north-western side. Alauddin Khalji 1296 – 1316 • He was the ruler of Ghazni. During the course of 25 years Ø Tughlaq Dynasty 1320 – 1414 (1001 to 1025 A.D.), he carried out 17 raids on India. Ghiyasuddin Tughluq 1320 – 1324 Muhammad Ghori Muhammad Tughluq 1324 – 1351 Firuz Shah Tughluq 1351 – 1388 • Towards the end of the 12th century, Muhammad Ghori, ruler Ø Sayyed Dynasty 1414 – 1451 of a small kingdom in Afghanistan, attacked India. In A.D. Khizr Khan 1414 – 1421 1175, he invaded Multan and captured it. Then he moved Ø Lodhi Dynasty 1451 – 1526 towards Gujarat whose Rajput ruler, Bhimdev Solanki, fought Bahlul Lodhi 1451 – 1489 bravely, giving him a crushing defeat. In subsequent years, Sikander Lodhi 1488 – 1517 Ghori conquered Peshawar, Sialkot and Punjab. Ibrahim Lodhi 1517 – 1526 Society, Economy and Religion in North India • Iltutmish introduced the Iqta system. Under this system, land • Woman occupied a respectable position in the Rajput society. was assigned to nobles and others in lieu of salary. He also She could choose her husband in Swayamvara. She was introduced silver coins called tanka and copper coins called honoured and protected by man. She was given higher jital. These coins were used throughout the Sultanate period. education. To save their honour and chastity, they would • Iltutmish had nominated his daughter Razia as his successor perform Jauhar or mass sacrifice. because he did not think any of his sons worthy of his throne. • Agriculture was the main occupation of the people. Trade and • Ghias-ud-din Balban, who earlier worked as Prime Minister, commerce flourished well. ascended the throne in A.D. 1266 after the death of Nasir-ud-din. • India exported silk, cotton and woollen clothes, spices, • Balban adopted a very stern policy which is generally known precious stones, etc. and imported wine, dates and horses. as the policy of Blood and Iron. • In the 4th century Chalukyas in Karnataka and Pallavas in • Jalal-ud-din was the founder of the Khalji dynasty. Andhra Pradesh ruled for about 400 years. • The Chola power started emerging in South India from around Ghias -ud-din Tughlaq (A.D. 1320 – 25) 8th century A.D. Vijayalya (846–871) established his rule in • Ghazi Malik, who assumed the title of Ghias-ud-din Tughlaq, the Tamil land with Tanjore as his capital in about A.D. 846. He was the founder of this third dynasty of the Sultanate. is regarded as the founder of imperial Cholas. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (A.D. 1325 – 51) • Rajaraja I (A.D. 985–1016) : With the accession of Rajaraja I, • Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq was a learned man. He was a scholar the Chola empire witnessed a glorious period in its history. He of mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, logic, medicine and extended his empire both in the North and in the South. physical sciences. The Mughal Empire Freedom Struggle • Babur was the founder of Mughal dynasty in India. • The second half of the 19th century witnessed the full growth • He was successful in his fifth expedition to India, when he of an organised National Movement in India. defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526. • The history of the Indian Nationalist Movement can be studied Akbar’s Religious Policies under three phases: • Akbar build an Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) at Fatehpur 1. Moderate phase or early nationalist phase (1885–1905) Sikri in 1575 to discuss religious matters of faith. 2. Extremist phase (1905–1919) • Akbar abolished the pilgrimage tax on Hindus in 1563. Akbar 3. Gandhian phase (1919–1947) abolished Jizya in 1579. The Revolt of 1857 : At a Glance • His liberalism is reflected again in the pronouncement of Tauhid-i-Allahi or Din-i-Allahi, which propounded Sufi divine Centre Date of Date of Indian British monotheism. Din-i-Allahi was viewed more as an order of Beginning Ending Leader Suppressor people with a motto of peace with all (Suleh Kul) rather than Delhi 11 May, 20 Sep., Bahadur Shah II John Nicholson chosen religion. Birbal, Abul Fazl and Faizi joined Din-i-Allahi. 1857 1857 'Zafar' • Ralph Fitch was the first Englishman to visit Akbar’s court in 1585. 4 June, 6 Dec, Nana Sahib & Colin Campbell • Abul Faizi wrote Akbarnama, the appendix of which was called 1857 1857 his loyal Aina-i-Akbari. This section deals with the laws and revenue commander system during the reign of Akbar. Tantiya Tope Medieval Architecture and Culture 4 June, 21 Mar, Begum Hazrat Colin Campbell • Babur build two mosques, one at Kabulibagh in Panipat and 1857 1858 Mahal the other at Sambhal in Rohilakhand. 4 June, 18 June, Rani Laxmi Bai Huge Rose • Humayun’s tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum. 1857 1858 • Buland Darwaja (built after Gujarat victory), formed the main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri. Allahabad 5 June, March, Liyaqat Ali Colonel Neil • Jahangir built Moti Masjid in and his mausoleum at 1857 1858 Shahdara (Lahore). Jagadishpur Aug., Dec., William Taylor • The Adhai-din- ka Jhopra at Ajmer has a beautiful prayer hall, (Bihar) 1857 1858 & Amar Singh & Vineet Eyre an exquisitely carved Mehrab of white marble and a decorative arch screen. Indian National Congress MODERN INDIA The foundation of Indian National Congress in 1885 was not a sudden event. It was the culmination of political awakening. It Advent of the Europeans in India was an all India level organisation aimed at certain basic tasks Portuguese and objectives. A.O. Hume was the founder of Indian National • Vascode Gama was sent in 1498 from Lisbon to find the direct Congress. Sea-route from Europe to India. Partition of Bengal (1905 AD.) In Bengal the nationalist feelings English and anti British movement arose. Lord curzon played the policy of Divide and Rule, to crush nationalism. The government • English was founded in 1600 A.D. by the merchants of London, started trade with India. separated East Bengal which was dominated by the muslims and • Jahangir permitted the East India Company to establish merged it with Assam instead of spreading non - Bengali areas factories at several places in the empire. Gradually the company from the province of Bengal. Both radicals and moderates established factories at Agra, , Baroda, Broach, opposed it. Bombay, Surat, Madras, Masulipatnam, and different parts of Muslim league The muslim league was founded in 1906 at Dacca. Orissa, Bihar, Bengal. It demanded for the separate electorate for muslims. This demand French was later included in the government India Act 1909. • The French East India Company was founded in In 1907, the congress split due to differences that arose between 1664 A.D. the moderates and extremists. • The French factories established in Surat and Masulipatam Surat session (1907) In 1907 in the Surat session the differences and also laid the foundation at Pondicherry. between the liberals and the militant nationalists. Act, 1919 1699 Guru Gobind Singh created ‘Khalsa’. The government of India Act of 1919 incorporated the idea of 1739 Nadir Shah invaded India; the peacock throne and a dual form of government referred as diarchy for the major the Kohinoor Diamond taken away from India. provinces. 1757 in which the English defeated “Siraj-ud-daule, Nawab of Bengal. Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements 1761 Third Battle of Panipat in which Ahmed Shah Abdali During 1919-22, the British were opposed through two mass defeated the Marathas. movements– The Khilafat and Non Cooperation. 1764 in which the English defeated the The British prime minister promised the muslims that sultan of tripe alliance of Nawab of Bengal, Nawab Turkey would not be humiliated after the end of Ist world war. Shuja-ud-daula of Awadh and Mughal emperor Shah The aimed against the British government Alam. 1828 became Governor General; Era received the support . of social reforms; Prohibition of Sati (1829), The Party (1923) Suppression of thugs (1830). The suspension of Non cooperation was not liked by the 1853 First Indian railway from Bombay to Thane. extremists. In the Gaya congress C.R. Das had resigned from the 1857-58 First war of Indian Independence. members of the congress. He started at Allahabad. 1858 British crown took over the Indian Government; End of East India Company’s rule. YEAR-WISE EVENTS; IMPORTANT 1869 Birth of M.K. Gandhi. DATES OF INDIAN HISTORY 1885 Formation of Indian National Congress. BC Events 1905 Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon. 1906 Formation of All India Muslim League. 2350-1750 Indus Valley civilization. 1909 Minto-Morley Reforms. 540 Birth of Mahavir; Nirvana in 468. BC 1911 Delhi durbar held, partition of Bengal cancelled, 563 Birth of Gautam Buddha; Nirvana in 483 BC capital shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. 327-26 Alexander’s invasion of India and the opening of 1914 World War I started land route between India and Europe. 1918 End of World War I. 269-232 Ashoka’s reign. 1919 , Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Montague- 261 Battle of Kalinga. Chelmsford reforms. 57 Beginning of Vikrama era. 1921 Moplah rebellian in Malabar; visit of Prince of Wales. AD Events 1923 Swaraj Party formed. 1927 appointed. 78 Beginning of Saka era. 1928 Visit of Simon Commission to India, death of Lala 320 Beginning of Gupta era. Lajpat Rai. 380-413 Rule oif Chandragupta Vikramaditya, age of Kalidasa, 1929 Congress demanded ‘Poorna Swaraj’ in Lahore renewal of Hinduism. session. 606-647 Rule of Harsha Vardhana. 1930 January 26 celebrated as 629-645 Hieun Tsang’s visit in India. throughout India, Dandi Salt , First Round 1001-27 Repeated attacks of Mahmud of Ghazni. Table conference. 1025 Sacking of Somnath temple by Mahmud. 1931 Gandhi-Irvin Pact, Second Round Table Conference. 1191 First battle of Tarain in which Prithviraj Chauhan 1932 Suppression of Congress Movement, Third Round defeated Moh Ghori. Table Conference, Communal Award, Poona Pact. 1192 Second battle of Tarain in which Mohd. Ghori 1935 Government of India Act. defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. 1937 Inauguaration of Provincial Autonomy. Congress 1398 Timur invaded India. ministries formed in 9 (7 + 2 Coalition) out of 11 1498 Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut. provinces. 1510 Portuguese captured Goa-Albuquerque Governor. 1939 Beginning of World War II. REsignation of Congress 1526 First Battle of Panipat in which Babur defeated ministries. Ibrahim Lodi and established the Mughal dynasty. 1942 Plan, , 1556 Second battle of Panipat in which Akbar defeated Formation of by SC Bose. Hemu. 1945 held and the failure of Wavell Plan, 1565 Battle of Talikota in which Vijaynagar empire is INA trials at Red Fort, Delhi. defeated. 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan, Formation of Interim 1576 Battle of Haldighati in which Akbar defeated Government, Direct Action Resolution by Muslim Maharana Pratap. League. 1600 English East India Company established. 1947 Mountbatten Plan of June 3 in which partition of 1611 The English built a factory at Masulipatnam. India resolution is proposed, India divided, Pakistan 1631 Death of Shahjahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal. The created, both achieved independence, Pt Jawahar Lal building of Taj Mahal. Nehru became the Ist Prime Minister of India. History Q&A

1. Where is Harappa situated, according to the present map? 14. What is meant by Janapadas? (a) India (b) Pakistan (a) The land where the jana set its foot and settled down. (c) Afghanistan (d) China (b) The land of shudras 2. Copper and bronze were used to make (c) The land of historical monuments (a) tools (b) weapons (d) Museums (c) ornaments (d) All of them 15. Ashoka was inspired by the teachings of ______. 3. The first metal to be used by man was (a) Mahavira (b) Satyakama (a) bronze (b) iron (c) Buddha (d) Pannini (c) copper (d) stone 16. After the Kalinga war, Ashoka 4. The people of Indus Valley civilisation worshipped the (a) restored all the kingdoms he had conquered female form of (b) abandoned the policy of physical conquests in favour (a) Mother goddess (b) Laxmi of cultural conquests. (c) Saraswati (d) Durga (c) renounced his kingdom and became a sadhu 5. The biggest building at Mohnejodaro was the (d) followed the policy of physical occupation more rigor- (a) great granary (b) rectangular building ously (c) great bath (d) assembly hall 17. How are empires different from kingdoms? 6. The polity of the Indus Valley people was (a) Empires are larger than kingdoms (a) Oligarchy (Merchants) (b) Secular federalism (b) Empires need more resources than kingdoms (c) Theocratic federalism (d) Theocratic unitary (c) Empires need more officials who collect more taxes than 7. Iron was brought to many civilisation by the Kingdoms (a) Turks (b) Greeks (d) All of them (c) Hittites (d) Huns 18. Where did Ashoka send his messengers to spread ideas 8. The first home of the Aryans was the about ‘Dhamma’. Choose the correct answer from the code (a) Punjab (b) Gujarat given below : (c) Rajasthan (d) Madhya Pradesh (i) Syria (ii) Egypt 9. Agriculture was the main occupation of the (iii) Greece (iv) Sri Lanka (a) Aryans (b) Kushans (a) Only (i) (b) Only (ii) and (iii) (c) Guptas (d) Kushanas (c) Only (iv) (d) All of them 10. Which one of the following gives the correct chronological 19. Who wrote the biography of Harshavardhana? order of the vedas? (a) Aryabhatta (b) Kalidasa (a) Rigveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, Yajurveda (c) Shaka (d) Banabhatta (b) Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda 20. What was the name of Harshavardhana’s biography? (c) Atharvaveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Rigveda (a) Harshacharita (b) Harshamanglam (d) Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda (c) Harshamanas (d) None of them 11. Which of the following contains the Gayatri Mantra? 21. Allora was built by (a) Yajurveda (b) Rigveda (a) Pallavas (b) Chankyas (c) Samaveda (d) Upanishad (c) Rastrakutas (d) None of these 12. What is name of the form of government which ruled 22. Who built town of Thanjavur? Magadha? (a) Vijayalaya (b) Rajput (a) Dictatorship (b) Democratic (c) Rajendra Chola (d) None of these (c) Monarchical (d) Both ‘b’ and ‘c’ 23. Which changes did take place in early medieval period? 13. The modern location of some old states are given below. (a) Extension of agriculture Which is/are correctly matched? (b) Migration of forest dwellers A. Anga - Bhagalpur and Monghyr (c) Emergence of peasants B. Magadha - Patna and Gaya (d) All of the above C. Kasala - Avadh 24. When did Delhi first become capital of a kingdom? D. Panchala - Badawn, Bareilly (a) At the time of Tomar dynasty E. Matsya - Allahabad (b) Tuglaq dynasty (a) All, A, B, C, D and E (b) A, B, C and D (c) Lodhi dynasty (c) B, C, D and E (d) A, C and D (d) None of these 25. What was Iqta in sultanate period? 40. With whom was the Ryotwari Settlement made? (a) Territories of land (b) A tax (a) The Zamindars (b) The Cultivaters (c) A form of military (d) None of these (c) The Village communities (d) The Muqaddars 26. Muhammad Tuglaq Transferred his capital from Delhi to 41. Raja favoured the banning of (a) Daulatabad (b) Sahibabad (a) Child marriages (b) Caste system (c) Firozabad (d) None of these (c) Sati (d) Widow exploitation 27. Which sultan first did campaign in South India? 42. The Home Rule League was organised by (a) Alauddin Khalji (b) Raziyya (a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Dr. (c) Qutabdin Aibak (d) None of these (c) (d) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan 28. Under whose rule, was Ajmer the capital? 43. William Jones founded the following society in 1789 (a) Mauryas (b) Chauhans (a) The Asiatic Society (b) The Bombay Society (c) Guptas (d) Pallavas (c) The Indian Society (d) Calcutta Society 29. Which was the most important festival celebrated at Hampi? 44. The first Indian newspaper to be printed was (a) Shivratri (b) Diwali (a) (b) Kesari (c) Mahanavami (d) Holi (c) Bengal Gazette (d) None of these 30. What was the capital of Maratha kingdom? 45. The founder of Ramakrishna mission was (a) Poona (b) Nagpur (a) Vivekanand (c) Bombay (d) Nasik (b) Ramakrishna Paramhansa 31. Dual Administration was established in Bengal by (c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (a) Clive (b) (d) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (c) Wellesley (d) Dulhousie 46. The founder of the Ahmediya movement was 32. Which of the following statements was not a feature of the (a) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (b) Malviya Chirag Ali Permanent Settlement Act? (c) Mirza Ghulam Ahmed (d) Shaukat Ali (a) Zamindars were made the legal proprietor of the land 47. Match column I with column II and select the correct answer (b) Most of the landlords did not take interest in the using the code given below the columns. improvement of land Column I Column II (c) State was assured of a fixed income I Raja Ram Mohan A Used the ancient texts to (d) One-sixth of the produce was given to the Govt Roy suggest that widows could 33. Who introduced ‘Permanent Settlement’ in Bengal? remarry (a) Lord Bentinck (b) Lord Cornwallis II Ishwarchandra B Founded the reform (c) Lord Wellesley (d) Lord Hastings Vidyasagar association called Arya 34. The English East India Company’s first presidency in India Samaj was at III C Protested against the (a) Hooghly (b) Surat practice of Sati and was able (c) Madras (d) Masulipatnam to finally ban it 35. The battle of Plassey(1757) was fought between IV Swami Dayanand D Founded the association (a) Tipu Sultan and East India Company Saraswati Satyashodhak Samaj to (b) Haider Ali and East India Company propagate caste equality (a) I - C; II - A; III - B; IV - D (c) Siraj-ud-Daulah and East India Company (b) I -A; II -B; III - C; IV - D (d) Mir Qasim, Shiraj-ud-Daulah and East India Company (c) I - C; II - A; III - D; IV - B 36. Which of the following was twice made the Nawab of Bengal (d) I - D; II - C; III - B; IV - A by the East India Company? 48. The War of Independence of 1857 failed because (a) Siraj-ud-Daula (b) Sah Alam II (a) The revolution was not well organised (c) Mir Qasim (d) Mir Jafar (b) It was not supported by public 37. The Supreme Court in British India was established under: (c) There were differences of opinions (a) The Charter Act of 1813 (b) The Charter Act of 1833 (d) All of these (c) Regulating Act of 1773 (d) Pitt’s India Act of 1784 49. The revolt of 1857 broke out for an immediate cause 38. The founder of the kingdom of Awadh was (a) a British interfered by introducing new social reforms (a) Safdarjang (b) Saddat Khan like widow remarriage act 1856 (c) Shuja-ud-daula (d) Asaf-ud-daula (b) banning sati and child marriage 39. The real founder of the in India was (c) greasing of the cartridges in the new enfield rifle with (a) Chve (b) Warren Hastings the fats of cows and pigs. (c) Wellesley (d) Dalhousie (d) banning polygamy 50. Who was the Governor General when the 1857 revolt broke 60. The Revolutionary who threw a bomb in the Assembly was out? (a) (a) Canning (b) Hastings (b) (c) Dalhousie (d) Curzon (c) 51. Which of the following was one of the major political causes (d) Sukh Dev of the revolt of 1857? 61. The Swaraja Party was organised by (a) The withdrawl of the pension of Nana Sahib (a) Lala Lajpat Rai and Feroz Shah Mehta (b) Lord Dalhousie’s policy of discriminate annexation and (b) and Annie Besant Doctrine of Lapse (c) C. R. Das and (c) The absence of sovereignship of British rule in India (d) C. Rajagopalachari and C.Y. Chintamani (d) After the defeat of the Sikhs and annexation of the 62. The Khilafat Movement was organised to protest against Punjab, the properties of the Lahore, Durbar were the injustice done to auctioned and the Kohinoor was sent to England (a) Egypt (b) Arabia 52. Bengal was divided during the Govenrner-Generalship of (c) Persia (d) Turkey (a) Lord Warren Hastings (b) Lord Canning 63. Which one of the following is incorrectly matched? (c) Lord Curzon (d) Lord Hardings (a) Bhagat Singh : Merrut Conspiracy Case 53. The Government of India Act, 1919 was based on (a) Simon Commission (b) Ram Prasad Bismil : Conspiracy Case (b) Nehru’s report (c) Chandra Shekhar Azad : Conspiracy Case (c) Montagu Chelmsford Report (d) : (d) Minto-Morley Reforms 64. Who among the following did not attend the First Round 54. The Indian National Congress was founded by Table Conference? (a) Sir A.O. Hume (b) Lokmanya Tilak (a) M.K. Gandhi (b) Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru (c) (d) Mahatma Gandhi (c) Dr. Ambedkar (d) C.Y. Chintamani 55. The Conference in which the congress was divided into 65. Who led the in 1928? two camps-Extremist and Liberal was held in (a) Morarji Desai (b) M.K. Gandhi (a) Mumbai (b) Surat (c) Mahadev Desai (d) (c) Kolkata (d) Lahore 66. Railway and telegraph systems were introduced in India by 56. The way which Gandhi adopted for Non-co-operation (a) Lord Cornwallis (b) Lord Dalhousie movement was (c) Lord Wellesley (d) Lord Bentinck (a) to inspire army to revolt against British Government 67. The interim Government formed in India in 1946 was headed (b) to provoke public for violence by (c) to make people agree to surrender their titles and resign (a) C. Rajagopalachari (b) Mahatma Gandhi from Government jobs with peaceful means (c) (d) Dr. (d) to instruct the leaders to oppose the Government in 68. “Do or Die” was the slogan which Mahatma Gandhi gave Parliament during the 57. The Sati Pratha was declared illegal during the Governer (a) Quit India Movement Generalship of (b) Non-Cooperation Movement (a) William Bentinck (b) Dalhousie (c) Khilafat agitation (c) Canning (d) Cornwallis (d) Civil Disobedience Movement 58. The Civil Disobedience Movement was started with the 69. Hunter Commission was appointed by the British action that Government to probe into (a) the people offered themselves to be sent to jail (a) (b) the Government was compelled to call Round Table Conference (b) Demolition of Kanpur Mosque (c) the meeting was held against the Government (c) Jalianwalla Bagh massacre (d) Gandhiji acted against Salt Act (d) Kakori train dacoity incident 59. The Forward Block was formed by 70. The moderate congress leaders demanded (a) Subhash Chandra Bose (a) no separation but representation (b) C.R. Dass (b) immediate end of British rule in India (c) Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak (c) end of racial discrimination (d) Gopal Krishan Gokhale (d) introduction of English education 71. The Lahore session of the Congress in 1929 decided to (c) Tripuri Session of congress (a) launch civil disobedience movement (d) Gandhi-Irwin Pact (b) to struggle for freedom 82. The Mansabdari System introduced by Akbar was borrowed (c) attainment of complete independence from the system followed in (d) None of these (a) Afghanistan (b) Turkey 72. The Quit India Movement was organised on (c) Mongolia (d) Persia (a) June, 1941 (b) 8 August, 1942 83. Gulf war was fought between (c) July, 1943 (d) July 1946 (a) Iran and Iraq (b) Iraq and Israel 73. The first split in Congress took place in 1907 in (c) Iraq and America (a) Calcutta (b) Allahabad (d) Iraq, America & Allied forces (c) Madras (d) Surat 84. Mention the most important social issue taken up by 74. The Muslim League demanded partition in Ghandhiji for reforms (a) 1906 (b) 1936 (a) Religion (b) Cast (c) 1940 (d) 1942 (c) Women's status (d) Orthodoxy in Hinduism 75. Who among the following belonged to the moderate group 85. From which one of the following did Kosovo declare its of the Indian National Congress? independence ? (a) Lala Lajpat Rai (b) Bipan Chandra Pal (a) Bulgaria (b) Croatia (c) (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale (c) Macedonia (d) Serbia 76. Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in the city of? 86. With which of the following is ‘Boston tea party’ associated? (a) Agra (b) Meerut (a) Glorious revolution (c) Amritsar (d) Lahore (b) French revolution 77. The slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ was raised by (c) Russian revolution (a) Subhash Chandra Bose (d) American war of Independence (b) Bhatgat Singh 87. In 305 BC, which Maurya ruler defeated Alexander's general (c) Mahatma Gandhi Seleucus Nicator and received the territories of Kabul and (d) Jawaharlal Nehru Balochistan ? (a) Bindusara (b) Ashok the Great 78. What amongst the following were the main problems of (c) Chandragupta Maurya (d) Dasharatha Maurya India just after independence? 88. In the context of the Indian freedom struggle, 16 October (I) Refugees (II) Education 1905 is well known for which one of the following reasons? (III) Princely states (IV) Poverty (a) The formal proclamation of was (a) I and III are correct (b) II, III and I are correct made in Calcutta town hall (c) Only II is correct (d) All are correct (b) Partition of Bengal took effect 79. Which of the following statements regarding the Nehru (c) declared that the goal of Indian Report are correct? National Congress was Swaraj 1. It favoured Dominion Status. (d) Lokmanya Tilak started Swadeshi Movement in Poona 2. It favoured a federal system. 89. When was the first atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima? 3. It rejected the system of Communal Electorate. (a) August 6, 1945 (b) August 8, 1942 4. It was against the setting up of a Supreme Court. (c) August 9, 1945 (d) August 9, 1944 Choose the correct answer from the codes given below: 90. Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah was the contemporary Codes: of (a) I and IV (b) I and III (a) Akbar (b) Aurangzeb (c) I, III and IV (d) I, II and III (c) Shahjahan (d) Muhammad Shah 80. Which one of the following is considered the Magna Carta 91. The Indus Valley Civilization was famous for of the Indian people? (a) Well-planned cities (a) The Government of India Act, 1858 (b) Efficient civil organization (b) The Ilibert Bill (c) Development of Art and Architecture (c) Indian Councils Act of a 1892 (d) All of these (d) Queen Victoria’s Proclamation 92. Which one of the following began with the Dandi March ? 81. During indian freedom struggle, which one of the following (a) Home Rule Movement happened earlist? (b) Non-Cooperation Movement (a) Simon Commission (c) Civil Disobedience Movement (b) Gaya Session of Congress (d) Quit India Movement 93. Which one of the following settlements comprised Zamindar (a) Manali (b) Rawalpindi as middleman to collect the land revenue ? (c) Shimla (d) Islamabad (a) Mahalwari Settlement (b) Ryotwari Settlement 101. Which one of the following is not related to the continuing (c) Permanent Settlement (d) None of these turmoil in Bosnia? 94. Consider the following statements : (a) Serbs (b) Muslims 1. The discussions in the Third Round Table Conference (c) Jews (d) Croats eventually led to the passing of the Government of 102. The Gulf war of 1991 was precipitated by the Iraqi annexation India Act of 1935. of 2. The Government of India Act of 1935 provided for the (a) Bahrain (b) Kuwait establishment of an All India Federation to be based (c) Saudi Arabia (d) South Yemen on a Union of the provinces of British India and the 103. Who wrote 'Indian War of Independence, 1857? Princely States. (a) R.C Majumdar (b) V.D. Savarkar Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) S.B. Chaudhary (d) S.N. Sen (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 104. Dalhousie's worst political blunder was ___? 95. The Sun Temple of Konark was built by Narasimhadeva I. (a) Annexation of Punjab To which dynasty did he belong to? (b) Occupation of lower Burma (a) Somavamsi dynasty (c) Abolition of the 'Doctrine of Lapse' (b) Imperial Ganga dynasty (d) Annexation of Oudh (c) Suryavamsi Gajapati dynasty 105. The Congress is in reality a civil war without arms. (d) Bhoi dynasty The above statement was made by ___? 96. What was the main difference between the Indus Valley (a) W. Wedderburn Civilization and Vedic Civilization? (b) Sir Saiyid Ahmad Khan (a) Indus Valley Civilization was urban, while the Vedic (c) D.W. Bethune Civilization was rural. (d) Lord Dufferin (b) "Pipal" tree was worshiped in Indus Valley Civilization, 106. The Governor General of India at the time of foundation of while "Burgad" tree was worshiped in Vedic Indian National Congress was __? Civilization. (a) Lord Chelmsford (b) Lord Dalhousie (c) The main emphasis in Indus Valley Civilization was on (c) Lord Dufferin (d) None of these trade while in the Vedic Age was on religion. 107. Which was the only session of Indian National Congress, (d) Indus Valley Civilization believed in non-violence while Vedic Civilization had no hard and fast rules about presided by Mahatma Gandhi? violence. (a) Allahabad (b) Guwahati 97. Which one of the following is correctly matched? (c) Belgaum (d) Kakinada (a) Second Battle of Panipat - Akbar and Ibrahim Lodi 108. President of Indian National Congress at the time of (b) Battle of Khanwa - Akbar and Rana Sanga independence was___? (c) Battle of Chausa - Humayun and Sher Shah (a) J. B. Kripalani (d) First battle of Tarian - Mahmud Ghaznavi and Prithviraj (b) Maulana Chauhan (c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad 98. Who had demarcated the border-line between India and (d) Jawahar Lal Nehru Pakistan? 109. The Grand Old Man of Indian politics was__? (a) McMohan (b) Lord Durand (a) (c) Redcliffe (d) None of these (b) Dadabhai Naoroji 99. In Indian history, who was Abdul Hamid Lahori? (c) Surendra Nath Bannerjee (a) An important military commander during Akbar's reign (b) An official historian of the reign of Shah Jahan (d) Rasbehari Bose (c) An important noble and confident of Aurangzeb 110. Gandhi's Dandi March is associated with which among the (d) A chronicler and poet during the reign of Muhammad following movements? Shah (a) Partition of Bengal 100. The parleys between the Prime Ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (b) Khilafat Movement and , so much referred to in world politics, (c) Non-cooperation Movement were held at (d) Civil Disobedience Movement AnswerANSWER KEYKeys 1 (b) 14 (a) 27 (a) 40 (b) 53 (c) 66 (b) 79 (d) 92 (c) 105 (b) 2 (d) 15 (c) 28 (b) 41 (c) 54 (a) 67 (c) 80 (d) 93 (c) 106 (c) 3 (c) 16 (b) 29 (c) 42 (b) 55 (b) 68 (a) 81 (a) 94 (c) 107 (c) 4 (a) 17 (d) 30 (a) 43 (a) 56 (c) 69 (c) 82 (c) 95 (c) 108 (b) 5 (c) 18 (d) 31 (a) 44 (c) 57 (a) 70 (a) 83 (d) 96 (a) 109 (b) 6 (a) 19 (a) 32 (d) 45 (a) 58 (d) 71 (c) 84 (b) 97 (c) 110 (d) 7 (c) 20 (d) 33 (b) 46 (b) 59 (a) 72 (b) 85 (d) 98 (c) 8 (a) 21 (c) 34 (b) 47 (c) 60 (b) 73 (d) 86 (d) 99 (d) 9 (a) 22 (a) 35 (c) 48 (d) 61 (c) 74 (c) 87 (c) 100 (c) 10 (d) 23 (d) 36 (d) 49 (c) 62 (d) 75 (d) 88 (b) 101 (c) 11 (b) 24 (a) 37 (c) 50 (a) 63 (c) 76 (b) 89 (a) 102 (b) 12 (c) 25 (a) 38 (b) 51 (b) 64 (a) 77 (b) 90 (d) 103 (b) 13 (b) 26 (a) 39 (a) 52 (c) 65 (d) 78 (a) 91 (d) 104 (d)