The Post-Gupta Era (AD 550 – 750) — GK Questions with Answers

1. Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada by (IAS 2003):
   1. Pulakesin I
   2. Pulakesin II
   3. Vikramaditya I
   4. Vikramaditya II
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   Answer: (B) Pulakesin II

   Recorded in Ravikirti’s Aihole inscription.

2. Who laid the foundation of the Rashtrakuta empire? (IAS 2006)
   1. Amoghavarsha I
   2. Dantidurga
   3. Dhruva
   4. Krishna I
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   Answer: (B) Dantidurga

   He ended Chalukya rule at Badami.

3. Which Tang emperor exchanged embassies with Harsha? (IAS 2007 type)
   1. Tai-tsung
   2. Tung-kuan
   3. Ku Yen-wu
   4. Kublai
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   Answer: (A) Tai-tsung

   Hiuen Tsang himself travelled as a pilgrim, not as an envoy.

4. Who composed the Mandsaur inscription of AD 436 (Kumaragupta I – Bandhuvarman)? (IAS 2006)
   1. Banabhatta
   2. Vatsabhatti
   3. Harisena
   4. Virasena
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   Answer: (B) Vatsabhatti

   A well-known Sanskrit prashasti about a silk-weavers’ guild.

5. The main purpose of Hiuen Tsang’s visit to India was —
   1. to visit Buddhist holy places and study
   2. to set up political ties
   3. to gather wealth
   4. to map India
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   Answer: (A) to visit Buddhist holy places and study

   He studied at Nalanda.

6. The Cholas kept close political and marriage ties with the —
   1. Chalukyas of Vengi
   2. Chalukyas of Kalyani
   3. Chalukyas of Badami
   4. Zamorins of Calicut
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   Answer: (A) Chalukyas of Vengi

   Kulottunga I united the two houses.

7. Which is NOT true of the post-Gupta agrarian order?
   1. Landed intermediaries emerged
   2. A dependent peasantry grew
   3. It rested on absolute royal ownership of land
   4. Farming expanded into new areas
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   Answer: (C) It rested on absolute royal ownership of land

   Land grants created intermediaries, not absolute royal ownership.

8. Which is NOT linked with Pulakesin II?
   1. Ravikirti’s Aihole prashasti
   2. Victory over Harsha
   3. Defeat by Narasimhavarman I
   4. A horse sacrifice after beating Harsha
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   Answer: (D) A horse sacrifice after beating Harsha

   The Ashvamedha was Pulakesin I’s.

9. Which does NOT describe the age after the Guptas?
   1. Focus shifting south of the Vindhyas
   2. More independent kingdoms
   3. Growth of feudal ties
   4. Trade grew larger
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   Answer: (D) Trade grew larger

   Trade declined.

10. Harsha’s great distribution of gifts at Prayag was held every —
    1. year
    2. three years
    3. five years
    4. twelve years
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    Answer: (C) five years

    The Mahamoksha Parishad, lasting 75 days.

11. Who presided over the Kannauj assembly?
    1. Harsha
    2. Shilabhadra
    3. Hiuen Tsang
    4. Banabhatta
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    Answer: (C) Hiuen Tsang

    It promoted Mahayana Buddhism.

12. Taila II revived Chalukya power in AD 973 by overthrowing —
    1. Amoghavarsha I
    2. Karka II
    3. Krishna III
    4. Govinda III
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    Answer: (B) Karka II

    Karka II was the last Rashtrakuta.

13. Under the Mitakshara system a son —
    1. gets a share only after his father dies
    2. has a birthright in family property
    3. cannot inherit land
    4. inherits only through his mother
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    Answer: (B) has a birthright in family property

    Dayabhaga gives rights only after the father’s death.

14. Which statement about Shashanka is INCORRECT?
    1. He began as a feudatory (mahasamanta) in Magadha
    2. Buddhist tradition accuses him of felling the Bodhi tree
    3. His capital was Karnasuvarna
    4. He beat Harsha and Bhaskaravarman when they fought him together
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    Answer: (D) He beat Harsha and Bhaskaravarman when they fought him together

    No such victory is recorded.

More chapters in this subject

• The Gupta Age (AD 320 – 500)14 questions
• Religious Movements — Jainism and Buddhism14 questions
• The First Territorial States — Mahajanapadas14 questions
• The Mauryan Empire14 questions