Practice Questions with Answers - Multiple Choice Questions

Free Practice MCQs on Mauryan Empire for Competitive Exams

History Multiple Choice Questions and Answers on Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Empire was powerful kingdom which attributes its early successes to Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya. We have all seen the TV show but, when it comes to competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS etc we have to go into much details of Mauryan Dynasty. We have compiled important objective multiple choice questions with answers on Mauryan Empire for you to answer any question in competitive examination. Prepare from this post on – Free Practice MCQs on Mauryan Empire for Competitive Exams and excel in UPSC, SSC and other competitive exams.


1. The greatest development in the Kushana period was in the field of
A. Religion
B. Art
C. Literature
D. Architecture

Answer

Answer: Option B
Explanation : The art and culture of Gandhara, at the crossroads of the Kushan hegemony, continued the traditions of Greco-Buddhist art and are the best known expressions of Kushan influences to Westerners.


2. Who was the spatial (Sthaanik) during Mauryan’s period?
A. District Administrator
B. Provincial Administrator
C. Village Administrator
D. City Administrator

Answer

Answer: Option A
Explanation : Sthaanik were the District Administrator in Maurayan Empire. Provinces were subdivided into districts for purposes of administration, and a group of officials worked in each district.


3. Which one of the following mentioned division of the Mauryan Society into seven classes?
A. Ashoka’s Edicts
B. Indica
C. Kautilya’s Arthshastra
D. Vishnu Purana

Answer

Answer: Option B
Explanation : Indica is the book written by Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to India around 300 Be. The division of Maurya society into seven classes was particularly mentioned in the ‘Indica’ of Megasthenes. The Indians generally were divided into seven categories, the wise men (Brahmins), farmers, herdsmen, artisans, soldiers, over lookers and government officials including army and navy officers.


4. Who, among the following, was not a part of the Mauryan dynasty?
A. Ajatsatru
B. Bindusara
C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. None of these

Answer

Answer: Option A
Explanation : Ajatshatru was born in 492 BC that is approx 200 years before Maurya. Ajatshatru was the king of Haryanka dynasty of Magadh having his capital as Rajgir.


5. Kalinga’s ruler Kharavela gave his protection to
A. Hinduism
B. Shaivism
C. Buddhism
D. Jainism

Answer

Answer: Option D
Explanation : Kharavela was a king of Kalinga in present-day Odisha, India. He ruled somewhere around first or second century BCE. Kharavela is believed to be a follower of Jainism, although the Hathigumpha inscription describes him as a worshipper of all religious orders.


6. Chandragupta Maurya was an ardent follower of __________
A. Sikhism
B. Jainism
C. Buddhism
D. Jewism

Answer

Answer: Option B
Explanation : Chandragupta thereafter built one of the largest empires ever on the Indian subcontinent. According to Jain sources, he then renounced it all, and became a monk in the Jain tradition. Chandragupta is claimed, by the historic Jain texts, to have followed Jainism in his life, by first renouncing all his wealth and power, going away with Jaina monks into the Deccan region (now Karnataka), and ultimately performing Sallekhana – the Jain religious ritual of peacefully welcoming death by fasting.


7. Arthasastra was written by
A. Dhanananda
B. Kautilya
C. Bimbisara
D. Pushyamitra

Answer

Answer: Option B
Explanation : The Arthashastra is the title of a handbook for running an empire, written by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya, c. 350-275 BCE) an Indian statesman and philosopher, chief advisor and Prime Minister of the Indian Emperor Chandragupta, the first ruler of the Mauryan Empire.


8. The monk who influenced Ashoka to embrace Buddhism was
A. Vishnu Gupta
B. Upagupta
C. Brahma Gupta
D. Brihadratha

Answer

Answer: Option B
Explanation : Upagupta (c. 3rd Century BC) was a Buddhist monk. According to some stories in the Sanskrit text Ashokavadana, he was the spiritual teacher of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. Upagupta’s teacher was Sanavasi who was a disciple of Ānanda, the Buddha’s attendant.