30 multiple-choice questions with answers on the "Sources of Indian History: Archaeological, Literary, Foreign Accounts, and Archival" topic.
1. Which of the following is a primary source of Indian history?
(a) A textbook on ancient India
(b) A historical novel
(c) An inscription on a stone pillar
(d) A documentary film about the Mauryan Empire
Answer: (c)
2. Archaeological sources primarily provide information about:
(a) The philosophical beliefs of ancient rulers
(b) The daily life and material culture of past societies
(c) The literary works of ancient scholars
(d) The diplomatic relations between ancient kingdoms
Answer: (b)
3. Which of the following is NOT considered an archaeological source?
(a) Coins
(b) Monuments
(c) Manuscripts
(d) Pottery
Answer: (c)
4. The study of ancient coins is known as:
(a) Epigraphy
(b) Numismatics
(c) Paleography
(d) Archaeology
Answer: (b)
5. Inscriptions are usually found engraved on:
(a) Paper and cloth
(b) Palm leaves and birch bark
(c) Stone, metal plates, and seals
(d) Wood and terracotta
Answer: (c)
6. The decipherment of the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts was significantly aided by the inscriptions of which ruler?
(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Ashoka
(c) Kanishka
(d) Samudragupta
Answer: (b)
7. Which of the following literary sources is considered a religious text?
(a) Arthashastra
(b) Rajatarangini
(c) The Vedas
(d) Indika
Answer: (c)
8. The Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft and governance, was written by:
(a) Kalhana
(b) Megasthenes
(c) Kautilya
(d) Banabhatta
Answer: (c)
9. Which of the following is an example of a secular literary source?
(a) The Upanishads
(b) The Jataka Tales
(c) The Ramayana
(d) The Harshacharita
Answer: (d)
10. The accounts of foreign travelers are valuable because they provide:
(a) A purely objective and unbiased view of Indian society
(b) Insights into aspects not always covered by indigenous sources
(c) Detailed information about religious rituals only
(d) Evidence that always corroborates Indian literary sources
Answer: (b)
11. Who among the following was a Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya?
(a) Hiuen Tsang
(b) Fa-Hien
(c) Megasthenes
(d) Ptolemy
Answer: (c)
12. The book "Indika" is attributed to which foreign traveler?
(a) Hiuen Tsang
(b) Fa-Hien
(c) Megasthenes
(d) Al-Biruni
Answer: (c)
13. Which Chinese pilgrim visited India during the reign of Harsha?
(a) Fa-Hien
(b) I-Tsing
(c) Hiuen Tsang
(d) Marco Polo
Answer: (c)
14. The writings of Al-Biruni, who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni, provide valuable insights into:
(a) The maritime trade of South India
(b) The social, cultural, and scientific aspects of 11th century India
(c) The art and architecture of the Gupta period
(d) The religious policies of the Delhi Sultanate
Answer: (b)
15. Which of the following is NOT a limitation of using foreign accounts as historical sources?
(a) Potential for bias based on their own cultural background
(b) Difficulty in understanding local customs and languages
(c) Their accounts always being less reliable than indigenous sources
(d) The possibility of exaggeration or misunderstanding
Answer: (c)
16. Archival sources primarily consist of:
(a) Ancient pottery and tools
(b) Official records and documents
(c) Religious scriptures and epics
(d) Travelogues and biographies
Answer: (b)
17. Which of the following is an example of an archival source?
(a) A ruined temple
(b) A collection of royal firmans (decrees)
(c) A set of ancient coins
(d) A Sanskrit play
Answer: (b)
18. The National Archives of India is located in:
(a) Kolkata
(b) Mumbai
(c) New Delhi
(d) Chennai
Answer: (c)
19. Archival records are crucial for understanding:
(a) The geological history of the subcontinent
(b) The administrative and political history of a period
(c) The evolution of ancient languages
(d) The scientific advancements in prehistoric times
Answer: (b)
20. Which of the following types of documents might be found in archival records?
(a) Personal letters and diaries of common people from ancient times
(b) Government policies, treaties, and judicial records
(c) Religious sermons and philosophical debates
(d) Travel narratives of merchants from distant lands
Answer: (b)
21. The study of ancient writing systems is known as:
(a) Numismatics
(b) Archaeology
(c) Paleography
(d) Epigraphy
Answer: (c)
22. Which of the following archaeological sites is known for the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization?
(a) Sanchi
(b) Taxila
(c) Harappa
(d) Nalanda
Answer: (c)
23. The Jataka Tales primarily narrate stories related to the previous lives of:
(a) Hindu deities
(b) Jain Tirthankaras
(c) Buddha
(d) Sikh Gurus
Answer: (c)
24. The Rajatarangini, a chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, was written by:
(a) Banabhatta
(b) Kalhana
(c) Bilhana
(d) Somadeva
Answer: (b)
25. Which foreign traveler's account provides detailed information about the Vijayanagara Empire?
(a) Ibn Battuta
(b) Marco Polo
(c) Abdur Razzaq
(d) Niccolo de' Conti
Answer: (c)
26. Official gazettes and census reports are examples of:
(a) Literary sources
(b) Archaeological findings
(c) Archival sources
(d) Foreign accounts
Answer: (c)
27. Which of the following helps in determining the age of archaeological artifacts?
(a) Literary analysis
(b) Carbon dating
(c) Linguistic studies
(d) Architectural styles
Answer: (b)
28. The study of inscriptions is known as:
(a) Paleography
(b) Numismatics
(c) Epigraphy
(d) Archaeology
Answer: (c)
29. Which of the following literary works provides insights into the social and religious conditions during the Gupta period?
(a) The Rigveda
(b) The Mahabharata
(c) The writings of Kalidasa
(d) The Tripitaka
Answer: (c)
30. Maintaining the authenticity and preservation of archival records is crucial for:
(a) Promoting tourism
(b) Ensuring accurate historical understanding
(c) Creating fictional narratives
(d) Developing new languages
Answer: (b)
