Early Medieval Regional Kingdoms Questions and Answers

Answer: A

The match is a-4, b-2, c-1, d-3.

Udayanjeral was a Chera king (4), Karikala was a Chola king (2), Nediyon is listed as a Pandya king (1), and Simhavishnu was a Pallava king (3).

Code (A) gives these dynasties in order, and the other codes interchange them. The Sangam kings and the Pallava Simhavishnu come from different regions of the south. Udayanjeral is a Chera king of the Sangam age, Karikala was the great Chola king, and Simhavishnu revived the Pallava power in the sixth century.

Answer: C

The match is a-3, b-1, c-4, d-2.

Jimutavahana wrote the Dayabhaga (3), Govindaraja wrote the Manutika, a commentary on Manu (1), Vijnanesvara wrote the Mitakshara (4), and Devannabhatta wrote the Smritichandrika (2).

Code (C) gives these four, and the other codes assign the works to the wrong authors.

Answer: B

The match is a-3, b-4, c-2, d-1.

The Nilkantha Mahadev temple at Saunak is an example of the Nagara style (3), the Kailashnath at Ellora is Dravida (4), the Jain temple at Lakkundi is Chalukyan (2), and the temple at Paharpur is an exotic type (1).

Code (B) gives these, and the other codes shuffle the temples among the styles. The question uses the old classification of temple styles in Indian architecture, in which Nagara is the northern style, Dravida the southern, Chalukyan (Vesara) the style of the Deccan and exotic the type showing foreign influence.

Answer: C

(A) is true, but (R) is false.

After the Gupta age the art styles are named after the ruling dynasties of a region, such as Pala, Chandella, Pallava and Chola, so the Assertion is true. The Reason says that the rulers were the sole patrons of art, which is false, since merchants, guilds and other donors also gave patronage.

So (R) cannot be the explanation, and the options that call (A) false or (R) true are wrong. The names of the styles show the first half: Pallava style, Chola style, Hoysala style, Pala school. The claim that rulers were the sole patrons is too strong, since donations by merchants and guilds are recorded in many inscriptions.

Answer: B

Both statements are true but the reason does not explain the assertion. Hiuen Tsang describes Harsha as a Buddhist, and he says that the king favoured Buddhism while treating the Brahmanical religion with some coldness. The seals of Harsha do refer to his elder brother Rajyavardhana as a Buddhist but describe Harsha himself as a devoted Saiva.

The seal evidence shows that Harsha was a Saiva by personal faith, so it does not give a reason for the assertion that he had antipathy to Brahmanism. It qualifies it, which is why it is not the explanation, and both are not false.

Answer: B

The correct pairing is a-4, b-3, c-2, d-1. Anahilavada is modern Patan in Gujarat, Aihole is near Badami in Karnataka, Dhanyakatak is Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, and Dasapura is Mandsor in Madhya Pradesh.

The other code strings give Anahilavada to Amaravati or Dasapura to Badami, which does not match the sites, so they are wrong on at least one pair. The list mixes capitals and trading centres of the early medieval period, and the modern name is the way to recall each.

Answer: B

The temple of Rajarajesvara, the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur built by Rajaraja I, is dedicated to Siva. It is the finest example of Chola architecture and a Shaiva temple with a great lingam in its sanctum.

It is not dedicated to Kartikeya, Vishnu or Surya, and the name Rajarajesvara itself means the Lord (Isvara) of Rajaraja, the usual way of naming a Siva shrine after its founder. It was built about 1010 AD and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its tall vimana is one of the tallest of its kind.

Answer: C

The Sena dynasty of Bengal called themselves Brahma-Kshatriyas, because the early Senas came from Karnataka and described their lineage as that of Brahmanas who became Kshatriyas through war. The title appears in their inscriptions.

The Pratiharas, Chalukyas and Palas did not use this title. The Pratiharas claimed Kshatriya descent from a solar line and the Palas are linked with a family of the Buddhist tradition, so they are wrong.

Answer: D

The ruler who gave financial help for the restoration of a demolished mosque at Khambhat (Cambay) was Chamundaraja of the Chaulukya line of Gujarat, according to the key. The inscription of the mosque records the help given by the ruler in a spirit of tolerance toward the traders of the port.

Bhoja Paramara, Mihira Bhoja and Kumarapala are not credited with this act, and Kumarapala is known as a patron of Jainism and Siva worship in Gujarat.

Answer: D

The Chalukya dynasty is known for the involvement of women in its administration: queens and princesses of the Chalukyas, for example in Karnataka, held offices, made grants and took part in governing their areas.

The Kalchuris, Gahadavalas and Chahamanas are not specifically noted for this feature in the same way, so the key accepts the Chalukyas as the dynasty for which the evidence is clearest. Inscriptions and records of the dynasty show queens and princesses as grantors of gifts and as officers in charge of areas.