Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Sarnath.

Key Points

• Buddhism is a  religion based upon the teachings, life experiences of its founder Siddhartha Gautam, born in circa 563 BCE.
• He was born into the royal family of Sakya clan who ruled from Kapilvastu(Lumbini) which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.
• At the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of wealth and adopted a lifestyle of asceticism or extreme self-discipline.
• After 49 continuous days of meditation, Gautama achieved Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya a village in Bihar.
• Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city of Benares in UP. This event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
• He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at a place called Kushinagara a town in UP.

The correct answer is Kushans.

• Kushans were the first kings to issue the largest hoards of gold coins in India.

Key Points

• Kushanas Coins:
  • Kushanas issued mostly gold coins and numerous copper coins which have been found in most parts of North India up to Bihar.
  • The Gold Dinara's or Suvarnas were based on the Roman denarius and were of 124 grains (8.04 grams).
    • Double and quarter Dinaras were also issued. The copper coins were large, from 26 to 28 Masas or 240 to 260 grains (15.55 to 16.85) grams.
  • The coins of Vima Kadphises bear the figure of Siva standing beside a bull.
  • In the legend on these coins, the king calls himself Maheshwara, i.e. devotee of Siva.
    • Kanishka, Huvishka and Vasudeva etc. all have this depiction on their coins.
  • Many Indian gods and goddesses are depicted on Kushana coins besides many Persian and Greek deities.

Additional Information

• Indo-Greek Coins:
  • The Indo-Greek coins show beautiful artistic features them.
  • The portrait or bust of the king on the obverse side appears to be real portraits. On the reverse, some deity is depicted.
  • We know that more than forty Indo-Greek rulers ruled in a small north-western region of India from these coins.
• Pre Guptan and Guptan Coins:
  • Gupta kings issued the most number of Gold coins.
  • The Satavahanas issued coins of lead and potin (base silver).
  • Satavahanas’ copper coins with the Ujjain symbol bearing a ship were abundant in Avanti.
  • The gold coins of the Guptas (Dinara) originally approximated to the Kushana standard, but in the middle of the 5th century rose in weight to 144 grains, thus returning to the Indian standard of the copper Karsapana.

Mistake Points

• Gupta kings issued the most number of Gold coins whereas Kushans were the first kings to issue the largest hoards of gold coins in India.

Solution Source - https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/lehs102.pdf (Pg No. 44)

The correct answer is Silver, gold, copper but not iron.

• Harappan civilization existed during the Bronze age.
• Hence copper, bronze, gold, silver, lead-related objects can be seen.
• The Harappan people were aware of almost all the metals except iron.
• They manufactured gold and silver objects.
  • Gold might have been obtained from the Himalayan river-beds and South India, and silver from Mesopotamia.
  • The gold objects include beads, armlets, needles, and other ornaments.
  • But the use of silver was more common than gold.
• A large number of silver ornaments, dishes, etc. have been discovered.
• A number of copper tools and weapons have also been discovered.
• The common tools included an axe, saws, chisels, knives, spearheads, and arrowheads. It is important to note that the weapons produced by the Harappans were mostly defensive in nature as there are no evidence weapons like swords, etc.
• Stone tools were also commonly used.
• Copper was brought mainly from Khetri in Rajasthan.
• We also have evidence of the use of the bronze though in a limited manner.
• The most famous specimen in this regard is the bronze ‘dancing girl’ figurine discovered at Mohenjodaro.

The correct answer is Al-Biruni.

Key Points

• Abu Rayhan al-Biruni was an Iranian scholar.
• He has been variously called as the:-
  • Founder of Indology
  • Father of Comparative Religion
  • Father of modern geodesy
  • The first anthropologist
• He wrote the book Kitab-ul-Hind.
• Alberuni (Abu Raynham Beruni) was a Persian scholar who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni in 1017.
• He commented on Indian sciences, Hindu religious beliefs, customs, and social organization.

Additional Information

• Al-Masudi's Book - The Meadows of Gold
• Sulaiman's Book - Ancient Accounts of India and China
• Firdausi's Book - Shahnameh

The correct answer is Pulakeshin II.

Key Points

• Pulakeshin II, the King of the Chalukya dynasty defeated Harshavardhana when he seeks to enlarge his Empire into the southern peninsula of India.
• He defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada river in 630 AD.
• The Aihole inscription was written by Ravikirti, court poet of Chalukya King Pulakesin II who reigned from 610 to 642 CE.

Additional Information

• The Chalukya dynasty was established by Pulakeshin I in 543.
• Pulakeshin I took Vatapi (modern Badami in Bagalkot district, Karnataka) under his control and made it his capital.
• Pulakeshin I and his descendants are referred to as "Chalukyas of Badami".
• They ruled over an empire that comprised the entire state of Karnataka and most of Andhra Pradesh in the Deccan. 
• The earliest dynasty, known as the "Badami Chalukyas", ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century.