Question 1

The purpose of the Vedas was to provide

Accepted Answer

A)  the unchanging theological dogma of Hinduism.
B)  hymns and ritual sacrifices for tribal Aryan religious ceremonies.
C)  the historical legacy of the Hindu tradition.
D)  commentaries on the tribal Aryan religious beliefs.
E)  the story of the decline of Harappa. B

Question 2

Identify the following terms.
-Ashokan pillars

Accepted Answer

The Ashokan pillars are a series of columns dispersed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BCE. These pillars are significant for their architectural and historical importance.

Ashoka, who ruled from 268 to 232 BCE, was an initially warlike emperor who, after the bloody conquest of the Kalinga region, converted to Buddhism and adopted a philosophy of non-violence and compassion. His transformation led to the spread of Buddhism within India and beyond.

The pillars are made out of sandstone and were quarried at Chunar, located near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and then transported throughout the empire. They are characterized by their polished finish, which has been compared to a mirror-like sheen, and the precision with which they were crafted. The pillars vary in height but are typically around 40 to 50 feet tall.

At the top of many pillars is a capital, which often includes sculptures of animals, such as lions, elephants, and bulls. The most famous of these is the lion capital from the Ashokan pillar at Sarnath, which has been adopted as the national emblem of India. This capital features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolizing power, courage, pride, and confidence.

The pillars also carry inscriptions, known as the Edicts of Ashoka. These edicts are written in Brahmi script and were used to disseminate Ashoka's policies and directives to his subjects. The edicts cover a wide range of topics, from administrative instructions to moral exhortations, and reflect Ashoka's commitment to the Buddhist concept of Dhamma, which encompasses duty, law, and righteousness.

The Ashokan pillars are not only important artifacts of ancient Indian history but also a testament to the spread of Buddhism and the cultural and religious developments during the Mauryan Empire. They remain a subject of study for historians, archaeologists, and scholars interested in early Indian art and religion.

Question 3

Harappan civilization evolved along the Ganges River.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Identify the following terms.
-Law of Manu

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Law of Manu...

Question 5

The Indian term that refers to the impact of one's actions in life on a later life after reincarnation is

Accepted Answer

A)  satya.
B)  dharma.
C)  karma.
D)  sati.
E)  khalid.

Question 6

Identify the following terms.
-Mohenjo-Daro

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Mohenjo-Daro...

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT true about the Aryans :

Accepted Answer

A)  They dominated ancient India after their arrival from the north.
B)  assimilated with the Dravidians to form an egalitarian India.
C)  They spoke Sanskrit.​
D)  They wrote the Rig Veda.​
E)  They organized in tribes bed by a Raja.​

Question 8

Harappan economy was based primarily on agriculture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The three "twice-born" castes were the

Accepted Answer

A)  Sikh, Hamar and Maltese.
B)  sudras, brahmins and kshatriya.
C)  vaisya, kshatriya and brahmins.
D)  brahmins, bodhi and mahayana.
E)  sudra, ashakan and pariah.

Question 10

According to the Arthasastra, a woman who had been deserted by her husband:

Accepted Answer

A)  was entitled to the return of double her dowry.
B)  could seek a divorce.
C)  had no recourse.
D)  was immediately freed from all marital commitments.
E)  could never remarry.

Question 11

Identify the following terms.
-Harappans

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Harappans...

Question 12

Identify the following terms.
-Dyaus and Indra

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Dyaus and Indra...

Question 13

Why was India unable to maintain a unified empire in the first millennium B.C.E., and how was the Mauryan Empire temporarily able to overcome the tendencies toward disunity? What was the role of the Greeks under Alexander in the Mauryan ascendancy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was India unable to maintain a...

Question 14

The ultimate goal of Hindus is to

Accepted Answer

A)  attain a blissful, eternal afterlife.
B)  attain an ultimate spiritual reunion with Brahman and escape the pain of living.
C)  attain eternal life by exchanging one's karma for Atman.
D)  be reborn again and again.
E)  achieve enlightenment in the Western Paradise.

Question 15

Were the beliefs of early Hindus and Buddhists fundamentally the same? Why or why not? Why was Buddhism able to make such inroads among the Indian people at a time when Brahmanical beliefs had long been dominant in the subcontinent?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Were the beliefs of early Hindus and...

Question 16

The third-ranked caste, usually viewed as the merchant caste, was the

Accepted Answer

A)  kshatriya.
B)  pariah.
C)  brahmins.
D)  vaisya.
E)  sudras.

Question 17

Identify the following terms.
-Vaisya

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Vaisya...

Question 18

In what ways did the events of Ashoka's reign mark the high point of Buddhism in India? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what ways did the events of...

Question 19

The priestly class of brahmins held the highest social status in Vedic society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Identify the following terms.
-Arthasastra

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the following terms.
-Arthasastra...

Exam 2: Ancient India

The purpose of the Vedas was to provide

Identify the following terms. -Ashokan pillars

Harappan civilization evolved along the Ganges River.

Identify the following terms. -Law of Manu

The Indian term that refers to the impact of one's actions in life on a later life after reincarnation is

Identify the following terms. -Mohenjo-Daro