Static Quiz 01 March 2022 (History)

Solution: (d)
Learning: Frequently referred to as “black gold” in ancient India, on account of its demand and trade value mainly due to its high trade value, the Zamorin ruler of Malabar coast had a flourishing trade centre for export of pepper and other spices in Kerala. The main mercantile traders were Arabs and people from Middle East. The early Roman Empire got direct access to the Malabar Coast in India and its range of exotic spices after their conquest of Egypt in 30 BC. The prices of pepper were extremely high in the Middle Ages and the trade was completely dominated by the Romans.

Solution: (a) Learning: They initially established themselves in the Vindhyan region, and later extended their power southwards, eventually becoming a major political power in the Deccan. Vakataka rule lasted from the mid-3rd to the late 5th/ early 6thcenturies AD. The founder of the Vakataka dynasty was Vindhyashakti I. The second Vakataka king was Pravarasena I who seems to have extended the empire southwards into Vidarbha and adjoining areas of the Deccan.
His capital was Kanchanaka (modern Nachna). Pravarasena I cemented an important political alliance by marrying his son, Gautamiputra, to the daughter of the Naga king, Bhavanaga of the Bharashiva family, which was prominent in eastern UP and adjoining areas. The political gains of this alliance were immense. Pravarasena is mentioned in the Puranas and inscriptions as performing several vajapeya, vajimedha and ashvamedha sacrifices, accompanied by the distribution of lavish gifts. He was the only Vakataka king with the imperial title of samrat.

Solution: (d)
Justification: Statement 1: Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva was a ruler of the Eastern Ganga dynasty which ruled southern part of Kalinga.
Statement 2: Literally meaning “Lord of the Universe”, it is a deity worshipped in regional traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism in India and Bangladesh. Correct match is Odisha.
Statement 3: Correct match is Tamil Nadu. The Later Cheras (the Kulasekharas) ruled from Mahodayapuram (now Kodungallur) on the banks of River Periyar and fought numerous wars with their powerful neighbours such asthe Cholas and Rashtrakutas.
Statement4: Lilatilakamis atextinManipravalamdealingwithgrammar andpoeticswrittenin Manipravalam. The correct match would be Kerala.

Solution: (b)
Learning: Society was segregated even in ancient India.
Therewereatleastthreedifferent kinds of people living in most villages in the southern and northern parts of the ancient
Indian subcontinent.
In the Tamil region,large land owners were known as vellalar, ordinary plough men were known as uzhavar,and land less labourers,including slaves,were known as kadaisiyar and adimai. In the northern region,this distinction was made in terms of land, political position and assets held.

Solution: (a)
Justification: Satavahanas controlled the Deccan for a long time. After their decline, many small kingdoms came up in the Deccan.The first one among them was that of the Vakatakas, who tried to build a strong state, but they did not last long. After the Vakatakas came the Chalukyas of Vatapi and Kalyani. Pulakesin was a powerful ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. The Chalukyas kept fighting with the Rashtrakutas (towards the north) and the Pallavas (towards the
south). The Chalukya rule came to an end in 753 A.D. when the Rashtrakutas defeated them.