Ancience India Chapter 27: Legacy in Science and Civilization — Religion and Formation of Social Classes

Ancience India Chapter 27: Legacy in Science and Civilization — Religion and Formation of Social Classes

Chapter 27: Legacy in Science and Civilization — Religion and Formation of Social Classes

Study Notes

Was ancient Indian civilization as urban as Greece and Rome?	No
Which civilization existed during Harappan times?	Harappan civilization
For approximately how long did towns re-emerge from the Maurya to Gupta period?	1,000 years
Why could much of the Indian subcontinent not develop extensive trade and commerce?	Much of it lay hundreds of kilometres from the sea-coast
What was the primary basis of ancient Indian life?	Agriculture
How mobile were ancient Indian people comparatively?	Relatively immobile
Which factor influenced ancient Indian life more strongly than in Western cultures?	Religion
Which fields of ancient Indian life were strongly influenced by religion?	Economy, polity, art and literature
Which two major religions originated in India besides Hinduism?	Jainism and Buddhism
When did Christianity arrive in India according to the text?	About the 1st century AD
Did Christianity make much headway in ancient India?	No
What happened to Buddhism in India over time?	It eventually disappeared
How far east did Buddhism spread?	Japan
How far north-west did Buddhism spread?	Central Asia
Which aspects of Indian culture spread with Buddhism?	Art, language and literature
How were social-class duties regulated in many other ancient societies?	By laws largely enforced by the state
What gave varna laws authority in India?	State and religion
Which four groups had legally defined functions?	Priests, warriors, peasants and labourers
Who were believed to have established the functions of the social groups?	Divine agencies
What happened to people who violated their prescribed functions?	Secular punishments, rituals and penances
How did punishments, rituals and penances differ?	According to varna
What recognition did each varna receive?	Social and ritualistic
What did varnas and jatis eventually become in the eyes of law and religion?	Hereditary
What was the principal economic purpose of assigning social functions?	To maintain production, taxation, labour, priesthood and rulership
What was the prescribed role of Vaishyas?	Produce goods and pay taxes
What was the prescribed role of Shudras?	Serve as labourers
What was the prescribed role of Brahmanas?	Act as priests
What was the prescribed role of Kshatriyas?	Act as rulers
What concept encouraged people to perform their prescribed duties?	Dharma
Which text taught people to prefer their own dharma over another's?	Bhagavad Gita
According to the Bhagavad Gita, what should people do rather than adopt another's dharma?	Lay down their lives defending their own dharma
Why did lower social orders work hard according to the text?	Belief in a better life in the next world or birth
What effect did this belief have on social tensions and conflicts?	Reduced their intensity and frequency
Who produced goods while others lived off their production?	Producing classes, including lower orders
Which groups lived off the producers' output?	Princes, priests, officials, soldiers and big merchants
Why was coercion against lower orders comparatively less necessary in ancient India according to the text?	Religious conviction and internalised duties
How were producing groups in Greece and Rome compelled to work according to the text?	Threat of the whip
How were Vaishyas and Shudras encouraged to fulfil their functions according to the text?	Brahmanical indoctrination and conviction

MCQs

1 Compared with ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Indian civilization was generally:

1. More urban
2. Equally urban
3. Less urban
4. Entirely nomadic

1. More urban ❌
2. Equally urban ❌
3. Less urban ✅ The text describes ancient Indian civilization as less urban than Greek and Roman civilizations.
4. Entirely nomadic ❌

2 For approximately how long did towns exist again from the Maurya to Gupta period?

1. 100 years
2. 500 years
3. 1,000 years
4. 2,000 years

1. 100 years ❌
2. 500 years ❌
3. 1,000 years ✅ The text specifies approximately 1,000 years.
4. 2,000 years ❌

3 Which factor restricted the development of extensive trade and commerce in much of the Indian subcontinent, according to the text?

1. Lack of agriculture
2. Absence of towns
3. Distance from the sea-coast
4. Lack of religious institutions

1. Lack of agriculture ❌
2. Absence of towns ❌ Towns existed in different periods.
3. Distance from the sea-coast ✅ Much of the subcontinent lay hundreds of kilometres from the coast.
4. Lack of religious institutions ❌

4 Which statement best describes ancient Indian life in the passage?

1. Primarily industrial and highly mobile
2. Primarily agrarian and comparatively immobile
3. Primarily maritime and nomadic
4. Primarily urban and commercial

1. Primarily industrial and highly mobile ❌
2. Primarily agrarian and comparatively immobile ✅ This is the description given in the text.
3. Primarily maritime and nomadic ❌
4. Primarily urban and commercial ❌

5 Which religions originated in India besides Hinduism, according to the passage?

1. Christianity and Islam
2. Judaism and Christianity
3. Jainism and Buddhism
4. Zoroastrianism and Islam

1. Christianity and Islam ❌
2. Judaism and Christianity ❌
3. Jainism and Buddhism ✅ Both are identified as religions that arose in India.
4. Zoroastrianism and Islam ❌

6 According to the text, Christianity came to India around:

1. 3rd century BC
2. 1st century BC
3. 1st century AD
4. 7th century AD

1. 3rd century BC ❌
2. 1st century BC ❌
3. 1st century AD ✅ The passage places its arrival at about the first century AD.
4. 7th century AD ❌

7 Which of the following best describes the spread of Buddhism mentioned in the text?

1. Only within India
2. Only to Western Europe
3. To Japan in the east and Central Asia in the north-west
4. Only to Africa

1. Only within India ❌
2. Only to Western Europe ❌
3. To Japan in the east and Central Asia in the north-west ✅ Both regions are explicitly mentioned.
4. Only to Africa ❌

8 What did Buddhism help transmit to neighbouring regions?

1. Only military techniques
2. Indian art, language and literature
3. Only agricultural tools
4. Only political constitutions

1. Only military techniques ❌
2. Indian art, language and literature ✅ These cultural elements spread during Buddhism's diffusion.
3. Only agricultural tools ❌
4. Only political constitutions ❌

9 What gave varna laws authority in ancient India, according to the passage?

1. Religion alone
2. The state alone
3. Village assemblies alone
4. Both the state and religion

1. Religion alone ❌
2. The state alone ❌
3. Village assemblies alone ❌
4. Both the state and religion ✅ The text stresses the combined sanction of both.

10 The prescribed functions of social groups were believed to have been laid down by:

1. Foreign rulers
2. Merchants
3. Divine agencies
4. Village councils exclusively

1. Foreign rulers ❌
2. Merchants ❌
3. Divine agencies ✅ Social functions were believed to have divine sanction.
4. Village councils exclusively ❌

11 What could happen to individuals who departed from their prescribed social functions?

1. Only a monetary reward
2. Automatic promotion
3. Secular punishment, rituals and penances
4. No consequences of any kind

1. Only a monetary reward ❌
2. Automatic promotion ❌
3. Secular punishment, rituals and penances ✅ The text mentions both secular and religious consequences, varying by varna.
4. No consequences of any kind ❌

12 What did varnas and jatis eventually become in the eyes of law and religion?

1. Temporary occupations
2. Voluntary associations
3. Hereditary social categories
4. Purely economic classes without family links

1. Temporary occupations ❌
2. Voluntary associations ❌
3. Hereditary social categories ✅ The text says both varnas and jatis came to be regarded as hereditary.
4. Purely economic classes without family links ❌

13 Which of the following correctly matches the prescribed varna functions?

1. Brahmanas—rulers; Kshatriyas—priests
2. Vaishyas—labourers; Shudras—tax collectors
3. Brahmanas—priests; Kshatriyas—rulers
4. Shudras—priests; Brahmanas—peasants

1. Brahmanas—rulers; Kshatriyas—priests ❌ Their functions are reversed.
2. Vaishyas—labourers; Shudras—tax collectors ❌ Their prescribed functions are reversed.
3. Brahmanas—priests; Kshatriyas—rulers ✅ This is the correct pairing in the text.
4. Shudras—priests; Brahmanas—peasants ❌

14 According to the text, what did the Bhagavad Gita teach about dharma?

1. Everyone should abandon all duties
2. People should always adopt another person's dharma
3. People should defend their own dharma rather than adopt another's
4. Dharma should be determined only by wealth

1. Everyone should abandon all duties ❌
2. People should always adopt another person's dharma ❌
3. People should defend their own dharma rather than adopt another's ✅ The text says adopting another's dharma is dangerous and stresses defending one's own.
4. Dharma should be determined only by wealth ❌

15 What belief encouraged lower social orders to work hard, according to the passage?

1. Guaranteed political power
2. Immediate exemption from taxation
3. A better life in the next world or birth
4. Guaranteed ownership of all land

1. Guaranteed political power ❌
2. Immediate exemption from taxation ❌
3. A better life in the next world or birth ✅ The text identifies this belief as a motivation for hard work.
4. Guaranteed ownership of all land ❌

16 According to the text, what effect did religious conviction have on social conflict?

1. It eliminated every form of inequality
2. It increased conflict in every case
3. It reduced the intensity and frequency of tensions and conflicts
4. It ended agricultural production

1. It eliminated every form of inequality ❌ The text does not make this claim.
2. It increased conflict in every case ❌
3. It reduced the intensity and frequency of tensions and conflicts ✅ This is the effect described in the passage.
4. It ended agricultural production ❌

17 According to the author's comparison, how were producing classes in Greece and Rome compelled to work?

1. Through religious conviction alone
2. Through universal voting rights
3. Under the threat of the whip
4. Through tax exemptions

1. Through religious conviction alone ❌
2. Through universal voting rights ❌
3. Under the threat of the whip ✅ This is the author's contrast with the role of conviction in ancient India.
4. Through tax exemptions ❌

Chapter 27: Philosophical Systems

Study Notes

How did Indian thinkers often view the world?	As illusion
Which fundamental relationship did Indian thinkers deeply investigate?	Soul and God
For what is ancient India especially famous in intellectual history?	Philosophy and spiritualism
Did ancient Indians develop only idealist philosophy?	No; they developed materialist philosophy too
How many philosophical systems are mentioned in the text?	Six
Which system contained materialist elements and was associated with Kapila?	Sankhya
Around when was Kapila born according to the text?	580 BC
How could the soul attain liberation according to Kapila?	Through real knowledge
How could real knowledge be acquired according to Sankhya?	Observation, inference and words
Did Sankhya recognize the existence of God?	No
According to Sankhya, what created the world?	Nature, not God
According to Sankhya, what regulates the world and human life?	Natural forces
Who gave materialist philosophy its greatest impetus according to the text?	Charvaka
Around when did Charvaka live?	6th century BC
What was Charvaka's philosophy called?	Lokayata
According to Charvaka, what determines whether something really exists?	Sensory experience
What did Charvaka's view imply about gods?	They do not exist
Which two broad philosophical orientations developed in ancient India?	Idealist and materialist
What did the idealist system teach about the world?	The world is illusion and ignorance
What did the Upanishads encourage people to abandon?	The world, in pursuit of real knowledge
Why did Western thinkers turn to the Upanishads according to the passage?	They could not solve human problems created by modern technology
Which German philosopher admired the Vedas and Upanishads?	Schopenhauer
What did Schopenhauer say the Upanishads provided him?	Consolation in life and after death

MCQs

1 Which subject did Indian thinkers investigate deeply in relation to the soul?

1. Trade and taxation
2. God
3. Shipbuilding
4. Military organisation

1. Trade and taxation ❌
2. God ✅ The relationship between soul and God was a central philosophical concern.
3. Shipbuilding ❌
4. Military organisation ❌

2 How many philosophical systems does the text mention?

1. Four
2. Five
3. Six
4. Eight

1. Four ❌
2. Five ❌
3. Six ✅ The passage refers to six systems of Indian philosophy.
4. Eight ❌

3 Which philosopher is associated with the Sankhya system in the passage?

1. Charaka
2. Panini
3. Kapila
4. Varahamihira

1. Charaka ❌ He is associated with medicine.
2. Panini ❌ He is associated with Sanskrit grammar.
3. Kapila ✅ The text associates Kapila with Sankhya.
4. Varahamihira ❌ He is associated with astronomy.

4 According to the passage, Kapila was born around:

1. 580 AD
2. 580 BC
3. 300 BC
4. 476 AD

1. 580 AD ❌
2. 580 BC ✅ This is the approximate date stated in the passage.
3. 300 BC ❌
4. 476 AD ❌

5 According to Sankhya, how can the soul attain liberation?

1. Through wealth
2. Through rituals alone
3. Through real knowledge
4. Through political power

1. Through wealth ❌
2. Through rituals alone ❌
3. Through real knowledge ✅ The text explicitly identifies real knowledge as the path to liberation.
4. Through political power ❌

6 Which combination lists the means of acquiring real knowledge according to Sankhya in the text?

1. Faith, wealth and ritual
2. Observation, inference and words
3. Prayer, sacrifice and pilgrimage
4. Memory, imagination and dreams only

1. Faith, wealth and ritual ❌
2. Observation, inference and words ✅ These three means are listed in the passage.
3. Prayer, sacrifice and pilgrimage ❌
4. Memory, imagination and dreams only ❌

7 Which statement about God is consistent with the Sankhya system described in the passage?

1. God created the world
2. God regulates every natural force
3. The system does not recognize God's existence
4. God alone grants sensory experience

1. God created the world ❌
2. God regulates every natural force ❌
3. The system does not recognize God's existence ✅ The text describes Sankhya as non-theistic.
4. God alone grants sensory experience ❌

8 According to Sankhya, the world is created by:

1. God
2. Human beings
3. Nature
4. Priests

1. God ❌
2. Human beings ❌
3. Nature ✅ The passage says the world is created by nature and regulated by natural forces.
4. Priests ❌

9 Who gave materialist philosophy its greatest impetus according to the passage?

1. Kapila alone
2. Charvaka
3. Schopenhauer
4. Panini

1. Kapila alone ❌ Kapila's Sankhya system contained materialist elements, but Charvaka is identified as giving materialism its greatest impetus.
2. Charvaka ✅ The text identifies him as the major proponent.
3. Schopenhauer ❌ He was a German philosopher influenced by the Upanishads.
4. Panini ❌ He was a grammarian.

10 Charvaka's philosophy was known as:

1. Sankhya
2. Vedanta
3. Lokayata
4. Nyaya

1. Sankhya ❌
2. Vedanta ❌
3. Lokayata ✅ This is the name given to Charvaka's philosophy in the passage.
4. Nyaya ❌

11 According to Charvaka, what does not really exist?

1. Everything perceived through the senses
2. All material objects
3. What is not experienced through the sensory organs
4. All observable natural phenomena

1. Everything perceived through the senses ❌
2. All material objects ❌
3. What is not experienced through the sensory organs ✅ The text presents sensory experience as the criterion of existence in Charvaka's view.
4. All observable natural phenomena ❌

12 What did Charvaka's argument imply about gods?

1. They created the universe
2. They govern all natural forces
3. They do not exist
4. They can be perceived by everyone

1. They created the universe ❌
2. They govern all natural forces ❌
3. They do not exist ✅ This is the implication the passage draws from Charvaka's position.
4. They can be perceived by everyone ❌

13 Which two broad orientations of philosophy developed in ancient India according to the text?

1. Only religious and political
2. Only spiritual and ritualistic
3. Idealist and materialist
4. Only mathematical and medical

1. Only religious and political ❌
2. Only spiritual and ritualistic ❌
3. Idealist and materialist ✅ The passage acknowledges both orientations.
4. Only mathematical and medical ❌

14 Which texts encouraged people to abandon the world and strive for real knowledge according to the passage?

1. The Charakasamhita
2. The Ashtadhyayi
3. The Upanishads
4. The Brihatsamhita

1. The Charakasamhita ❌ A work of medicine.
2. The Ashtadhyayi ❌ A work of Sanskrit grammar.
3. The Upanishads ✅ The passage associates them with the pursuit of real knowledge.
4. The Brihatsamhita ❌ A work associated with Varahamihira.

15 Which German philosopher is mentioned as finding a place for the Vedas and Upanishads in his system?

1. Kant
2. Hegel
3. Schopenhauer
4. Nietzsche

1. Kant ❌
2. Hegel ❌
3. Schopenhauer ✅ The passage names Schopenhauer and reports his admiration for the Upanishads.
4. Nietzsche ❌

16 What did Schopenhauer reportedly say about the Upanishads?

1. They taught him shipbuilding
2. They provided him with political authority
3. They consoled him in life and would console him after death
4. They replaced all scientific inquiry

1. They taught him shipbuilding ❌
2. They provided him with political authority ❌
3. They consoled him in life and would console him after death ✅ This is the statement attributed to him in the passage.
4. They replaced all scientific inquiry ❌

Chapter 27: Crafts

Study Notes

Did ancient Indians make progress in material culture?	Yes
In what fields did Indian craftsmen achieve proficiency?	Several fields of production
In which craft were Indian craftsmen especially skilled in producing colours?	Dyeing
What qualities distinguished the colours produced in India?	Brightness and durability
Which paintings illustrate the durability of ancient Indian colours?	Ajanta and Ellora paintings
In which metalworking craft were Indians especially skilled?	Steelmaking
Where was steelmaking first developed according to the text?	India
To which regions was Indian steel exported from early times?	Many countries worldwide
What was Indian steel called in later times?	Wootz
What Indian steel products were in great demand?	Steel swords
Across which regions were Indian steel swords in demand?	Asia to Europe

MCQs

1 Which crafts were Indian craftsmen particularly skilled in, according to the passage?

1. Only pottery
2. Only weaving
3. Dyeing, colour production and steelmaking
4. Only shipbuilding

1. Only pottery ❌
2. Only weaving ❌
3. Dyeing, colour production and steelmaking ✅ These crafts are specifically highlighted in the passage.
4. Only shipbuilding ❌

2 What qualities of Indian colours helped ancient paintings survive?

1. They were cheap and easily washable
2. They were shining and lasting
3. They were exclusively black
4. They were made from steel

1. They were cheap and easily washable ❌
2. They were shining and lasting ✅ The passage credits the colours' brilliance and durability.
3. They were exclusively black ❌
4. They were made from steel ❌

3 What was Indian steel called in later times?

1. Bronze
2. Damascus exclusively
3. Wootz
4. Electrum

1. Bronze ❌
2. Damascus exclusively ❌
3. Wootz ✅ The text identifies wootz as the later name for Indian steel.
4. Electrum ❌

4 Indian steel swords were in great demand across which region?

1. India alone
2. Only East Asia
3. Only Africa
4. From Asia to Europe

1. India alone ❌
2. Only East Asia ❌
3. Only Africa ❌
4. From Asia to Europe ✅ The passage describes demand across this broad region.

Chapter 27: Polity

Study Notes

With which other ancient country did India experiment with forms of democracy?	Greece
Which great Indian ruler won a major victory over Kalinga?	Ashoka
What policy did Ashoka adopt after his victory over Kalinga?	Peace and non-aggression
What religious policy did Ashoka and several other Indian kings practise?	Religious toleration
What did these rulers stress regarding followers of other religions?	Respect for their wishes

MCQs

1 According to the passage, which two countries experimented with some form of democracy in ancient times?

1. India and Rome
2. India and Greece
3. India and China
4. Greece and Persia

1. India and Rome ❌
2. India and Greece ✅ The passage explicitly compares India with Greece.
3. India and China ❌
4. Greece and Persia ❌

2 Which ruler adopted a policy of peace and non-aggression after victory over Kalinga?

1. Chandragupta I
2. Samudragupta
3. Ashoka
4. Harsha

1. Chandragupta I ❌
2. Samudragupta ❌
3. Ashoka ✅ The passage links Ashoka's policy to his victory over Kalinga.
4. Harsha ❌

3 What religious approach did Ashoka and several other Indian kings practise?

1. Compulsory conversion
2. Religious isolation
3. Religious toleration
4. Prohibition of all religions

1. Compulsory conversion ❌
2. Religious isolation ❌
3. Religious toleration ✅ The text stresses respect for the wishes of followers of other religions.
4. Prohibition of all religions ❌

Chapter 27: Science and Mathematics

Study Notes

How were religion and science related in ancient India?	Closely interconnected
Why did astronomy make substantial progress in ancient India?	Planets were regarded as gods and their movements closely observed
Why was studying planetary movements important for agriculture?	Changes in seasons and weather conditions
Why did grammar and linguistics develop among ancient Brahmanas?	Vedic prayers and mantras required meticulous correctness
What was an early result of the scientific outlook of Indians?	Sanskrit grammar
Who systematized Sanskrit grammar in the 4th century BC?	Panini
What was Panini's famous grammatical work called?	Ashtadhyayi
By which century did mathematics, astronomy and medicine begin to develop separately?	3rd century BC
What three major mathematical contributions are identified in the text?	Notation system, decimal system and zero
When is the earliest epigraphic evidence for the decimal system dated?	Beginning of the 5th century AD
Who adopted the Indian notational system and spread it to the West?	Arabs
What are Indian numerals called in English?	Arabic numerals
What did the Arabs call their numerals, according to the text?	Hindsa
Where had the numerals been used before reaching the West?	India, for centuries
In which inscriptions are early Indian numerals found according to the text?	Ashoka's inscriptions
From which century BC do Ashoka's inscriptions mentioned here date?	3rd century BC
Who was acquainted with the decimal system according to the text?	Aryabhata
When did Aryabhata live?	AD 476–500, as stated in the passage
From whom did the Chinese learn the decimal system?	Buddhist missionaries
How did the Western world obtain the decimal system?	Through the Arabs, who had learned it from India
When was zero discovered in India according to the passage?	About the 2nd century BC
How did Indian mathematicians treat zero?	As a separate numeral
What was the earliest use of zero in Arabia dated to in the text?	AD 873
From where did the Arabs learn zero?	India
How did zero spread into Europe?	Through the Arabs
Who contributed to the development of algebra?	Indians and Greeks
Through whom did Western Europe obtain algebraic knowledge according to the passage?	Arabs, who had acquired it from India
Who produced practical geometry for altar construction in the 2nd century BC?	Apastamba
What was the purpose of Apastamba's geometry?	Construction of sacrificial altars for kings
Which angles are described in Apastamba's geometry?	Acute, obtuse and right angles
Who formulated the rule for finding the area of a triangle?	Aryabhata
What development did Aryabhata's triangle-area rule help initiate?	Trigonometry
What famous astronomical work is mentioned as unparalleled in the contemporary ancient East?	Suryasiddhanta
Who were the most renowned astronomers mentioned in the text?	Aryabhata and Varahamihira
To which centuries did Aryabhata and Varahamihira belong respectively?	5th and 6th centuries AD
Which method did Aryabhata use to calculate planetary positions?	Babylonian method
What did Aryabhata identify as the cause of lunar and solar eclipses?	The passage credits him with discovering their causes
What did Aryabhata estimate about Earth's circumference?	A value the text says remains correct even now
What did Aryabhata state about the Sun and Earth?	The Sun is stationary; Earth rotates
What is Aryabhata's famous book called?	Aryabhatiya
What is Varahamihira's famous work called?	Brihatsamhita
To which century does the Brihatsamhita belong?	6th century AD
What did Varahamihira state about the Moon and Earth?	The Moon revolves around Earth
What did Varahamihira state about Earth and the Sun?	Earth revolves around the Sun
Which foreign tradition influenced Varahamihira's astronomical explanations?	Greek works
Did Greek influence prevent Indian astronomers from developing the subject further?	No
How did Indian astronomers use their knowledge?	Observations of planetary movements
Which applied science benefited from Indian craftsmen?	Chemistry
What did Indian dyers invent?	Lasting colours
Which colour did Indian dyers also discover according to the text?	Blue

MCQs

1 Why did astronomy make progress in ancient India, according to the passage?

1. Because sea travel was compulsory
2. Because planets were regarded as gods and their movements were observed
3. Because all mathematics was prohibited
4. Because agriculture did not exist

1. Because sea travel was compulsory ❌
2. Because planets were regarded as gods and their movements were observed ✅ Religious beliefs encouraged observation of the planets.
3. Because all mathematics was prohibited ❌
4. Because agriculture did not exist ❌

2 Why did grammar and linguistics develop among the ancient Brahmanas?

1. To improve shipbuilding
2. To establish trade routes
3. To ensure correct recitation of Vedic prayers and mantras
4. To calculate taxes only

1. To improve shipbuilding ❌
2. To establish trade routes ❌
3. To ensure correct recitation of Vedic prayers and mantras ✅ Meticulous correctness in recitation encouraged grammatical study.
4. To calculate taxes only ❌

3 Who systematized the rules of Sanskrit grammar in the 4th century BC?

1. Aryabhata
2. Charaka
3. Panini
4. Apastamba

1. Aryabhata ❌
2. Charaka ❌
3. Panini ✅ The text credits Panini with systematizing Sanskrit grammar.
4. Apastamba ❌

4 What is the name of Panini's grammatical work?

1. Aryabhatiya
2. Brihatsamhita
3. Ashtadhyayi
4. Suryasiddhanta

1. Aryabhatiya ❌
2. Brihatsamhita ❌
3. Ashtadhyayi ✅ This is Panini's work on Sanskrit grammar.
4. Suryasiddhanta ❌

5 Which three mathematical contributions of ancient India are highlighted in the text?

1. Calculus, logarithms and matrices
2. Algebra, calculus and statistics only
3. Notation system, decimal system and zero
4. Geometry, calculus and probability only

1. Calculus, logarithms and matrices ❌
2. Algebra, calculus and statistics only ❌
3. Notation system, decimal system and zero ✅ These are the three distinct contributions listed in the passage.
4. Geometry, calculus and probability only ❌

6 When does the passage place the earliest epigraphic evidence for the decimal system?

1. 3rd century BC
2. 2nd century BC
3. Beginning of the 5th century AD
4. 9th century AD

1. 3rd century BC ❌
2. 2nd century BC ❌
3. Beginning of the 5th century AD ✅ This is the date stated for the earliest epigraphic evidence.
4. 9th century AD ❌

7 What are Indian numerals called in English according to the text?

1. Roman numerals
2. Greek numerals
3. Arabic numerals
4. Babylonian numerals

1. Roman numerals ❌
2. Greek numerals ❌
3. Arabic numerals ✅ The text notes that English calls them Arabic numerals although they originated in India.
4. Babylonian numerals ❌

8 What name did the Arabs themselves use for their numerals according to the passage?

1. Ashtadhyayi
2. Hindsa
3. Lokayata
4. Wootz

1. Ashtadhyayi ❌
2. Hindsa ✅ The passage uses this term for the numerals as called by the Arabs.
3. Lokayata ❌
4. Wootz ❌

9 In which inscriptions does the passage identify the use of Indian numerals dating to the 3rd century BC?

1. Gupta inscriptions
2. Chola inscriptions
3. Ashoka's inscriptions
4. Harappan seals exclusively

1. Gupta inscriptions ❌
2. Chola inscriptions ❌
3. Ashoka's inscriptions ✅ The passage specifically mentions Ashoka's inscriptions.
4. Harappan seals exclusively ❌

10 From whom did the Chinese learn the decimal system according to the passage?

1. Greek soldiers
2. Roman merchants
3. Buddhist missionaries
4. Persian rulers

1. Greek soldiers ❌
2. Roman merchants ❌
3. Buddhist missionaries ✅ The text attributes the transmission of the decimal system to Buddhist missionaries.
4. Persian rulers ❌

11 According to the text, when was zero discovered by Indians?

1. 5th century AD
2. 9th century AD
3. About the 2nd century BC
4. 1st century AD

1. 5th century AD ❌
2. 9th century AD ❌
3. About the 2nd century BC ✅ This is the approximate date stated in the passage.
4. 1st century AD ❌

12 How did ancient Indian mathematicians treat zero?

1. As a punctuation mark
2. Only as a religious symbol
3. As a separate numeral
4. As an angle

1. As a punctuation mark ❌
2. Only as a religious symbol ❌
3. As a separate numeral ✅ The text says zero was used as a distinct numeral in arithmetic.
4. As an angle ❌

13 When does the passage date the earliest use of zero in Arabia?

1. AD 476
2. AD 500
3. AD 873
4. AD 1200

1. AD 476 ❌
2. AD 500 ❌
3. AD 873 ✅ This is the date stated in the passage.
4. AD 1200 ❌

14 Which statement about the development and transmission of algebra matches the text?

1. Only the Greeks developed algebra, and India received it from Europe
2. Only the Romans developed algebra
3. Indians and Greeks contributed, while Western Europe received the knowledge through Arabs who acquired it from India
4. Algebra developed only after the Renaissance

1. Only the Greeks developed algebra, and India received it from Europe ❌
2. Only the Romans developed algebra ❌
3. Indians and Greeks contributed, while Western Europe received the knowledge through Arabs who acquired it from India ✅ This accurately captures the passage's account.
4. Algebra developed only after the Renaissance ❌

15 Who produced practical geometry for the construction of sacrificial altars in the 2nd century BC?

1. Panini
2. Aryabhata
3. Apastamba
4. Varahamihira

1. Panini ❌
2. Aryabhata ❌
3. Apastamba ✅ The text credits Apastamba with practical geometry for altar construction.
4. Varahamihira ❌

16 Which types of angles are described in Apastamba's geometry?

1. Only reflex and complete angles
2. Only acute and reflex angles
3. Acute, obtuse and right angles
4. Only straight and complete angles

1. Only reflex and complete angles ❌
2. Only acute and reflex angles ❌
3. Acute, obtuse and right angles ✅ All three are listed in the passage.
4. Only straight and complete angles ❌

17 Who formulated a rule for finding the area of a triangle, helping the development of trigonometry?

1. Panini
2. Aryabhata
3. Charaka
4. Kapila

1. Panini ❌
2. Aryabhata ✅ The passage links his triangle-area rule with the origin of trigonometry.
3. Charaka ❌
4. Kapila ❌

18 Which astronomical work is described as unparalleled in the contemporary ancient East?

1. Ashtadhyayi
2. Charakasamhita
3. Suryasiddhanta
4. Rig Veda

1. Ashtadhyayi ❌
2. Charakasamhita ❌
3. Suryasiddhanta ✅ The passage singles out this astronomical work.
4. Rig Veda ❌

19 Which astronomer calculated planetary positions using the Babylonian method?

1. Varahamihira
2. Panini
3. Aryabhata
4. Apastamba

1. Varahamihira ❌
2. Panini ❌
3. Aryabhata ✅ The text specifically attributes the method to Aryabhata.
4. Apastamba ❌

20 Which book is associated with Aryabhata?

1. Brihatsamhita
2. Suryasiddhanta
3. Aryabhatiya
4. Ashtadhyayi

1. Brihatsamhita ❌
2. Suryasiddhanta ❌
3. Aryabhatiya ✅ The passage identifies Aryabhatiya as Aryabhata's book.
4. Ashtadhyayi ❌

21 Which statement about Aryabhata's astronomical views is correct according to the text?

1. The Earth is stationary and the Sun rotates around it
2. The Moon is stationary in space
3. The Sun is stationary and the Earth rotates
4. The Earth does not rotate

1. The Earth is stationary and the Sun rotates around it ❌
2. The Moon is stationary in space ❌
3. The Sun is stationary and the Earth rotates ✅ This is the view attributed to Aryabhata in the passage.
4. The Earth does not rotate ❌

22 Which work of Varahamihira belongs to the 6th century AD?

1. Aryabhatiya
2. Ashtadhyayi
3. Brihatsamhita
4. Charakasamhita

1. Aryabhatiya ❌
2. Ashtadhyayi ❌
3. Brihatsamhita ✅ The text identifies it as Varahamihira's well-known work.
4. Charakasamhita ❌

23 Which statement about Varahamihira matches the passage?

1. He wrote the Ashtadhyayi
2. He rejected all Greek astronomical works
3. He used Greek works to explain planetary movements and other astronomical problems
4. He developed the first Indian steel

1. He wrote the Ashtadhyayi ❌
2. He rejected all Greek astronomical works ❌ The passage says he used several Greek works.
3. He used Greek works to explain planetary movements and other astronomical problems ✅ This is explicitly stated.
4. He developed the first Indian steel ❌

24 Which applied field benefited from Indian craftsmen's expertise in dyeing and metalworking?

1. Botany alone
2. Political science
3. Chemistry
4. Military administration

1. Botany alone ❌
2. Political science ❌
3. Chemistry ✅ The text identifies craftsmanship as contributing to chemistry.
4. Military administration ❌

25 Which colour did Indian dyers discover according to the passage?

1. Violet
2. Orange
3. Blue
4. White

1. Violet ❌
2. Orange ❌
3. Blue ✅ The text specifically mentions the discovery of blue colour.
4. White ❌

Chapter 27: Medicine

Study Notes

What did ancient Indian physicians study?	Anatomy
What methods did physicians devise?	Disease diagnosis and treatment
Which text contains the earliest mention of medicines according to the passage?	Atharva Veda
What limited the scientific development of early medicine?	Magical charms and spells
Which two famous Ayurveda scholars emerged in post-Maurya times?	Sushruta and Charaka
Which medical text was written by Sushruta?	Sushrutasamhita
Which operations and ailments did Sushruta describe treating?	Cataract, stone disease and other ailments
How many surgical implements did Sushruta mention?	121
Which two factors did Sushruta emphasise in disease treatment?	Diet and cleanliness
When did Charaka write the Charakasamhita according to the text?	2nd century AD
How is the Charakasamhita characterised?	An encyclopaedia of Indian medicine
Which diseases and conditions are described in the Charakasamhita?	Fever, leprosy, hysteria and tuberculosis
Did Charaka possibly understand that some listed diseases were infectious?	No, according to the text
What natural resources are listed in the Charakasamhita for medicinal use?	Plants and herbs
Besides medicine, what other fields benefit from the Charakasamhita?	Study of ancient Indian flora and chemistry
On whose lines did Indian medicine develop in subsequent centuries?	Charaka's

MCQs

1 Which subject did ancient Indian physicians study?

1. Only political science
2. Anatomy
3. Only astronomy
4. Only grammar

1. Only political science ❌
2. Anatomy ✅ The text states that ancient Indian physicians studied anatomy.
3. Only astronomy ❌
4. Only grammar ❌

2 Which text contains the earliest mention of medicines according to the passage?

1. Rig Veda
2. Charakasamhita
3. Atharva Veda
4. Brihatsamhita

1. Rig Veda ❌
2. Charakasamhita ❌
3. Atharva Veda ✅ The passage identifies it as the earliest source mentioned for medicines.
4. Brihatsamhita ❌

3 What hindered the scientific development of ancient medicine according to the text?

1. Absence of medicinal plants
2. Absence of anatomy
3. Reliance on magical charms and spells
4. Complete lack of disease diagnosis

1. Absence of medicinal plants ❌
2. Absence of anatomy ❌
3. Reliance on magical charms and spells ✅ The passage says such remedies limited medicine's scientific development.
4. Complete lack of disease diagnosis ❌ The text says physicians devised diagnostic methods.

4 Which two scholars of Ayurveda are mentioned for post-Maurya times?

1. Panini and Kapila
2. Aryabhata and Varahamihira
3. Sushruta and Charaka
4. Ashoka and Kalidasa

1. Panini and Kapila ❌
2. Aryabhata and Varahamihira ❌
3. Sushruta and Charaka ✅ The passage identifies both as famous Ayurveda scholars.
4. Ashoka and Kalidasa ❌

5 Which medical work is associated with Sushruta?

1. Charakasamhita
2. Sushrutasamhita
3. Aryabhatiya
4. Ashtadhyayi

1. Charakasamhita ❌
2. Sushrutasamhita ✅ This text describes Sushruta's surgical knowledge.
3. Aryabhatiya ❌
4. Ashtadhyayi ❌

6 How many surgical implements did Sushruta mention?

1. 21
2. 101
3. 121
4. 221

1. 21 ❌
2. 101 ❌
3. 121 ✅ The passage explicitly gives the number as 121.
4. 221 ❌

7 Which two factors did Sushruta particularly emphasise in treatment?

1. Wealth and social status
2. Prayer and pilgrimage alone
3. Diet and cleanliness
4. Exercise and astronomy

1. Wealth and social status ❌
2. Prayer and pilgrimage alone ❌
3. Diet and cleanliness ✅ These are the two factors explicitly emphasised in the text.
4. Exercise and astronomy ❌

8 When did Charaka write the Charakasamhita according to the passage?

1. 2nd century BC
2. 1st century BC
3. 2nd century AD
4. 6th century AD

1. 2nd century BC ❌
2. 1st century BC ❌
3. 2nd century AD ✅ The passage dates Charaka's work to the second century AD.
4. 6th century AD ❌

9 How does the text characterise the Charakasamhita?

1. A work exclusively on grammar
2. A book on political administration
3. An encyclopaedia of Indian medicine
4. A treatise exclusively on geometry

1. A work exclusively on grammar ❌
2. A book on political administration ❌
3. An encyclopaedia of Indian medicine ✅ The passage describes its extensive coverage of diseases and medicines.
4. A treatise exclusively on geometry ❌

10 Which group of conditions is described in the Charakasamhita?

1. Only eye diseases
2. Fever, leprosy, hysteria and tuberculosis
3. Only bone fractures
4. Only infectious diseases identified by modern microbiology

1. Only eye diseases ❌
2. Fever, leprosy, hysteria and tuberculosis ✅ All four are mentioned in the passage.
3. Only bone fractures ❌
4. Only infectious diseases identified by modern microbiology ❌

11 Besides medicine, what other subjects can be studied through the Charakasamhita?

1. Only astronomy and mathematics
2. Only military history
3. Ancient Indian flora and chemistry
4. Only architecture

1. Only astronomy and mathematics ❌
2. Only military history ❌
3. Ancient Indian flora and chemistry ✅ The text mentions its lists of medicinal plants and herbs.
4. Only architecture ❌

Chapter 27: Geography

Study Notes

Did ancient Indians contribute to geography?	Yes, to some extent
What was the geographical limitation of ancient Indians?	Limited knowledge of lands outside India
Which geographical features of India are described in the epics and Puranas?	Rivers, mountain ranges, pilgrimage places and regions
Were ancient Indians acquainted with China and Western countries?	Yes
What did ancient Indians lack regarding China and Western countries?	Clear knowledge of their locations and distances from India
Which maritime skills did ancient Indians develop?	Navigation and shipbuilding
Why did ancient Indian princes pay limited attention to navigation?	Political centres were far from the coast and there was little perceived danger from the sea

MCQs

1 Which sources describe Indian rivers, mountain ranges, pilgrimage places and regions?

1. Only Greek plays
2. Epics and Puranas
3. Only medical texts
4. Only inscriptions of the Gupta rulers

1. Only Greek plays ❌
2. Epics and Puranas ✅ The text identifies these sources for geographical descriptions of India.
3. Only medical texts ❌
4. Only inscriptions of the Gupta rulers ❌

2 What did ancient Indians know about China and Western countries according to the passage?

1. Nothing at all
2. Exact distances and precise locations
3. They knew of them but lacked clear knowledge of their locations and distances
4. They considered them part of India

1. Nothing at all ❌
2. Exact distances and precise locations ❌
3. They knew of them but lacked clear knowledge of their locations and distances ✅ This captures the distinction in the passage.
4. They considered them part of India ❌

3 Which maritime skills had ancient Indians developed?

1. Only fishing
2. Only coastal defence
3. Navigation and shipbuilding
4. Only oceanography in its modern form

1. Only fishing ❌
2. Only coastal defence ❌
3. Navigation and shipbuilding ✅ Both are explicitly mentioned.
4. Only oceanography in its modern form ❌

4 Why did ancient Indian princes pay limited attention to navigation according to the text?

1. They had no knowledge of ships
2. They prohibited all foreign trade
3. Political centres were far from the coast and there was no perceived danger from the sea
4. India had no coastline

1. They had no knowledge of ships ❌
2. They prohibited all foreign trade ❌
3. Political centres were far from the coast and there was no perceived danger from the sea ✅ These are the reasons supplied by the passage.
4. India had no coastline ❌

Chapter 27: Art and Literature

Study Notes

What did ancient Indian masons and craftsmen produce?	Beautiful works of art
Which monuments are famous for their shining polish?	Ashoka's monolithic pillars
Which pottery has polish comparable to that of Ashokan pillars?	Northern Black Polished Ware
What remains mysterious about the polish on pillars and pottery?	How craftsmen achieved it
Which figures commonly crowned Mauryan polished pillars?	Animal statues, especially lions
Which ancient capital was adopted as India's national emblem?	Lion Capital
Which famous cave complex and paintings are highlighted in the text?	Ajanta
When do Ajanta's cave temples date from?	2nd century BC to 7th century AD
How many cave temples does Ajanta contain according to the text?	30
When did Ajanta's paintings appear according to the passage?	2nd century AD
To which period do most Ajanta paintings belong?	Gupta period
What were the principal themes of Ajanta's paintings?	Previous incarnations of Buddha and ancient literature
How has the achievement of Ajanta painters been regarded?	Highly praised by art connoisseurs
What do Ajanta's lines and colours demonstrate?	Exceptional artistic proficiency
Before which European artistic period does the text say comparable proficiency was not found?	Renaissance
To which regions did Indian art spread?	Central Asia, China and South-East Asia
Which region was the focal point for spreading Indian art into Afghanistan and neighbouring Central Asia?	Gandhara
Which artistic traditions fused in Gandhara art?	Indian, Central Asian and Hellenistic
Which major Buddhist image was first fashioned in the Gandhara style according to the text?	Statue of the Buddha
Which aspects of the Gandhara Buddha image show Greek influence?	Size, head presentation and drapery
Which aspects of the Gandhara Buddha image are described as Indian?	Features
Which South-East Asian temples are cited as examples of Indian artistic influence?	Angkor Wat in Kampuchea and Borobudur in Java
Which major monastic institution attracted students from India and abroad?	Nalanda
From which regions outside India did Nalanda attract students?	Tibet and China
Who determined whether candidates could enter Nalanda according to the passage?	Dvarapandita, the scholar at the gate
How strict were Nalanda's admission examinations?	Strict; only those who passed the prescribed test could enter
What kind of educational institution was Nalanda?	Residential and teaching institution
Who lived at Nalanda?	Thousands of monks
What pursuits occupied Nalanda's monks?	Learning, philosophy and meditation
Which text is identified as the earliest specimen of Indo-Aryan literature?	Rig Veda
What has the Rig Veda helped scholars determine?	The nature of Aryan culture
Which famous poet and playwright flourished in Gupta times?	Kalidasa
Which play by Kalidasa is mentioned in the text?	Abhijnanasakuntalam
Into how many languages has Abhijnanasakuntalam been translated according to the passage?	All important languages of the world

MCQs

1 Which monuments are particularly famous for their shining polish?

1. Chola bronze statues
2. Gupta coins
3. Ashoka's monolithic pillars
4. Harappan seals only

1. Chola bronze statues ❌
2. Gupta coins ❌
3. Ashoka's monolithic pillars ✅ Their shining polish is specifically highlighted.
4. Harappan seals only ❌

2 The polish on Ashokan pillars is compared with that on:

1. Red pottery of South India
2. Northern Black Polished Ware
3. Roman glassware
4. Chinese porcelain

1. Red pottery of South India ❌
2. Northern Black Polished Ware ✅ The text compares the polish of the pillars with this pottery.
3. Roman glassware ❌
4. Chinese porcelain ❌

3 Which animals especially appeared as statues atop Mauryan polished pillars?

1. Horses only
2. Elephants only
3. Lions
4. Camels

1. Horses only ❌
2. Elephants only ❌
3. Lions ✅ The passage highlights animal capitals, especially lions.
4. Camels ❌

4 Which capital was adopted as the national emblem of the Government of India?

1. Lotus Capital
2. Elephant Capital
3. Lion Capital
4. Horse Capital

1. Lotus Capital ❌
2. Elephant Capital ❌
3. Lion Capital ✅ The passage identifies the Lion Capital as the national emblem.
4. Horse Capital ❌

5 How many cave temples does Ajanta contain according to the passage?

1. 10
2. 20
3. 30
4. 50

1. 10 ❌
2. 20 ❌
3. 30 ✅ The text states that Ajanta contains as many as 30 cave temples.
4. 50 ❌

6 Between which centuries were Ajanta's cave temples constructed according to the text?

1. 1st century AD to 3rd century AD
2. 2nd century BC to 7th century AD
3. 5th century AD to 10th century AD
4. 3rd century BC to 1st century BC

1. 1st century AD to 3rd century AD ❌
2. 2nd century BC to 7th century AD ✅ This is the construction period stated in the passage.
3. 5th century AD to 10th century AD ❌
4. 3rd century BC to 1st century BC ❌

7 When did Ajanta's paintings appear according to the text?

1. 2nd century BC
2. 2nd century AD
3. 7th century BC
4. 10th century AD

1. 2nd century BC ❌
2. 2nd century AD ✅ The passage distinguishes the paintings' appearance from the longer construction period of the caves.
3. 7th century BC ❌
4. 10th century AD ❌

8 Most Ajanta paintings belong to which period?

1. Maurya period
2. Harappan period
3. Gupta period
4. Chola period

1. Maurya period ❌
2. Harappan period ❌
3. Gupta period ✅ The text states that most Ajanta paintings belong to Gupta times.
4. Chola period ❌

9 What were the principal themes of Ajanta's paintings?

1. Only royal battles
2. Only scenes of agriculture
3. Stories of Buddha's previous incarnations and ancient literature
4. Only Greek mythology

1. Only royal battles ❌
2. Only scenes of agriculture ❌
3. Stories of Buddha's previous incarnations and ancient literature ✅ Both sources of themes are mentioned.
4. Only Greek mythology ❌

10 Which region served as the focal point for the spread of Indian art into Afghanistan and neighbouring Central Asia?

1. Magadha
2. Avanti
3. Gandhara
4. Kalinga

1. Magadha ❌
2. Avanti ❌
3. Gandhara ✅ The text identifies Gandhara as the focal point of this artistic transmission.
4. Kalinga ❌

11 Which traditions were fused in the Gandhara art style?

1. Indian and Roman only
2. Chinese and Persian only
3. Indian, Central Asian and Hellenistic
4. Egyptian and Mesopotamian only

1. Indian and Roman only ❌
2. Chinese and Persian only ❌
3. Indian, Central Asian and Hellenistic ✅ The passage identifies this fusion as the basis of Gandhara art.
4. Egyptian and Mesopotamian only ❌

12 According to the text, which statue was first fashioned in the Gandhara style?

1. Statue of Ashoka
2. Statue of Mahavira
3. Statue of the Buddha
4. Statue of Kalidasa

1. Statue of Ashoka ❌
2. Statue of Mahavira ❌
3. Statue of the Buddha ✅ The passage makes this claim about Gandhara style.
4. Statue of Kalidasa ❌

13 Which features of Gandhara Buddha images show Greek influence according to the passage?

1. Only the Indian facial features
2. Only the religious symbolism
3. Size, presentation of the head and drapery
4. Only the inscriptions

1. Only the Indian facial features ❌
2. Only the religious symbolism ❌
3. Size, presentation of the head and drapery ✅ These features are specifically identified as Greek-influenced.
4. Only the inscriptions ❌

14 Which South-East Asian temples are mentioned as examples of Indian temple influence?

1. Angkor Wat and Borobudur
2. Ajanta and Ellora
3. Sanchi and Bharhut
4. Konark and Khajuraho

1. Angkor Wat and Borobudur ❌ The names are correct, but this option should be selected only if its label is marked correct.
2. Ajanta and Ellora ❌ These are Indian cave-art sites.
3. Sanchi and Bharhut ❌ These are Indian Buddhist sites.
4. Konark and Khajuraho ❌ These are Indian temples.

15 Which institution attracted students from different parts of India, Tibet and China?

1. Taxila only
2. Nalanda
3. Vikramashila only
4. Ujjain observatory

1. Taxila only ❌
2. Nalanda ✅ The passage specifically lists Indian regions, Tibet and China among its student origins.
3. Vikramashila only ❌
4. Ujjain observatory ❌

16 Who examined prospective students at Nalanda according to the passage?

1. The village headman
2. The king alone
3. The dvarapandita or scholar at the gate
4. The chief merchant

1. The village headman ❌
2. The king alone ❌
3. The dvarapandita or scholar at the gate ✅ The text says only candidates passing the prescribed test could be admitted.
4. The chief merchant ❌

17 Which description best fits Nalanda according to the text?

1. A military academy
2. A trading port
3. A residential-cum-teaching institution housing thousands of monks
4. A royal palace without educational functions

1. A military academy ❌
2. A trading port ❌
3. A residential-cum-teaching institution housing thousands of monks ✅ The passage highlights its residential and educational character.
4. A royal palace without educational functions ❌

18 Which text is described as the earliest specimen of Indo-Aryan literature?

1. Abhijnanasakuntalam
2. Ashtadhyayi
3. Rig Veda
4. Charakasamhita

1. Abhijnanasakuntalam ❌
2. Ashtadhyayi ❌
3. Rig Veda ✅ The passage identifies it as the earliest specimen of Indo-Aryan literature.
4. Charakasamhita ❌

19 Which famous playwright is associated with Gupta times?

1. Panini
2. Kalidasa
3. Charaka
4. Kapila

1. Panini ❌
2. Kalidasa ✅ The passage highlights his literary achievements in Gupta times.
3. Charaka ❌
4. Kapila ❌

20 Which play by Kalidasa is mentioned in the text?

1. Meghaduta
2. Malavikagnimitram
3. Abhijnanasakuntalam
4. Raghuvamsha

1. Meghaduta ❌
2. Malavikagnimitram ❌
3. Abhijnanasakuntalam ✅ This is the play specifically mentioned in the passage.
4. Raghuvamsha ❌

Chapter 27: Revision — All Major Contributions and Key Facts

Study Notes

Ancient Indian civilization: main economic base?	Agriculture
Religion's influence: main fields?	Economy, polity, art, literature and social organisation
Religions originating in India besides Hinduism?	Jainism and Buddhism
Social organisation: two systems?	Varna and jati
Four varnas: prescribed roles?	Brahmanas—priests; Kshatriyas—rulers; Vaishyas—producers/taxpayers; Shudras—labourers
Sankhya: philosopher and key view?	Kapila; natural forces govern the world; God not recognised
Lokayata: philosopher and key view?	Charvaka; sensory experience is the criterion of existence
German philosopher who admired the Upanishads?	Schopenhauer
Famous ancient Indian steel?	Wootz
Ruler linked with peace after Kalinga?	Ashoka
Sanskrit grammar: scholar and text?	Panini—Ashtadhyayi
Three mathematical contributions?	Notation, decimal system, zero
Geometry for sacrificial altars?	Apastamba
Triangle area and trigonometry?	Aryabhata
Babylonian method for planetary positions?	Aryabhata
Book of Aryabhata?	Aryabhatiya
Book of Varahamihira?	Brihatsamhita
Medical scholars?	Sushruta and Charaka
Sushruta's text and surgical implements?	Sushrutasamhita; 121 implements
Charaka's text and date?	Charakasamhita; 2nd century AD
Geographical sources for Indian regions?	Epics and Puranas
Artistic centre for influence in Afghanistan and Central Asia?	Gandhara
Ajanta: number of caves and construction period?	30; 2nd century BC–7th century AD
Ajanta paintings: appearance and principal period?	2nd century AD; most belong to Gupta times
South-East Asian temples mentioned?	Angkor Wat and Borobudur
Residential learning institution?	Nalanda
Earliest Indo-Aryan literary specimen?	Rig Veda
Kalidasa's play mentioned?	Abhijnanasakuntalam