Q10. Which last Mauryan ruler was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga?
[SSC CHSL – 16 October 2020, Shift 1]
A) Devavarman
B) Bindusara
C) Brihadratha
D) Dasharatha
Answer: C) Brihadratha
Explanation: Brihadratha, the last Mauryan emperor, was assassinated by his commander Pushyamitra around 185 BCE. Pushyamitra subsequently founded the Shunga dynasty, beginning the post-Mauryan political phase.
Q9. Both Sankarshana and Vasudeva are depicted on the coins of which ruler?
[UPPSC Mains – 2017]
A) Huvishka
B) Kanishka
C) Samudragupta
D) Agathocles
Answer: D) Agathocles
Explanation: Coins of Indo-Greek ruler Agathocles depict Sankarshana-Balarama with his plough and Vasudeva-Krishna with characteristic attributes, providing important evidence for the early Bhagavata religious tradition.
Q8. Match the following rulers with their groups: [UP RO/ARO Mains – 2017]
A. Demetrius
B. Rudradaman
C. Gondophernes
D. Vim
- Parthian
- Kushana
- Indo-Greek
- Scythian/Shaka
A) 1, 3, 2, 4
B) 4, 3, 1, 2
C) 3, 4, 1, 2
D) 1, 2, 3, 4
Answer: C) 3, 4, 1, 2
Explanation: Demetrius was Indo-Greek, Rudradaman a Shaka or Scythian ruler, Gondophernes an Indo-Parthian king, and Vim or Vima belonged to the Kushana ruling house.
Q7. During post-Mauryan times, rituals such as Vajapeya, Rajasuya and Ashvamedha were performed by rulers of which regions?
[WBCS Mains – 2016]
A) North India only
B) Deccan only
C) Both North India and Deccan
D) Chola dynasty only
Answer: C) Both North India and Deccan
Explanation: Brahmanical royal sacrifices revived prominently after the Mauryas. Pushyamitra Shunga in northern India and Satavahana rulers in the Deccan used Vedic sacrifices to reinforce royal legitimacy.
Q6. Which school of art flourished between the lower valleys of the Krishna and Godavari from roughly the second century BCE to third century CE?
[WBCS Mains – 2016]
A) Gandhara School
B) Mathura School
C) Nagarjuna School
D) Amaravati School
Answer: D) Amaravati School
Explanation: Amaravati art developed in the eastern Deccan, especially under Satavahana and later Ikshvaku patronage. It is recognised for elegant limestone Buddhist sculptures and dynamic narrative compositions.
Q5. Which Bactrian king invaded India around 182 BCE and captured a considerable part of the northwest?
[WBCS Mains – 2015]
A) Demetrius
B) Antigonus
C) Philadelphia
D) Gondophares
Answer: A) Demetrius
Explanation: Demetrius, a Greco-Bactrian ruler, expanded south of the Hindu Kush into northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, playing an important role in the establishment of Indo-Greek rule.
Q4. Which one of the following Indo-Greek rulers issued lead coins?
[UPPSC Revenue Inspector – 2014]
A) Strato II
B) Strato I
C) Demetrius
D) Menander
Answer: A) Strato II
Explanation: Strato II was a late Indo-Greek ruler associated with unusual lead coin issues. Indo-Greek coinage is an important historical source because many rulers are known principally through numismatic evidence.
Q3. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 2001]
A) Harappan Civilisation — Painted Grey Ware
B) Kushans — Gandhara School of Art
C) Mughals — Ajanta Paintings
D) Marathas — Pahari School of Painting
Answer: B) Kushans — Gandhara School of Art
Explanation: Kushana patronage, especially under Kanishka, was closely associated with Gandhara art. This school combined Buddhist religious themes with artistic conventions influenced by Hellenistic and Greco-Roman traditions.
Q2. The Indo-Greek kingdom established in northern Afghanistan around the beginning of the second century BCE was known as what?
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1999]
A) Bactria
B) Scythia
C) Zedrasia
D) Aria
Answer: A) Bactria
Explanation: Bactria lay north of the Hindu Kush in present-day Afghanistan and adjoining Central Asia. Greco-Bactrian rulers later expanded across the Hindu Kush and established Indo-Greek kingdoms.
Q1. Assertion (A): The Gandhara School of Art bears the mark of Hellenistic influence.
Reason (R): The Hinayana form of Buddhism was influenced by that art.
[UPSC CSE Prelims – 1998]
A) Both A and R are true, and R correctly explains A
B) Both A and R are true, but R does not correctly explain A
C) A is true, but R is false
D) A is false, but R is true
Answer: C) A is true, but R is false
Explanation: Gandhara sculpture clearly exhibits Hellenistic artistic influence. However, its anthropomorphic Buddha imagery is primarily associated with Mahayana developments; early Hinayana traditions generally preferred aniconic representations.
