1. What are genealogies?
a) A list of kings and their achievements
b) A collection of religious texts
c) A written record of a ruler’s ancestors
d) A description of trade routes
Answer: c) A written record of a ruler’s ancestors
Explanation: Genealogies are lists of ancestors of rulers, often mentioned in Prashastis to legitimize their rule.
2. Which ruler’s genealogy includes his great grandfather, grandfather, father, and mother?
a) Ashoka
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Samudragupta
d) Harshavardhana
Answer: c) Samudragupta
Explanation: Samudragupta’s genealogy mentions his great grandfather, grandfather, father (Chandragupta I), and mother (Kumara Devi).
3. What title was first adopted by Chandragupta I, Samudragupta’s father?
a) Raja
b) Maha-raja
c) Maharaj-adhiraja
d) Samrat
Answer: c) Maharaj-adhiraja
Explanation: Chandragupta I was the first Gupta ruler to adopt the grand title ‘Maharaj-adhiraja’, meaning ‘Great King of Kings’.
4. How were the titles ‘Raja’, ‘Maha-raja’, and ‘Maharaj-adhiraja’ arranged in terms of importance?
a) Raja → Maharaj-adhiraja → Maha-raja
b) Maharaj-adhiraja → Maha-raja → Raja
c) Maha-raja → Raja → Maharaj-adhiraja
d) Raja → Maha-raja → Maharaj-adhiraja
Answer: d) Raja → Maha-raja → Maharaj-adhiraja
Explanation: Raja was a basic title, Maha-raja signified greater power, and Maharaj-adhiraja was the most prestigious title, meaning ‘Great King of Kings’.
5. What does the genealogy of Samudragupta indicate about the Gupta family’s rise to power?
a) They always ruled a large empire
b) They were merchants before becoming kings
c) They gradually gained importance over generations
d) They were rulers from the beginning of civilization
Answer: c) They gradually gained importance over generations
Explanation: The genealogy of Samudragupta shows that his ancestors were originally Maha-rajas before his father became a Maharaj-adhiraja, indicating a gradual rise in power.
6. How do we know about the genealogy of Samudragupta?
a) From books written by Chinese travelers
b) From inscriptions and coins
c) From temple paintings
d) From Buddhist texts
Answer: b) From inscriptions and coins
Explanation: Samudragupta’s genealogy is recorded in inscriptions like his Prashasti and on coins issued during his reign.
7. Who was Samudragupta’s son and successor?
a) Ashoka
b) Chandragupta II
c) Harsha
d) Kanishka
Answer: b) Chandragupta II
Explanation: Chandragupta II, son of Samudragupta, continued the Gupta dynasty and expanded its power.
8. What historical source provides the genealogy of Harshavardhana?
a) Arthashastra
b) Mahabharata
c) Harshacharita
d) Sangam literature
Answer: c) Harshacharita
Explanation: The biography of Harshavardhana, Harshacharita, written by Banabhatta, provides details about his genealogy and early life.
9. How did Harshavardhana become king?
a) He inherited the throne from his father
b) He was elected by a council of ministers
c) He took the throne after his father and elder brother died
d) He was chosen by the people of Kanauj
Answer: c) He took the throne after his father and elder brother died
Explanation: Harshavardhana became king after the deaths of his father and elder brother, and later expanded his kingdom.
10. Why are genealogies important for historians?
a) They help in understanding the trade policies of ancient rulers
b) They provide information on the lineage and legitimacy of rulers
c) They focus on the religious beliefs of ancient people
d) They provide knowledge about ancient architecture
Answer: b) They provide information on the lineage and legitimacy of rulers
Explanation: Genealogies help historians understand the ancestry of rulers, their rise to power, and how they legitimized their rule through family connections.
