1. What remained the most important source of revenue for ancient kingdoms?
a) Trade and commerce
b) Land revenue
c) War loot
d) Tribute from foreign rulers
Answer: b) Land revenue
Explanation: Land revenue remained a crucial source of income for rulers, with villages acting as the basic unit of administration.
2. What was the basic unit of administration in these kingdoms?
a) Provinces
b) Cities
c) Villages
d) Military forts
Answer: c) Villages
Explanation: Villages were the smallest administrative units, and kings relied on local officials and landlords for governance.
3. How did kings secure the support of powerful men in society?
a) By offering them regular salaries
b) By appointing them as hereditary officials
c) By making them religious leaders
d) By giving them control over temples
Answer: b) By appointing them as hereditary officials
Explanation: Many administrative posts became hereditary, meaning sons succeeded fathers in positions like judicial officers and ministers.
4. Which of the following was an important ministerial post in ancient kingdoms?
a) Kumar-amatya
b) Dandanayaka
c) Sandhi-vigrahika
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Officials like the Kumar-amatya (minister), Dandanayaka (chief judicial officer), and Sandhi-vigrahika (minister of war and peace) played key roles in administration.
5. Who were the important figures involved in local administration?
a) The nagara-shreshthi (chief banker/merchant)
b) The sarthavaha (leader of merchant caravans)
c) The prathama-kulika (chief craftsman)
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Key local figures such as merchants, caravan leaders, and craftsmen held influence in administration, ensuring trade and economic stability.
6. What happened when some powerful local officials gained too much influence?
a) They remained loyal to the king
b) They set up independent kingdoms
c) They were removed from their positions
d) They were exiled from the kingdom
Answer: b) They set up independent kingdoms
Explanation: Over time, some powerful men in administrative positions grew strong enough to establish their own independent kingdoms.
7. What was a ‘Samanta’ in the administration of ancient kingdoms?
a) A priest who conducted rituals
b) A military leader who provided troops to the king
c) A tax collector in villages
d) A trader involved in international commerce
Answer: b) A military leader who provided troops to the king
Explanation: Samantas were military leaders who provided troops to the king and were often given land grants instead of salaries.
8. What was a major risk of granting land to military leaders (Samantas)?
a) They would misuse the land for farming
b) They might refuse to provide soldiers
c) They could become powerful enough to challenge the king
d) They would migrate to other kingdoms
Answer: c) They could become powerful enough to challenge the king
Explanation: When rulers were weak, Samantas often used their resources to become independent rulers.
9. What kind of assemblies existed in the Pallava kingdom for local governance?
a) The Sabha (assembly of Brahmin landowners)
b) The Ur (village assembly)
c) The Nagaram (merchant organization)
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: In the Pallava kingdom, local governance was managed by the Sabha (Brahmin assembly), Ur (village assembly), and Nagaram (merchant guilds).
10. What role did local assemblies play in administration?
a) Managing irrigation and agricultural operations
b) Building roads and temples
c) Regulating trade and commerce
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Local assemblies functioned through committees to manage infrastructure, agriculture, trade, and religious institutions
