CUET-UG : Section-II (Domain Specific

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 R. Gupta's ®
Popular Master Guide

CUET-UG
Common University Entrance Test for
Under Graduate Courses/Programmes

DOMAIN SPECIFIC SUBJECT

HISTORY
By
RPH Editorial Board
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 EXAMINATION STRUCTURE

SECTION-II: DOMAIN SPECIFIC SUBJECT

No. of Questions Subject Time

40 Questions  Input text can be used for
to be MCQ Based Questions 45 minutes for
attempted out  MCQs based on NCERT Class XII each Domain
of 50 Syllabus only Specific Subjects

 Mode of the Test : Computer Based Test (CBT)

 Test Pattern : Objective type with Multiple Choice Questions
 Medium of Exam : 13 Languages (Tam il, Telugu, Kannada,
Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Odiya, Bengali,
Assamese, Punjabi, English, Hindi and Urdu)

(iii)
 CONTENTS

SAMPLE PAPER

CUET (UG) – History ........................................................................................................... 1-4

SECTION-II: DOMAIN SPECIFIC SUBJECT

 HISTORY
(Multiple Choice Questions) ........................................... 1-116
Ancient India—The Story of the First Cities Harappan Archaeology; Political and Economic
History: How Inscriptions Tell a Story; Social Histories Using the Mahabharata; A History
of Buddhism: Sanchi Stupa.

Medieval India—Agrarian Relations The Ain-i-Akbari; The Mughal Court: Reconstructing

Histories through Chronicles; New Architecture: Hampi; Religious Histories: The Bhakti-
Sufi Tradition; Medieval Society Through Travellers’ Accounts.

Modern India—Colonialism and Rural Society: Evidence from Official Reports;

Representations of 1857; Colonialism and Indian Towns: Town Plans and Municipal
Reports; Mahatma Gandhi through Contemporary Eyes; Partition Through Oral Sources;
The Making of the Constitution.

Passage Based Questions

    

(iv)
 SAMPLE PAPER (SOLVED) Sample Paper 1

CUET-UG

HISTORY*
SECTION-II : DOMAIN SPECIFIC SUBJECT
1. Who among the following was the author of book B. Mahnavami Dibba was a part of Sacred centre.
‘The Story of Indian Archaeology’? C. Mahnavami Dibba was a ‘Counselling Hall’
A. R.E.M. Wheeler B. John Marshall D. Mahnavami Dibba was a “Discussion Hall’
C. S.N. Roy D. Rakhal Das Bannerjee
10. Krishnadeva Raya belonged to which of the following
2. Which one among the following religious practices dynasties?
was seemed to be unfamiliar and unusual with the A. Sangama B. Tuluva
Harrapan culture? C. Aravidu D. Suluva
A. Mother Goddess B. Priest King
C. Yogic posture seal D. Sanskritic Yajnas 11. Who among the following Gurus of Sikhs compiled
‘Guru Adi Granth Sahib’?
3. Which of the following is the oldest stupa in India A. Guru Teg Bahadur B. Guru Arjan Dev
and was commissioned by the Mauryan King Ashoka? C. Guru Nanak Dev D. Guru Gobind Singh
A. Shanti Stupa B. Amaravati Stupa
C. Sanchi Stupa D. Nagarjuna Konda Stupa 12. Why is the Harappan script called enigmatic?
Choose the correct reason from the following options:
4. Which one of the following aspects describe the A. It resembles the Hieroglyphic script of Egypt.
meaning of ‘Tirthankaras’ in Jainism? B. It had too many symbols, between 600 and 1000
A. Supreme Being who is the incarnation of God in number.
B. Those who guide men and women across the river C. It was written from left to right.
of existence. D. Its script remains undeciphered till date
C. Those who follow the path of Vedanta asceticism
D. Those who know the ultimate truth and dharma 13. Who among the following was the best-known ruler
of the Satavahana dynasty?
5. Which of the following empire issued gold coins for A. Yagnasri Satakarni B. Simuka Satakarni
the very first time in first century CE? C. Gotamiputra Satakarni D. Vasisthaputra Satakarni
A. Gupta Empire B. Maurya Empire
C. Kushana Empire D. Yaudheya Empire 14. Who among the following was the author of the book
‘Arthashastra’?
6. Which of the following city of the Harappan Civiliza- A. Bimbisar B. Ajatshatru
tion was exclusively devoted to craft production of C. Chanakya D. Bindusar
Shell objects?
A. Kotdiji B. Kalibangan 15. Which of the following languages were spoken by
C. Manda D. Chanhudaro Rayas and Nayakas in the Vijayanagar empire?
A. Malayalam and Telugu
7. The composition of the Mahabharata has been B. Kannada and Telugu
traditionally attributed to a Rishi. Identify his name C. Tamil and Telugu
from the following options. D. Sanskrit and Telugu
A. Rishi Kanada B. Rishi Kapil
C. Rishi Agastya D. Rishi Vyasa 16. Who among the following Begums provided money
for the preservation of the Sanchi stupa?
8. Who among the following travelled in Vijayanagar A. Shahjehan Begum B. Nur Jahan Begum
Empire in the fifteenth century and was greatly C. Rukaiyya Begum D. Nur-un-Nissa Begum
impressed by the fortification of the empire?
A. Duarte Barbosa B. Abdur Razzak 17. Which of the following options given in Sangam text
C. Colin Mackenzie D. Domingo Paes accurately describes ‘Vellalar’ and ‘Adimai’, as two
categories of peasants in south Indian villages.
9. Which of the following statement is correct regarding A. Vellelar, a ploughman and adimai as landowner
Mahnavami Dibba? B. Vellelar a landowner and adimai a peasant
A. Mahnavami Dibba was part of ‘The King’s Palace C. Vellelar a Peasant and adimai a land lord
Complex’. D. Vellelar a landowner and adimai a slave

*40 Questions to be attempted out of 50 1 2716 (SP)—1

 2 Sample Paper

18. Which of the following pairs associated with Buddha’s 24. With which Mughal Emperor can we associate
symbolic representation is incorrect? ‘Alamgir Nama’?
A. Empty seat – Meditation of Buddha A. Aurangzeb B. Shah Jahan
B. Wheel – Sermon of Buddha C. Humanyun D. Jahangir
C. Bodhi Tree – Birth of Buddha 25. Match the following:
D. Stupa – Mahaparinibbana List-I List-II
19. Two statements are given in the question below as (a) Delhi (i) Birjis Qadr
Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements (b) Kanpur (ii) Kunwar Singh
and choose the appropriate option. (c) Arrah (iii) Bahadur Shah
Assertion (A) : From c. 500 BCE norms were compiled (d) Lucknow (iv) Nana Sahib
in Sanskrit texts known as the Dharmasutras and Codes:
Dharmashastras. (a) (b) (c) (d)
Reason (R) : Brahmanas laid the codes of social A. (ii) (iii) (i) (iv)
behaviour for the society in general. B. (iii) (iv) (ii) (i)
C. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
Options: D. (i) (ii) (iv) (iii)
A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct
explanation of (A) 26. Mahatma Gandhi illustrated his tactical wisdom by
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the picking on salt monopoly. Which of the following
correct explanation of (A) statement (s) is/are correct to prove this?
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false 1. State monopoly over salt was deeply unpopular.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true 2. People were forbidden from making salt for even
domestic use.
20. He was called as ‘Devenampiya and Piyadassi’. He 3. Salt was not an essential item.
ruled the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BCE. Choose the correct option:
He is remembered for the propagation of Dhamma. A. (1) and (2) only B. (2) and (3) only
Who among the following ruler has been described in C. (1), (2) and (3) D. (2) only
the above information?
A. Ashoka B. Chandragupta Maurya 27. Who among the following declared—Separate
C. Samudra Gupta D. Ajatshatru Electorate was a ‘poison that has entered the body
politic of our country’?
21. Match the following: A. G.B. Pant B. Sardar Patel
Archeologist Role/Contributions C. R.V. Dhulekar D. Begum Aizaz Rasul
(a) Alexander (i) Discovered seals at Harappa
Cunningham 28. Ibn Battuta informs that the Sultan had fixed
(b) Daya Ram Sahil (ii) First Director General of Wednesday for freeing male slaves, Friday for freeing
ASI female slaves and Saturday for marrying men slaves
(c) John Marshall (iii) Brought a military to female slaves. Identify the Sultan.
Precision in archaeology A. Balban
(d) R.E.M. Wheeler (iv) Announced the discovery B. Alauddin Khalji
of a new civilization C. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
Codes: D. Firuz Shah Tughlaq
(a) (b) (c) (d) 29. In the Bayana Hoard, coins of which Gupta ruler have
A. (ii) (i) (iv) (iii) been found in the highest number?
B. (iv) (iii) (ii) (i) A. Chandragupta-I B. Samudragupta
C. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) C. Chandragupta-II D. Kumaragupta-I
D. (i) (iii) (ii) (iv)
30. Given below are two statements : One is labelled as
22. Which of the following was the capital of Magadh? Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
A. Avanti B. Rajgir Assertion (A) : When the All India Women’s Con-
C. Ujjain D. Taxila ference began their campaign in support of the Child
23. Given below are two statements, one labelled as Marriage Res-traint Bill (1929), Sister Subbalakshmi
Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). gave evidence before the Joshi Committee about
Assertion (A) : Archaeologists suggest that in the north- the harmful effects of youthful marriages.
Reasons (R) : Mithuben Petit, a social worker who
eastern corner of the urban core rich traders lived.
became leading trade unionist, organized the Seva
Reason (R) : Numerous tombs, mosques, and fine Chinese
Mandir to work among the poor.
porcelain have been found here.
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct In the light of the above statements, choose the most
explanation of (A) appropriate answer from the options given below:
B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct
correct explanation of (A) explanation of (A)
C. (A) is correct, but (R) is not correct B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the
D. (R) is correct, but (A) is not correct correct explanation of (A)
2751 (SP)—1-II
 Sample Paper 3
C. (A) is correct, but (R) is not correct Assertion (A) : It was within the political and
D. (A) is not correct, but (R) is correct cultural framework that Bharatendu Harishchandra
31. Who was the first elected president of the All India created and developed his own brand of nationalist
Depressed Classes Association formed in 1926? thinking and writing.
A. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Reason (R) : Being a subject of the British raj,
B. Rao Bahaddur M.C. Rajah Bharatendu Harishchandra saw no contradiction in
C. Bhaskarrao Jadhav the co-existence of loyalty to the rulers and fierce
D. Jagjivan Ram patriotism.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most
32. Poems classified as upadesha rupaka (didactic appropriate answer from the options given below:
metaphors) in Marathi bhakti poetry were known as: A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct
A. Bharud B. Abhang explanation of (A)
C. Palana D. Vachana B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the
33. Which one of the following statements is not correct? correct explanation of (A)
A. Colonial sources cited the Rebellion of 1857 as C. (A) is true, but (R) is false
‘sepoy mutiny’ D. (A) is false, but (R) is true
B. Syed Ahmad Khan focussed on the loyalty of
40. Given below are two statements : One is labelled as
Muslims towards British rulers in the 1857
Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Rebellion
C. The English ‘Free Traders’ supported the East India Assertion (A) : Colonial Science was inextricably
Company’s monopoly in India and condemned the woven into the whole fabric of colonialism.
Indian chieftains for rebelling against the company Reason (R) : Colonial Science did not come in a neat
D. R.C. Majumdar refused to accept the 1857 package; the claims of univer-sality and the utility
Rebellion as the ‘First War of Independence’ of Science messed up its identity.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most
34. Who was the first president of the All India Trade appropriate answer from the options given below:
Union Congress founded on 31 August, 1920? A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct
A. Lala Lajpat Rai B. Diwan Chaman Lal explanation of (A)
C. Joseph Baptista D. N.M. Joshi B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the
35. Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas led which of the correct explanation of (A)
following movements in 1859-60? C. (A) is true, but (R) is false
A. Munda Rebellion B. Kuka Revolt D. (A) is false, but (R) is true
C. Indigo Revolt D. Faraizi Movement Directions (Qs. No. 41-43): Read the following excerpt
36. Who among the following was not associated with from the Prayaga Prashasti carefully and answer any three
the Lahore resolution adopted by the Muslim League questions:
on 23 March, 1940? This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti:
A. Khizar Hayat Khan B. Sikandar Hayat Khan He was without an antagonist on earth; he, by the
C. Fazlul Huq D. Khaliquzzaman overflowing of the multitude of (his) many good qualities
37. In 1936, which of the following created an ‘Anti- adorned by hundreds of good actions, has wiped off the
imperialist Peoples Front’ within the Congress? fame of other kings with the soles of (his) feet; (he is)
A. R.P. Dutt and Ben Bradley Purusha (the Supreme Being), being the cause of the
B. Subhash Chandra Bose prosperity of the good and the destruction of the bad (he
C. Sixth Comintern Congress is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose tender heart can be
D. Phillip Spratt captured only by devotion and humility; (he is) possessed
of compassion; (he is) the giver of many hundred-thousands
38. Match List-I with List-II: of cows; (his) mind has received ceremonial initiation for
List-I List-II the uplift of the miserable, the poor, the forlorn and the
(Newspaper) (Editor) suffering; (he is) resplendent and embodied kindness to
(a) Free Hindustan (i) Shyamji Krishna Verma mankind; (he is) equal to (the gods) Kubera (the god of
(b) Indian sociologist (ii) Annie Besant wealth), Varuna (the god of the ocean), Indra (the god of
(c) New India and (iii) Tarak Nath Dutt rains) and Yama (the god of death).
Commonweal
(d) Bombay Chronicle (iv) B.G. Horniman 41. This inscription is known as a prashasti because:
A. it is composed in praise of its patron
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: B. it is composed by a court poet
(a) (b) (c) (d) C. it is treasured as an important account of its patron
A. (iv) (iii) (i) (ii) D. it is composed in Sanskrit
B. (iii) (iv) (ii) (i)
C. (iii) (i) (ii) (iv) 42. This excerpt mentions (he is) equal to (the Gods)
D. (ii) (iii) (iv) (i) ……… This projects what element of kingship?
A. means of claiming high status by identifying with
39. Given below are two statements : One is labelled as a variety of deities
Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). B. means of claiming themselves god like
 4 Sample Paper

C. means of claiming a number of titles C. Roshanara spent a large part of her income in
D. All of the above building of a caravanserai
D. Roshanara made a huge profit from the lucrative
43. Choose the correct option. overseas trade
Assertion (A) : He is possessed of compassion.
Reason (R) : He is the giver of many hundred- 45. Mughal queens and princesses were able to participate
thousand cows; his mind has received ceremonial in economic activities despite being confined to the
initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the poor, harem because:
the forlorn and the suffering… A. Male slaves helped them in the economic activities
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct B. Slave eunuchs acted as agents for them
explanation of (A). C. Mansabdars were deputed to help them in these
B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the activities
correct explanation of (A). D. Female slaves helped them in the economic activities
C. (A) is incorrect, but (R) is correct. 46. “Jahanara Begum defied all stereotypes associated with
D. (R) is incorrect, but (A) is correct women.” Which of the following statement justifies this?
Directions (Qs. No. 44-47): Read the following text and A. She took complete charge of the Mughal household
answer the following questions: B. She participated in domestic conspiracies
Apart from wives, numerous male and female slaves C. She commissioned and participated in many
populated the Mughal household. The tasks they performed architectural projects in Shahjanabad
varied from the most mundane to those requiring skill, tact D. She controlled significant financial resources
and intelligence. Slave eunuchs (khwajasara) moved 47. In what way(s) did Jahanara contribute towards the
between the external and Apart from wives, numerous male growth of trade?
and female slaves populated the Mughal household. The (i) By building the port city of Surat
tasks they performed varied from the most mundane to (ii) By helping Shahjahan in building his capital at Agra
those requiring skill, tact and intelligence. Slave eunuchs (iii) By building a double storeyed caravanserai in Delhi
(khwajasara) moved between the external and internal life (iv) By designing the Chandini Chowk market
of the household as guards, servants, and also as agents for Choose the correct option:
women dabbling in commerce. A. Only (i) B. Only (i), (ii)
After Nur Jahan, Mughal queens and princesses began C. Only (iii) and (iv) D. Only (iii)
to control significant financial resources. Shah Jahan’s
daughters Jahanara and Roshanara enjoyed an annual 48. Choose the correct option:
income often equal to that of high imperial mansabdars. The European traveller who has given a detailed
Jahanara, in addition, received revenues from the port city description of the practice of Sati.
of Surat, which was a lucrative centre of overseas trade. A. Jean Baptiste Tavernier B. Manucci
C. Francois Bernier D. Roberto Nobili
Control over resources enabled important women of
the Mughal household to commission buildings and 49. Find out from the following pairs which one is
gardens. Jahanara participated in many architectural projects correctly matched:
of Shah Jahan’s new capital, Shahjahanabad (Delhi). Among A. Akbar Nama : Abdul Hamid Lahori
these was an imposing double-storeyed caravanserai with a B. Badshah Nama : Zahiruddin Babur
courtyard and garden. The bazaar of Chandni Chowk, the C. Humayun Nama : Gulbadan Begum
throbbing centre of Shahjahanabad, was designed by Jahanara. D. Babur Nama: Abul Fazl Allami
44. “Mughal Empire was very prosperous during the reign 50. Consider the following events:
of Shah Jahan.” Which of the following statement 1. Cabinet Mission 2. Cripps Mission
justifies it? 3. Khilafat Movement 4. Pakistan Resolution
A. Nur Jahan began to have control over financial The correct chronological order of these events is:
resources A. 4, 3, 2, 1 B. 4, 3, 1, 2
B. Jahanara and Roshanara had a very high annual C. 3, 4, 1, 2 D. 3, 4, 2, 1
income

ANSWERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
C D C B C C D B A B
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
B D C C B A D C A A
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
A B B A B A B C C C
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
B A C A C A A C A A
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
A A A D A A D C C D
 History 1

HISTORY

1 2751 (History)—1
2 History
 3
ANCIENT INDIA History

The Story of the First Cities Harappan Social Histories Using the
Archaeology Mahabharata
Political and Economic History: How A History of Buddhism:
Inscriptions Tell a Story Sanchi Stupa

SET-1

1. Who were the first people to paint the pottery of Indus 8. The humped Ox or Brahmani bull in the Indus valley
Valley Civilisation? was:
A. Chalcolithic B. Mesolithic A. a monster B. a beast of burden
C. Iron Age men D. Neolithic C. a sacred animal D. an unknown animal
2. The races are arranged taking into account their arrival 9. What made the Harapans more away from urban
in India. Pick out the chronologically correct sequence: settlements?
A. Aryan, Dravidian, Proto Australoid, Negrito A. Foreign invasion B. Demographic factors
B. Negrito, Aryan, Proto Austrolaid, Dravidian C. Ecological changes D. Hydrological changes
C. Negrito, Proto Australoid, Dravidian and Aryan 10. Which crop was the earliest to be cultivated by the
D. Dravidian, Aryan, Proto Australoid, Negrito people of Indus Valley?
3. Which one of the following may be regarded as a A. Wheat B. Rice
remote possibility for the origin of the Indus Culture? C. Cotton D. Rye
A. Kulli Culture 11. The Harappan Civilisation was chiefly concentrated
B. Nal Culture in:
C. Sumerian Culture A. Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat
D. Culture of the Village People of the Punjab B. Sindh, Punjab and Rajasthan
C. Haryana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu
4. Who was the archaeologist who came upon a seal with
D. Punjab, Rajasthan and Assam
pictographic writing while excavating a Buddhist
establishment at Mohenjo-daro? 12. The mature phase of the Harappan culture spanned
A. R.D. Banerjee aproximately:
B. N.G. Majumdar A. 500 years B. 700 years
C. 300 years D. 1000 years
C. Alexander Cunningham
D. Daya Ram Sahni 13. Indus valley skeletons reveal that the Harappans
probably did not belong to one of the following races:
5. What was the political structure of the Indus Valley?
A. Mongoloid B. Alpine
A. Oligarchy B. Federalism
C. Somite D. Proto-Austroloid
C. Autocracy D. Theocracy
14. Which is controversial with regard to the granary in
6. Identify the one that is common between Indus and Harappa?
Mesopotamian civilisations among the following: A. The urban non-agricultural population was fed on
A. Cylindrical seals it.
B. Bronze Age Culture B. Suggest private ownership.
C. Planning towns with chess board system C. It indicated that there was surplus production.
D. Knives with ribs in the middle D. The whole affair was looked after by an agency.
7. Which of the following was not known to the Indus 15. “They (the Indus valley people) were not on the whole
valley people? an artistic people”. It has been commented by:
A. Seasum B. Cotton A. Dr. Romila Thapar B. Dr. A.D. Pusalkar
C. Potato D. Wheat C. Dr. R.D. Mazumdar D. Dr. A.L. Basham

3
 4 History

16. “Sindon” was the name given by the Greeks to one of 27. The first excavation in the Indus valley at Mohenjo-
the following items. Which one was it? daro was carried out in the years:
A. Jute B. Wool A. 1909 A.D. B. 1920 A.D.
C. Cotton D. None of these C. 1922 A.D. D. 1955 A.D.
17. The Indus valley people were: 28. Which of the following is not a characteristic feature
A. Vegetarian of the Indus valley pottery?
B. Non-vegetarian A. Red and black polished ware
C. Both non-vegetarian and vegetarian B. Painted black designs
D. Were not beef eaters C. Vegetal and geometric patterns
D. None of the above
18. The Indus valley people were worshippers of:
A. Shiva B. Mitra 29. Well planned cities with all their common feature
C. Varuna D. Mother Goddess throughout Harappa suggest:
A. A single centralised state
19. Pre-Harappan settlement was discovered in 1981 at the
B. Oligarchic commercial republic
foot of the Bolan pass on the Bolan river at one of the
C. Theoratic state
following places. Identify it;
D. Free community
A. Mansa B. Manda
C. Mehergarh D. Alamgirpur 30. Kagzi refers to:
A. polychrome pottery B. egg-shell pottery
20. One thing is common among the following between
C. perforated pottery D. special paper for writing
the Indus and Mesopotamian civilisation. Identify:
A. Larger urban complex 31. Which of the following statement on the Harappan
B. Seals rolled on clay tablets civilisation is controversial?
C. Ornamental architecture A. Harappan civilisation may be called peasant urban
D. Use of potter’s wheel B. It is not certain whether there was any closeness
between the Indus urban areas and the country-side
21. Which among the following is not the distinctive peasants.
pottery of the Indus people? C. Indus cities depended on their existence on food
A. Black and Red ware B. Glazed and raw material obtained from the country-side.
C. Painted Grey ware D. Poly chrome D. Indus cities provided marketing centres.
22. What is the approximate area which covered the Indus 32. Which statement on the Harappan culture is incorrect?
civilisation? A. The antiquities in all the seven layers at Mohenjo-
A. 1,300,000 square kilometres daro are homogeneous.
B. 600,000 square kilometres B. There is no deterioration of masonary in the later
C. 600 square kilometres occupation of the cities.
D. 6000 square kilometres C. It is essentially a riverine culture.
23. The metal which perhaps not known to the Indus D. Discovery of weapons in the later levels of
valley people was? Mohenjo-daro points to threat to life.
A. Copper B. Iron 33. The jewellers of the Harappan civilisation primarily
C. Tin D. Gold and Silver used two metals:
24. Which of the following reasons was not a purpose of 1. Bronze 2. Silver
the Great Bath at Mohenjodaro? 3. Copper 4. Gold
A. community bathing Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
B. water sports and exercises A. 1 and 2 B. 2 and 3
C. to store water during draughts C. 3 and 4 D. 2 and 4
D. used during Rituals and Sacrifices 34. The first concern of the Harappan town planners was:
25. Which one of the following items was not used by the A. to protect their cities from frequent floods
Indus valley people as their staple diet? B. to make citadels to protect themselves from the
A. Dairy Products B. Dates enemies
C. Wheat D. Refined Sugar C. to produce enough food surplus to feed towns
26. How many of the known 250 Indus Valley sites can be D. to develop sea-borne trade
classified as cities? 35. Which of the the following statement on the men and
A. Eight B. Six women of the Indus valley is Not correct?
C. Hundred D. Seven A. Men wore long hair.
 History 5
B. Men wore robes but left one shoulder bare. C. religion was more personal and private affair.
C. Women wore large necklaces but very light bangles. D. they were sceptical in disposition.
D. The coiffeurs of women-were often elaborate. 45. Which one of the following is false with regard to
36. Most unique feature of the Indus valley civilisation, Harappan people?
the like of which has not yet been found in any other A. The statues of Mother Goddess were crudely
city of the same antiquity is: fashioned.
A. weights and measures B. drainage system B. Tiny monkeys and squirrels were used as pinhead
C. cultivation of land D. double-story houses beds.
37. Strike out which is not an important feature of C. The statues of women were fully clothed with
Harappan culture. elaborate head-dresses.
A. Horse racing D. For children they made monkeys sliding down a
B. Peace-loving community string, whistles and gods were made like birds etc.
C. Efficient civic organisation 46. Which West Asian site is associated with the discovery
D. Love for indoor hobbies, jewellery and cosmetics, of a bale of cloth evidently an export from Harappan
dancing India?
38. The most intriguing thing about the Indus valley A. Ur B. Umma
women is: C. Susa D. Lagash
A. their jewellery 47. Evidence of the horse comes from which of the
B. their foundness for handicrafts following Harappan sites?
C. their vanity A. Harappa, Lothal, Kalibangan
D. the care they bestowed on children B. Lothal, Surkotada
39. Which one of the following arts and crafts was not C. Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Banwali
practised by the Harappans? D. Banwali, Ropar, Surkotada
A. Masonry B. Seal cutting 48. The Indus valley people do not use one of the
C. Carpentry D. Iron-mongering following weapons. What is that?
40. Paint out the incorrect statement: A. Swords B. Spears
A. Harappan probably did not practise canal irrigation C. Arrow-heads D. Axes
B. Whether or not the plough was used is controversial 49. Which cults did the Harappan practise?
C. Pesticides were invariably used 1. Fire 2. Female diety
D. Enough surplus food was produced to feed the town 3. Fertility 4. Fetism
dwellers A. Only 2 and 3 B. Only 1 and 2
41. Which of the following was not an item of import for C. 1, 2 and 3 D. All of these
the Indus people? 50. The discovery, in the upper levels of a Harappan site,
A. Tin B. Copper of human skeletons lying bell-mell, with a skull having
C. Textile D. Lapis Liazuli injury mark, shows the invasion and massacre. What is
42. The Harappan culture belongs to the Bronze Age. that site?
Which two metals are mixed to make this alloy? A. Mohenjo-daro B. Harappa
1. Copper 2. Zinc C. Banawali D. Kalibangan
3. Brass 4. Tin 51. The main food crops of the Harappan were:
A. 1 and 2 only B. 1 and 3 only A. Wheat and Barley B. Wheat and Bajra
C. 4 only D. None of these C. Maize and Wheat D. Wheat and Rice
43. Which of the following was not a feature of internal 52. Dwellers of Mohenjo-daro:
trade at the Harappans? A. were utilitarians
A. Trade was multifaceted. B. were expert in carpenter’s crafts
B. It was opened on regional and inter-regional levels. C. were aesthetes
C. It was purely a barter-trade. D. loved ideas of luxury
D. It was a guild system coupled with nomadic people. 53. Which expression does not apply to the Harappan
44. No temples, or public places of worship, or monumental culture?
sculptures have been found at Harappan cities. This A. Standardisation
indicates that: B. Materialistic achievements
A. religion was a state or public affair. C. Homogeneity
B. the Harappans were atheists. D. Desire to emulate others
 6 History

54. One feature of the Indus valley civilisation was not 65. The Indus valley people were not familiar with:
rivalled by any other civilisation till the time of the A. Cotton B. Barley
Romans. Indentify it. C. Tobacco D. Wheat
A. The Great Bath B. Sewage system
66. Where is Lothal situated?
C. Use of cosmetics D. Worship of some dieties
A. Pakistan B. Gujarat
55. What is special about the Indus valley urban centres C. Rajasthan D. Haryana
discovered in Saurashtra, Gujarat and Kathiawar?
A. horse known 67. Which of the following statement is incorrect?
B. discovery of wood-works A. The Indus valley people worshipped linga and yoni
C. ship-building was known B. The Indus valley people worshipped the pipal tree
D. cross influence between Harappan culture and local C. The Indus valley people worshipped Mother
cultures of Chalcolithic nature. Goddess
D. The Indus valley people performed horse sacrifices
56. Absence of windows in the Harappan houses implied
that Harappan women were kept in strict seclusion is: 68. Mohenjo-daro is situated in:
A. Proved fact B. Disproved A. Sindh province of Pakistan
C. Controversial D. None of these B. Gujarat State of India
57. That the Indus women used rouge and Lipstick is: C. Afghanistan
A. Proved B. Disproved D. Punjab State of India
C. Debatable D. None of these 69. At one of the sites of the Indus valley civilisation a
58. The Harappan cultivated the Land with: dockyard has been discovered. Which is that site?
A. hoe A. Rangpur B. Kalibangan
B. plough share C. Lothal D. Ropar
C. hoe and plough share 70. Which one of the following is not one of the Harappan
D. either hoe or plough share or some other tool not sites related to the maritime activities of the Harappan
known to us people?
59. Which was not a Harappan port? A. Sotka Koh B. Desalpur
A. Balakot B. Sutkagendor C. Balakot D. Lothal
C. Sotka Koh D. Kalibangan
71. The social group in which the Indus valley people
60. The Indus valley belonged to: lived were:
A. Mediterranean race A. Peasants, hunters, traders and labourers.
B. Proto-Astraloid race B. The learned ones, warriors, traders, artisans and
C. Tibetan Mongoloid race manual workers.
D. Alpine race C. Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras
61. The important public place discovered at Mohenjo- D. None of these
daro was:
72. At how many places have the Indus valley finds been
A. the great bath B. the great granary
discovered?
C. the great cementery D. the acropolis
A. 250 sites B. 2 sites
62. Kalibanga is situated in: C. 10 sites D. 50 sites
A. Madhya Pradesh B. Rajasthan
C. Karnataka D. Baluchistan 73. Which among the following is common design between
Mohenjo-daro and Baluchistan pottery?
63. Lothal in the Indus valley was famous as a/an: A. Animal designs
A. port B. Geometrical design
B. administrative centre
C. Floral designs
C. place where graneries have been found
D. Svastika
D. religious centre
74. Which among the width of the widest streets of the
64. The concept of decimal system as a measuring unit of
length was: Mohenjo-daro is correct? (Approximately)
A. Known to the Indus valley people due to their A. 10 metres B. 20 metres
contacts with the Egyptians. C. 15 metres D. 8 metres
B. known to the Indus valley people, and was not 75. Some of the streets of the Indus cities ran straight even
borrowed. upto:
C. not known to the Indus valley people A. 200 metres B. 800 metres
D. none of the above C. 400 metres D. 600 metres
 History 7
76. Which kind of bricks is not found among the Indus 88. Who is considered as father of Indian Archaeology?
cities? A. Alexander B. Lord Curzon
A. Sawn bricks B. Rectangular C. Mortimer Wheeler D. John Marshall
C. Wedge shaped D. Square
89. The Indus people were probably ruled by:
77. Where was the vanity case found? A. Kings
A. Harappa B. Lothal B. Priests
C. Kot Diji D. Mohenjo-daro C. Merchants
78. One of the following structures is not found in Harappa. D. An assemble of elected elders
Identify it:
90. Which of the following statement regarding the Indus
A. Granary B. Citadel
valley people is very revealing?
C. Storied houses D. Great bath
A. Their script remain unchanged throughout their
79. The local name of Mohenjo-daro is: history.
A. mound of the living B. mound of the great B. They were in contact with Mesopotamia.
C. mound of the dead D. mound of bones C. Their civilisation was possibly theocratic just like
80. Which statement on Kalibangan is Not Correct? the Egyptains and Mesopotamians.
A. Pre-Harappan phase here shows that fields were D. They learnt nothing from Mesopotamia.
ploughed in Rajasthan.
91. The terracotta figures of men and women squatting
B. It is only here that fire-altars belonging to Harappan
period have been discovered. with their arms folded round their knees and wearing
C. The lower Harappan town at Kalibangan is fortified. round caps on their heads were probably those of:
D. Drying of the river Ghaggar caused its decline. A. Prisoners B. Slaves
C. Labourers D. Cultivators
81. In 1958 a cursory digging extended Harappan frontiers
in the east upto a place near to Meerut in UP. Identify 92. ‘Swastika’ is symbol of:
the place: A. Sangam origin B. Indus valley origin
A. Alamgirpur B. Banwali C. Aryan origin D. None of the above
C. Ropar D. Sutkagendor 93. Which was the backbone of the Indus economy?
82. The Harappans imported Lapis Lazuli, jade and A. agriculture B. trade
turquoise from: C. carpentry D. wheel made pottery
A. Khetri and Kolar 94. Crude ochre colour pottery (though its origin is
B. Mesopotamia uncertain), discovered from the Yamuna-Gangetic
C. Badakshan, the Pamirs and Khorasan
Doab, has been associated with:
D. Khorasan and Khetri
A. the migrant Harappans
83. A terracotta model of ship with a stick impressed socket B. the early Aryans
for the mast and eyeholes for fixing come from: C. the later Aryans
A. Lothal B. Surkotada D. the Mauryas
C. Harappa D. Mohenjo-daro
95. The most popular form of burial at Mohenjo-daro was:
84. “The enemy of the Harappans was nature .............. India A. complete burial B. fractional burial
and the barbarians hordes are exonerated”. Whose view
C. post cremation burial D. cremation
is this?
A. M. Wheeler’s B. G.F. Dale’s 96. The disapearance of Indus valley civilisation was most
C. Marshall’s D. Mackey’s probably because of:
A. diverse reasons B. the floods of the Indus
85. The birds worshipped by the Harappans were:
A. dove and pigeon C. Aryan invaders D. unknown invaders
B. dove and peacock 97. One possible factor you may not accept as responsible
C. pigeon and peacock for the ‘eclipse’ of the Indus civilisation is:
D. pigeon, dove and peacock A. over population
86. A scale has been found at which of the Harappan sites? B. over cultivation hence decrease in fertility
A. Harappa B. Lothal C. fluctuations of salinity because of shift of the
C. Mohenjo-daro D. Surkotada riverine situation
87. In which age were the Copper and Stone implements D. deforestation
used? 98. According to Dr. S.R. Rao, the Indus script, originally
A. Neolithic B. Chalcolithic a mixed writing of 62 signs including pictures was
C. Microlithic D. Mesolithic disciplind into an alphabetic script of:
 8 History

A. 22 signs B. 26 signs 100. Indus seals:

C. 30 signs D. 24 signs A. were purely secular in character
99. Indus script is: B. were used as means of exchange by Harappans
A. bonstrophedon B. indeographic C. reveal their religions character
C. cuneiform D. logographic D. were exported in big numbers

ANSWERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
A C C A D B C C D C
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
A C C A A C C D C D
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
C A B C D B C D A B
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
B B B A C B A C D C
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
C B C C C B B A D A
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
A A D B D C A C D A
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
A B A B C B D A C B
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
A A D A B D A D C B
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
A C A B A B B A C D
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
B B A A A A A B D B

SET-2
1. Who applied the name India to our country? 5. Who gave the Siva Cult to India?
A. Aryans B. Persians A. Mongoloids B. Proto-Australoids
C. Greeks D. English C. Dravidians D. Aryans
2. What is Avesta? 6. Who among the following was the first to suggest the
A. It is a name of Vedic God similarity between Sanskrit language of Aryans, Greeks
B. It is a place in Iran and Latin?
C. It is the religious book of the ancient Iranians
A. Sir Williams Jones B. Monier Williams
D. It is a place in Central Asia
C. Max Muller D. None of the above
3. The main source of livelihood of the Rigvedic people
7. Which was not the cause of Aryans Victory over the
was?
A. Agriculture B. Cattle breeding Dasas or Dasyus?
C. Poultry D. Animal husbandry A. use of chariots in war
B. use of horses in war
4. The word “Aryan” derived are in the vedic period
C. use of metal armours and helmets
meant:
A. superior D. use of elephant in war
B. cultured 8. Marriage by Purchase was called:
C. foreigners or strangers A. Paisach B. Rakshasa
D. noble C. Asura D. Gandharva
 History 9
9. Initially the Aryans cleared the land by means of: A. She had to perform Symbolic self-immolation at
A. fire B. bronze axe the death of her husband.
C. iron axe D. wooden plough B. She enjoyed an honourable position.
10. “The country that lies North of the ocean and south of C. She had to burn herself on her husband’s pyre.
the snowy mountains is called Bharata. From which D. She received education.
text is this description taken? 20. The Rig-vedic society was mainly:
A. Rig-Ved B. Ramayana A. a pastoral society B. a food gathering society
C. Mahabharata D. Vayu Purana C. a migrating society D. a tribal society
11. In which records do you find the use of the word Hindu
21. The two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata are
for Sindhu?
concerned with events which took place between:
A. Greeks B. Persian
A. 300 and 100 B.C. B. 700 and 300 B.C.
C. Sumerian D. Egyptian
C. 1000 and 500 B.C. D. 1000 and 700 B.C.
12. Probably slavery originated in:
A. Rig vedic period B. Later vedic period 22. Which of the following was not one of the distinguished
C. Mauryan period D. Post-Mauryan period tribes of the later vedic-period?
A. Videhas B. Kurus
13. The discovery of inscriptions at Bogazkoi in Asia
C. Bharatas D. Panchalas
Minor is not about.
A. The treaty between the kings of the Hitties and the 23. The source of income of the Rig-vedic ruler was
Mitanis. primarily:
B. The vedic gods Indra, Mitra, Varuna and the Asvins A. Tributes B. Spoils of war
who are invoked to uphold the treaty. C. Agriculture taxes D. Pasturage tax
C. determining the age of Rig-veda. 24. Chariot racing formed an important element of which
D. description of gods worshipped by later vedic age. one of the following sacrifices?
14. What is the importance of Avesta for vedic period? A. Rajasuya B. Vajapeya
A. The words, phrases, stanzas, myths and legends in C. Ashvamedha D. Agnihotra
it suggest the similarity between Rig veda and
25. The important characteristics of the vedic religion
Avesta and that the ancestors of the Hindus and the
were:
Persians had lived together for a long time.
B. It has no importance to understand vedic culture. 1. Goddess like ‘prithvi’, ‘Aditi’ and ‘Usha’
C. It shows the culture exchange between ancient 2. Goddess are co-equal to their male-partners
Iranians and Rig-vedic people. 3. Predominance of male dieties.
D. It shows close similarity between the physical 4. Worship of nature.
features of the Iranians-Aryan and the vedic-Aryan. Code:
A. only 3 and 4 B. only 2 and 4
15. The Brahmis spoke a language similar to the language
spoken by: C. only 1 and 4 D. only 1 and 3
A. Khasis B. Dravidians 26. Which of the following statement is not correct
C. Aryans D. Bhutiyas regarding Indra?
16. Upanayana, the ceremony of initiation started during: A. He was the god exclusively associated with
A. Later vedic-period B. Rig-vedic period sacrifices.
C. The Maurya period D. The Pallava period B. He was known as ‘Purandara’
17. The caste-system became rigid with the stringent laws C. He killed the evil dragon ‘Virata’
on the Shudras which meant restrictions on— D. He was the god of Thunder
A. the right to learn vedas 27. Which of the following was not a factor responsible
B. the sacred thread ceremony for the proliferation of castes in ancient India?
C. the right to own property A. Guilds
D. the right to engage themselves in trade and B. Development of new crafts
commerce C. Tribal affiliations
18. The varna-based social division first appeared in: D. To maintain social purity
A. 300 BC – 100 BC B. Later vedic period 28. Which of the following are known as Brahmanas?
C. Rig-vedic period D. Mauryan period A. The original texts of the vedas
19. Which points regarding Rigvedic woman is not B. Explanatory prose manuals relating to prayer and
correct? sacrificial ceremony
2751 (History)—2
10 History

C. Commentaries appended to the Aryans dealing with C. Indo-Aryans made spiritual conquest of the south.
philosophic questions. D. By peaceful penetration and not by sword, they
D. Books dealing with worship and contemplation succeeded in carrying their ideas and civilization
meant for wood dwelling hermits. to the farthest Corners of the south.
29. Which one of the following abstract deities of the vedic 38. The vedic mountain “Mujavant” was the home of:
religion has been admired most in the Rig-veda? A. all gods
A. Sraddha (faith) B. Indra
B. Apsaras (water-nymphs) C. Soma
C. Gandharvas (aerial spirits) D. herbs and medicinal plants
D. Usha (goddes of dawn)
39. Which of the following region was called “Aryavarta”?
30. Which of the following statements about the vedic- A. From Yamuna upto West Bengal
king is correct? B. Punjab and Delhi Region
A. The Mantri Parishad exercised check over the C. The whole of northern India
authority of the king. D. The region beyond Vindhya mountain
B. Samiti and Sabha exercised check over the authority
40. In India Varna law enjoyed:
of the king.
A. Legal Sanction only
C. There was no check on the authority of the king.
B. Religions Sanction only
D. The people directly exercised control over the king.
C. Economic Sanction only
31. In which veda do we find reference to locked waters D. The Sanction of both the state and religion
and water wheels?
A. Rig-veda B. Yajur-veda 41. Which of the following god was borrowed by the
C. Sam-veda D. Atharva-veda Aryans from the Indus valley civilization?
A. Pashupti B. Hanuman
32. The battle of ten kings is mentioned in which of the C. Ganesh D. Kartikeya
chapters of Rig-veda?
A. Book VII B. Book III 42. Which of the following is an Upanishad?
C. Book I D. Book X A. Dhammapada B. Mahabhashya
C. Svetasvatar D. Milindapandha
33. Among amusements the Aryans gave first place to:
A. Dice B. Chariot-race 43. What was the common form of Govt. during the
C. Music D. Dance Rigvedic period?
A. Parliamentary form of government
34. “In the utmost need I cooked the entrails of a dog
B. Presidential form of government
among the gods I found no protection, I held my wife
C. Military Dictatorship
in degradation” who said this in the Rig-vedic period?
D. Hereditary Monarchy
A. a brahmin B. a kshatriya
C. a vaishya D. a non-Aryan 44. The Purusha-Sukta of the Rigveda contains:
35. The charioteers or sutas are thought to have spring A. Mantras in praise of Rudra
from the marriage of: B. Mantras in praise of Usha
A. Shudras and Brahmin women C. Rules of horse sacrifice
B. Kshatriyas and Brahmin women D. Mantras about the creation of the universe
C. Vaishyas and Kshatriyas women. 45. Which of the following statements about the teaching
D. Vaishyas and Brahmin women. of the Upanishad is incorrect?
36. Which of the following propounded the theory of a A. They believe in the existence of a supreme all
doubled invasion of India by Aryans at different pervading universal soul.
periods of history? B. They believe in rebirth.
A. Dr. Giles B. Dr. Hoernle C. They believe that moksha can be achieved by means
C. Sir George Grierson D. C.V. Vaidya of the knowledge of the ultimate reality.
37. Which of the following is not correct about Aryan D. They believe that moksha can be achieved by means
movement towards South? of animal sacrifices.
A. Indo-Aryan conquest of northern India never 46. Which of the following is correct?
affected peninsular portion of the country. A. The Upnishads denied the existence of an all
B. According to tradition, it was the vedic sage pervading supreme universal soul.
Agastya, who introduced Aryan ideas to the B. The Upanishads believed in the transmigration of
Dravidians. soul.
 History 11
C. The Upanishads believed in animal sacrifices as 57. Which Veda mentions the following terms: garments
means to attaining salvation. (dursa), coverlets (pavasta), barter (prapana), sale
D. The Upanishads did not believe in the theory of (Vikraya), exchange of merchandise (partipana)?
karma. A. Rigveda B. Samveda
47. The vedic God in charge of right, truth and moral order C. Yajurveda D. Atharvaveda
(Rita) was: 58. The change of “Aryanism” from the “Vedic” stage to
A. Varuna B. Indra Brahamanic stage, was marked by:
C. Dyaus D. Prajapati A. Incorporation of non-aryan features into Aryan
48. What was the centre of Aryan civilization during the society
later vedic-age? B. Evolution of Caste hierarchy
A. Karnataka C. Transformation from semi-nomadic pastoral
B. Sindhu economy to settle agrarian economy
C. Rajasthan D. All of the above
D. The territory between the Saraswati and Ganga 59. The bards or magadhas descended from:
49. What was the name of the king to whom all the early A. Shudra fathers and brahman mothers
Aryan dynasties traced their origin? B. Kashtriya fathers and brahman mothers
A. Parasuram B. Sri Krishna C. Vaishya fathers and kashtriya mothers
C. Sri Ram Chandra D. Manu – Vaivaswata D. Shudra fathers and kashtriya mothers
50. The term Sudra is mentioned in the Rig-Veda only 60. Which was not a primary duty of every Aryan?
once. How many times does the term ‘Vaisya appear A. Adhyayana B. Yajna
in the Rig Veda? C. Dan D. Tapa
A. 9 times B. 10 times 61. Which of the following had the most esteemed place
C. 3 times D. Only once in vedic village life and economy?
51. Which musical instrument was not known to the A. Carpenter B. Bronze-Smith
Aryans? C. Potter D. Weaver
A. drum B. tabla 62. Who was the second in importance during the later-
C. flute D. harp vedic period?
52. The Caste System was prevalent in the vedic age. A. Carpenter
Which of the following shows the four-fold division B. Metal-worker or iron-smith
of the society? C. Tanner
A. Satpatha Brahmana D. Weaver
B. Atharvaveda 63. The initiation of a brahman boy ordinarily took place
C. Purush-Sukta of Rigveda in his:
D. Yajurveda A. 6th year B. 8th year
53. The term “Jana” is used 275 times in the Rigveda. C. 10th year D. 12th year
How many times the term “Janapada” is used in the 64. The concept of Karma, in course of time, meant
Rigveda? maintenance of the:
A. 275 times B. 300 times A. Dharma B. Natural laws
C. only twice D. Not even once C. Social order D. Caste Laws
54. Bali was the name of the voluntary offering during 65. Which one of the feminine institutions was not rejected
Rigvedic period but when it became the compulsory by the Aryans?
tax? A. Matriarchy B. Polyandry
A. Sangama Period B. Buddhist Period C. Worship of goddesses D. None of the above
C. Later Vedic Period D. Mauryan Period 66. Among the Hindus, marriage is:
55. The institution of “gotra” appeard in: A. a sacrament
A. Rigvedic period B. Buddhist period B. a contract
C. Mauryan period D. Later vedic period C. a sacrament as well as a contract
56. Which of the following vedas refers to the roat ‘Kri’ D. violable
(to purchase) and ‘Vanija’ (to merchant) and also 67. The ‘Rajan’ or king during early vedic period could
mentions haggling in the market? NOT claim or receive.
A. Rig Veda B. Sam Veda A. regular taxes
C. Yajur Veda D. Atharva Veda B. portain of war booty
12 History

C. voluntary gifts A. Central Asia B. Tibet

D. None of the above C. Arctic region D. Kashmir
68. Who was Ganapati in the vedic period? 80. Brihadaranyaka is:
A. a god B. priest A. A Smriti
C. head of Aryan group D. a demi-God B. An Upanishada
C. A treatise on Political Science
69. According to the vedic texts like the Rig-Veda and
D. A Mahakavya
Atharvaveda the king was:
A. Elected B. Chosen by lots 81. Which of the following are not included in the Vedic-
C. Hereditary D. Victor in a great battle literature?
A. Samhitas B. Aranyakas
70. In the Rig-Vedic Society, gopa or gopati was the epithet C. Smritis D. Upanishadas
given to the:
A. king B. head of the family 82. Which of the following is correct?
C. wealthy man D. brahmana A. According to the vedic thinkers, monarch was the
ultimate source of law
71. Abhiseka ceremony replaced which one of the B. According to the vedic thinkers, people were the
following rites in due course of time? ultimate source of law
A. Asvamedha B. Vajapeya C. According to the vedic thinkers, the nature was the
C. Rajasuya D. None of the above ultimate source of law
72. With whom did the people in later vedic period deposit D. According to the vedic thinkers, Dharma, which
the taxes? sustained the world, was the ultimate source of law.
A. Bhagadugha B. Gramani 83. The concensus among historians that the vedic age
C. Sangrihita D. Prajapati began earliest in:
73. The doctrine of royal divinity was explicitly A. 1200 – 1000 BC B. 2500 – 800 BC
proclaimed for the first time in: C. 2500 BC D. 1000 BC
A. Epics B. Manu-Smriti 84. Which of the following failed to develop into a city
C. Vedas D. Six Darshana during later vedic age?
A. Indraprastha B. Mathura
74. During the later vedic period the eastern kings were
C. Prayag D. Kashi
known as:
A. Samrats B. Rajas 85. The most widely accepted dates of the composition of
C. Bhojas D. Virats Rig-Veda is:
A. 1500 BC to 1000 BC B. 1500 BC
75. The salient feature of the Rig-vedic civilization was C. About 45000 BC D. 100 BC
the worship of:
A. Nature B. Mother Goddess 86. According to Bhagavatism, there are ......... incarnations
C. Trinity D. Pashupati of Vishnu:
A. six B. eight
76. The chief impact of the vedic culture of Indian History C. ten D. twelve
was:
87. The oldest Indian linguistic text is:
A. Progress of philosophy and religion
A. Mahabharat B. Ashtadhyayi
B. Rise of other wordly outlook
C. Ramayana D. Nirukta
C. Rise of democratic theories
D. Growth of Sanskrit-literature 88. “War begins in the minds of men.” In which of the
following books the above statement is stated?
77. The metals which were used by the later vedic Aryans A. Mundaka Upanishad
were: B. Atharvada (Atharvaveda)
A. Silver, gold-copper, iron and brass C. Samaveda
B. Silver, gold and copper only D. Rigveda
C. Silver and gold only
89. The Caste System during the early vedic age:
D. Silver and copper only
A. Prohibited only interdining but not intermarriage
78. The Aryans came to India from outside and first settled B. Prohibited interdining and intermarriages
in: C. Did not prohibit interdining and intermarriages
A. Punjab B. U.P. D. None of these
C. Delhi D. Panchala 90. The philosophy of Upanishads emphasis on:
79. The original home of the Aryans, according to A. Bhakti B. Gyan
Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak was: C. Karma D. Tapa
 History 13
91. Who was the first poet of India? “Simanton-nayana” to ensure the safety of the child
A. Valmiki B. Vyasa in the womb.
C. Kalidas D. Vashishta B. The birth ceremony or the “Jatakarma” took place
92. The most common crime during the vedic period was: before the cutting of the unbilical cord.
A. theft, particularly cattle-stealing C. Usually during the six months of the child the
B. murder ceremony of (annaprasana) feeling of solid food
C. highway robbery was celebrated while the tonsure (culakarma) took
D. rakshasa marriage place in the third year for only boys.
D. All of the above.
93. The scared thread which the Brahman wore was made
97. Which practices were not in existence during the Rig-
of
vedic period?
A. Silk B. Wool
A. Dowry B. Child-marriage
C. Hemp D. Cotton
C. Divorce D. Widow-marriage
94. Which statement about an asceticism is correct?
98. What is the name of that God, who is known by the
A. The Atharva Veda after refers to ascetics as Vratyas
name of ‘Asura’ and is possibly the same as Ahura
B. By the time of the Upanishads, asceticism was
Mazda in the Zoroastrian religion?
widespread
A. Agni B. Varuna
C. Vratya was a priest of non-vedic fertility cult which
C. Prajapati D. Rudra
involved ritual dancing and flagellation
D. All of the above 99. Gold, copper and bronze were found during the
Rigvedic age. Which of the following was also known
95. The speculation of the upanishads centre around one during that age?
word of the Rig veda which one is that? A. Nishka B. Satmana
A. Prajapati B. Varuna C. Suvarna D. Krishnala
C. Brahman D. Indra
100. A God who is described amoral, and object of fear
96. Which statements on the status and bringing up of archer God whose arrows caused disease, connected
children in ancient India is correct? with the storm, and the guardian of healing herbs is
A. Three personal ceremonies were performed before known as:
birth “garbhadhana” to promote conception, A. Yama B. Varuna
“Pumsavama” to procure a male child, and C. Indra D. Rudra

ANSWERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
C C C D C A D C A D
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
B A D A B A B B C B
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
D C B B A A D B D B
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
A A B A B B A C B D
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
A C D D D B A B D D
51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60
B C D C D A D D C D
61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70
A B B D C A A C A A
71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80
C A A A A A A A C B
81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90
C D D A A C D B C B
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100
A A D D C D B B A D
14 History

SET-3
1. According to the Buddhist traditions the four great 10. Which of the following has the bull capital?
signs transformed the life of Gautama. Which one of A. Rampurva B. Sarnath
the following is known as the “Four Great Signs”? C. Lumbini D. Amaravati
A. The “four noble Truths”. 11. Name the Greek ambassador at the court of Bindusara.
B. The sights of old age, disease, death and a medicant. A. Megasthenes B. Heliodorus
C. The four heavenly signs which accompanied the C. Diamaehus D. Menander
birth of the Buddha.
12. Where is the Lomasa Rishi Cave?
D. None of these. A. Barabar Area B. Ellora
2. Who said this: “The Buddha would have made a good C. Bhaja D. Amaravati
general if he had not become a monk”? 13. Who said that the Indians did not drink (liquor) in the
A. Charles Eliat B. Vincent Smith age of the Mauryas?
C. Rhyas Davids D. Romila Thaper A. Megasthenes B. Arrian
3. What was the name given to those who gave a C. Strabo D. Pliny
demonstration of the incidents mentioned in the plays? 14. Where is the finest of the toranas found?
A. Sobhanikas B. Ganikas A. Kerala B. Sanchi
C. Sthanikas D. Granthikas C. Bedsa D. Nagarjuni hills
4. What does the Stupa symbolise? 15. Which one of the following has the quadripartite semi-
A. Evanescence of this world lions on top?
B. Piety of the Buddha A. Rampurva B. Lauriya Nandangarh
C. Sanctity of the Buddha C. Sarnath D. Amaravati
D. Bhakti 16. Name the inscription in which the name of the
5. Mahayana Buddhism originated in: contemporary rulers of the west are given.
A. Andhra Pradesh, 1st Century B.C. A. Rock Edict XIII B. Rock Edict IX
B. Bihar, 1st Century A.D. C. Pillar Edict VII D. Bhabra Edict
C. Kashmir, 3rd Century B.C. 17. Mahayanism has faith in:
D. Bengal, 2nd Century A.D. A. Defication of the Buddha and icon worship.
6. Where has the Rummindei Pillar been erected? B. Elaborate rituals
A. The birth place of the Buddha C. The Boddhisattavas and devotion to them
B. The place where he preached his eirmon first D. All of the above
C. The place where the Buddha died 18. Which one of the following councils made Sanskrit
D. The place where he attained enlightenment the vehicle of Buddhist scriptures?
7. The third Buddhist council was held at Patliputra A. first B. second
during the reign of Ashoka, 236 years after the death C. third D. fourth
of Buddha to revise the Scriptures. Which of the 19. Who is regarded as the founder of “Shunyavad”?
following Pitaka was added to the existing two in this A. Vasumitra B. Nagarjuna
council? C. Ashvaghosha D. Upali
A. Sutta Pitakas B. Abhidhamma Pitakas 20. Which element of Mahayana Buddhism particularly
C. Vinaya Pitakas D. None of these distinguishes it from the Hinayana?
8. Which of the following is not one of the “Four Noble A. Liberal attitude B. Bodhisattava ideal
Sentiments” that a person aspiring for ‘nirvana’ should C. Absolutist philosophy D. Divinity of Buddha
cultivate? 21. The Buddhist doctrine of “Pritityasamut Pada” or
A. Karuna of Compassion dependent origination contained in the second Noble
B. Metta or Universal love Truth explains.
C. Mudita or Sympathetic joy A. The path which leads to cessation of suffering.
D. Upekkha or equanimity B. The interconnection between desire, suffering and
9. Who said this—“Karma acts as a very pragmatic God”. rebirth.
A. The Buddha B. Mahavira C. The momentariness of all worldly things.
C. Parsva D. Upnishads D. The eight fold path very clearly.
 History 15
22. Who has called Bindusara as Amitrachates? 33. Why are the majority of Buddhist caves in India to be
A. Athenaeus B. Justin found in Western Maharashtra?
C. Strabo D. Pliny A. The caves in this region provided a safe sanctuary
23. Match the following : away from the marauding hordes of foreign-
(a) Vijnanavada 1. Hinayana invaders.
(b) Shunyavada 2. Madhyamika School B. There was a long-standing tradition in this region
(c) Syadvada 3. Yogachara of royal patronage to rock-cut architecture.
(d) Sthavirvada 4. Sapta-bhanginaya C. The Sahayadri mountain in western Maharashtra
(a) (b) (c) (d) with its hard trap was best suited for rock-cut
A. 3 2 4 1 architecture.
B. 3 4 2 1 D. None of these.
C. 1 2 3 4
34. Name of the greatest Buddhist Commentator of the
D. 2 1 3 4
Buddhist Cononical literature who wrote
24. Who were described as the Pancha-ratrikas? Visuddhimagga, the first famous systematic and
A. Bhagbatas B. Pasupatas philosophical treatise on Buddhist doctrine.
C. Digambaras D. Hinayanists A. Vasumitra B. Nagarjuna
25. What word was used in the 6th century B.C. for a man C. Buddhaghosha D. Ashvaghosha
who attained full holiness?
35. The Buddha had accepted the invitation to dinner from
A. Svargi B. Nirvani
one of the following in preference to that of the
C. Arhant D. Buddha
lichchavis. Identify:
26. Which one of the following was added to Buddhist A. Ajatsatru B. Ambapali
canonical texts by the fourth council? C. Khema D. Visakha
A. Jatakas B. Vibhashas
C. Dhammapada D. Kathavatthu, Prakarna 36. Match the following:
(a) Kanda 1. Sidhhartha’s horse
27. Early Schism in Buddhism divided the Buddhist order
(b) Channa 2. Siddhartha’s Charioteer
into:
(c) Udraka 3. Chief disciple of the Buddha
A. Sthavirvadins and Mahasanghikas
(d) Ananda 4. Second teacher of Siddhartha
B. Mahasanghikas Sunyavadins
(e) Kauthaka 5. The Smith who served the last
C. Sunyavadins and Sarvastivadins
D. Sthavirvadins and Sarvastivadins meal to Buddha
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
28. The Bhabru Edict records Ashoka’s faith in: A. 5 2 4 3 1
A. Tisaranam
B. 1 2 3 4 5
B. Toleration
C. 2 3 5 1 4
C. Dharmaviiya
D. 5 2 3 1 4
D. Solicitude for the Welfare of the people
36. Match the following:
29. The term ‘Piyadassi’ occurring in Mahavamsa is
identified with Ashoka. It is also identified with another (a) Sutta Pitaka 1. A collection of religious
ruler. Identify. discourses of the Buddha
A. Bindusara B. Samprati (b) Vinaya Pitaka 2. Contains rules of Monastic
C. Salisuka D. Chandragupta discipline
(c) Abhidhamma 3. Consists of meta physical
30. Which God was called Herakles by the Greeks?
Pitaka disquisitions
A. Krishna B. Indra
(a) (b) (c)
C. Rudra D. Brahma
A. 2 3 1
31. Which of the following Buddhist text declares the B. 1 2 3
cattle to be of food, beauty and happiness (Annada, C. 3 1 2
Vannada, Sukhada), and thus pleads for their protec- D. 2 1 3
tion?
A. Suttanipata B. Kathavathonu 38. Mahavira gave up worldly life at the age of:
C. Milindapanho D. Mahavamsa A. 30 B. 29
C. 40 D. 25
32. Among which of the communities did Jainism spread
rapidly? 39. Who of the following wrote Madhyamika Karika?
A. Trading Community B. Agrarian tourists A. Nagarjuna B. Vasubandhu
C. Craftsmen D. Warriors C. Buddhaghosa D. Adhvaghosa
16 History

40. How many years did the Buddha wonder before the 51. Who built the fort at Palaligram (Palimbothra) where
enlightenment? the city of Pataliputra grew?
A. Seven B. Six A. Ajatsatru
C. Twelve D. forty-five B. Bimbisara
41. Which one of the following is considered the most C. Chandragupta Maurya
important vehicle of Buddhist ethical teachings? D. Dhanananda
A. Sutta Pitakas B. Jatakastories 52. One of the three Pitakas which deals with the Buddhist
C. Vinaya Pitakas D. Abhidhamma Pitakas Curch discipline is known as:
42. Who headed the Jaina exodus to the Mysore Country? A. Vinaya B. Sutta
A. Chandragupta B. Bhadrabahu C. Abidhamma D. None of the above
C. Sthulabhadra D. Jamali 53. Which statement on Buddhists in the second half of
43. How many years did Mahavira spend as a religious the first millennium is not correct?
teacher? A. Buddhist monks took part in Hindu processions.
B. Buddhist families relied on the services of
A. 30 B. 40
Brahmanas at births, marriages and deaths.
C. 35 D. 25
C. Buddhism denied the validity of the vedas.
44. Which was the name of the son of the Buddha? D. Buddhism did not develop its own metaphysics and
A. Rahula B. Mara tratricism, as Hinduism.
C. Jamali D. Sidhartha
54. Which feature of Buddhism gave it an edge over
45. Mahavira practised severe penance for: Aryanism?
A. 30 years B. 6 years A. Absence of Godhead
C. 10 years D. 12 years B. Acceptance of the cycle of birth and death
46. Who was the first pontiff of Jainism after Mahavira? C. Homely message
A. Sudhaman B. Jamali D. The jataka stories
C. Sthulabhadra D. Bhadrababu 55. Which country still possesses a branch of the original
47. Which one of the following places can be regarded as pipal tree, under which the Buddha had received
the largest monastic establishment in western India enlightenment?
(containing 130 caves)? A. Indonnesia B. China
A. Kanheri C. Ceylon D. Afghanistan
B. Junnair (Near Nasik) 56. Which statement on the similarities between Buddhism
C. Ajanta (Near Aurangabad) and Jainism is not correct?
D. Karle A. Both Buddhism and Jainism denied the authority
48. Which one of the following statement correctly of the vedas and opposed animal sacrifices and the
describe the difference between chaitya and a stupa? performance of rituals and ceremonies.
A. Chaityas represented Mahayanism and stupas B. Both the Buddha and Mahavira belonged to
Hinayanism princely families and both taught in the language
B. Chaityas were constructed by the manasteries while of the common people.
stupas were constructed by the kings and the rich C. Both of them admitted diciplines from all castes
merchants. and from both sexes.
C. Chaitya is a place of Prayers/Worship while stupa D. Both spread in various parts of the world
is a movement. extensively.
D. Chaitya is a religious term, while stupa is an 57. True goal of Mahayana follower is the achievement
architectural term for a mend containing a relic of of:
the Buddha and later on of leading Buddhist saints. A. Arhantship B. Supreme Buddhahood
49. Who of the following was the most renowned Buddhist C. Perfection D. Bodhisattvahood
scholar of Indian origin to propagate madhyamika 58. Who was/were not a Zealous follower(s) of Buddhism?
Buddhism in China? A. Pala kings of Bengal B. Sungas
A. Fa-hiean B. Kumarjiva C. Ashoka D. Harsha
C. I-tsing D. Huen-Tsang 59. The charvakas, or Lokayat school of materialist
50. About 600 B.C. which one of the following was not a philosophy did not believe in one of the following.
republic? Identify
A. Sakyas B. Koliyar A. Peraption (Pratyaksha) is the only means of valid
C. Mallas D. Panchala knowledge. All interference is invalid.
 History 17
B. Earth, Water, Finole and Air are the only elements. 71. Which statement regarding Buddha is true?
C. There is other world. A. He was born on the day of full moon.
D. Sensual pleasure is the summum bonum of life: B. His birth and death took place on the day of full
enjoyment is the only end of human existence. moon.
60. The angas literature is associated with: C. His birth, death and awaking — all the three took
A. Vaishnavism B. Saivism place on the day of full moon.
C. Jainism D. Buddhism D. He became enlightened on the day of full moon.
61. The mother of Mahavira was: 72. Which of the following Buddhist philosophers is said
A. Mahamaya B. Trishala to have visited Nepal in the 4th century in order to
C. Yasoda D. Yasodhara propagate his own doctrine?
A. Acharya Vasubandhu B. Acharya Shantharakshita
62. The event of the fight of Mohammed in 622 A.D. is C. Acharya Kamlashila D. Acharya Aitsha
known as Hijrat. What is Gautam’s “Great going forth”
(His leaving his father’s palace) known as? 73. Who of the following monarchs of Tibet is credited
A. Mahabhiniskramana B. Parinirvana with introduction of Buddhism in Tibet in the 7 th
C. Mahaparinirvana D. Nibbana-yatra century A.D.?
A. Dpal—hkhor—btsan
63. Who wrote Jaina Kalpasutra? B. Khri—ide—sren—btas
A. Bhadrabahu B. Sthulbahu C. Mu—ne—btsan—po
C. Mahavira D. Parsvanath D. Sron—btsan—Sangam—po
64. Which one forms a bridge or rather a half way house 74. The Shailendra kings of Indonesia were followers of
between the old Buddhism and Hinduism? Mahayana Buddhism. They establish monesteris at
A. the Hinayana School B. The Mahayana School Nalanda and Nagapatinam and the Pala and the Chola
C. the Vajrayana School D. None of the above emperors granted village for their maintenance. Which
65. Whose relation with the Buddha began with enmity one of the following stupas built by them in Java is
and ended in complete dexotion? most renowned?
A. Bimbisara’s B. Ajatasatru’s A. Singasari B. Borobudur
C. Devadatta’s D. Pradyota’s C. Mendut D. Kalasan
66. Which one of the following has been the richest source 75. Which one of the following nurtured as individualistic
of the well known smooth images in black state and traditions in Buddhism?
has also yielded an extensive series of Buddhist 1. Shudras asseting their rights
bronzes? 2. Growing Urbanisation
A. Amaravati B. Tanjore 3. Decaying Brahmanism
C. Nalanda D. Kurkihar 4. Republican background
67. At which one of the following places the earliest A. only 2 and 4 B. only 1 and 3
example of the Buddhist stupa architecture has been C. only 1, 3 and 4 D. All the four
found? 76. Which one of the following constitutes the chief
A. Sarnath B. Sanchi significance of Korean Buddhism?
C. Lumbini D. Bodha Gaya A. The role it played as an intermediary between China
68. To which one of the following school of art do the and Japan
earliest images of Buddha in human form belong? B. The unique synthesis of the orthodox and the
A. Mathura B. Gupta Tantric Schools of Buddhism
C. Gandhara D. Amravati C. The preservation of Mahayana Buddhism in its
purest from
69. The best images of Prajnaparamita, belongs to:
D. None of the these
A. Sumatra B. Java
C. China D. India 77. When was Buddhism (Mahayana School) First
introduced in Japan?
70. Name the place where the Colossal figures of the
A. 1st Century A.D. B. 3rd Century A.D.
Buddha modelled on an earlier Gandhara type,
C. 6th Century A.D. D. 8th Century A.D.
belonging to the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. has been
found. 78. Which factor disabled Buddhism from the very
A. Bamiyan, Afghanistan beginning to emerge as the triumphant religion of
B. Chinese Turkistan India?
C. Burma (new Myanmar) A. Lack of clarity regarding life after death.
D. Sri Lanka B. Pride born out of Royal patronage.
2751 (History)—3
18 History

C. Acceptance of some of the well known concepts of B. The Bhagvata religion is also known as Vaishnava
Aryanism. Dharma.
D. Division of Buddhist ranks immediately after the C. Buddhist cannos of the first century B.C. mentioned
death of Buddha. the worshippers of Vasudeva.
79. In the field of religion every major religion of the world D. The worship of Vishnu was certainly known to
is represented in India with the exception of: Megasthenes.
A. Confucianism B. Zoroastrianism 89. Which statement on Bhagavatism is not correct?
C. Judaism D. Latin Chriotianity A. It did not encourage image worship among the
80. The 57-foot high statues of Gomateshware at Sravana higher sections of the orthodox Indian people.
Belgola in Mysore was erected in about 981 A.D. by B. The Vishnu images of the early post. Christian era
the Ganga minister. are mostly to be found in the Mathura regions.
A. Chamundraya B. Rachamal C. The Bhagavata Shrines are mostly built by
C. Rishala D. Bharata foreigners as the one referred to in the mora
81. According to Buddhist tradition, who instigated inscription.
Ajatsatru to kill his father Bimkisara? D. A few fragments of the mora shrines are now to be
A. Buddha’s cousin Devadatta found in the Mathura Museum.
B. Bimbisara’s wife Chellana 90. Amongest the following who contributed most to the
C. Bimbisara’s wife Khena
Bhagavat cult?
D. Ajatsatru’s wife Padmavati
A. Indo-Greeks B. Seythians
82. One of the earliest references to Krishna as human hero C. Parthians D. Kushans
is to be found in the:
91. Theist religion means:
A. Chhandogya Upanishad
B. Ghata Jataka A. belief in one God
C. Jaina text Uttradyanana Sutra B. the God would reveal himself to the devotees
D. Jaina Aupapatrika Sutra C. the opposite of montheism
D. the opposite of pontheism
83. To the classical i.e. Greek writers, Lord Krishna was
known as: 92. The Gita steers a middle course between the two ideals
A. Heracles B. Souraseni of nivritti and pravritti:
C. Androkottas D. Sandro Kottas A. correct B. incorrect
84. “Para” means: C. controversial D. Do not know
A. the highest aspect of Lord Vasudeva 93. Which one is known as the layman’s upnishad?
B. the emanatory form of Vasudeva A. The Ramayana B. The Gita
C. the incarnatory form of Vasudeva C. Mahabharata D. The Jataka Stories
D. Vasudeva as the inner Controller of the actions of 94. Which practice of early Buddhists largely enabled
every individual
Buddhists to become a popular religion?
85. The fact that Jainas included Vasudeva and Baladeva A. Preaching in Pali and the simplicity of the doctrine.
among the 63 Solaka ----- Purushas or eminent B. The personality of the Buddha
Personalities, who influence the history of the world C. Acceptance of worship of trees and funerary
in various ways is: practices.
A. true B. false D. The simplicity of the doctrine.
C. not likely D. disputed
95. The system that must have become the basic doctrine
86. Who was considered as the 9th Avatar of Vishnu? of Buddhism is the:
A. Kapila B. Dattatreya
A. Nyaya system B. Sankhya system
C. Vyasa D. the Buddha
C. Uttar-Mimamsa D. None of these
87. The monolithic column at Besnagar in honour of
96. Who listened to the first serman of the Buddha?
Vasudeva was erected by Heliodorus in the:
A. 2nd Century B.C. B. 1st Century B.C. A. The five as ascetics or monks
C. 1st Century A.D. D. 2nd Century A.D. B. Sujata
C. Angulimala
88. Which statement on Vaishnavism is not correct? D. Upali
A. Vasudeva — Krishna came to be gradually
associated with the vedic deity Vishnu and this 97. Symbol of Buddhism is:
process was completed by the time the Bhagvat A. four-spoked wheel B. eight-spoked wheel
Gita was composed. C. ten-spoked wheel D. Not known
2751 (History)—3-II
 History 19
98. The future Buddha may be an incarnation in: 109. The only incarnation of Lord Siva as suggested in the
A. Human form B. Semi-human form Vayu and Linga Puranas is that of:
C. Animal form D. Acquastic animal form A. Kakulin B. Basava
99. Who was/were not a zealous follower(s) of Buddhism: C. Gosala D. Shankaracharya
A. Harsha B. Kanishka 110. Which was the earliest of the saiva seets?
C. Pala kings of Bengal D. Sungas A. Kalamukhas B. Kapalikas
100. “Buddhayana” refers to the: C. Pasupata D. Lingayatas
A. First “Vehicle” B. Second “Vehicle” 111. The Garuda Pillar erected by the foreigner is at:
C. Third “Vehicle” D. None of the above A. Besnagar B. Allahabad
101. Which sect is similar in thinking or indentical to that C. Sanchi D. Ujjain
of the lokayatas? 112. Who said: “When religion declines and evil-doers are
A. Jains B. Charavakas to be destroyed, I shall be born, at different periods”?
C. Brahmanas D. Sharamanas A. Krishna B. The Buddha
102. Who said, “Don’t ask the caste, ask the deeds C. Rama D. Mahavira
whosoever does the right deals attains nirvana”? 113. The first successful invador who annexed the Punjab
A. Krishna B. Yajuavalkya territories to his empire was:
C. Mahavira D. Gautama A. Cyrus I B. Darius I
103. Which evidence does not reveal Ashoka’s interest in C. Alexandar D. Darius III
Buddhism? 114. Chandragupta Maurya liberated one of the following
A. 6th major pillar inscription parts of India from Selukos. Which one was that:
B. Schism edicts A. North-Western B. South-Western
C. Nigalisagar pillar inscription C. South-Eastern D. Western
D. Rumindei’s pillar inscription 115. Who said “Indians do not know the art of writing?
104. One statement on charavaka philosophy is not correct. A. Kautilya B. Pliny
Identify that one. C. Megasthenes D. Plutarch
A. Enjoyment is the only end of human life. 116. Who was referred to as “Vrishala” and “Kulahina”:
B. Gods do not exist. A. Ashoka
C. Besides perception there are other means of valid B. Harsha
knowledge, important among them being inference. C. Chandragupta Maurya
D. The Lokayat philosophy stated that everything, that D. Chandragupta
exists, is experienced by sensory organs.
117. During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya the Sudarsan
105. Which statement on the sect of the Ajivikas is wrong? lake near Girnar was constructed by?
A. It attracted only men of humble origin. A. Suvisakha B. Pushyagupta
B. It found fault with Bhramanas interpretation of C. Tushapa D. Parnadatta
Karma doctrine.
C. It criticised the caste-structure. 118. Tishyarakshita, who opposed the extraordinary
D. Gosala was its founder. generosity of Ashoka to the Buddhist, was:
A. the queen B. a sister
106. When did China received Buddhism?
C. a daughter D. a grand-daughter
A. Second century B.C. B. First century B.C.
C. First century A.D. D. Third century A.D. 119. Who was welcomed by these word: “We neither oppose
the prince, nor the king but the wicked ministers who
107. Which one of the following works of Ashvaghosha is
oppress us”?
considered to be the oldest dramatic work extant in
A. Bindusara B. Samprati
Sanskrit literature?
C. Kunala D. Jaluka
A. Shariputraprakarana B. Buddhacharita
C. Samanta Pasadika D. Saundarananda 120. How many nights did A shoka spend on his
“dhammayatras” (Pilgrimage tours)?
108. Which one expression for describing the under-current
A. 240 B. 256
of Indian History is more true than the others?
C. 120 D. 280
A. The story of Hinduism
B. Exploitation of the rural areas 121. Who saw Ashoka’s statue dressed in a monk’s robe?
C. Frequent invasions by foreigners A. Fahien B. Huen Tsang
D. Elusive search for political unity C. I-tsing D. Alberuni
 20 History

122. The essence of Law of Piety or Dhamma is: A. Democratization

A. Layman’s version of Buddhism B. A central organisation of Sanghas
B. Ashoka’s version of religious consciousness C. Separate Sanghas for Nuns (women)
C. Porana Pakiti D. Separate Sanghas for the followers of Hinayana and
D. An ideology to indotrinate people Mahayana sects
123. Which points does Not show that Ashoka was against 132. Which one of the following title was not used for
Bramhanism? Buddha?
A. He looked down supon Sacrifice A. Sakyamuni B. Tathagata
B. He had something against the Devas C. Jina D. Nayaputta
C. He equalted brahmanas with Ajivikas
133. About whom Max Mullar called, “the greatest
D. He held that the goal for people was “Swarga”
grammarian the world has ever known”?
124. Who was the only Mauryan Successor whose name A. Nagarjana B. Ashvaghosha
appears in an inscription as the donor of a cave in C. Panini D. Nayaputta
Barabar Hills near Gaya?
134. To which of the following countries Ashoka did not
A. Dasaratha B. Sampati
send his missionaries?
C. Kunala D. Jaluka
A. Egypt B. Sri Lanka
125. The “Vayu Purana” mentions the total number of kings C. China D. Burma
after Ashoka as:
135. By what name did the Greek writers call to the city
A. Six B. Ten
C. Seven D. Eight commissioners?
A. Agronomoi B. Astynomoi
126. Which of the following did for Buddhism in Japan, C. Sthanika D. Srenis
what Ashoka had done for it in India?
A. Heina B. Prince Shotoku 136. What is the ancient name for East Bengal?
C. Emperor Suiko D. Kamakura A. Samatata B. Dhauli
C. Svarnagiri D. Gandhara
127. The stupa constructed at which one of the following
places in southern India is not only earliest but also a 137. Which of the Greek writers refers to taking of image of
Mahastupa enshrining the mortal remains of the Bud- Heracles in front of the Paurava army?
dha? A. Curtius B. Justin
A. Jaggayyapeta B. Amaravati C. Strabo D. Measthenes
C. Nagarjunakonda D. Bhattiprolu 138. Who is described as the Indian Machiavelli?
128. The serman of the Turning of the wheel of law was A. Bimbisara B. Chanakya
preached by the Buddha after his enlightment. Which C. Bana D. Kalidasa
statement on it is not correct? 139. Into how many books is Arthasastra divided?
A. It was preached in the Deer Park at Sarnath. A. 15 B. 20
B. It is the basic teaching of all the Buddhist sects. C. 25 D. 150
C. The five monks, Kondana, Vappa, Bhadiya,
140. Which one of the following statem ents about
Mahanama and Assagi listened to it.
Yogachara (Founded by Maitrey-anatha), the other
D. That was his first and last Serman.
branch of Mahayanism, is not correct?
129. The turning of the wheel of law was the centre of A. It recognises three degrees of knowledge Parikalpila
Buddhist teaching. Which of the following is not (illusory), Paratantra (empirical), and Parinishpanna
correct? (absolute).
A. Four noble truths B. The school is also known as Vijnanavada on
B. Eight fold path account of the fact that it holds Vijnaptimatra
C. Belief in Bodhisattavas (nothing but consciousness) to be the ultimate
D. The middle path reality.
130. A Boddhisattva in Hinayana Buddhism is: C. As against the qualified realism of Madhyamika
A. A being of immeasurable charity and compassion School it advocates absolute realism.
B. The previous incarnation of Buddha D. It emphasises the practice of Yoga (Meditation) as
C. A dissident monk the most effective method for the attainment of the
D. The God on the earth in human form highest truth (bodhi).
131. Which among the following was absent from the 141. Who of the following Mahayanist Buddhist writers is
organisation of Buddhist Sanghas? regarded as the Kant of India by Dr. Stcharbatoky?
Another random document with
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 CHAPTER XXVIII.
DEATH OF OMAR.

A.H. XXIII. A.D. 644.

It was now the eleventh year of Omar’s

Caliphate, and though fifty-five years of Omar performs pilgrimage;
age (according to others over sixty) he was end of a.h. XXIII. October,
a.d. 644.
full of vigour and vigilant in the discharge
of the vast responsibilities that devolved upon him.[418] In the last
month of the twenty-third year of the Hegira, he journeyed, as was
his wont, to Mecca; and taking on this occasion the Widows of
Mahomet in his suite, performed with them the rites of the annual
Pilgrimage. He had returned but a few days to Medîna, when his
reign came to a tragical and untimely end.
A Persian slave, Feroze, called more
familiarly Abu Lulû, had been brought by Abu Lulû, a Persian slave,
Moghîra from Irâc. Carried off a prisoner in promises to make a windmill.
his youth by the Romans, he had early embraced Christianity; and
now, captured from them by the Moslems, his fate was to endure a
second captivity as Moghîra’s slave. When the crowd of prisoners
was marched into Medîna from the battle of Nehâvend (which is said
to have been his birthplace) he gave vent to his grief; the sight
opened springs of tenderness long pent up, and stroking the heads
of the little ones, he exclaimed: ‘Verily, Omar hath consumed my
bowels!’ He practised the trade of a carpenter; and Moghîra, as his
owner, shared the profit. Meeting Omar in the market-place,[419] he
cried out, ‘Commander of the Faithful! right me of my wrong, for
verily Moghîra hath assessed me heavily.’ ‘At how much?’ asked the
Caliph. ‘At two dirhems a day.’ ‘And what is thy trade?’ ‘A carpenter,
designer, and worker in iron.’ ‘It is not much,’ replied Omar, ‘for a
clever artificer like thee. I am told that thou couldst make for me a
mill driven by the wind.’ ‘It is true.’ ‘Come then,’ continued the Caliph,
‘and make me such a mill that shall be driven by the wind.’ ‘If
spared,’ said the captive in a surly voice, ‘I will make a mill for thee,
the fame whereof shall reach from the East even to the far West;’
and he went on his way. Omar remarked, as he passed on, the
sullen demeanour of Abu Lulû:—‘That slave,’ he said, ‘spoke
threateningly to me just now.’[420]
Next morning, when the people
assembled in the Great Mosque for the Omar mortally wounded by
Abu Lulû.
early matin prayer, Abu Lulû mingled with
the front rank of the worshippers. Omar entered, and, as was
customary with the Imâm who led the prayers, took his stand in
advance of the congregation, having his back towards them. He had
no sooner called out the first words, Allah Akbar, than Abu Lulû
rushed upon him, and with a sharp blade inflicted six wounds in
different parts of his body. Then he ran wildly about, killing some and
wounding others, and at last stabbed himself to death. Omar, who
had fallen to the ground, was borne into his house, which adjoined
the Mosque, sufficiently composed to desire that Abd al Rahmân
should proceed with the service. When it was ended, Omar
summoned him to his bedside, and signified his intention of
nominating him to the Caliphate. ‘Is this obligatory upon me?’
inquired Abd al Rahmân. ‘Nay, by the Lord!’ said Omar, ‘thou art
free.’ ‘That being so,’ he replied, ‘I never will accept the burden.’[421]
‘Then stanch my wound,’ said the dying Caliph (for life was ebbing
fast through a great gash below the navel), ‘and stay me while I
commit my trust unto a company of men that were faithful unto their
Prophet, and with whom their Prophet was well pleased.’ So he
named together with Abd al Rahmân, other
four, namely Aly, Othmân, Zobeir, and Sád, Omar appoints Electors to
as the chiefest among the Companions of choose successor.
Mahomet, to be the electors of his successor, and called them to his
bedside. When they appeared, he proceeded thus:—‘Wait for your
brother Talha (who was absent for the moment from Medîna) three
days; if he arrive, take him for the sixth; if not, ye are to decide the
matter between you.’ Then, addressing each in turn, he warned them
of the grave responsibility attaching to their office as Electors, and
the danger to the elected one of favouring unduly his own clan and
family. ‘O Aly, if the choice fall upon thee, see that thou exalt not the
Beni Hâshim above their fellows. And thou, Othmân, if thou art
elected, or Sád, beware that thou set not thy kinsmen over the necks
of men. Arise, go forth, deliberate and then decide. Meanwhile
Soheib shall lead the public prayers.’[422] When they had departed,
he called Abu Talha, a warrior of note, to him:[423] ‘Go, stand,’ he
said, ‘before their door, and suffer no man to enter in unto them.’
After a while he proceeded solemnly, addressing those around him:
—‘To him who shall succeed, give it as my dying bequest that he be
kind to the Men of this city, which gave a home to us and to the
Faith; that he make much of their virtues, and pass lightly by their
faults. And bid him treat well the Arab tribes, for verily they are the
backbone of Islam; the tithe that he taketh from them, let him give it
back unto the same for the nourishment of their poor. And the Jews
and Christians, let him faithfully fulfil the covenant of the Prophet with
them.[424] O Lord, I have finished my course. And now to him that
cometh after me I leave the kingdom and the Caliphate firmly
stablished and at peace.’ Then he lay down quietly and rested for a
time.
After a while he bade his son go forth,
and see who it was that had wounded him. Omar desires to be interred
beside the Prophet.
Being told that it was Abu Lulû, he
exclaimed:—‘Praise be to the Lord that it was not one who had ever
bowed down before Him, even once, in prayer! Now, Abdallah, my
son, go in unto Ayesha, and ask her leave that I be buried in her
chamber by the side of the Prophet, and by the side of Abu Bekr. If
she refuse, then bury me by the other Moslems, in the graveyard of
Backî.[425] And list thee, Abdallah, if they disagree’ (for he too was to
have a voice in the election) ‘then be thou with the majority; or, if the
votes be equal, then choose thou that side on which is Abd al
Rahmân. Now let the people come in.’ Crowds had assembled at the
door; and, permission having been given, they approached to make
obeisance. As they passed in and out, Omar asked whether any
leading man had joined in conspiring against him. ‘The Lord forbid!’
was the loud response of all, in horror at the very word. . For this
burying-ground, see Life of Mahomet, p. 208.
 Among the rest, Aly came forward to
inquire; and as he sat by the bedside, the Omar’s death.
son of Abbâs came up. Omar, who
dreaded the factious spirit of the latter, said: ‘O Ibn Abbâs, art thou
with me in this matter?’ He signified assent, whereupon Omar added
earnestly: ‘See that thou deceive me not, thou and thy fellows.[426]
Now, Abdallah, my son, raise up my head from the pillow, and then
lay it gently on the ground:[427] peradventure the Lord may in mercy
take me thus, this night, for I fear the horrors of the rising sun.’ A
physician gave him to drink of date-water; but it oozed through the
wound unchanged; and so also with a draught of milk. Which when
the physician saw, he said: ‘I perceive that the wound is mortal:
make now thy testament, O Commander of the Faithful.’ ‘That,’ said
Omar, ‘have I done already.’ As he lay, his head resting on the
bosom of his son, he recited this couplet:—
It had gone hard with my soul, if I had not been a Moslem;
But verily all the appointed prayers have I observed, and fasted.

And so, in a low voice, he kept Nov. 3, a.d. 644.

repeating the name of the Lord, and the
short Moslem creed, until his spirit passed away. It was the 26th of
Dzul Hijj, the 23rd year of the Hegira. He had reigned for the space
of ten years and a half.[428]
So died Omar, next to the Prophet the
greatest in the of Islam; for it was all within Achievements of his
these ten years that, by his wisdom, Calphate.
patience, and vigour, the dominion was achieved over Syria, Egypt,
and Persia, which Islam has ever since maintained. Abu Bekr beat
down the apostate tribes; but at his death the armies of Islam had
but just crossed the Syrian frontier. Omar began his reign the master
only of Arabia. He died the Caliph of an empire embracing Persia,
Egypt, and some of the fairest provinces of the Byzantine throne. Yet
throughout this marvellous fortune he never lost the equipoise of a
wise and sober judgment, nor exalted himself above the frugal and
familiar style of the Arab Chief. ‘Where is the Caliph?’ would the
visitor from distant provinces inquire, as he looked around the court
of the Great Mosque; and all the while the monarch sat in homely
guise before him.
The features of Omar’s life it requires
but few lines to sketch. Simplicity and duty Character of Omar.
were his guiding principles. Impartiality and
devotion characterised the discharge of his great office; and the
responsibility so weighed upon him that at times he would exclaim,
‘O that my mother had not borne me; would that I had been this stalk
of grass instead!’ Of a fiery and impatient temper, he was noted in
his youth, and even during the later days of the Prophet’s life, as the
stern advocate of vengeance. Ever ready to unsheathe the sword, it
was he who, after the battle of Bedr, advised that the prisoners
should all be put to death. But age, as well as weight of office, had
mellowed the asperity of his nature.[429] His sense of justice was
strong. And excepting the treatment of Khâlid, whom he pursued
with an ungenerous resentment, no act of tyranny or injustice is
recorded against him; and even in this matter his enmity took its rise
in Khâlid’s unscrupulous treatment of a fallen foe. The choice of his
captains and governors was free from favouritism; and (the
appointment of Moghîra and Ammâr excepted) singularly fortunate.
The different tribes and bodies in the empire, representing interests
the most diverse, reposed in his integrity the utmost confidence, and
his strong arm maintained the discipline of law and empire. A certain
weakness is discernible in his change of governors at the factious
seats of Bussorah and Kûfa. But even so, the conflicting claims of
Bedouin and Coreish were kept by him in check, and never dared to
disturb Islam till he had passed away. The more distinguished of the
Companions he kept around him at Medîna, partly, no doubt, to
strengthen his counsels, and partly (as he would say) from
unwillingness to lower their dignity by placing them in an office
subordinate to himself.[430] Whip in hand, he perambulated the
streets and markets of Medîna, ready to punish the offenders on the
spot; and it became a proverb,—‘Omar’s whip is more terrible than
another’s sword.’ But with all this he was tender-hearted, and
numberless acts of kindness are recorded, such as relieving the
wants of the widow and the fatherless.[431]
 Omar was the first who assumed the
title Ameer al Momenîn, or ‘Commander of The first called Commander
the Faithful.’ Caliph (Successor) of the of the Faithful.
Prophet of the Lord, was, he said, ‘too long and cumbersome a
name, while the other was easier and more fit for common use.’
According to his desire, Omar was
buried side by side with the Prophet and Burial of Omar.
Abu Bekr, in the chamber of Ayesha.
Soheib, as presiding over the public prayers, performed the funeral
service, and the five Electors, with Abdallah, the Caliph’s son,
lowered the body into its last resting-place.
The Moslem annalist may well sigh as
he bids farewell to the strong and single- Faction and schism in
minded Caliph; and enters on the troubled prospect.
sea of self-seeking faction, strife, and schism, which opens with the
Caliphate of his successor.
 CHAPTER XXIX.
ELECTION OF OTHMAN.

DZUL HIJJ, A.H. XXIII.—MOHARRAM, A.H. XXIX.

NOVEMBER, A.D. 644.

What arrangement Omar might have

made for a successor, had his end come The Electors.
less suddenly upon him, it is perhaps
unnecessary to inquire. But some more definite choice he would, in
all probability, have signified. We know that the perils of disunion
hung heavily on his mind. The unbridled arrogance of the numerous
powerful tribes settled in Kûfa and Bussorah, flushed with the glory
and the spoils of war, was already felt a danger; while family rivalries
amongst the Coreish themselves were beginning to weaken their
hold over the people which had hitherto been absolute. So much is
plain, that (Abd al Rahmân perhaps excepted) Omar saw none
amongst them endowed with sufficient power and influence, after his
death, to hold the reins of government. There was none, at least, so
prominent as to take the acknowledged lead. Again, the mode of
nomination or election proper to Islam, was as yet all uncertain. Abu
Bekr had on his death-bed named Omar his successor; but the
higher precedent of Mahomet, who appointed no one to take his
place, but simply named Abu Bekr, when he fell sick, to lead the
prayers, was doubtful. Had Abu Obeida been yet alive, Omar
declared that he would have chosen him; and the succession now
offered to Abd al Rahmân was (as we have seen) declined. Weak
and faint from the assassin’s dagger, the emergency came upon the
dying Caliph altogether unprepared to meet it. So, relieving himself
of the responsibility, he fell upon the expedient of nominating the six
chiefest Companions, on one or other of whom he knew that the
choice must needs fall, to be the Electors of a successor from
amongst themselves. These were Abd al Rahmân, Othmân, Aly,
Sád, Zobeir, and Talha. A seventh was added in the person of his
son Abdallah, who, himself excluded from election,[432] was (in case
the conclave were divided) to have the casting vote; and this his
father desired him to give on whichever side Abd al Rahmân might
be. Talha was absent, and did not return until the election had been
made.
Omar hoped, no doubt, that the
Successor thus chosen would be strong in Character of the Electors.
the support of his Electors. But he had not
calculated on the frailty of human nature; and selfish ends proved
more powerful than loyalty to Islam. Abd al Rahmân was the only
real patriot amongst them. Talha, Zobeir, and Sád, not yet beyond
the age of fifty, had none of them any special reason to aspire to the
Caliphate. They were all warriors of renown. Zobeir was closely
related to the Prophet. Sád was the nephew of Mahomet’s mother;
but his recall from Kûfa (although Omar had declared it to involve no
discredit) could not but in some measure tarnish the fame of the
conqueror of Medâin. Aly, a few years younger, had by far the
strongest claims of kinship (whatever these might be); for he was at
once the son of Mahomet’s uncle, the widowed husband of Fâtima,
and the father of the Prophet’s only surviving grandsons. He had
hitherto, from his inactive temperament, remained passive at the
Caliph’s court; but, possessed of a quick and high intelligence, he
had ever held a distinguished place in the counsels of Omar. The
time was now come, when, in the absence of any leading competitor,
his claims could no longer fail to be recognised by those around him;
or, without want of spirit, to be asserted by himself. Othmân was the
only real rival. His years carried weight, for he was now close on
seventy. Handsome and attractive in person and carriage, he gained
the hand of Rockeya, the Prophet’s daughter. She died while the
battle of Bedr was being fought. Shortly after, he married her sister
Omm Kolthûm; and when she, too, died, Mahomet used to say he
loved Othmân so dearly that, if another daughter had remained, he
would have given her also to him. But with all this, his character had
vital defects. Of a close and selfish disposition, his will was soft and
yielding. And of all the competitors, Othmân probably had the least
capacity for dominating the unruly elements of the Moslem empire.
 The Electors, when appointed by Omar,
retired at once to an adjoining chamber, Electors’ conclave. Three
and forthwith fell into such loud and hot days’ fruitless discussion.
discussion, that Abdallah exclaimed, ‘Good heavens! all this tumult,
and my father still alive!’ Omar, overhearing it, desired that they
should wait till his decease, and then again assemble. So after his
death and burial, Micdâd, a veteran citizen appointed by the
deceased Caliph to the duty, gathered the Electors in the treasury
chamber attached to Ayesha’s house, Abu Talha keeping watch at
the door with a guard of fifty men.[433] Omar’s order was that the
choice should not be delayed beyond the third day, so that his
successor might be declared by the fourth at latest; and he signified
the urgency of the business in the empire’s interest, by saying that if
the minority then resisted, they should be beheaded on the spot.
When the Electors came together, each pressed hotly the claim of
his own party, and two days were wasted in unprofitable wrangling.
Abd al Rahmân spent his nights in visiting the leading citizens, and
the governors and chief men from the provinces (who, having come
for the yearly pilgrimage, had not yet departed to their several posts)
and in sounding their views. On the third day, Abu Talha warned the
Electors that he would allow no further delay, and that the decision
must be come to by the following morning. To bring the matter,
therefore, to an issue, Abd al Rahmân offered to forego his own
claim to the Caliphate, if only the rest would abide by his decision.
They all agreed but Aly, who at first was silent. At last Aly said: ‘First
give me thy word that thou wilt not regard kith nor kin, but the right
alone and the people’s weal.’ ‘And I,’ rejoined Abd al Rahmân, ‘ask
thee first to give me thy troth that thou wilt abide by my choice, and
against all dissentients wilt support the same.’ Aly assented, and
thus the matter rested in the hands of Abd al Rahmân.
That night Abd al Rahmân did not close
his eyes. The contest was narrowed Abd al Rahmân acts as
between the houses of Hâshim and Umpire.
Omeyya, in the persons of Aly and Othmân, and their influence with
the electoral body was fairly equal.[434] Abd al Rahmân was closeted
with each of the Electors alone in turn. Zobeir was in favour of Aly;
how Sád voted is not certain. With Aly and Othmân, separately, Abd
al Rahmân was long in secret conference. Each pressed his own
claim; but each also admitted the claim of the other to be the next in
weight to his own. The morning broke upon them thus engaged; and
now the nomination must be made.
The Great Mosque overflowed with
expectant worshippers, who crowded in Othmân elected Caliph.
unusual number to the morning service.
Abd al Rahmân addressed them thus:—‘The people think that the
governors, chiefs, and captains should, without further waiting, return
to their respective posts. Wherefore advise me now in this matter.’
Ammâr, the late governor of Kûfa, said: ‘If it be thy desire that there
be no division in the land, then salute Aly, Caliph!’ and Micdâd
affirmed the same. ‘Nay,’ cried Abu Sarh, ‘if it be thy desire that there
be no division, then salute Othmân!’ and Abu Rabia affirmed the
same. Ammâr turned contemptuously on Abu Sarh; who, repaying
scorn with scorn, said: ‘And pray, Ammâr, how long hast thou been
counsellor to the Moslems? Let the Beni Hâshim and Omeyya speak
for themselves.’ But Ammâr would not be silent, and, continuing to
press the claims of Aly, asked why the government should pass
away from the Prophet’s line. Whereupon one of the Beni Makhzûm
(a Coreishite tribe) cried angrily: ‘Thou passest beyond thy bounds,
O son of Sommeyya; who art thou, thus to counsel the Coreish?’[435]
Sád, seeing that the strife was waxing warm, said to Abd al Rahmân:
‘Finish thy work at once, or the flames of discord will burst forth.’
‘Silence, ye people!’ cried Abd al Rahmân—‘Be quiet, or ye will bring
evil upon yourselves. The determination of this matter resteth with
me.’ So saying, he called Aly to the front, and thus addressed him:
‘Dost thou bind thyself by the covenant of the Lord, to do all
according to the Book of the Lord, the example of the Prophet, and
the precedent of his Successors?’ ‘I hope,’ responded Aly, ‘that I
should do so; I will act according to the best of my knowledge and
ability.’ Then he put the same question to Othmân, who answered
unconditionally,—‘Yea, I will.’ Whereupon, either dissatisfied with
Aly’s hesitating answer, or having already decided in his mind
against him, Abd al Rahmân raised his face toward heaven, and
taking Othmân by the hand, prayed thus aloud:—‘O Lord, do thou
hearken now and bear me witness. Verily the burden that is around
my neck, the same I place around the neck of Othmân.’ So saying,
he saluted him as Caliph, and all the people followed his example.
It was the first day of the new year, the
twenty-fourth of the Hegira. After receiving Othmân’s inaugural address,
3d Moharram, a.h. XXIV.
the homage of the people, a process in Nov. 7, a.d. 644.
which two or three days were occupied,
Othmân ascended the pulpit, and made a brief and modest speech.
[436] ‘The first attempt,’ he said, ‘was always difficult, for he was
unused to speak in public. It would be his duty in the future to
address them, and the Lord would teach him.’
Though Aly, like the rest, took the oath
of allegiance to Othmân, yet his party were Aly swears allegiance.
much displeased, and he himself
upbraided Abd al Rahmân bitterly with the desire to keep the
supreme power out of the Prophet’s house and brotherhood.
‘Beware,’ said Abd al Rahmân, with a prophetic warning: ‘take heed
lest, thus speaking, thou makest not a way against thyself, whereof
thou shalt repent hereafter.’ And so Aly passed out with the words of
Joseph on his lips; ‘Surely patience becometh me. The Lord is my
helper against that which ye devise.’[437] Shortly after, Talha returned
to Medîna. Othmân acquainted him with what had happened. As his
vote would have ruled the majority, Othmân declared that if he
dissented, he was prepared even then to resign the Caliphate. But
on learning that all the people had agreed, Talha also swore
allegiance.
The choice of Abd al Rahmân laid the
seeds of disaster for Islam at large, and for The choice unfortunate for
the Caliphate in particular. It led to Islam; faith.
but made in good

dissensions which for years bathed the

Moslem world in blood, threatened the very existence of the faith,
and to this day divide believers in a hopeless and embittered schism.
But Abd al Rahmân could hardly have anticipated the wanton, weak,
and wavering policy of Othmân which slowly but surely brought such
results about. There is no reason to think that, in discharging his
functions as Umpire, he acted otherwise than loyally and for the
best.[438]
An embarrassing incident followed immediately on the accession
of Othmân. Some one told Obeidallah, son
of the deceased Caliph, that Abu Lulû had Murder of Hormuzân, and
been seen some days before in private affair of Omar’s son.
converse with Hormuzân the Persian prince, and with a Christian
slave belonging to Sád; and that when surprised the three
separated, dropping a poniard such as that with which the assassin
had wounded Omar. Rashly assuming a conspiracy, the infuriated
son rushed with drawn sword to avenge his father’s death, and slew
both the prince and the slave. Sád, incensed at the loss of his slave,
seized Obeidallah, still reeking with his victims’ blood, and carried
him, as the murderer of a believer (for Hormuzân had professed the
Moslem faith) before the Caliph.
A council was called. There was not a tittle of evidence, or
presumption even, against the prince. Aly delivered his opinion that,
according to the law of God, Obeidallah must be put to death, as
having slain a believer without due cause. Others were shocked at
the proposal:—‘But yesterday,’ they said, ‘the Commander of the
Faithful was slain, and to-day thou wilt put his son to death!’ Moved
by the appeal, Othmân assumed the responsibility of naming a
money compensation in lieu of blood, and this he paid himself. Some
feeling was excited, and people said that the Caliph was already
departing from the strict letter of the law. Ziâd ibn Lebîd, a poet of
Medîna, satirised both the murderer and the Caliph who had let him
off, in stinging verse. But he was silenced; the matter dropped, and
there is no reason to think that in the end Othmân’s action was
generally disapproved.[439]
One of the first acts by which Othmân
signalised his accession was to increase Othmân increases stipends.
the stipends of the chief men all round, by
the addition to each of one hundred dirhems. The act, no doubt, was
popular, but it gave promise of extravagance in the new
administration.
 CHAPTER XXX.
CALIPHATE OF OTHMAN. GENERAL REVIEW.

A.H. XXIV.-XXXV. A.D. 645–656.

Having now traced the progress of

Islam to its firm establishment in the world, Dynastic issues of the
I do not propose to pursue the history of its Caliphate.
conquests and further spread, otherwise than in a very brief and
general way; but shall confine what remains of this work chiefly to a
review of the facts bearing on the dynastic issues of the Caliphate.
The reign of Othmân lasted twelve
years. It is usual to say that the first six Causes of Othmân’s
were popular, and the last six the reverse; unpopularity:
that is to say, that, during the latter half, the tide turned, and,
discontent ripening into sedition, the storm burst at length with fatal
force upon the aged Caliph. This is true if we look at the outward
appearance. But in reality the causes of unpopularity were busily at
work from the very beginning. These were twofold: first, antagonism
between the Arab nation at large and the Coreish; secondly, jealousy
between the house of Hâshim, and that of Abd Shems (the
Omeyyads) to which Othmân and Muâvia belonged.
The Arab soldiery, flushed with the
glory and the fruits of victory, were I. Antagonism between Arab
tribes at large and Coreish.
scattered all over the empire. In Syria, they
were held in check by the powerful hand of Muâvia, whose authority
was strengthened by the larger settlement there than elsewhere of
influential citizens from Mecca and Medîna. In every other province,
conscious of their power, the Arab tribes were rapidly getting the bit
between their teeth. Their arrogant and factious spirit found its focus
at Kûfa and Bussorah in both of which cities, indeed, it had already
ominously shown itself during the reign of Omar; for even he had not
been able effectually to curb it there. Impatience of control on the
part of the Arabs was based partly on the spread of Islam having
been due to the prowess of their arms; and partly on the brotherhood
of the faith, in virtue of which all believers, and specially those of
Arab blood, stood on the common ground of civil equality. The
Caliph, it is true, as successor to the Prophet, was absolute,
uncontrolled by any constitutional authority whatever. But even he,
yielding to the sentiment, not only took counsel on all critical
occasions with the leading men around him, but, as a rule, held
himself bound by the popular voice at large, and enjoined the same
upon his lieutenants in the provinces. And so it was that in the recall
of Sád, the arraigning of Abu Mûsa, and other concessions to the
clamour of the citizens of Bussorah and Kûfa, Omar had already set
a baneful lesson to his successor, and given to those constituencies
a foretaste of power which they were not slow to take advantage of.
Thus the turbulent spirit grew from day to day—a spirit of opposition
to all authority, and of impatience in particular of the pretensions of
the Coreish.
The second cause, though less
threatening to Islam, was more insidious, II. Aly and the house of
Hâshim jealous of Othmân
and fraught with greater danger to the and the house of Omeyya.
Caliphate and the person of Othmân
himself. Had the Coreish rallied loyally around the throne, the Arab
factions might have been nipped in the bud. But the weakness of
Othmân, and the partiality with which he favoured his own friends
and relatives, stirred the jealousy of the house of Hâshim, which
began vaunting the claims of Aly and the Prophet’s family, and
depreciating the Omeyyad branch to which the Caliph belonged.
That branch, unfortunately for the Omeyyads, had been the tardiest
to recognise the mission of Mahomet; and the kinsmen on whom
Othmân now lavished his favours had been the most inveterate in
their opposition to it. Every unfavourable expression uttered by the
Prophet during that period of bitter enmity was now raked up against
them, and used to blacken their names, and to cast discredit on a
government which promoted them to power and honour. Thus the
Coreish were divided; rivalry paralysed their influence, and Othmân
lost the support which would otherwise have enabled him to check
the machinations of the Arab malcontents. Still worse, Aly and his
party lent themselves to the disloyal policy of the Bedouin faction,
which was fast sapping the foundations of the Caliphate, and which,
as Aly should have foreseen, would in the end recoil against himself.
[440]

It was not, however, till the later part of

Othmân’s reign that these influences, Factious spirit diverted by
military service.
though early at work, assumed dangerous
prominence. Their retardation was in great measure due to the
military operations, which, busily pursued in all directions by the
Moslem arms, diverted attention from domestic trouble. Campaigns
were annually prosecuted, with more or less vigour, throughout the
twelve years of Othmân’s Caliphate. A very brief outline of them will
suffice.
In Persia, as we have seen, the
Mussulman invasion had resulted hitherto Operations in Persia.
rather in the dispersion of great armies
than in the effectual reduction of the country. Most of the provinces
resented the first imposition of tribute, and rose against their new
masters, one after another, in repeated and sometimes long-
continued rebellion. Expeditions were time after time equipped from
Kûfa and Bussorah to crush these risings, from the Caspian Sea and
the Oxus to the shores of the Indian Ocean, and even as far as
Kabul.[441] It was not till near the close of Othmân’s reign that the
Moslem yoke was firmly settled on the neck of Persia. In the eighth
year of his Caliphate, Yezdegird died; and
thereafter, though in a desultory and a.h. XXXI. a.d. 652.
sporadic fashion opposition might still
survive, anything like national or dynastic antagonism was at an end.
Success, indeed, did not invariably attend the Moslem arms. The
progress, on the whole, was steadily forward; but there were
reverses, and these sometimes of a serious type. In the year a.h. 32,
the Turks on the western shore of the Caspian had an advantage, in
which the Arab leaders and a great body of the veterans were slain.
To retrieve the disaster, Othmân ordered levies from Syria to cross
Mesopotamia and reinforce the Kûfan army. Bad blood bred between
the two; the Syrians refused to serve under the captain of the rival
body; and an altercation ensued which nearly led to bloodshed. This,
adds the historian, was the first symptom of the breach between the
Kûfans and the men of Syria, which subsequently broke out into
prolonged hostilities. About the same time, a whole army was lost in
deep snow upon the heights of Kermân, only two men escaping to
tell the tale. There were also very serious reverses in Turkestan. But
Arabia continued to cast forth its swarms of fighting tribes in such
vast numbers, and the wild fanaticism of the faith still rolled so
rapidly onward, that these and similar disasters soon disappeared in
the swelling tide of conquest.
Excepting raids of little import, Syria
had for some time past enjoyed rest,[442] Syria, Asia Minor, and
Armenia. a.h. XXV. a.d. 646.
when suddenly in the second year of this
Caliphate, Muâvia was startled by the approach of an army from
Asia Minor, which he had not the means to oppose. Othmân ordered
troops to pass over from the eastern provinces, and eight thousand
volunteers soon joined the Syrian army. Thus reinforced, the Arabs
repulsed the Byzantine attack. Following up their success, they
overran Asia Minor, and, piercing the heart of Armenia, joined their
comrades on the Persian border within sight of the Caspian. Thence
they penetrated as far north as Tiflis, and even to the shores of the
Black Sea. Thereafter hostilities were renewed for a long period
every summer; and eventually, aided by naval expeditions from the
ports of Africa, the Syrian generals pushed forward their conquests
in the Levant and Asia Minor, enlarged their coasts, and
strengthened their border.
In Africa, I have already noticed the
desperate attack made early in the reign of Africa. a.h. XXV. a.d. 646.
Othmân on Alexandria from seaward. The
Byzantine forces, for a little while, regained possession of the city,
but (as we have before related) were finally driven out by Amru; and
against the Moslem power in Egypt no further attack was made. The
Imperial arms, however, were still active in Africa; and along the
northern shores of the Mediterranean, strong Arab columns were
long actively engaged. Among the chiefs who had joined the
Egyptian army was Abu Sarh,[443] already noticed as the foster-
brother of Othmân. He did not bear an enviable reputation in Islam;