Test Series of 10 Tests (from Kings, Farmers and Towns

• 5 Questions × 1 mark = 5 marks
• 2 Questions × 2 marks = 4 marks
• 2 Questions × 3 marks = 6 marks
• 1 Question × 5 marks = 5 marks
  👉 Total = 20 marks per test

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Test 1

1 Mark Questions

1. Who was the author of Arthashastra?
2. Which script was used in Ashoka’s inscriptions?
3. Name the capital city of the Mauryan Empire.
4. Who deciphered the Brahmi script?
5. What is meant by the term “Janapada”?

2 Mark Questions
6. Why were Prashastis composed by rulers?
7. Mention any two features of punch-marked coins.

3 Mark Questions
8. Explain three administrative features of the Mauryan Empire.
9. What were the main objectives of Ashoka’s Dhamma policy?

5 Mark Question
10. Discuss the significance of inscriptions in reconstructing ancient Indian history.

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Test 2

1 Mark Questions

1. Who was the poet of Prayaga Prashasti?
2. Which dynasty issued the largest number of gold coins?
3. What was the importance of Taxila in early India?
4. Name one important Buddhist centre under the Mauryas.
5. Which ritual was performed by kings to assert supremacy?

2 Mark Questions
6. Write two characteristics of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW).
7. Mention any two limitations of using coins as historical sources.

3 Mark Questions
8. Explain three reasons for the growth of towns in the Gupta period.
9. Give three main features of the agrarian economy in ancient India.

5 Mark Question
10. Evaluate the role of Prashastis in glorifying rulers.

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Test 3

1 Mark Questions

1. Who was the Greek ambassador at the court of Chandragupta Maurya?
2. Which language was used in most of Ashoka’s inscriptions?
3. Name the capital city of Ashoka’s empire.
4. Who was Harisena?
5. What was the main tax collected from peasants?

2 Mark Questions
6. Why is Arthashastra considered an important source for Mauryan history?
7. Give any two limitations of inscriptions as historical evidence.

3 Mark Questions
8. Describe three characteristics of Samudragupta’s rule.
9. Mention three ways in which land grants affected the social structure.

5 Mark Question
10. Explain the importance of coins for reconstructing trade and economy of ancient India.

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Test 4

1 Mark Questions

1. Who wrote Indica?
2. What is meant by the term “Grihapati”?
3. Which Gupta ruler is known as “Napoleon of India”?
4. Who established Pataliputra as the Mauryan capital?
5. What was the main occupation of people in early India?

2 Mark Questions
6. Write two features of Mauryan army.
7. Mention two uses of punch-marked coins.

3 Mark Questions
8. Explain three reasons for the decline of the Mauryan Empire.
9. Highlight three features of the town of Pataliputra.

5 Mark Question
10. Discuss the role of guilds in the urban economy of early India.

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Test 5

1 Mark Questions

1. What is the meaning of the term “Nagara”?
2. Who composed the Allahabad inscription?
3. Name the dynasty to which Kharavela belonged.
4. Who was the first ruler to issue gold coins in India?
5. Which river was important for Magadhan power?

2 Mark Questions
6. State two functions of the king in the Mauryan period.
7. Mention two agricultural technologies used in ancient India.

3 Mark Questions
8. Explain three features of the Gupta administration.
9. Describe the role of Buddhism in promoting urban centres.

5 Mark Question
10. Analyse the impact of land revenue system on peasants in ancient India.

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Test 6

1 Mark Questions

1. Which dynasty issued silver coins called Dinars?
2. Who was the last Mauryan ruler?
3. What was the chief source of state income?
4. Name one important port during the Gupta period.
5. Who composed Meghaduta?

2 Mark Questions
6. Give two reasons for the prosperity of Magadha.
7. Write two uses of inscriptions for historians.

3 Mark Questions
8. Explain the expansion of agriculture in the Gupta age.
9. Describe three features of the Mauryan judicial system.

5 Mark Question
10. Discuss the role of trade and commerce in the economic life of early India.

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Test 7

1 Mark Questions

1. Who founded the Maurya dynasty?
2. Name the Ashokan edict that mentions Kalinga war.
3. What is meant by “Vishti”?
4. Which ruler performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice in Gupta age?
5. What was the role of Kumaramatyas?

2 Mark Questions
6. Mention two sources of information about Mauryan Empire.
7. Write any two features of Ashoka’s Dhamma.

3 Mark Questions
8. State three causes of the rise of Magadha.
9. Explain three features of Prashastis.

5 Mark Question
10. Examine the changing pattern of urban centres between 600 BCE and 600 CE.

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Test 8

1 Mark Questions

1. What was the official language of the Mauryan Empire?
2. Who was Chanakya?
3. Which period is associated with NBPW pottery?
4. What was the main feature of Shrenis?
5. Name the Gupta ruler who defeated the Shakas.

2 Mark Questions
6. Write two characteristics of Mauryan art.
7. Mention two differences between Prashastis and ordinary inscriptions.

3 Mark Questions
8. Highlight three features of trade during the Gupta period.
9. Discuss three reasons for agricultural expansion in early historic India.

5 Mark Question
10. Evaluate the importance of Arthashastra in understanding Mauryan polity and economy.

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Test 9

1 Mark Questions

1. Who was Bindusara?
2. Name the capital of Magadha before Pataliputra.
3. Which ruler issued the Allahabad inscription?
4. What is meant by the term “Janapada”?
5. Who was Fa-Hien?

2 Mark Questions
6. Mention two reasons for the decline of towns after the Mauryas.
7. Write two main features of Gupta coins.

3 Mark Questions
8. Explain three features of Ashoka’s administration.
9. Describe three ways in which inscriptions helped rulers to communicate.

5 Mark Question
10. Analyse the importance of agriculture as the backbone of ancient Indian economy.

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Test 10

1 Mark Questions

1. Who composed the Arthashastra?
2. Which was the main crop cultivated in ancient India?
3. Who was the first Gupta ruler to issue silver coins?
4. Which ruler is called “Priyadarsi” in inscriptions?
5. What is meant by the term “Dhamma Mahamatta”?

2 Mark Questions
6. Mention two reasons why rulers performed sacrifices.
7. Write any two achievements of Samudragupta.

3 Mark Questions
8. Highlight three features of Mauryan taxation system.
9. Describe three functions of cities in early India.

5 Mark Question
10. Examine the nature of kingship under the Mauryas with suitable examples.

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Combined Answer Key – Test Series (1–10)

NCERT Class 12 History – Chapter 2

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Test 1 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Kautilya/Chanakya
2. Brahmi (also Kharosthi in northwest)
3. Pataliputra
4. James Prinsep
5. Settlement/territory of a tribe

2 Marks
6. To glorify rulers and highlight achievements.
7. Silver, irregular symbols; punched with separate marks.

3 Marks
8. Centralized administration, provincial governors, strong spy system.
9. Moral welfare, respect for all sects, welfare of subjects.

5 Marks
10. Inscriptions give dates, titles, territorial extent, religious ideas, victories, policies. Reliable as contemporary evidence.

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Test 2 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Harisena
2. Guptas
3. Important trade/education centre
4. Sanchi
5. Ashvamedha

2 Marks
6. Fine pottery, glossy finish.
7. Limited circulation; uncertain chronology.

3 Marks
8. Political stability, trade links, rise of guilds.
9. Peasants paid land revenue, use of iron plough, irrigation expansion.

5 Marks
10. Prashastis exaggerated ruler’s power, legitimacy, victories.

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Test 3 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Megasthenes
2. Prakrit
3. Pataliputra
4. Poet of Prayaga Prashasti
5. Land revenue

2 Marks
6. Provides details on economy, polity, spies.
7. Partial, sometimes damaged, language difficult.

3 Marks
8. Military conquests, patron of arts, performed Ashvamedha.
9. Increased brahmana power, new settlements, stratification.

5 Marks
10. Coins show economy, trade routes, rulers’ wealth.

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Test 4 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Megasthenes
2. Head of household
3. Samudragupta
4. Chandragupta Maurya
5. Agriculture

2 Marks
6. Large standing army, elephants.
7. Medium of exchange, facilitated trade.

3 Marks
8. Weak successors, financial strain, foreign invasions.
9. Wooden palisade, canals, administrative centre.

5 Marks
10. Guilds fixed prices, maintained quality, promoted trade.

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Test 5 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Town/city
2. Harisena
3. Chedi
4. Indo-Greeks
5. Ganga river

2 Marks
6. Protection of people, maintaining law and order.
7. Irrigation, iron plough.

3 Marks
8. Decentralisation, officials like Kumaramatyas, efficient revenue system.
9. Monks promoted trade, towns near monasteries, travellers supported economy.

5 Marks
10. High taxes burdened peasants, state depended on land revenue, surplus used for empire.

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Test 6 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Guptas
2. Brihadratha
3. Land revenue
4. Tamralipti
5. Kalidasa

2 Marks
6. Rich iron ores, fertile plains.
7. Provide authentic data, show political control.

3 Marks
8. New lands cleared, irrigation, new settlements.
9. Judges, officials, punishment system.

5 Marks
10. Ports, coins, guilds boosted commerce.

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Test 7 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Chandragupta Maurya
2. Rock Edict 13
3. Forced labour
4. Samudragupta
5. High officials of administration

2 Marks
6. Inscriptions, Arthashastra.
7. Non-violence, respect for all sects.

3 Marks
8. Iron resources, elephants, fertile soil.
9. Genealogy, titles, conquests.

5 Marks
10. Early towns grew as trade centres; later decline/revival under Guptas.

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Test 8 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Prakrit
2. Adviser of Chandragupta Maurya
3. 6th century BCE
4. Guilds of merchants/craftsmen
5. Chandragupta II

2 Marks
6. Pillars, stone sculptures.
7. Ordinary = daily life; Prashasti = ruler’s glory.

3 Marks
8. Silk trade, gold coins, port cities.
9. Iron plough, irrigation, land grants.

5 Marks
10. Arthashastra shows taxation, spies, revenue, control over economy.

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Test 9 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Son of Chandragupta Maurya
2. Rajgir
3. Samudragupta
4. Territory
5. Chinese pilgrim, visited Gupta India

2 Marks
6. Decline of Mauryan economy, political instability.
7. High gold content, portraits of rulers.

3 Marks
8. Centralised control, welfare works, edicts.
9. Spread ruler’s orders, public morality, policies.

5 Marks
10. Agriculture gave surplus, supported state and towns.

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Test 10 – Answer Key

1 Mark

1. Kautilya
2. Rice/Wheat
3. Chandragupta II
4. Ashoka
5. Special officers for Dhamma

2 Marks
6. To assert power, gain legitimacy.
7. Performed Ashvamedha, expanded empire.

3 Marks
8. 1/6th produce, collected by officials, regular revenue.
9. Centres of trade, administration, religion.

5 Marks
10. King as central authority, supported by bureaucracy, army, spies.

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