Ancient History Questions

The correct answer is Al-Biruni.

Key Points

• Abu Rayhan al-Biruni was an Iranian scholar.
• He has been variously called as the:-
  • Founder of Indology
  • Father of Comparative Religion
  • Father of modern geodesy
  • The first anthropologist
• He wrote the book Kitab-ul-Hind.
• Alberuni (Abu Raynham Beruni) was a Persian scholar who came to India with Mahmud of Ghazni in 1017.
• He commented on Indian sciences, Hindu religious beliefs, customs, and social organization.

Additional Information

• Al-Masudi's Book - The Meadows of Gold
• Sulaiman's Book - Ancient Accounts of India and China
• Firdausi's Book - Shahnameh

The correct answer is Yoga sutra.

• Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is a collection of 195 Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the theory and practice of yoga.
  • Yoga Sutra was compiled sometime between 500 BCE and 400 CE by the sage Patanjali in India who synthesized and organized knowledge about yoga from much older traditions.

Additional Information

• Panchatantra, by Vishnu Sharma, is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story. 
• Brahma Sutras
  • It is a Sanskrit text, attributed to the sage Badarayana or sage Vyasa, estimated to have been completed in its surviving form in 400-450 CE, while the original version might be ancient and composed between 500 BCE and 200 BCE.
• Ayurveda
  • It is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science.
  • In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.”
  • Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.”
  • It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples. Some of this knowledge was set to print a few thousand years ago, but much of it is inaccessible. 

The correct answer is Sushruta.

Confusion Points

• Charaka was known to be a physician in the court of King Kanishka during the 2nd century AD.

Important Points

• The Gupta Era (320 AD- 550 AD) considered to be the golden era of India in terms of Art, Literature, Astronomy, Medical science etc.
• Sushruta is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period.
• About Sushruta:
  • Sushruta is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period. Sushruta was the first Indian surgeon.
  • The Sushruta Samhita is a Sanskrit text on surgery.
    • The work is attributed to Sushruta, a historical physician of 6th century BCE, although the text as preserved dates to the 3rd or 4th century CE. It is one of the three foundational texts of Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine).
  • The Sushruta Samhita, in its extant form, is divided into 186 chapters and contains descriptions of 1,120 illnesses, 700 medicinal plants, 64 preparations from mineral sources and 57 preparations based on animal sources.

Additional Information

• About the Gupta Era (320-550 AD):
  • The Gupta age in ancient India has been called the ‘Golden Age of India’ because of the many accomplishments  in the field of arts, science, and literature that Indians made under the Guptas.
  • The affluence under the Guptas initiated a period of distinguished accomplishments in arts and sciences.
    • The Gupta Empire lasted from 320 AD to 550 AD.
  • Sanskrit literature thrived under the Guptas. Kalidasa, the great poet, and playwright were in the court of Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
    • He composed great epics such as Abhijnanashaakuntalam, Kumarasambhavam, Malavikagnimitram, Ritusamharam, Meghadootam, Vikramorvashiyam, and Raghuvamsham.
  • Vishnu Sharma of Panchatantra fame lived during this era.
  • Vishakhadatta composed Mudrarakshasa. Other philologists who contributed to the Sanskrit language include Vararuchi and Bhartrihari.
  • Aryabhatta, the great Indian mathematician and astronomer wrote Surya Siddhanta and Aryabhattiya. 
    • He also gave the value of Pi.
    • He also gave the distance between earth and sun which is remarkably close to the actual value.
    1. He wrote on geometry, astronomy, mathematics and trigonometry.
  • These are some of the achievments during the Gupta Era.

The correct answer is Pulakeshin II.

Key Points

• Pulakeshin II, the King of the Chalukya dynasty defeated Harshavardhana when he seeks to enlarge his Empire into the southern peninsula of India.
• He defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada river in 630 AD.
• The Aihole inscription was written by Ravikirti, court poet of Chalukya King Pulakesin II who reigned from 610 to 642 CE.

Additional Information

• The Chalukya dynasty was established by Pulakeshin I in 543.
• Pulakeshin I took Vatapi (modern Badami in Bagalkot district, Karnataka) under his control and made it his capital.
• Pulakeshin I and his descendants are referred to as "Chalukyas of Badami".
• They ruled over an empire that comprised the entire state of Karnataka and most of Andhra Pradesh in the Deccan. 
• The earliest dynasty, known as the "Badami Chalukyas", ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century.

The correct answer is Parsvanatha.

Key Points

• In Jainism, Tirthankara is a savior who has succeeded in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow.
• There are 24 Tirthankaras in Jainism.
• Mahavira was the last Tirthankara.

               Important Tirthankaras