📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Post-Mauryan Dynasties
| Dynasty | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Shunga | Founder Pushyamitra Shunga; Patanjali (Mahabhashya) contemporary; Bharhut stupa railing. |
| Kanva | Founder Vasudeva Kanva. |
| Satavahana | Capital Pratishthana (Paithan); Gautamiputra Satakarni famous; metronymics used; began land grants to Brahmins. |
| Indo-Greek | Menander (Milinda) — dialogue with Nagasena in "Milindapanho"; first to issue gold coins in India. |
| Shaka | Rudradaman's Junagadh inscription — first long Sanskrit inscription; repair of Sudarshana lake. |
| Kushana | Kanishka started the Shaka era in 78 CE; Fourth Buddhist Council; Ashvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Charaka at court; Gandhara and Mathura art. |
- Sangam age (Tamil): three kingdoms — Chera (bow), Chola (tiger), Pandya (fish; Madurai). Sangams at Madurai; Tolkappiyam (grammar), Tirukkural (Tiruvalluvar), epics Silappadikaram and Manimekalai.
📌 2. Gupta Empire (c.319–550 CE)
| Ruler | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Chandragupta I | Gupta era 319–20 CE; married Licchavi princess Kumaradevi; "Maharajadhiraja". |
| Samudragupta | Prayag Prashasti (by Harishena); "Napoleon of India" (V.A. Smith); coins showing him playing the veena. |
| Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) | Defeated the Shakas; Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien; Navaratnas — Kalidasa, Amarasimha, Varahamihira, Dhanvantari etc.; Mehrauli iron pillar. |
| Kumaragupta I | Founded Nalanda University. |
| Skandagupta | Repulsed the Hunas; repaired Sudarshana lake again. |
- Science: Aryabhata (Aryabhatiya; earth rotates on its axis), Varahamihira (Panchasiddhantika, Brihat Samhita), Brahmagupta.
- Literature: Kalidasa — Abhijnanashakuntalam, Meghaduta, Raghuvamsha; Vishakhadatta — Mudrarakshasa; Shudraka — Mrichchhakatikam.
- Gold coins called dinars; beginning of temple architecture — Dashavatara temple, Deogarh; many Ajanta paintings belong to this age.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- "Napoleon of India" is Samudragupta, not Chandragupta II.
- The Shaka era (78 CE) was started by Kanishka; the Vikrama era begins in 57 BCE.
📌 3. Harshavardhana (606–647 CE)
- Pushyabhuti dynasty; capital moved from Thanesar to Kannauj; court poet Banabhatta — Harshacharita, Kadambari.
- Harsha himself wrote Nagananda, Ratnavali, Priyadarshika.
- Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Si-Yu-Ki) visited; Kannauj assembly and quinquennial assembly at Prayag.
- Defeated by Chalukya Pulakeshin II on the Narmada (Aihole inscription).
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Who started the Shaka era (78 CE)? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Kushana ruler Kanishka began the Shaka era in 78 CE; it is India's national calendar.
The Kushana ruler Kanishka began the Shaka era in 78 CE; it is India's national calendar.
Q2. Who composed the 'Prayag Prashasti'? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Harishena, Samudragupta's court poet, composed it.
Harishena, Samudragupta's court poet, composed it.
Q3. Who is called the 'Napoleon of India'? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
V.A. Smith called Samudragupta so for his conquests.
V.A. Smith called Samudragupta so for his conquests.
Q4. Which Chinese pilgrim visited India under Chandragupta II? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Fa-Hien came during the reign of Chandragupta II.
Fa-Hien came during the reign of Chandragupta II.
Q5. Who founded Nalanda University? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I founded Nalanda.
The Gupta ruler Kumaragupta I founded Nalanda.
Q6. Which Gupta ruler repulsed the Hunas? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Skandagupta checked the Huna invasion.
Skandagupta checked the Huna invasion.
Q7. Which is the first long inscription in Sanskrit? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Shaka ruler Rudradaman's Junagadh (Girnar) inscription is the first long Sanskrit one.
Shaka ruler Rudradaman's Junagadh (Girnar) inscription is the first long Sanskrit one.
Q8. 'Milindapanho' is a dialogue between: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
It records the dialogue of Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda) and monk Nagasena.
It records the dialogue of Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda) and monk Nagasena.
Q9. What was the capital of the Satavahanas? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Their main capital was Pratishthana (Paithan, Maharashtra).
Their main capital was Pratishthana (Paithan, Maharashtra).
Q10. Who wrote 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Kalidasa wrote Abhijnanashakuntalam.
Kalidasa wrote Abhijnanashakuntalam.
Q11. Who wrote 'Harshacharita'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Banabhatta, Harsha's court poet, wrote it.
Banabhatta, Harsha's court poet, wrote it.
Q12. Which book did Aryabhata write? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Aryabhata wrote the Aryabhatiya, stating the earth rotates on its axis.
Aryabhata wrote the Aryabhatiya, stating the earth rotates on its axis.
Q13. Who defeated Harshavardhana on the Narmada? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Per the Aihole inscription, Chalukya Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha.
Per the Aihole inscription, Chalukya Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha.
Q14. Who first issued gold coins in India? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Indo-Greeks first issued gold coins; Kushanas did so on a large scale.
Indo-Greeks first issued gold coins; Kushanas did so on a large scale.
Q15. What was the royal emblem of the Pandyas in the Sangam age? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Pandya — fish, Chola — tiger, Chera — bow.
Pandya — fish, Chola — tiger, Chera — bow.
Q16. Who wrote the 'Tirukkural'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The ethical text Tirukkural is by Tiruvalluvar.
The ethical text Tirukkural is by Tiruvalluvar.
Q17. Gupta gold coins were called: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Gupta gold coins were called dinars.
Gupta gold coins were called dinars.
Q18. The Dashavatara temple at Deogarh belongs to which period? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
It is an early example of Gupta temple architecture.
It is an early example of Gupta temple architecture.
Q19. Gandhara art was influenced by: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Gandhara art blends Indian themes with Greco-Roman style.
Gandhara art blends Indian themes with Greco-Roman style.
Q20. Hiuen Tsang described his travels in: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Hiuen Tsang's travel account is the Si-Yu-Ki.
Hiuen Tsang's travel account is the Si-Yu-Ki.