HISTORY

THEME-3
Class 12
Kinship, Caste and Class
Early Societies

1. The Mahabharata was composed in which period?

A. 1500 BCE -500 BCE

B. 1500 BCE -1000 BCE

C. 1500 BCE -2500 BCE

D. 500 BCE -500 CE

Explanation: It was composed over a period of about 1,000 years (c. 500 BCE onwards), and some of the stories it
contains may have been in circulation even earlier. Hence, D is the correct option.

2. Under whose leadership was the critical edition of the

Mahabharata compiled?

A. Colin Mackenzie

B. V.S Sukthankar

C. D.C Sircar

D. A. Cunningham

Explanation: in 1919, under the leadership of a noted Indian Sanskritist, VS. Sukthankar. Ateam comprising
dozens of scholars initiated the task of preparing a critical edition of the Mahabharata. The project took 47
years to complete. Hence, B is the correct option

3. Sanskrit texts used the term Vamsha -

A. to designate families

B. for the larger network of kinfolk

C. for lineage

D. duties of king

Explanation: Sanskrit texts use the term kula to designate families and jnati for the larger network of kinfolk. The
term vamsha is used for lineage. Hence, C is the correct option.

4. Patriliny means—

A. tracing descent from stone inscriptions

C. tracing descent from father to son

D. None of the above

Explanation: Patriliny means tracing descent from father to son, grandson and soon. Matriliny is the
term used when descent is traced through the mother. Hence, C is the correct option.

5. The practice of a woman having several husbands-

A. Polyandry

B. Endogamy

C. Polygamy

D. Exogamy

Explanation: Endogamy refers to marriage within a unit — this could be a kin group or caste.
Exogamy refers to marriage outside the unit. polygyny is the practice of a man having several
wives. Polyandry is the practice of a woman having several husbands .Hence, A is the correct
option.

6. Manusmriti was compiled between—

A. c. 500 BCE and 200 CE

B. c. 400 BCE and 400 CE

C. c. 600 BCE and 200 CE

D. c. 200 BCE and 200 CE

Explanation: From c. 500 BCE, the social norms were compiled in Sanskrit texts known as
the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras. The most important of such works, the Manusmriti,
was compiled between c. 200 BCE and 200 CE. Hence, D is the correct option.

7. Who wrote the book Mrichhakatika?

A. Vishakhdatta

B. Shudraka

C. Harishena

D. Ashvaghosha

Explanation: Mrichchhakatika written by Shudraka (c. fourth century CE), its hero Charudatta was
described as both a Brahmana and a sathavaha or merchant. Hence, B is the correct option.

8. The famous Sudarshana lake was rebuilt by?

A. Rudradaman

B. Gotami-puta-Siri-Satakani

C. Prabhavati Gupta

d.Ashoka
Explanation: One of the earliest inscriptions in Sanskrit describes how Rudradaman, the best-
known Shaka ruler (c. second century CE), rebuilt Sudarshana lake. Hence, A is the correct option.

9. The Chinese Buddhist monk FaXian visited India in—

A. Early 5th century BCE

B. Early 5th century CE

C. Early 7th century BCE

D. Early 7th century CE

Explanation: The Chinese Buddhist monk Fa Xian (c. fifth century CE) underlining the social
discrimination wrote that "untouchables" had to sound a clapper in the streets so that people
could avoid seeing them. Hence, B is the correct option.

10. The archaeologist who excavated a village named Hastinapura in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh). —

A. B.B. Lal

B. M.R. Vats

C. R.D Banerjee

D. R. M Wheeler

Explanation: In 1951-52, the archaeologist B.B. Lal excavated a village named Hastinapura in Meerut
(Uttar Pradesh). Hence, A is the correct option.

11. Sutta Pitaka is a religious texts of-

A. Hindus

B. Jains

C. Buddhists

D. Jews

Explanation: The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three divisions of the Tripitaka or pali Canon,
the Pali collection of Buddhist writings of Theravada Buddhism. Hence, C is the correct option.

12. According to the tradition who scribed theMahabharata—

A. Lord Shiva

B. Lord Ganesha

C. Lord Bramha

D. Lord Vishnu

Explanation: According to tradition, Vyasa dictated the stories to lord Ganesha, who then scribed
the Mahabharata . Hence, B is the correct option.
13. Short story titled "Kunti O Nishadi" that re-enacts an episode from the Mahabharata was
written by famous Bengali writer—

A. Ravindra Nath Tagore

B. Arundhati Roy

C. Mahashweta Devi

D. Satyajit Rey

Explanation: Mahashweta Devi, a contemporary Bengali writer known for raising her voice against
all forms of exploitation and oppression. In a short story titled "Kunti O Nishadi", Mahashweta Devi
takes up the narrative from where the Mahabharata ends it. Hence, C is the correct option.

14. Which of the following rulers were identified through metronymics (names derived from that
of the mother)?

A. Mauryas

B. Cholas

C. Kushans

D. Satavahanas

Explanation: Satavahana rulers were identified through metronymics (names derived from that
of the mother). Hence, D is the correct option.

15. All of the following statements regarding Gotami-puta Siri-Satakani are correct except —

A. he belonged to the Satavahana dynasty

B. he claimed to be a unique Brahmana (eka bamhana)

C. he was known as destroyer of the pride of Kshatriyas

D. he allowed intermarriage amongst members of the four Varnas

Explanation: The best-known ruler Of the Satavahana dynasty, Gotami -puta Siri-Satakani, claimed
to be both a unique Brahmana (eka bamhana) and a destroyer of the pride Of Kshatriyas, He also
claimed to have ensured that there was no intermarriage amongst members of the four varnas.
Hence, D the correct option.

16. All of the following statements regarding polyandry in early societies are correct except —

A. It a attributed to shortage of women during wartime.

B. It was considered an offence in the Himalayan region

C. Polyandry was the most prevalent form of marriage

D. the practice of polyandry was seen as unusual or even undesirable from the Brahmanical point
of view
Explanation: Some historians note that while the practice of polyandry may have seemed unusual or
even undesirable from the Brahmanical point Of view, it was (and is) prevalent in the Himalayan
region. Others suggest that there may have been a shortage of women during times of warfare, and
this led to polyandry. Some early sources suggest that polyandry was the most prevalent form of
marriage. Hence, B is the correct option.

17. Consider the following statements about the Manusmriti and mark the correct statement:

A. The paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons,with a special share for the eldest

B. Women could also claim a share in paternal state.

C. Neither A nor B

D. Both A and B

Explanation: According to the Manusmriti, the paternal estate was to be divided equally
amongst sons after the death of the parents, with a special share for the eldest. Women could
not claim a share of these resources. Hence, A is the correct option.

18. Consider the following statements:

I. The Mahabharata was originally written as a dramatic, moving

story with didactics

II. The didactic portions of the Mahabharata were added later

Which of the above statement (s) were correct?

A. only I

B. only II

C. Both I and II

D. Neither I nor II

Explanation: Historians agree that the Mahabharata was meant to be a dramatic, moving story,
and that the didactic portions were probably added later. Hence, B is the correct Option.

19. Consider the following statements:

I. Members of the same gotra could not marry

II. Women were Known by their father's gotra even after marriage

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct about Gotra?

A. only I

B. only II

C. Both I and II

D. Neither I nor II
Explanation: Two rules about gotra were particularly important: women were expected to give
up their father's gotra and adopt that of their husband on marriage and members of the same
gotra could not marry. Hence, A is the correct option.

20. Consider the following statements:

I. They recognized ideas contained in normative Sanskrit texts as

authoritative

II. They also questioned and occasionally even rejected the ideas Of

Sanskrit texts

Which of the above statement (s) were correct about works in Pali,

Prakrit and Tamil?

A. only I

B. only II

C. Both I and II

D. Neither I nor II

Explanation: Scholars began studying other traditions, from works in Pali, Prakrit and Tamil. These
studies indicated that the ideas contained in normative Sanskrit texts were on the whole
recognised as authoritative: they were also questioned and occasionally even rejected. Hence, C is
the correct option.