MCQ on Early Medieval Period (800-1200CE)

🟢 EASY (1–20)

1. The Early Medieval Period in India roughly spans which years?
   a) 200 BCE – 200 CE
   b) 600 CE – 1200 CE ✅
   c) 1000 CE – 1500 CE
   d) 1500 CE – 1800 CE
   Explanation: Marks the period after the decline of the Gupta Empire.
2. Which dynasty did Harshavardhana belong to?
   a) Maurya
   b) Vardhana ✅
   c) Gupta
   d) Chola
   Explanation: He established the Vardhana dynasty in Thanesar.
3. Who wrote Harshacharita, the biography of Harshavardhana?
   a) Kalidasa
   b) Dandin
   c) Banabhatta ✅
   d) Vishakhadatta
   Explanation: He was Harsha’s court poet.
4. What was the capital of Harshavardhana’s empire?
   a) Kannauj ✅
   b) Pataliputra
   c) Ujjain
   d) Varanasi
   Explanation: A prominent political center in north India.
5. Which famous Chinese traveler visited Harsha’s court?
   a) Fa-Hien
   b) I-Tsing
   c) Marco Polo
   d) Hiuen Tsang ✅
   Explanation: He documented Indian culture and politics.
6. Which river formed the southern boundary of Harsha’s empire?
   a) Ganga
   b) Godavari
   c) Narmada ✅
   d) Yamuna
   Explanation: Pulakesin II defeated Harsha near the Narmada.
7. Which Chalukya king defeated Harshavardhana?
   a) Vikramaditya I
   b) Pulakesin II ✅
   c) Kirtivarman I
   d) Mangalesha
   Explanation: He ruled from Badami.
8. The capital of the Chalukyas of Badami was:
   a) Bijapur
   b) Kanchipuram
   c) Badami ✅
   d) Aihole
   Explanation: In present-day Karnataka.
9. Which Pallava king is known for his rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram?
   a) Mahendravarman I
   b) Narasimhavarman I ✅
   c) Aparajita
   d) Nandivarman II
   Explanation: He was also called Mamalla.
10. The Rashtrakutas ruled from:
    a) Ujjain
    b) Lata
    c) Manyakheta ✅
    d) Kannauj
    Explanation: Their capital was in modern Karnataka.
11. Who built the Kailasa Temple at Ellora?
    a) Krishna I ✅
    b) Dantidurga
    c) Dhruva
    d) Amoghavarsha
    Explanation: A monolithic rock-cut temple.
12. Which dynasty patronized the Bhakti and Jain movements?
    a) Palas
    b) Rashtrakutas ✅
    c) Cholas
    d) Senas
    Explanation: Supported multiple religions.
13. Who founded the Pala dynasty?
    a) Devapala
    b) Gopala ✅
    c) Mahipala
    d) Dharampala
    Explanation: Elected by people in Bengal.
14. Which ruler established the Vikramashila University?
    a) Harsha
    b) Dharampala ✅
    c) Rajendra Chola
    d) Amoghavarsha
    Explanation: Promoted Mahayana Buddhism.
15. Which was the capital of the Palas?
    a) Kannauj
    b) Pataliputra
    c) Monghyr
    d) Pataliputra and later Gaur ✅
    Explanation: Center of Buddhist learning.
16. The tripartite struggle was among:
    a) Cholas, Pandyas, Cheras
    b) Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas ✅
    c) Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cheras
    d) Guptas, Hunas, Kushans
    Explanation: For control over Kannauj.
17. The Pratiharas were also known as:
    a) Gurjaras ✅
    b) Cholas
    c) Rashtrakutas
    d) Satavahanas
    Explanation: Ruled in western and central India.
18. Who was the founder of the Chola dynasty in the medieval period?
    a) Rajaraja I
    b) Vijayalaya Chola ✅
    c) Rajendra Chola
    d) Aditya I
    Explanation: Founded the dynasty around 850 CE.
19. Which Chola ruler invaded Srivijaya (Indonesia)?
    a) Rajaraja I
    b) Vijayalaya
    c) Rajendra Chola I ✅
    d) Kulottunga
    Explanation: Naval expedition to Southeast Asia.
20. The Cholas were known for:
    a) Wooden forts
    b) Rock-cut caves
    c) Bronze sculpture ✅
    d) Dome architecture
    Explanation: Notably the Nataraja statues.

🟡 MODERATE (21–40)

21. The greatest ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was:
    a) Krishna I
    b) Dantidurga
    c) Dhruva
    d) Amoghavarsha I ✅
    Explanation: Patron of literature and religion.
22. Which Chalukya king composed the Sanskrit work ‘Kavirajamarga’?
    a) Pulakesin II
    b) Amoghavarsha I ✅
    c) Vikramaditya VI
    d) Kirtivarman
    Explanation: First known Kannada literary work.
23. The Mahabalipuram temples are examples of which style?
    a) Nagara
    b) Vesara
    c) Dravida ✅
    d) Indo-Greek
    Explanation: Pallava architectural style.
24. Who composed Manasollasa, an encyclopedic work?
    a) Bhoja
    b) Someshvara III ✅
    c) Rajendra Chola
    d) Rajaraja I
    Explanation: A king of the Western Chalukyas.
25. The Cholas were defeated by which dynasty in the 13th century?
    a) Pallavas
    b) Pandyas ✅
    c) Rashtrakutas
    d) Hoysalas
    Explanation: Marked the end of Chola dominance.
26. Who revived Nalanda University in the 8th century CE?
    a) Harsha
    b) Gopala
    c) Dharampala ✅
    d) Rajendra Chola
    Explanation: Pala ruler who promoted education.
27. Which empire maintained a powerful navy?
    a) Cholas ✅
    b) Pratiharas
    c) Palas
    d) Rashtrakutas
    Explanation: Key to their overseas expansion.
28. The earliest Bhakti saints in Tamil Nadu were called:
    a) Nayanars and Alvars ✅
    b) Shaivites
    c) Siddhas
    d) Shankaracharyas
    Explanation: Promoted Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
29. Which language was used by early Bhakti saints in South India?
    a) Sanskrit
    b) Kannada
    c) Tamil ✅
    d) Telugu
    Explanation: To reach common people.
30. The Uttaramerur inscription gives details about:
    a) Buddhist councils
    b) Taxation
    c) Temple architecture
    d) Chola village administration ✅
    Explanation: Describes local self-government.
31. Which dynasty followed the Chalukyas of Badami?
    a) Rashtrakutas ✅
    b) Hoysalas
    c) Yadavas
    d) Palas
    Explanation: Around 8th century CE.
32. Who built the Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur?
    a) Rajendra Chola
    b) Rajaraja Chola I ✅
    c) Vijayalaya
    d) Kulottunga
    Explanation: UNESCO World Heritage site.
33. Which dynasty ruled Gujarat during the early medieval period?
    a) Chalukyas
    b) Solankis ✅
    c) Rashtrakutas
    d) Palas
    Explanation: Also known as the Chaulukyas.
34. The Pratiharas were known for defending India from:
    a) Cholas
    b) Arabs ✅
    c) Turks
    d) Mongols
    Explanation: Resisted early Arab invasions.
35. Which king performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice multiple times?
    a) Harsha
    b) Samudragupta
    c) Dharampala
    d) Rajaraja I ✅
    Explanation: Assertion of supremacy.
36. Which early medieval king is said to have written a work on medicine?
    a) Bhoja ✅
    b) Pulakesin II
    c) Rajendra Chola
    d) Amoghavarsha
    Explanation: Authored Samarangana Sutradhara.
37. In early medieval South India, the ‘Velala’ were:
    a) Warriors
    b) Temple priests
    c) Agriculturists ✅
    d) Traders
    Explanation: Dominant landowning class.
38. Who built the Sun Temple at Modhera?
    a) Harsha
    b) Bhimdev I (Solanki ruler) ✅
    c) Amoghavarsha
    d) Krishna I
    Explanation: In Gujarat.
39. The Rashtrakutas issued inscriptions mainly in:
    a) Tamil
    b) Kannada and Sanskrit ✅
    c) Telugu
    d) Pali
    Explanation: Bilingual inscriptions.
40. Who was the last great Chola ruler?
    a) Rajaraja II
    b) Rajendra II
    c) Kulottunga III ✅
    d) Vijayalaya
    Explanation: After him, decline set in.

🔴 HARD (41–50)

41. Which early medieval dynasty controlled parts of Odisha and Bengal?
    a) Gahadavalas
    b) Palas ✅
    c) Senas
    d) Rashtrakutas
42. Who was the last important Pala ruler?
    a) Mahipala
    b) Ramapala ✅
    c) Gopala
    d) Dharampala
43. Which early medieval kingdom ruled Kalinga?
    a) Gangas ✅
    b) Pratiharas
    c) Chalukyas
    d) Hoysalas
44. Which Muslim Arab traveler mentioned the Pratiharas?
    a) Ibn Battuta
    b) Al-Masudi ✅
    c) Al-Biruni
    d) Marco Polo
45. Which early medieval king wrote Adipurana and Kavirajamarga?
    a) Dandin
    b) Amoghavarsha I ✅
    c) Bhoja
    d) Harsha
46. Who was known as ‘Dakshina Pathadhipathi’ (Lord of the South)?
    a) Pulakesin II ✅
    b) Rajaraja I
    c) Harsha
    d) Krishna I
47. Which dynasty ruled from Kalyani in the Deccan?
    a) Chalukyas of Kalyani ✅
    b) Hoysalas
    c) Pallavas
    d) Yadavas
48. The Gadayuddha, a Kannada poem, was written by:
    a) Pampa ✅
    b) Ranna
    c) Janna
    d) Dandin
49. Which early medieval temple is considered a precursor to Dravidian style?
    a) Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram ✅
    b) Ellora
    c) Ajanta
    d) Khajuraho
50. Who built the temple town of Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
    a) Rajaraja I
    b) Rajendra Chola I ✅
    c) Kulottunga I
    d) Vijayalaya