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.
Which dynasty did Harshavardhana belong to?
a) Maurya
b) Vardhana ✅
c) Gupta
d) Chola Explanation: He established the Vardhana dynasty in Thanesar.
Who wrote Harshacharita, the biography of Harshavardhana?
a) Kalidasa
b) Dandin
c) Banabhatta ✅
d) Vishakhadatta Explanation: He was Harsha’s court poet.
What was the capital of Harshavardhana’s empire?
a) Kannauj ✅
b) Pataliputra
c) Ujjain
d) Varanasi Explanation: A prominent political center in north India.
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.
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.
Which Chalukya king defeated Harshavardhana?
a) Vikramaditya I
b) Pulakesin II ✅
c) Kirtivarman I
d) Mangalesha Explanation: He ruled from Badami.
The capital of the Chalukyas of Badami was:
a) Bijapur
b) Kanchipuram
c) Badami ✅
d) Aihole Explanation: In present-day Karnataka.
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.
The Rashtrakutas ruled from:
a) Ujjain
b) Lata
c) Manyakheta ✅
d) Kannauj Explanation: Their capital was in modern Karnataka.
Who built the Kailasa Temple at Ellora?
a) Krishna I ✅
b) Dantidurga
c) Dhruva
d) Amoghavarsha Explanation: A monolithic rock-cut temple.
Which dynasty patronized the Bhakti and Jain movements?
a) Palas
b) Rashtrakutas ✅
c) Cholas
d) Senas Explanation: Supported multiple religions.
Who founded the Pala dynasty?
a) Devapala
b) Gopala ✅
c) Mahipala
d) Dharampala Explanation: Elected by people in Bengal.
Which ruler established the Vikramashila University?
a) Harsha
b) Dharampala ✅
c) Rajendra Chola
d) Amoghavarsha Explanation: Promoted Mahayana Buddhism.
Which was the capital of the Palas?
a) Kannauj
b) Pataliputra
c) Monghyr
d) Pataliputra and later Gaur ✅ Explanation: Center of Buddhist learning.
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.
The Pratiharas were also known as:
a) Gurjaras ✅
b) Cholas
c) Rashtrakutas
d) Satavahanas Explanation: Ruled in western and central India.
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.
Which Chola ruler invaded Srivijaya (Indonesia)?
a) Rajaraja I
b) Vijayalaya
c) Rajendra Chola I ✅
d) Kulottunga Explanation: Naval expedition to Southeast Asia.
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)
The greatest ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was:
a) Krishna I
b) Dantidurga
c) Dhruva
d) Amoghavarsha I ✅ Explanation: Patron of literature and religion.
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.
The Mahabalipuram temples are examples of which style?
a) Nagara
b) Vesara
c) Dravida ✅
d) Indo-Greek Explanation: Pallava architectural style.
Who composed Manasollasa, an encyclopedic work?
a) Bhoja
b) Someshvara III ✅
c) Rajendra Chola
d) Rajaraja I Explanation: A king of the Western Chalukyas.
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.
Who revived Nalanda University in the 8th century CE?
a) Harsha
b) Gopala
c) Dharampala ✅
d) Rajendra Chola Explanation: Pala ruler who promoted education.
Which empire maintained a powerful navy?
a) Cholas ✅
b) Pratiharas
c) Palas
d) Rashtrakutas Explanation: Key to their overseas expansion.
The earliest Bhakti saints in Tamil Nadu were called:
a) Nayanars and Alvars ✅
b) Shaivites
c) Siddhas
d) Shankaracharyas Explanation: Promoted Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
Which language was used by early Bhakti saints in South India?
a) Sanskrit
b) Kannada
c) Tamil ✅
d) Telugu Explanation: To reach common people.
The Uttaramerur inscription gives details about:
a) Buddhist councils
b) Taxation
c) Temple architecture
d) Chola village administration ✅ Explanation: Describes local self-government.
Which dynasty followed the Chalukyas of Badami?
a) Rashtrakutas ✅
b) Hoysalas
c) Yadavas
d) Palas Explanation: Around 8th century CE.
Who built the Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur?
a) Rajendra Chola
b) Rajaraja Chola I ✅
c) Vijayalaya
d) Kulottunga Explanation: UNESCO World Heritage site.
Which dynasty ruled Gujarat during the early medieval period?
a) Chalukyas
b) Solankis ✅
c) Rashtrakutas
d) Palas Explanation: Also known as the Chaulukyas.
The Pratiharas were known for defending India from:
a) Cholas
b) Arabs ✅
c) Turks
d) Mongols Explanation: Resisted early Arab invasions.
Which king performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice multiple times?
a) Harsha
b) Samudragupta
c) Dharampala
d) Rajaraja I ✅ Explanation: Assertion of supremacy.
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.
In early medieval South India, the ‘Velala’ were:
a) Warriors
b) Temple priests
c) Agriculturists ✅
d) Traders Explanation: Dominant landowning class.
Who built the Sun Temple at Modhera?
a) Harsha
b) Bhimdev I (Solanki ruler) ✅
c) Amoghavarsha
d) Krishna I Explanation: In Gujarat.
The Rashtrakutas issued inscriptions mainly in:
a) Tamil
b) Kannada and Sanskrit ✅
c) Telugu
d) Pali Explanation: Bilingual inscriptions.
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)
Which early medieval dynasty controlled parts of Odisha and Bengal?
a) Gahadavalas
b) Palas ✅
c) Senas
d) Rashtrakutas
Who was the last important Pala ruler?
a) Mahipala
b) Ramapala ✅
c) Gopala
d) Dharampala
Which early medieval kingdom ruled Kalinga?
a) Gangas ✅
b) Pratiharas
c) Chalukyas
d) Hoysalas
Which Muslim Arab traveler mentioned the Pratiharas?
a) Ibn Battuta
b) Al-Masudi ✅
c) Al-Biruni
d) Marco Polo
Which early medieval king wrote Adipurana and Kavirajamarga?
a) Dandin
b) Amoghavarsha I ✅
c) Bhoja
d) Harsha
Who was known as ‘Dakshina Pathadhipathi’ (Lord of the South)?
a) Pulakesin II ✅
b) Rajaraja I
c) Harsha
d) Krishna I
Which dynasty ruled from Kalyani in the Deccan?
a) Chalukyas of Kalyani ✅
b) Hoysalas
c) Pallavas
d) Yadavas
The Gadayuddha, a Kannada poem, was written by:
a) Pampa ✅
b) Ranna
c) Janna
d) Dandin
Which early medieval temple is considered a precursor to Dravidian style?
a) Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram ✅
b) Ellora
c) Ajanta
d) Khajuraho
Who built the temple town of Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
a) Rajaraja I
b) Rajendra Chola I ✅
c) Kulottunga I
d) Vijayalaya