Ancient Indian Empires Trivia Quiz

Answer: Maurya

In ancient times, northern India was a major battle ground where rich and rival rajahs fought for control of the powerful, bountiful, and rich Ganges Valley. Finally in 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya, started the first Indian Empire.

Answer: Deccan

The Deccan is a vast plateau between the mountain ranges of the coasts of India. The Deccan was a very rich resource in ancient times and still is today because of its rich, agricultural soil which is used to make cotton.

Answer: Greece

Megasthenes described what he called "the great capital of Pataliputra" as the most largest and prosperous city in the world. He wrote about its palaces, school, temples, parks, and said that the wall around the city "was crowned with 570 towers and had 64 gates". All quotations are from copies of Megasthene's report of Pataliputra.

Answer: He trained women to protect his palace.

Chandragupta was perhaps one of the most anxious emperors, and he particularly feared being killed. As well as training woman to be guards and putting them to protect the palace, he also had servants taste his food to protect him from poisoning and made secret palaces in the palace to protect him from being harmed if ever his palace was invaded.

Answer: Grandson

Asoka was known as the philosopher king throughout the empire because after becoming emperor, he fought a battle to conquer the Deccan region of Kalinga. After seeing all the violence and slaughter that had happened, he turned his back on violence and converted to Buddhism.

Answer: Set up food banks in poor towns

After making a public speech calling everyone in his kingdom his children, he set out to help them. He began by building roads, rest hourses, hospitals and by making stone pillars with virtues on them, planting mango groves, and making shelters. He also became a vegetarian and limited Hindu animal sacrifices, but encouraged a tolerance in religion.

Answer: Gupta

Between the time of the Maurya empire and Gupta empire, which lasted about 500 years, many kingdoms popped up on the Deccan Plateau and in Southern India. Some of these kingdoms included the Tamil kingdom which was known for its rich literature and the Dravidians, who were known for a very different culture and customs.

Answer: 'Arabic' Numeral System

The Gupta civilization took pride in its education system and its mathematics in the ancient world. The number system that they created - which is now known as the 'Arabic' numeral system, was based on the number zero. The Gupta civilization was also very advanced in herbal medicine.

They were skilled in setting bones and in simple plastic surgery. Also, the Gupta civilization began vaccinating people for smallpox thousands of years before the Western world started doing it.

Answer: Cave Painting

In the caverns of Ajanta, India, one can see the many cave paintings that were left on the walls of cave temples. The Buddhists had their temples painted with murals of Buddhist stories and legends and also with scenes of Gupta India.

Answer: Abhijnanashakuntala

In the English the title of the work is often given as the "Recognition of Shakuntala". It is the story of a king married a poor orphan, named Shakuntala. However, the king is put under a spell and forgets about his bride. Eventually, he recovers his memory and the two of them become one again.