Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms Questions with Solutions
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.
- Q1.
The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was founded by:
A. Nagabhata IB. DantidurgaC. GopalaD. Mihira BhojamediumAsked in SSC +1View solution › - Q2.
Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a contemporary of which Chola ruler?
A. Kulottunga IB. Rajendra IC. Rajaraja ID. KarikalamediumAsked in SSCView solution › - Q3.
Who was the court poet of Harshavardhana and the author of the 'Harshacharita'?
A. DandinB. BanabhattaC. KalidasaD. BhavabhutieasyAsked in SSCView solution › - Q4.
In the battle on the banks of the Narmada, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II defeated:
A. ShashankaB. Narasimhavarman IC. Mahendravarman ID. HarshavardhanamediumAsked in SSCView solution › - Q5.
The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram was built during the reign of:
A. Mahendravarman IB. Narasimhavarman IC. Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)D. Rajaraja Chola ImediumAsked in PoliceView solution › - Q6.
The Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur was built by:
A. Rajendra Chola IB. Raja Raja Chola IC. Narasimhavarman IID. Krishnadeva RayaeasyAsked in SSCView solution › - Q7.
The Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram was built during the rule of the:
A. ChalukyasB. CholasC. PallavasD. PandyasmediumAsked in SSCView solution › - Q8.
The 8th-century Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal, Karnataka, was built by:
A. Queen Ahilyabai HolkarB. Queen RudramadeviC. Queen DurgavatiD. Queen LokamahadevimediumAsked in SSCView solution › - Q9.
The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, completed around 1030 CE, was built by rulers of the:
A. Paramara dynastyB. Kalachuri dynastyC. Pratihara dynastyD. Chandela dynastymediumAsked in RailwayView solution ›