SSC
The Terracotta Army of China consists of life-size figures buried near the tomb of:
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Answer: Option A — Qin Shi Huang
Detailed Solution
The Terracotta Army is a collection of life-size clay (terracotta) sculptures of soldiers, horses and chariots buried near the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China.
About the Terracotta Army:
- It was discovered in March 1974 by farmers digging a well near the city of Xi'an, in Shaanxi province.
- It was buried around 210-209 BCE, to protect the emperor in his afterlife.
It includes more than 8,000 soldiers (estimated), about 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. Most are still buried.
Each soldier has a different face, hairstyle and expression, which suggests that they were modelled on real people.
The figures were originally painted in bright colours, but most of the paint has faded.
They were arranged according to rank and duty, in battle formation, and carried real bronze weapons.
They are placed in three main pits, with a fourth pit left empty, apparently unfinished.
The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 as the "Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor".
The emperor's own burial mound has not been excavated, partly because of the risk of damaging it. Ancient accounts say it contains rivers of mercury.
About Qin Shi Huang:
- He was born in 259 BCE and died in 210 BCE.
- He became king of the state of Qin in 246 BCE at the age of 13.
In 221 BCE, he conquered the other "Warring States" and unified China for the first time, founding the Qin dynasty. He declared himself "Shi Huangdi" ("First Emperor").
The name "China" is believed to come from "Qin" (pronounced "Chin").
His achievements:
- He standardised the Chinese script, weights and measures, currency and the width of axles of carts.
- He built roads and canals.
- He linked earlier walls to form an early version of the Great Wall of China.
- He was also known for harsh rule, including the "burning of books and burying of scholars" (213-212 BCE).
- The Qin dynasty lasted only until 206 BCE; it was followed by the Han dynasty.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Kublai Khan founded the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty in the 13th century.
- ✗Confucius was a philosopher of the 6th-5th century BCE.
- ✗Emperor Wu of Han ruled in the 2nd-1st century BCE and expanded the Han empire.
Quick tip
Remember: Terracotta Army = tomb of Qin Shi Huang, first Emperor of China (unified China 221 BCE; discovered 1974 near Xi'an; UNESCO 1987; "China" from "Qin"); Great Wall = linked by Qin Shi Huang.
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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK 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.