Who founded the Satavahana dynasty?

Simuka founded the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled the Deccan for about 450 years.

Why is Kanishka important in Indian history?

Kanishka was the greatest Kushana emperor who made Buddhism the state religion, organised the Fourth Buddhist Council, and patronised scholars like Asvaghosha and Nagarjuna.

What is the Gandhara School of Art?

A school of art heavily influenced by Greek sculptural techniques, where Mahayana Buddhist themes — especially Buddha sculptures — were the favourite subjects.

The Post-Mauryan India Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

Q: Who was Gautamiputra Satakarni?

A powerful Satavahana king described in the Nasik Prashasti as the destroyer of Sakas, Yavanas, and Pahlavas. His empire covered Maharashtra, north Konkan, Berar, Gujarat, Kathiawar, and Malwa.

The Post-Mauryan India — Exercise Solutions

Use this page alongside the official Samacheer Kalvi textbook. Solve every exercise question on your own first, then check the solutions below.

I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQs)

Q1. The last Mauryan emperor was killed by ___.

(a) Pushyamitra
(b) Agnimitra
(c) Vasudeva
(d) Narayana

Answer(a) Pushyamitra ✓

Pushyamitra Sunga, the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan army, assassinated Brihadratha, the last Mauryan emperor, and founded the Sunga dynasty.

Q2. ___ was the founder of the Satavahana dynasty.

(a) Simuka
(b) Satakarni
(c) Kanha
(d) Sivasvati

Answer(a) Simuka ✓

Simuka founded the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled the Deccan region for approximately 450 years after the decline of the Mauryas.

Q3. ___ was the greatest of all the Kushana emperors.

(a) Kanishka
(b) Kadphises I
(c) Kadphises II
(d) Pan-Chiang

Answer(a) Kanishka ✓

Kanishka was the most powerful and celebrated Kushana ruler. He expanded the empire, patronised Buddhism, and organised the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalavana near Srinagar.

Q4. The Kantara School of Sanskrit flourished in the ___ during the 2nd century BC.

(a) Deccan
(b) North-west India
(c) Punjab
(d) Gangetic valley

Answer(a) Deccan ✓

The Kantara School of Sanskrit was a notable literary centre in the Deccan during the Satavahana period, reflecting their patronage of Sanskrit learning.

Q5. Sakas ruled over the Gandhara region with ___ as their capital.

(a) Sirkap
(b) Taxila
(c) Mathura
(d) Purushpura

Answer(a) Sirkap ✓

The Sakas (Scythians) established their capital at Sirkap in the Gandhara region after ending Indo-Greek rule in that area.

II. Match the Statement with the Reason

Q1. Assertion (A): Colonies of Indo-Greeks and Indo-Parthians were established along the north-western part of India.

Reason (R): The Bactrian and Parthian settlers gradually intermarried and intermixed with the indigenous population.

Answer(a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A ✓

The Bactrian Greeks (Indo-Greeks) and Parthian settlers came to India's north-west frontier, established colonies, and gradually assimilated with the local population through intermarriage, making R the correct explanation of A.

Q2. Statement I: Indo-Greek rulers introduced the die system and produced coins with inscriptions and symbols, engraving figures on them.

Statement II: Indo-Greek rule was ended by the Kushanas.

Answer(b) Statement II is wrong, but Statement I is correct ✓

Indo-Greek rulers did introduce the die system for coinage and engraved figures on coins — this is correct. However, it was the Sakas (Scythians) who ended Indo-Greek rule, not the Kushanas. The Kushanas came later.

Q3. Circle the odd one out: Pushyamitra, Vasudeva, Simuka, Kanishka.

AnswerSimuka is the odd one ✓

Pushyamitra (Sunga dynasty), Vasudeva (Kanva dynasty), and Kanishka (Kushana dynasty) were all rulers of dynasties that came after the Mauryas. Simuka, though also a post-Mauryan ruler, is distinct because he founded the Satavahana dynasty in the Deccan, separate from the northern dynasties.

III. Fill in the Blanks

1. Gondophernes was the founder of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom.

2. In the South, Satavahanas became independent after Asoka's death.

3. Hala is famous as the author of Sattasai (Saptasati).

4. Susarman was the last ruler of the Kanva dynasty.

5. The Kushana's later capital was Peshavar (Purushpura).

IV. Answer in a Word

Q1. Who was the last Sunga ruler?

AnswerDevabhuti

Devabhuti was the last Sunga king, after whom the Kanvas took over Magadha.

Q2. Who was the most important and famous king of the Sakas?

AnswerRudradaman

Rudradaman was the most celebrated Saka ruler, known for his military prowess and the Junagadh Rock Inscription which records the repair of the Sudarshana Lake.

Q3. Who established the Kanva dynasty in Magadha?

AnswerVasudeva

Vasudeva overthrew the last Sunga ruler Devabhuti and founded the Kanva dynasty in Magadha.

Q4. Who converted Gondophernes into Christianity?

AnswerSt. Thomas

St. Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, visited the court of Gondophernes and converted him to Christianity.

V. True or False

1. Magadha continued to be a great centre of Buddhist culture even after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.

AnswerTrue

Buddhist learning and culture thrived in Magadha under post-Mauryan dynasties like the Sungas and Kanvas.

2. We get much information about Kharavela from the Hathigumpha inscription.

AnswerTrue

The Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri in Odisha is the primary source of information about King Kharavela of Kalinga.

3. Simuka waged a successful war against Magadha.

AnswerFalse

Correction: Simuka did not wage a successful war against Magadha. He consolidated power in the Deccan region and founded the Satavahana dynasty there.

4. Buddhacharita was written by Asvaghosha.

AnswerTrue

Asvaghosha, a renowned Buddhist scholar in Kanishka's court, composed the Buddhacharita, an epic biography of the Buddha.

VI. Match the Following

Column A	Column B
i) Patanjali	3. Kalinga
ii) Agnimitra	4. Second grammarian
iii) King Kharavela	1. Kalinga
iv) Demetrius	2. Indo-Greek
v) Gondophernes	5. Indo-Parthians

Answer(b) 3, 4, 1, 2, 5

Match: Patanjali — grammarian; Agnimitra — Sunga king and hero of Malavikagnimitra; Kharavela — Kalinga king; Demetrius — Indo-Greek ruler; Gondophernes — Indo-Parthian king.

VII. Find the Wrong Statement

1. The Kushanas formed a section of the Yueh-chi tribes who inhabited north-western China. → Correct

2. Kanishka made Jainism the state religion and built many monasteries. → Wrong

Correction: Kanishka made Buddhism the state religion, not Jainism. He built Buddhist stupas and monasteries and organised the Fourth Buddhist Council.

3. The Great Stupa of Sanchi and the railings which enclose it belong to the Sunga period. → Correct

4. Pan-Chiang was the Chinese general defeated by Kanishka. → Correct

VIII. Very Short Answer Questions (One or Two Sentences)

Q1. What happened to the last Mauryan emperor?

AnswerBrihadratha, the last Mauryan emperor, was assassinated by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga, who then founded the Sunga dynasty.

Q2. Write a note on Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitra.

AnswerAgnimitra, the Sunga king, is the hero of this play by Kalidasa. It also refers to Vasumitra's victory over the Greeks on the banks of the river Sindhu.

Q3. Name the rulers of the Kanva dynasty.

AnswerThe four Kanva rulers were Vasudeva, Bhumimitra, Narayana, and Susarman.

Q4. What were the literary achievements of the Satavahanas?

AnswerKing Hala authored Sattasai (Saptasati), a collection of 700 stanzas in Prakrit. The Kantara school of Sanskrit flourished in the Deccan during the 2nd century BC under Satavahana patronage.

Q5. Where are Satavahana monuments found?

AnswerSatavahana monuments and sculptural remains are found at Gandhara, Madhura, Amaravati, Bodh Gaya, Sanchi, and Bharhut.

Q6. What were the achievements of Kadphises I?

AnswerKadphises I overthrew the Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian rulers, established himself as the sovereign ruler of Bactria, and extended his power across Kabul, Gandhara, and up to the Indus river.

Q7. Name the Buddhist saints and scholars in Kanishka's court.

AnswerAsvaghosha, Vasumitra, and Nagarjuna were the eminent Buddhist scholars patronised by Kanishka.

IX. Short Answer Questions

Q1. Who invaded India after the decline of the Mauryan Empire?

AnswerAfter the Mauryan decline, several foreign groups invaded India through the north-western frontier: the Bactrian Greeks (Indo-Greeks), the Sakas (Scythians), the Parthians (Indo-Parthians), and the Kushanas. They entered through the Khyber and Bolan passes and established kingdoms in the north-western and western parts of India.

Q2. Write about the conquests of Pushyamitra Sunga.

AnswerPushyamitra Sunga was a powerful ruler who repulsed the invasion of the Bactrian Greek king Menander, thwarted Kharavela of Kalinga, and conquered Vidarbha. He performed two Ashvamedha sacrifices, indicating his imperial ambitions. However, his rule was also marked by persecution of Buddhists and the revival of Vedic Brahmanism.

Q3. Write a note on Gautamiputra Satakarni.

AnswerGautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest Satavahana ruler. The Nasik Prashasti describes him as the destroyer of Sakas, Yavanas, and Pahlavas. His empire extended over Maharashtra, north Konkan, Berar, Gujarat, Kathiawar, and Malwa. His ship coins suggest the naval power and seafaring skill of the Andhras. He restored Satavahana prestige after a period of Saka domination.

Q4. Write about the Gondopharid dynasty.

AnswerThe Gondopharid dynasty was founded by Gondophernes. Its domain comprised Kabul and Gandhara. St. Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, visited the court of Gondophernes and converted him to Christianity. This dynasty is significant for being one of the earliest channels through which Christianity reached the Indian subcontinent.

Q5. Who was the best known Indo-Greek king and why?

AnswerMenander (Milinda) was the best known Indo-Greek king. He ruled a large kingdom in the north-west of India. His coins have been found extensively from the Kabul valley and the Indus river region to western Uttar Pradesh, indicating the wide reach of his kingdom. He is also known for his philosophical dialogue with the Buddhist monk Nagasena, recorded in the Milinda Panho.

Q6. Who were the Sakas?

AnswerThe Sakas were Scythians — nomadic ancient Iranians who inhabited Central Asia. Known as Sakas in Sanskrit, they entered India through the north-west, ended Indo-Greek rule, and spread across northern and western India. They were opposed to the Turki nomads in Central Asia. The most famous Saka ruler was Rudradaman, known from the Junagadh inscription.

Q7. Describe the religious policy of Kanishka.

AnswerKanishka adopted Buddhism under the influence of the scholar Asvaghosha and made it the state religion. He built numerous stupas and monasteries at Mathura, Taxila, and other places. He sent Buddhist missionaries to Tibet, China, and Central Asia. Most importantly, he organised the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalavana near Srinagar, during which Buddhism split into two sects — Hinayana and Mahayana.

X. HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

Q1. Explain the importance of the Gandhara School of Art.

AnswerThe Gandhara School of Art was heavily influenced by Greek (Hellenistic) sculptural techniques and traditions. Mahayana Buddhists learned cave-carving and artistic methods from the Greeks. It flourished during Kanishka's reign in the north-west frontier region (modern Pakistan and Afghanistan). The carving of Buddha sculptures was the favourite subject of Gandhara artists. The Buddha figures in this school depict Greek features — wavy hair, draped robes, and realistic anatomy — making it a unique blend of Indian spiritual themes with Greek artistic form.

Q2. Trace the development of trade and commerce during the post-Mauryan period in South India.

AnswerUnder the Satavahanas, trade and commerce developed greatly in the Deccan and South India. Traders organised themselves into commercial groups or guilds. Artisans such as potters, weavers, and oil producers also formed guilds. Silver coins called nahpana facilitated business transactions. Foreign trade flourished with the Roman Empire and other regions. The Greek writer Ptolemy noted many harbours along the Deccan coast. Kalyan (Kalyanni) was a major western harbour, while ports on the eastern coast traded with Southeast Asia. The Satavahana rulers encouraged trade by providing security and infrastructure.

XI. Answer Grid

Question	Answer
Who wrote Brihatkatha?	Gunadhya
How many years did the Satavahanas rule the Deccan?	450 years
Favourite subject of Gandhara artists?	Carving of sculptures of Buddha
Satavahana ruler who performed two Asvamedha sacrifices?	Satakarni
Who laid the foundation of the Saka era?	Kanishka
Where did Kanishka organise the 4th Buddhist Council?	Kundalavana near Srinagar

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing who ended Indo-Greek rule. The Sakas (Scythians) ended Indo-Greek rule, not the Kushanas. The Kushanas came later and ended Saka rule in some areas.

2. Mixing up the Satavahana and Sunga dynasties. The Sungas ruled Magadha and northern India; the Satavahanas ruled the Deccan. They are separate dynasties with no direct connection.

3. Stating Kanishka promoted Jainism. Kanishka promoted Buddhism, not Jainism. He convened the Fourth Buddhist Council and made Buddhism the state religion.

4. Confusing Kadphises I with Kanishka. Kadphises I founded the Kushana power by overthrowing Indo-Greeks and Indo-Parthians. Kanishka came later and was the greatest Kushana emperor.

5. Saying the Gandhara School was purely Indian. The Gandhara School is a Greco-Buddhist art form combining Greek sculptural techniques with Indian Buddhist themes.

6. Forgetting that Sati was practised in some post-Mauryan periods. While Buddhism flourished, social practices like Sati did exist in certain regions, and the caste system became more rigid.

7. Assuming all post-Mauryan dynasties were Indian. Several important dynasties — the Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, and Kushanas — were of foreign origin who invaded through the north-west and gradually assimilated into Indian culture.

Exam Checklist

[ ] The last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha was assassinated by Pushyamitra Sunga
[ ] The Sunga, Kanva, Satavahana, Indo-Greek, Saka, Indo-Parthian, and Kushana dynasties in chronological order
[ ] Simuka founded the Satavahana dynasty; Gautamiputra Satakarni was its greatest ruler
[ ] Kanishka — greatest Kushana emperor, Fourth Buddhist Council, Buddhism split into Hinayana and Mahayana
[ ] Asvaghosha, Vasumitra, and Nagarjuna — key scholars in Kanishka's court
[ ] The Gandhara School of Art — Greek influence, Buddha sculptures
[ ] Saka era foundation and Rudradaman as the most important Saka king
[ ] Indo-Parthian dynasty founded by Gondophernes; St. Thomas's visit
[ ] Trade and guilds under the Satavahanas; use of silver coins
[ ] Key literary works: Sattasai by Hala, Buddhacharita by Asvaghosha, Milinda Panho
[ ] Hathigumpha inscription as the source for Kharavela's reign

Frequently Asked Questions

Pushyamitra Sunga assassinated Brihadratha, the last Mauryan emperor, and founded the Sunga dynasty.

The Post-Mauryan India Exercise Solutions | KalviGavani

The Post-Mauryan India — Exercise Solutions

I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQs)

II. Match the Statement with the Reason

III. Fill in the Blanks

IV. Answer in a Word

V. True or False

VI. Match the Following

VII. Find the Wrong Statement

VIII. Very Short Answer Questions (One or Two Sentences)

IX. Short Answer Questions

X. HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

XI. Answer Grid

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Exam Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Other question types — same chapter

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