CBSE Class 7 Social Science Chapter 07 The Gupta Era An Age Of Tireless Creativity MCQs Set 01

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Question: The Iron Pillar of Delhi, which stands without rusting despite being over 1,600 years old, was erected during the reign of which Gupta ruler?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Āryabhaṭa
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Chandragupta II

Explanation:
According to the tour guide in the chapter, the 6-tonne Iron Pillar was erected during the reign of Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramāditya. It was probably first placed in front of the Udayagiri caves in Madhya Pradesh before being brought to Delhi later.

Question: According to Faxian's travelogue, what was the primary form of taxation in the Gupta period?
A. Citizens paid fixed money to officials
B. Farmers paid a portion of their grain to the crown
C. Merchants paid high taxes on trade goods
D. The poor paid taxes to wealthy families
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Farmers paid a portion of their grain to the crown

Explanation:
Faxian explicitly noted that "Those who farm royal land pay a portion of their grain," indicating that grain-based taxation was the main form of tax collection from agricultural producers in Gupta society.

Question: Which of the following best explains why the Gupta period is sometimes called the 'classical age' of Indian history?
A. It was the longest period of empire rule in India
B. Peace and stability promoted notable achievements in art, literature, science, and mathematics
C. It was the first period when Sanskrit was spoken
D. It followed immediately after the Mauryan empire
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Peace and stability promoted notable achievements in art, literature, science, and mathematics

Explanation:
The chapter states that the prolonged period of peace and stability during the Gupta period promoted notable achievements in various fields, leading some historians to label this period the 'classical age' of India. Knowledge from previous eras was consolidated and compiled into numerous texts during this time.

Question: What was the primary method by which the Gupta rulers managed their vast empire without controlling everything from a central authority?
A. They created a single bureaucratic system in the capital
B. They divided the empire into provinces and granted land to local rulers, priests and chieftains
C. They relied entirely on military force to keep control
D. They appointed only members of the royal family to govern
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) They divided the empire into provinces and granted land to local rulers, priests and chieftains

Explanation:
• The Gupta Empire had a well-organised system of administration
• They divided the empire into provinces and granted land to local rulers, priests and chieftains
• These land grants were inscribed on copper plates to keep accurate records
• This system ensured proper tax collection while allowing local leaders some control over their regions

Question: Which Gupta ruler is portrayed as a veena player on one of his coins?
A. Chandragupta I
B. Samudragupta
C. Chandragupta II
D. Prabhāvatī Gupta
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Samudragupta

Explanation:
Samudragupta is portrayed as a veena player in one of the coins he minted, emphasizing that alongside his military conquests, he also supported art and learning, making his kingdom rich and successful.

Question: What does the term 'dharaṇi-bandha' refer to, as mentioned in the prayāga praśhasti inscription?
A. Building temples for religious worship
B. Unifying the Earth through conquest
C. Collecting taxes from farmers
D. Creating alliances through marriage
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Unifying the Earth through conquest

Explanation:
According to the court poet Harisena's inscription, Samudragupta's ambition was to be 'dharaṇi-bandha' or to 'unify the Earth', which he pursued through numerous military campaigns defeating other kings and expanding his empire.

Question: Prabhāvatī Gupta's role as regent ruler of the Vākāṭaka kingdom demonstrates how the Guptas used which strategy to expand their influence?
A. Direct military invasion of southern regions
B. Matrimonial alliances to strengthen ties with neighbouring kingdoms
C. Converting the entire population to a single religion
D. Trading partnerships with Mediterranean merchants
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Matrimonial alliances to strengthen ties with neighbouring kingdoms

Explanation:
Prabhāvatī Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II, was married to a Vākāṭaka prince and became regent when he died early. During her reign, she ensured the ties between the Vākāṭakas and Guptas remained strong, demonstrating how matrimonial alliances served as a diplomatic strategy for the Guptas.

Question: According to the excerpt from Faxian's travelogue, how were the poor and sick cared for in Gupta cities?
A. The government provided all medical services free of charge
B. Charitable institutions established by wealthy merchant families provided care, food, and medicines
C. Families were entirely responsible for caring for their own members
D. Buddhist monks were the only ones allowed to provide medical treatment
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Charitable institutions established by wealthy merchant families provided care, food, and medicines

Explanation:
Faxian observed that "Heads of Vaishya families [merchants or traders] establish houses for charity and medicines [...] the poor, orphans and the sick are cared for [...] doctors provide treatment, and the needy receive food and medicines," showing that charitable systems run by wealthy families supported the vulnerable.

Question: Which mathematician from the Gupta period proposed that the Earth spins on its axis?
A. Varāhamihira
B. Āryabhaṭa
C. Kālidāsa
D. Harisena
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Āryabhaṭa

Explanation:
Āryabhaṭa, who lived around 500 CE in Kusumapura, proposed that the Earth spins on its axis, which explains the alternation of day and night. This was a groundbreaking idea recorded in his treatise Āryabhaṭīya.

Question: What was the significance of the copper plate land grants used by the Gupta administration?
A. They were decorative objects displayed in temples
B. They served as accurate written records of land distribution and tax obligations
C. They were only used to reward military generals
D. They had no practical purpose and were purely ceremonial
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) They served as accurate written records of land distribution and tax obligations

Explanation:
The chapter states that land grants to local rulers, priests and chieftains were carefully inscribed on copper plates to keep accurate records, with many having been discovered by archaeologists in recent times, demonstrating their documentary importance for administration and taxation.

Question: In Varāhamihira's encyclopedic work Bṛihat Samhitā, which of the following subjects was NOT covered?
A. Astronomy and astrology
B. Weather forecasting and architecture
C. Town planning and farming
D. Military strategy and warfare tactics
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (D) Military strategy and warfare tactics

Explanation:
The chapter describes Varāhamihira's Bṛihat Samhitā as covering astronomy, astrology, weather forecasting, architecture, town planning, and farming—a wide range of subjects demonstrating his pioneering scientific approach. Military strategy is not mentioned among the topics covered in this work.

Question: What was the primary purpose of Faxian's journey to India during the early 5th century CE?
A. To conduct trade and establish business relations
B. To visit sacred Buddhist sites, learn from scholars, and collect Buddhist manuscripts
C. To establish a Buddhist kingdom in India
D. To document the military campaigns of the Gupta rulers
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) To visit sacred Buddhist sites, learn from scholars, and collect Buddhist manuscripts

Explanation:
The chapter explicitly states that Faxian set out on a long and difficult pilgrimage to visit sacred Buddhist sites, learn from renowned Indian scholars, and collect manuscripts of Buddhist texts so he could take them back to China.

Question: According to the chapter, how did Samudragupta treat defeated rulers in the southern regions?
A. He executed them all to prevent rebellion
B. He allowed local kings, including the Pallavas and Kāmarūpa rulers, to keep their thrones as long as they accepted his rule and paid tribute
C. He immediately incorporated their territories into the Gupta Empire
D. He forced them to relocate to the northern regions
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) He allowed local kings, including the Pallavas and Kāmarūpa rulers, to keep their thrones as long as they accepted his rule and paid tribute

Explanation:
• Samudragupta defeated a Pallava ruler but did not take over the region
• He let local kings keep their thrones on condition they accepted his rule and paid tribute
• Under similar conditions in the northeast, he defeated Kāmarūpa but did not take direct control
• This approach helped maintain peaceful relations while acknowledging Gupta supremacy

Question: What does Kālidāsa's composition Meghadūtam primarily describe besides the emotional journey of its protagonist?
A. The political history of the Gupta dynasty
B. The landscapes and weather of north India in great detail
C. The daily life of merchants and traders
D. Instructions for performing religious rituals
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The landscapes and weather of north India in great detail

Explanation:
Meghadūtam tells the story of a yakṣha sending a message to his beloved through a cloud. Apart from emotions of love, the poem describes in great detail the landscapes and weather of north India on the cloud's journey to the beloved, showcasing Kālidāsa's keen observation of nature.

Question: Which of the following statements about the Pallavas is supported by information in the chapter?
A. They ruled in parts of present-day Assam and Bengal
B. They were vassal states of the Gupta Empire throughout their existence
C. They emerged as a powerful dynasty in the south and were devoted to Śhiva, constructing magnificent temples and rock-cut caves
D. They were eventually defeated by Samudragupta and incorporated into the Gupta Empire
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) They emerged as a powerful dynasty in the south and were devoted to Śhiva, constructing magnificent temples and rock-cut caves

Explanation:
The chapter describes the Pallavas as emerging as a powerful dynasty in the south, consolidating power in parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. They were great patrons of art and architecture, were devotees of Śhiva, and constructed magnificent temples and rock-cut caves, making Kānchipuram a major centre of learning known as the 'city of a thousand temples'.

Question: The Kuṣhāṇa Empire's decline in the 3rd century CE created a political vacuum in northern India. Which dynasty capitalized on this opportunity to establish dominance?
A. The Vākāṭaka dynasty from central India
B. The Gupta dynasty from the region near present-day Uttar Pradesh
C. The Pallava dynasty from southern India
D. The Kāmarūpa kingdom from the northeast
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The Gupta dynasty from the region near present-day Uttar Pradesh

Explanation:
The chapter states that by the 3rd century CE, the Kuṣhāṇa Empire began to weaken, and new kingdoms emerged. The Guptas, who originated from a region near present-day Uttar Pradesh as regional rulers, rose to prominence and established a powerful empire during this period of transition.

Question: Based on Faxian's observations in his travelogue, which of the following was NOT mentioned as a characteristic of Gupta-era cities?
A. Merchants and traders established houses for charity and medicines
B. The king's guards and attendants received regular salaries
C. Citizens were required to register all households with officials
D. Lanes and streets were kept in good order
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Citizens were required to register all households with officials

Explanation:
Faxian specifically noted that people 'have no need to register households or attend to officials,' indicating that the Gupta administration did not require such registration. The other features he described were all present in the cities he visited.

Question: How did the system of land grants under Gupta administration differ from a purely centralized system of control?
A. Local rulers and priests were given land and granted authority to govern independently without oversight
B. Land was divided equally among all citizens regardless of social status
C. Local rulers received land grants inscribed on copper plates, which allowed them regional control while remaining answerable to the Gupta court
D. All land remained under direct royal control, and grants were given only to soldiers
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Local rulers received land grants inscribed on copper plates, which allowed them regional control while remaining answerable to the Gupta court

Explanation:
• The Guptas divided their empire into provinces
• Land grants to local rulers, priests and chieftains were carefully recorded on copper plates
• This system allowed local leaders authority over their regions
• It ensured proper tax collection while maintaining central oversight and stability

Question: Which of the following best explains why Gupta rulers adopted more elaborate titles such as 'mahārājadhirāja' and 'chakravartin' compared to earlier rulers' use of simpler titles?
A. These titles were required by religious law in Sanskrit texts
B. They sought to emphasize their supreme authority and claim superiority over predecessors
C. They were titles granted by the Kushana emperors before their decline
D. They indicated the ruler's personal achievements in mathematics and astronomy
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) They sought to emphasize their supreme authority and claim superiority over predecessors

Explanation:
The chapter explains that these grander titles reflected the Gupta rulers' claim to supreme authority and emphasized their superiority over earlier rulers who had used simpler titles like 'rājan' and 'mahārāja.' This represented an evolution in how rulers projected their power and legitimacy.

Question: What can be inferred about the trade routes during the Gupta period from the presence of Indian pottery, Brahmi script inscriptions, and Buddhist stūpa designs found on Socotra Island?
A. Socotra Island was a major religious pilgrimage destination exclusively for Indian Buddhists
B. Indian traders maintained active commercial connections across the Arabian Sea to distant markets
C. The Guptas directly controlled Socotra Island as part of their empire
D. Trade with the Mediterranean world had ceased by the Gupta period
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) Indian traders maintained active commercial connections across the Arabian Sea to distant markets

Explanation:
Archaeological evidence from Socotra Island—pottery, Brahmi script, and Buddhist designs—demonstrates the presence of Indian traders over several centuries and establishes that Indian Ocean trade networks connected Indian ports to Mediterranean markets and other distant regions, supporting the chapter's description of vibrant external trade during the Gupta era.

Question: The Āyurveda texts, Charaka Saṃhitā and Suśhruta Saṃhitā, were codified during the Gupta period. This suggests that the Guptas supported intellectual work by:
A. forcing scholars to compile ancient texts
B. creating a stable environment where earlier knowledge could be systematically organized and refined
C. importing medical knowledge exclusively from Mediterranean sources
D. restricting medical knowledge to the royal court only
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) creating a stable environment where earlier knowledge could be systematically organized and refined

Explanation:
The chapter indicates that Āyurveda had much older roots going back centuries, but these foundational texts were compiled and given their final shape during the Gupta period. This reflects how the stability and peace of the era enabled scholars to consolidate and refine existing knowledge into organized systems.

Question: What does the tour guide's explanation of the Iron Pillar reveal about the relationship between royal patronage and metallurgical advancement during the Gupta era?
A. Metallurgy was not valued by Gupta rulers and remained an unimportant craft
B. The rust-resistant iron pillar demonstrates the technical sophistication that resulted from royal support for skilled craftspeople
C. The pillar was imported from China, indicating the Guptas relied on foreign expertise
D. Metallurgy was exclusively taught in Buddhist monasteries without royal involvement
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) The rust-resistant iron pillar demonstrates the technical sophistication that resulted from royal support for skilled craftspeople

Explanation:
The pillar's remarkable durability—standing unrusted for over 1,600 years—exemplifies advanced metallurgical knowledge. The fact that such a sophisticated work was commissioned during Chandragupta II's reign shows how royal patronage enabled craftspeople to develop and apply sophisticated technical skills.

Question: According to the chapter, why did Samudragupta's strategy of not directly annexing defeated southern kingdoms like the Pallava territory ultimately prove beneficial for maintaining empire stability?
A. He lacked military strength to govern distant regions effectively
B. By allowing local kings to keep their thrones while accepting his overlordship and paying tribute, he maintained peaceful relations and ensured revenue collection without the burden of direct administration
C. Southern kingdoms were too powerful to be conquered militarily
D. He planned to invade these regions in a future campaign
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) By allowing local kings to keep their thrones while accepting his overlordship and paying tribute, he maintained peaceful relations and ensured revenue collection without the burden of direct administration

Explanation:
The chapter reveals a deliberate administrative strategy: Samudragupta defeated opponents but let local kings retain their thrones as long as they accepted his rule and paid tribute. This approach managed territory efficiently, generated revenue, and avoided the costly and difficult task of directly administering distant regions—a pattern the text notes recurred 'quite a few times.'

Question: Which characteristic of Varāhamihira distinguished him as a pioneer in science during the Gupta period?
A. He rejected all forms of traditional knowledge in favor of purely empirical methods
B. His ability to combine observation of the world with logical reasoning while integrating traditional knowledge
C. He focused exclusively on astrology and rejected practical applications
D. He was the first person to invent the concept of mathematics
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (B) His ability to combine observation of the world with logical reasoning while integrating traditional knowledge

Explanation:
The chapter specifically states that Varāhamihira's 'ability to observe the world, apply logical reasoning, and combine it with traditional knowledge made him a pioneer in science.' His encyclopedic work covered astronomy, astrology, weather forecasting, architecture, town planning, and farming—demonstrating synthesis of multiple knowledge systems.

Question: How does the decline of the Gupta Empire by the 6th century CE reflect the balance between internal and external challenges mentioned in the chapter?
A. Only external invasions weakened the Gupta Empire; internal governance remained strong
B. The Hūṇa tribe invasions alone completely destroyed the empire immediately
C. Both external invasions from the Hūṇas and internal conflicts from rising regional rulers simultaneously contributed to the empire's weakening
D. The Guptas voluntarily abandoned their empire to pursue spiritual goals
Show Answer & Explanation

Answer: (C) Both external invasions from the Hūṇas and internal conflicts from rising regional rulers simultaneously contributed to the empire's weakening

Explanation:
The chapter states that by the 6th century, the Guptas faced 'challenges from external invasions' from the fierce Hūṇa tribe while simultaneously experiencing 'internal conflicts' from the 'rise of powerful regional rulers.' This dual pressure—from outside and within—created the conditions for decline, suggesting that the empire's fall was multifactorial rather than caused by a single threat.

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Chapter 07 The Gupta Era An Age Of Tireless Creativity Objective Questions & Solutions for Class 7 Social Science

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