Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect:The Satavahana rulers were brahmanas, and they represented the march of triumphant Brahmanism. From the very outset, kings and queens performed such Vedic sacrifices as ashvamedha, and vajapeya paying liberal sacrificial fees to the brahmanas. They also worshipped a large number of Vaishnava gods such as Krishna and Vasudeva.

Statement 2 is correct: The official language of the Satavahanas was Prakrit. All their inscriptions were composed in this language and written in the Brahmi script, as was the case in Ashokan times. Some Satavahana kings may have composed Prakrit books. One Prakrit text called Gathasattasai, or the Gathasaptasati, is attributed to a Satavahana king called Hala.

Ans: A

Exp:

Pair 1 is incorrect: The administration under Satavahanas in the rural areas was placed in the hands of a gaulmika, the head of a military regiment consisting of nine chariots, nine elephants, twenty-five horses, and forty-five foot-soldiers. The head of this regiment was posted in the countryside to maintain peace and order.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Among the artisans under Satvahana period, the gandhikas or perfumers are repeatedly mentioned as donors. At a later stage, the term gandhika became so general as to connote all kinds of shopkeepers. The modern title Gandhi is derived from this ancient term.

Pair 3 is correct: The communities of merchants were organised in groups known as Shreni or guilds under the head called sreshthi. Another type of mercantile group was called sartha which signified mobile or caravan trading corporation of interregional traders. The leader of such a guild was called sarthavaha. Like merchants almost all craft vocations were also organised into guilds, each under a headman called Jyestha.

Ans: B

Exp: 

Statement 1 is correct: The first known ruler of the Satavahana dynasty, according to archaeological finds and the Puranic lists, was Simuka (also called Sisuka). On his coins Simuka is mentioned as Chhimuka who can be placed around the 1st century BCE. Simuka was succeeded by his brother Kanha or Krishna, who extended the empire eastwards till Nasik; next came Satakarni I. He was the first powerful ruler of the dynasty and has been lauded as the Lord of the Deccan (Dakshinapathapati) in Queen Naganika’s inscription at Naneghat. 

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Sungas, a brahmana family, possibly originally belonged to the region of Ujjain in Western India, where they worked as officials under the Maurya Kings. The founder of the Sunga dynasty was Pushyamitra Sunga who according to tradition, assassinated the last of the Mauryan Kings Brihadratha in 180 B.C. nis is corroborated by Bana, the Sanskrit prose writer and court poet of Harshavardhana of Kanauj. 

Statement 3 is incorrect: According to historical accounts, the Sunga dynasty concluded with the reign of its final king, Devabhuti, who Banabhatta, the author of Harsha-Charita, suggests was a victim of a conspiracy by his Brahmana minister Vasudeva. This event marked the end of the Sunga line around 75 B.C. Although Vasudeva initiated a new line of rulers known as the Kanva dynasty, it endured for merely four generations.

Statement 4 is correct: Chandra Gupta I (AD 319–334) was the real founder of the Gupta empire. He was the grandson of Sri Gupta, the first known ruler of the Gupta line (Gupta Dynasty). Guptas were able to establish a vast empire as they could exploit the iron ores of central India and Bihar and also this being very fertile land. He was succeeded by Samudrgupta (AD 335–375) and Chandra Gupta II (AD 375 – 414). 

Ans: B

Exp:

The Amaravati school of art flourished in the region of Andhra Pradesh between the lower valleys of rivers Krishna and Godavari. Hence, Option 1 is incorrect.

The main patrons of this art form were the Satavahans but it carried on even later, patronised by their successor Ikshavaku rulers. This art is said to have flourished between 150 BC and 350 AD. Sculptures of this school are mainly found on the railings, plinths and other parts of stupas. The important feature of Amravati art is the use of white marble like stone to carve out the figures. Hence, Option 2 is correct.

There is prominence of human figures rather than of nature. 

The thematic representations include the stories from the life of the Buddha. Another important characteristic of the Amaravati school is the ‘narrative art’. The medallions were carved in such a manner that they depict an incident in a natural way. For example one medallion depicts a whole story of ‘taming of an elephant by the Buddha’. Hence, Option 3 is correct.

Ans: C

Exp:

As regards external trade routes, after the discovery of monsoons by Hippatus a Greek navigator in 45 AD, more and more sea voyages were used for trading purposes. Important ports of India on the western coast were (from north to south direction) Bharukachchha Sopara, Kalyana, Muziris, etc. Ships from these ports sailed to the Roman Empire through the Red Sea.  Hence, Option 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

Trade with southeast Asia was conducted through the sea. Prominent ports on the eastern coast of India were Tamralipti (West Bengal), Arikamedu (Tamil Nadu Coast) etc. Sea trade was also conducted between Bharukachchha and the ports of Southeast Asia.  Hence, Option 4 is incorrect.