History MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for History - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is: Europe

Key Points

• World War II began in Europe on 1 September 1939.
• Germany invaded Poland, marking the official start of the war. The invasion was justified by Hitler under the pretext of reclaiming lost territories and responding to alleged Polish aggression.
• The invasion used the **Blitzkrieg (lightning war)** strategy, which involved rapid and overwhelming military attacks combining air strikes, artillery, and fast-moving ground forces.
• Britain and France, allies of Poland, declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939, officially expanding the conflict.
• The war soon escalated, involving multiple nations, but its origins were rooted in **Europe**.
• On 17 September 1939, the **Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east**, following the **Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact**, a secret non-aggression treaty between Germany and the USSR.
• The rapid invasion led to the division of Poland between Germany and the Soviet Union, setting off further military actions in Europe.

Additional Information

• United States
• The United States remained neutral at the beginning of World War II in 1939.
• It entered the war only after the **Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor** on 7 December 1941, which led to its declaration of war on Japan, followed by Germany and Italy.
• php-template Copy Edit
• Africa
• The war did not begin in Africa, though significant battles occurred there later, particularly in North Africa between Axis and Allied forces.
• The **North African Campaign (1940-1943)** was an important phase of the war but was not the starting point.
• None of these
• Since the war started in **Europe**, particularly with Germany's invasion of Poland, this option is incorrect.

The correct answer is - Lenin

Key Points

• Lenin
  • Lenin, whose full name was Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, was the leader of the Bolshevik Party.
  • He played a crucial role in the October Revolution of 1917, which led to the overthrow of the Provisional Government and established Bolshevik rule in Russia.
  • Lenin's leadership was instrumental in the formation of the Soviet Union, the world's first socialist state.
  • Under his direction, the Bolsheviks implemented significant changes, including land reforms and the nationalization of industry.

Additional Information

• Karl Marx
  • Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, and socialist revolutionary.
  • He is best known for his works "The Communist Manifesto" and "Das Kapital," which laid the foundation for Marxist theory.
  • While Marx's ideas greatly influenced the Bolshevik Party, he was not its leader.
• Stalin
  • Joseph Stalin was a Soviet politician who later became the leader of the Soviet Union after Lenin's death.
  • Stalin played a major role in the consolidation of the Soviet state and its expansion.
  • He was a key figure in the Bolshevik Party but not its initial leader.
• Louis Blanc
  • Louis Blanc was a French socialist and political activist.
  • He is known for his advocacy of social workshops and cooperative enterprises.
  • His ideas influenced European socialist movements, but he had no direct connection to the Bolshevik Party.

The correct answer is Marc Bloch

Key Points

•  Marc Bloch 
  • Marc Bloch (1886-1944) is the correct answer.
  • Bloch's work, particularly in collaboration with Lucien Febvre in the establishment of the Annales School, revolutionized the field of historiography through the promotion of 'total history'.
  • His approach involved the inclusion of social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors, as well as an emphasis on the everyday lives of ordinary people, rather than just political elites. His notable works include "Feudal Society" and "The Historian's Craft".

Additional Information

•  Leopold von Ranke 
  • Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886) is often regarded as one of the founders of modern historiography.
  • He emphasized the importance of empiricism and primary sources, advocating for the idea that historians should strive to recreate history "as it actually was.
•  G.R. Elton 
  • G.R. Elton (1921-1994) was a British historian specializing in Tudor England.
  • He is known for his works on political and administrative history, particularly his focus on the constitutional and institutional development during the reign of Henry VIII. 
•  Herbert Butterfield
  •  Herbert Butterfield (1900-1979) was a British historian and philosopher of history, best known for his work on historiography and the development of the "Whig interpretation of history," which critiques the tendency to interpret history as a progression towards present-day ideals.

The correct answer is - Uma Chakravarti and Kumkum Roy

Key Points

• Altekarian paradigm
  • The term refers to the framework used by historian D.D. Altekar in his studies on women in ancient India.
  • Altekar's analysis often portrayed women in the ancient period as being relegated to the domestic sphere and subordinated under patriarchal structures.
  • Uma Chakravarti and Kumkum Roy critically analyzed and challenged the Altekarian paradigm, highlighting its limitations in understanding the historical role of women.
• Critical feminist historiography
  • Chakravarti and Roy emphasized the need to move beyond patriarchal interpretations and focus on systemic structures that shaped gender roles in history.
  • Their work brought attention to the intersection of class, caste, and gender within historical contexts.

Additional Information

• Historical studies on women
  • D.D. Altekar was one of the earliest historians to study women in ancient India, but his work was criticized for reinforcing patriarchal narratives.
  • His portrayal often romanticized the subordination of women in ancient texts as "ideal" roles within society.
• Feminist critique
  • Feminist historians like Uma Chakravarti and Kumkum Roy offered alternative perspectives by exploring systemic inequalities in historical contexts.
  • They highlighted the need for a nuanced understanding of historical texts and their socio-political implications on gender roles.
• Intersectionality in history
  • Chakravarti and Roy's analysis emphasized the importance of intersectionality, exploring how caste, class, and religion interacted to shape women's experiences in history.
  • This approach helped expand the scope of feminist historiography, moving beyond simplistic gender binaries.

The correct answer is - Place Names

Key Points

• Toponymy is the study of place names, their origins, meanings, use, and typology.
• The term is derived from the Greek words “topos” (meaning “place”) and “onoma” (meaning “name”).
• This field helps in understanding the historical, cultural, and linguistic context of a region through its geographical names.
• Examples of toponymic studies include analyzing the names of rivers, cities, mountains, and other geographical features to trace their historical significance.
• It is often used by geographers, historians, linguists, and cartographers to study the relationship between people and their environment.

Additional Information

• Branches of Toponymy
  • Etymological Toponymy: Focuses on the linguistic origins of place names.
  • Descriptive Toponymy: Studies the meanings or descriptions associated with place names, such as “Greenland” describing its environment.
  • Commemorative Toponymy: Examines names given in honor of individuals, events, or historical significance, such as “Washington, D.C.”
• Importance of Toponymy
  • Provides insights into the cultural heritage and history of a region.
  • Helps identify changes in political boundaries and migration patterns over time.
  • Assists in geographical mapping and navigation systems.
• Applications of Toponymy
  • Used in urban planning and infrastructure development to preserve historical place names.
  • Contributes to cultural tourism by highlighting the significance of place names in attracting tourists.
  • Plays a role in resolving territorial disputes by providing historical evidence of place names.

The correct answer is Andhra Pradesh.

Key Points

About Alluri Sitaram Raju:

• In 1922, Indian revolutionary Alluri Sitaram Raju led the Rampa Rebellion against the British raj for their imposition of the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which severely restricted the free movement of the tribal community within their own forests.
• Under the implications of this Act, the community was unable to fully carry out the traditional Podu agricultural system, which involved shifting cultivation.
• The armed struggle came to a violent end in 1924, when Raju was captured by police forces, tied to a tree, and shot by a firing squad. His heroics resulted in him being titled manyam veerudu, or ‘the hero of the jungle’.

Additional InformationKomaram Bheem:

• Born in Telangana’s Adilabad district in 1901, Bheem was a member of the Gond community and grew up in the populated forests of the Chanda and Ballalpur kingdoms.
• Komaram Bheem had escaped from prison to a tea plantation in Assam.
• Here, he heard about the rebellion being led by Alluri and found a new sense of inspiration to protect the Gond tribe to which he belonged.

'Chachnama' is a famous work on the History of Sindh.Key Points

• The Chachnama is a famous work on the history of Sindh.
• It is a Persian-language text that was written in the 13th century CE.
• The author of the Chachnama is unknown, but it is believed to be based on an earlier Arabic text.
• The Chachnama tells the story of the Chach dynasty, which ruled Sindh from the 7th to the 8th centuries CE.
• The dynasty was founded by Chach, a Brahmin who usurped the throne from the Rai dynasty.
• Chach was a successful ruler and he expanded the Chach empire to include much of present-day Pakistan.
• The Chachnama also tells the story of the Arab conquest of Sindh in the 8th century CE.
• The Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim led the conquest and he defeated the Chach army.
• The Chach dynasty was overthrown and Sindh became part of the Umayyad Caliphate.
• The Chachnama is a valuable historical source for the history of Sindh.
• It is the only surviving text that provides a detailed account of the Chach dynasty and the Arab conquest of Sindh.
• The Chachnama has been translated into several languages, including English, Urdu, and Sindhi.
• The Chachnama has been used by historians, scholars, and writers to learn about the history of Sindh.
• It has also been used by religious groups to promote their own agendas.
• The Chachnama is a complex and controversial text, but it is an important source of information about the history of Sindh.
• Here are some of the key events that are recorded in the Chachnama:
  • ​The founding of the Chach dynasty by Chach
  • The expansion of the Chach empire
  • The Arab conquest of Sindh
  • The overthrow of the Chach dynasty
  • The establishment of Muslim rule in Sindh
•  The Chachnama is a valuable historical source, but it is important to remember that it is not an unbiased account of events.
• The text was written centuries after the events it describes, and it is likely that the author was influenced by his own biases.
• Nevertheless, the Chachnama is an important document that provides a glimpse into the history of Sindh.

The correct answer is Lothal. Key Points

• Lothal was a port town of the Harappans.
• In Lothal the first evidence of a dockyard was found. Hence, option 1 is the correct answer.
• It was located on the bank of the Bhogava River.
• It is located in a low deltaic area in the Saurashtra peninsula.
• It is believed that the sea once was much closer to the site. 
• Both the citadel and the lower town are located within the same complex.
• From one of the buildings, in the citadel, around 65 terracotta sealings having impressions of reed, woven fiber, cords, and matting have been recovered.
• This implies that it was a warehouse or place where the goods were packed.
• This shows the active involvement of the site in trade.
• This is confirmed by another structure located to the east of the town: the dockyard.
• It too is enclosed by a burnt brick wall.
• It is provided with two inlets and spill channels to regulate the water.
• An additional platform on the west was constructed to help with the unloading of goods.

The correct answer is the Battle of Buxar.

Key Points

• The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764.
• The Battle of Buxar (1764) was the battle which was fought between English Forces, and a combined army of Mir Qasim.
• The battle was the outcome of the misuse of Farman and Dastak, and also the trade expansionist aspiration of the English, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Oudh Shah Alam II, and the Mughal Emperor.
• The battle of Buxar proved itself to be a turning point in the history of India.
• In 1765, Shuja-ud-daulah and Shah Alam signed a treaty at Allahabad with Clive who had become the Governor of the company.
• Under these treaties, the English company secured the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, which gave the company the right to collect revenue from these territories.

Additional Information

• Battle of Kirkee: This battle was fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in 1817. Mir Qasim was not involved in this battle as he had died more than 50 years earlier.
•  Battle of Plassey: The Battle of Plassey was on June 23, 1757, on the banks of the Hooghly River in Bengal, India. It marked a decisive victory for the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, over the forces of Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and his French allies.
• Battle of Lahore: This battle was fought in 1849 between the British East India Company and the Sikh Empire. Mir Qasim was not involved in this battle as he had died more than 30 years earlier.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the father of Modern India’s Renaissance and a tireless social reformer who inaugurated the age of enlightenment and liberal reformist modernisation in India.
Important Points

Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded Brahmo Sabha in 1828, which was later renamed Brahmo Samaj.

• Its chief aim was the worship of the eternal God. It was against priesthood, rituals and sacrifices.
• It focused on prayers, meditation and reading of the scriptures. It believed in the unity of all religions.
• It was the first intellectual reform movement in modern India. It led to the emergence of rationalism and enlightenment in India which indirectly contributed to the nationalist movement.
• It was the forerunner of all social, religious and political movements of modern India.
• It split into two in 1866, namely Brahmo Samaj of India led by Keshub Chandra Sen and Adi Brahmo Samaj led by Debendranath Tagore.
• Prominent Leaders: Debendranath Tagore, Keshub Chandra Sen, Pt. Sivnath Shastri, and Rabindranath Tagore.

From the above, we can conclude that Keshab Chandra Sen and Debendranath Tagore were the leaders of the two sections respectively.

The Lodi dynasty was an Afghan dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526. It was the fifth and final dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
Key PointsStructure of Moth ki Masjid:

• Moth Ki Masjid is a heritage building located in Delhi and was built in 1505 by Wazir Miya Bhoiya, Prime Minister during the reign of Sikander Lodi of the Lodi dynasty.
• It was a new type of mosque developed by the Lodis in the fourth city of the medieval Delhi of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Raised on a high plinth, the mosque has a square layout.
• It is approached from the eastern side street of village Moti Masjid, through an exquisitely designed gate made of red, blue, black, and white-colored sandstones arranged in a neat design.
• This mosque was considered a beautiful Dome (Gumbad) structure of the period.
• The corners of the rectangular prayer hall are adorned with double-storied towers.
• The towers have arched openings at the rear end of the roof with domed octagonal chhatris (the Cenotophs) on the related walls.
• It is surrounded by various other smaller dargahs and monuments that may be found peppered within the nooks of this urban village.

Hence, the correct answer is Moth ki Masjid.

Nalanda is an ancient university and Buddhist monastic centre. Nalanda’s traditional history dates to the time of the Buddha (6th–5th centuries BCE) and Mahavira, the founder of the Jaina religion.

Important Points​

Kumaragupta Ⅰ was the son and successor of Chandragupta Ⅱ.

• Adopted the titles of ‘Shakraditya’ and ‘Mahendraditya’.
• Performed ‘Ashwamedha sacrifices.
• Most importantly, he laid the foundation of Nalanda University which emerged as an institution of international reputation.
• At the end of his reign, peace did not prevail on the northwest frontier due to the invasion of the Huns of Central Asia. After occupying Bactria, the Huns crossed the Hindukush mountains, occupied Gandhara and entered India. Their first attack, during Kumaragupta Ⅰ’s reign, was made unsuccessful by prince Skandagupta.
• The inscriptions of Kumaragupta Ⅰ’s reign are – Karandanda, Mandsor, Bilsad inscription (oldest record of his reign)  and Damodar Copper Plate inscription.

Thus, it is clear that the University of Nalanda was set up by Kumargupta I.

Key Points

• Samudragupta (C.E. 335 – 375)
  • Referred to as the “Napoleon of India” by historian Vincent. A. Smith.
  • He was a magnificent empire builder and great administrator and the greatest among Guptas.
  • His achievements, successes and 39 victories are mentioned by his court poet “Harisena”.
  • He wrote a long inscription engraved in Allahabad in Sanskrit on the Ashoka Pillar known as “Prayag Prashasti”.
  • Two types of rule were prevalent. Direct rule in Bengal, Bihar, U.P., and parts M.P. and indirect rule. After defeating the kings he returned the kingdom to them on conditions of
    • Tribute
    • Personal appearance in the court of Samudragupta
    • Had to marry their daughters with him.
  • He performed an Asvamedha, adopted the title “Parakramanka”.
  • He wrote poems and earned the title “Kaviraja”.
  • He minted gold coins with his own image and Laxmi’s image, Garuda, Ashvamedha Yagya & playing the veena.
• Chandragupta II is also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
  • The drama ―Devichandraguptam” written by Vishakhadutta is about Chandragupta‘s succession by displacing his brother Ramagupta.
  • He defeated Shaka Rulers.
  • He made Ujjain his second capital.
  • He adopted the titles Vikramaditya.
  • He was the first Gupta king who issued silver coins.
  • Naratnas adorned his court. Famous poets like Kalidas, Amarasimha, Vishakhadatta and Physician Dhanvantri adorned his court.
  • Fa-Hien, the Chinese traveller visited India during his time (399 A.D.-410 A.D.)
  • The inscriptions engraved on the ―Iron Pillar at Mehrauli (near Delhi) give an account of his conquest.
• Kumaragupta II was an emperor of the Gupta Empire. An image of Gautama Buddha at Sarnath notes that he succeeded Purugupta who was most likely his father.

The correct answer is Chittaranjan Das

Uthiramerur is a panchayat town in Kancheepuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated 90 kilometres southwest of Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu.

The inscription lays down the following qualifications for a nominee:

• The temple inscriptions of Uthiramerur are notable for their historical descriptions of rural self-governance.
• They indicate that Uthiramerur had two village assemblies: Sabha and Ur.
• The Sabha was an exclusively Brahmin (priestly class) assembly, while the Ur was made up of people belonging to all the classes.
• Members of a Sabha should fulfil the following criteria:
  • Own a tax-paying land, sized at least one-fourth of a Veli (about an acre and a half).
  • The land-owning requirement was reduced to one-eighth Veli for people who had learned at least one Veda and one Bhashya.
  • Residence in a house built on self-owned land.
  • Age between 35 and 70 years was required.
  • Knowledge of mantras and the Brahmanas (Vedic literature) was a must.

Hence, those who have not submitted their accounts cannot be a member of a Sabha.

By the end of the 17th century, the Mughal Empire started facing multiple crises. Emperor Aurangazeb, who was the last powerful Mughal Emperor, had exhausted the military and the financial resources of his empire by fighting a long war in Deccan.

• The efficiency of the imperial administration broke down and Mughal Emperors were not able to keep a check on the powerful mansabdars. (mansabdar referred to an individual holding a mansab, meaning a position or rank.)
• Three Mughal provinces that stand out prominently are Awadh, Hyderabad, and Bengal.
• The Mansabdars of these provinces took advantage of the late 17th-century crisis.

In the 18th century, Bengal gradually broke away from the Mughal control under Murshid Quli Khan.

• He was appointed as naib of Bengal i.e. Deputy to the Governor of the province.
• He quickly grasped the power and commanded the revenue administration of the state.
• In order to reduce the influence of Mughals in Bengal, he transferred all Mughal jagirdars to Orissa and ordered a major reassessment of the revenues of Bengal.

Additional Information

• Nadir Shah was the ruler of Iran. In 1739, he sacked and plundered Delhi and carried away a huge amount of wealth. 
• Alivardi Khan was the Nawab of Bengal from 1740-1756. He came to the throne after Murshid Quli Khan. 
• Burhan-ul-Mulk was the Subadar of Awadh. He manages the political, financial, and military affairs of the province of Awadh. 

Hence, it becomes clear that in the 18th century, Bengal gradually broke away from the Mughal control under Murshid Quli Khan.