Important Questions CBSE Class 10th : Social Science Year 2009 (Solved)
(Heritage of India-Early Phase)

Question .1. Write the names of two major components of heritage of India?
Answer : (i) Land – The natural & physical environment of India.
(ii) The people – Generation of the people interacted with the environment.

Question .2. Give any five ethnic groups who contributed in making the Indian culture?
Answer : Kushanas, Shakas, Persians, Turks and Mongols.

Question .3. Which urban civilization developed first in India?
Answer : The Harappan civilization.

Question .4. Name any five modern Indian states which were part of Harappan civilization?
Answer : Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Western U. P.

Question .5. Which important religions became popular around 6th centuary B. C. ?
Answer : (i) Buddhism
(ii) Jainism.

Question .6. In which script the Ashokan inscriptions were written?
Answer : Brahmi script.

Question .7. Write the name of linguafranca (common language) of Bhudhist period?
Answer : Prakrit

Question .8. Which ruler patronized the Mahayana sect of Buddhism? Which form of art was influenced by Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer : The Kushana Ruler Kaniska. Gandhara art.

Question .9. Give any two types of Buddhist architecture with examples?
Answer : (i) Stupa – Semicircular mound like structure with an inner chamber to keep Buddhist relics.
Example:- Sanchi stupa.
(ii) Chaitya – Assembly Hall of the Buddhist used for prayer and religious discussion.
Example:- Chaitya at Karle in Maharastra.

Question .10. In which part of India largest concentration of stupas are found?
Answer : In Andhra Pradesh,
(i) Amaravati (ii) Nagarjunkonda

Question .11. In which state is Ellora situated? Why is it well known?
Answer : (i) Maharastra state
(ii) The place is known as cave temple and is famous for Kailash temple built by Rastrakuta ruler Indra I.

Question .12. Which place in Orissa are well known for Buddhist and Jain rock-cut caves?
Answer : (i) Khandagiri
(ii) Udaygiri

Question .13. What is Vihara?
Answer : The residential quarters for Buddhist and Jain monks or monasteries were called Viharas.

Question .14. Where is Ajanta Caves in India and why is it famous for?
Answer : It is situated near Aurangabad in Maharastra state. It is famous for beautiful paintings on ceilings and frescos or wall painting.

Question .15. What are the main style of temple architecture in India?
Answer : (i) Nagara – Northern India.
(ii) Dravida – Southern India. Each are of distinct characteristics.

Question .16. Where have earliest forms of temple architecture found?
Answer : (i) Sanchi and Nachna in Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Deogarh and Bhitargaon in Utter Pradesh.

Question .17. For which temple is Chalukyas well known?
Answer : For Jain temple at Dilwara in Rajasthan.

Question .18. Name the temples built by Pallawas?
Answer : (i) Shore temple at Mahabalipuram.
(ii) Vaikuntha Perumal or Kailashnath temple at Kanchipuram.

Question .19. Name the places in South India noted for Buddhist architecture?
Answer : (i) Amaravati in Godavari valley
(ii) Nagarjunkonda in Andhra Pradesh

Question .20. How many caves are there in Ajanta?
Answer : There are 27 caves in Ajanta.

Question .21. For what Bagh Caves are known?
Answer : For frescos or wall paintings.

Question .22. Give any two major groups of languages of ancient India with suitable examples?
Answer : (i) Indo-European. Ex. Sanskrit.
(ii) Dravidian. Ex. Tamil.

Question .23. Who was Panini? What was his achievements?
Answer : Panini was a great scholar and grammarian. He standardize Sankrit language .He also wrote a book ‘Astadhyayi’.

Question .24. In which language was Buddhist literature compiled? What was the dialect of the common people at that time?
Answer : Buddhist literature was compiled in Pali. Dialect of common people was Prakrit.

Question .25. What is the earliest literature of the Aryans in India? How many hymns were there in that work?
Answer : The earliest literature was Rigveda with 1028 hymns.

Question .26. Write the names of four Vedas?
Answer : (i) Rig Veda
(ii) Sama Veda
(iii) Yajur Veda
(iv) Atharva Veda

Question .27. Which is the single longest poem in India and world? How many verses are there in it?
Answer : Mahabharata. It contains 10,000 verses.

Question .28. Name the two great epics of India?
Answer : (i) Ramayana
(ii) Mahabharata.

Question .29. Name the works of Buddhist literature?
Answer : (i) Suttapitaka
(ii) Vinayapitaka Abhidhamma Pitaka
(iv) Milinda-panho
(v) Jataka Stories

Question .30. Who was Kalidasa? What was his famous work?
Answer : Kalidasa was the greatest poet of ancient India. He was the court poet of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. His famous works are: Abhijanashakuntalam, Meghaduta, Raghuvamsha, Kumarasambhava etc.