Karnataka History MCQ – Karnataka was formerly referred to as Karunadu, or “elevated land.” The traces of prehistoric eras provide insight into the history and culture of Karnataka. One of the oldest Stone Age finds was the hand axe discovered at Lingasugur in Raichur district. The epic Ramayana is also deeply interconnected with the history of Karnataka.
Karnataka History MCQ – (MCQPrime)
Karnataka Pre History
1. Which period marks the beginning of prehistoric human activity in Karnataka?
a) Mesolithic
b) Neolithic
c) Paleolithic
d) Iron Age
2. Which river valley is associated with Paleolithic tools in Karnataka?
a) Krishna
b) Kaveri
c) Malaprabha
d) Tungabhadra
3. The Neolithic site of Brahmagiri is located in which district?
a) Bangalore
b) Mysore
c) Chitradurga
d) Hassan
4. Which site in Karnataka is known for its Mesolithic rock art?
a) Hirebenakal
b) Hampi
c) Kupgal
d) Maski
5. Which kind of pottery best describes the Neolithic culture in Karnataka?
a) Black and Red Ware
b) Painted Grey Ware
c) Micaceous Red Ware
d) Polished Black Ware
6. In Karnataka, where was early Iron Age culture found?
a) Brahmagiri
b) Hallur
c) Maski
d) Banavasi
7. Which is the earliest Iron Age site in Karnataka?
a) Banavasi
b) Hallur
c) Brahmagiri
d) Sanganakallu
8. The Ranganatha Swamy temple in Karnataka is designed in which architectural style?
a) Hoysala
b) Dravidian
c) Vijayanagara
d) Chalukya
9. In Karnataka, prehistoric tools are made of which material?
a) Copper
b) Bronze
c) Stone
d) Iron
10. Karnataka is known for its microlithic tools made from which material?
a) Flint
b) Obsidian
c) Quartz
d) Chalcedony
11. A polished stone axe was discovered in Karnataka in which place?
a) Sanganakallu
b) Hirebenakal
c) Maski
d) Banavasi
Karnataka Early History
12. Mauryan Empire was founded by:
a) Ashoka
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Bindusara
d) Kautilya
13. The capital of the Mauryan Empire was:
a) Pataliputra
b) Ujjain
c) Taxila
d) Kalinga
14. Chandragupta Maurya was an __.
a) Emperor
b) Philosopher
c) Warrior
d) Merchant
15. Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son:
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Kunala
d) Brihadratha
16. Ashoka was the greatest ruler of the _ Empire.
a) Gupta
b) Nanda
c) Mauryan
d) Mughal
17. Ashoka was the son of:
a) Bindusara
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Kautilya
d) Brihadratha
18. The great ruler of ancient India was:
a) Alexander
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Ashoka
d) Samudragupta
19. Who told one dharma, one language and one script:
a) Ashoka
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Bindusara
d) Kautilya
20. Arthashastra was written by Kautilya (Chanakya) in:
a) Sanskrit
b) Pali
c) Prakrit
d) Tamil
21. Kautilya (Chanakya) was the contemporary of:
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Chandragupta Maurya
d) Alexander
22. Mudrarakshasa is a drama written by:
a) Kalidasa
b) Vishakhadatta
c) Bhasa
d) Bhavabhuti
23. Indika was written by:
a) Kautilya
b) Megasthenes
c) Pliny
d) Herodotus
24. Which Greek ambassador was sent by Selecus to Chandragupta Maurya’s court?
a) Herodotus
b) Megasthenes
c) Pliny
d) Alexander
25. The Mauryan Empire was destroyed by:
a) Gupta Empire
b) Sunga Dynasty
c) Huns
d) British
26. Which was the largest Indian empire?
a) Gupta Empire
b) Mauryan Empire
c) Mughal Empire
d) Chola Empire
27. Who ruled India after Ashoka?
a) Bindusara
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Kunala
d) Brihadratha
28. Mahapadma Nanda was the founder of:
a) Gupta Empire
b) Nanda Dynasty
c) Mauryan Empire
d) Chola Empire
29. Who extended the boundaries of the Magadhan Empire?
a) Ashoka
b) Bindusara
c) Mahapadma Nanda
d) Chandragupta Maurya
30. Mahapadma Nanda’s __ sons divided the Magadhan Empire.
a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 11
31. The Nandas were unpopular because of their:
a) Leniency
b) Heavy taxes
c) Weak military
d) Poor administration
32. Who was the last king of the Nanda empire?
a) Dhana Nanda
b) Mahapadma Nanda
c) Bindusara
d) Chandragupta Maurya
33. When Alexander the Great invaded India, the ruler of the Magadha Empire was:
a) Bindusara
b) Chandragupta Maurya
c) Dhana Nanda
d) Ashoka
34. Who refused to move ahead to face the huge army of the Magadha Empire?
a) Alexander’s generals
b) Alexander himself
c) Seleucus
d) Porus
Karnataka Mediaeval History
35. The Kadamba dynasty founder was:
a) Mayurasharma
b) Kakusthavarma
c) Vishnugopa
d) Shivamara
36. The capital of the Kadamba dynasty was shifted from Banavasi to Kolar by __.
a) Kakusthavarma
b) Mayurasharma
c) Vishnugopa
d) Krishnavarma II
37. __ was the most well-known Kadamba dynasty emperor.
a) Mayurasharma
b) Kakusthavarma
c) Vishnugopa
d) Krishnavarma II
38. The Kadamba kingdom was divided into administrative units called:
a) Nadu
b) Mandala or Desha
c) Agrahara
d) Kula
39. In the Kadamba kingdom, towns and villages were expected to pay a tax which is known as:
a) Bali
b) Kudu
c) Varaha
d) Nishka
40. The capital of the Kadamba kingdom was:
a) Kolar
b) Banavasi
c) Talakadu
d) Manyakheta
41. Kadamba dynasty society was broadly divided based on:
a) Occupation
b) Caste
c) Religion
d) Wealth
42. In the Kadamba dynasty, who occupied the top position in society?
a) Warriors
b) Brahmins
c) Merchants
d) Farmers
43. The famous Jain temple of Kolar was built by which dynasty?
a) Kadamba dynasty
b) Western Ganga
c) Chola
d) Rashtrakuta
44. The famous Pala style of painting found in the Ajanta caves belongs to which dynasty?
a) Chalukya
b) Pallava
c) Kadamba
d) Gupta
45. Western Ganga ruled from:
a) Banavasi
b) Kolar
c) Talakadu
d) Manyakheta
46. Who established the Western Ganga Dynasty?
a) Durvinita
b) Madhava I
c) Konganivarman Madhava
d) Rachamalla
47. Who expanded the Ganga dynasty territories?
a) Anantavarman Chodaganga
b) Madhava I
c) Konganivarman Madhava
d) Vishnugopa
48. Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta took the place of the:
a) Chalukyas
b) Pallavas
c) Kadambas
d) Western Ganga
49. The Chavundaraya Purana was written by:
a) Durvinita
b) Chavundaraya
c) Pampa
d) Ranna
50. Which metal is used to design coins in the Western Ganga Dynasty?
a) Gold
b) Silver
c) Copper
d) Bronze
51. Western Ganga Dynasty collected revenue from the:
a) Land tax
b) Trade tax
c) Toll tax
d) Tribute from vassals
52. The Western Ganga kingdom was divided into smaller administrative units called:
a) Nadu
b) Mandala
c) Vishaya
d) Sthala
53. The Western Ganga Dynasty King appointed __ to protect the kingdom from threats and maintain the law.
a) Amatyas
b) army chiefs
c) Mahapradhanas
d) Samantas
54. The devadasi system is also known as:
a) Yellamma
b) Basivi
c) Jogini
d) Matangi
55. Adipurana and Uttarapurana were written by Jinasena and Gunabhadra during the _ ruler.
a) Durvinita
b) Konganivarman Madhava
c) Rachamalla
d) Jinasena and Gunabhadra
56. Raghavapundaviya was written by:
a) Chavundaraya
b) Pampa
c) Gunabhadra
d) Kaviraja
57. Which dynasty is considered to be the golden age of Karnataka:
a) Kadamba
b) Western Ganga
c) Chalukya
d) Rashtrakuta
58. The Chalukya dynasty founder was:
a) Pulakesin I
b) Vikramaditya VI
c) Kirtivarman I
d) Mangalesa
59. Western Chalukya empire is known as the:
a) Kalyani Chalukyas
b) Badami Chalukyas
c) Vengi Chalukyas
d) Early Chalukyas
60. Badami Chalukyas ruled from:
a) Kalyani
b) Pattadakal
c) Aihole
d) Badami
61. Pulakesin II is regarded as the most famous emperor of:
a) Kadamba
b) Rashtrakuta
c) Chalukya
d) Western Ganga
62. Chalukyas ruled from Kalyani, which is the present day:
a) Bijapur
b) Bidar
c) Gulbarga
d) Basavakalyan
63. Vikramaditya VI was the most notable ruler of __ dynasty.
a) Kadamba
b) Rashtrakuta
c) Chalukya
d) Western Ganga
64. Vikramaditya I was the successor of:
a) Someshvara I
b) Pulekeshin II
c) Tailapa II
d) Pulakesin II
65. Who was the last ruler of the Badami Chalukya dynasty?
a) Vikramaditya VI
b) Tailapa III
c) Kirtivarman II
d) Kirtivarman II
66. Who founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty?
a) Dantivarman or Dantidurga
b) Krishna I
c) Amoghavarsha I
d) Govinda III
67. The rock-cut monolithic Kailasha temple of Ellora was built by:
a) Dantidurga
b) Krishna I
c) Amoghavarsha I
d) Govinda III
68. The famous Kailasa Temple dedicated to Lord:
a) Vishnu
b) Brahma
c) Shiva
d) Ganesha
69. Elephanta Caves dedicated to Lord Shiva are known as:
a) Gharapuri
b) Bhimasankar
c) Srisailam
d) Trimbakeshwar
70. The first Kannada book on poetics, Kavirajamarga, was written by:
a) Pampa
b) Ranna
c) Gunabhadra
d) Amoghavarsha I
71. Who is known as Ashoka of the South?
a) Krishna I
b) Amoghavarsha I
c) Pulakesin II
d) Vikramaditya VI
72. Visayas were divided into smaller units called:
a) Nadu
b) Mandala
c) Bhuktis
d) Sthala
73. Who wrote Kavirajamarga which was the landmark of Kannada literature?
a) Pampa
b) Ranna
c) Amoghavarsha I
d) Gunabhadra
74. What is other names of Kalyana Chalukya dynasty:
a) Badami Chalukyas
b) Eastern Chalukyas
c) Western Chalukyas
d) Later Chalukyas
75. Someshwara I ruler established his capital at:
a) Badami
b) Kalyani
c) Pattadakal
d) Talakadu
76. Who was the founder of the Sevuna dynasty?
a) Pushyamitra
b) Singhana II
c) Yadava Vishnugupta
d) Krishna
77. Who founded the Hoysala Empire?
a) Vishnuvardhana
b) Narasimha I
c) Vinayaditya
d) Nripa Kama II
78. The Hoysala Empire capital was in:
a) Halebidu
b) Mysore
c) Belur
d) Dwarasamudra
79. The Vijayanagar Empire was also known as:
a) Karnata Empire
b) Hoysala Empire
c) Rashtrakuta Empire
d) Chalukya Empire
80. The capital of the Vijayanagar Empire was:
a) Mysore
b) Halebidu
c) Hampi
d) Badami
81. Carnatic music developed during which era?
a) Hoysala Empire
b) Vijayanagar Empire
c) Chola Empire
d) Rashtrakuta Empire
82. Which empire was the first sovereign Islamic kingdom?
a) Bahmani Sultanate
b) Adilshahi Dynasty
c) Mughal Empire
d) Delhi Sultanate
83. Who founded the Brahmin empire?
a) Adi Shankaracharya
b) Shashanka
c) Brahmadatta
d) Pushyamitra Shunga
84. The Adilshahi dynasty was established by:
a) Yusuf Adil Shah
b) Ibrahim Adil Shah I
c) Ali Adil Shah I
d) Muhammad Adil Shah
Karnataka Modern History
85. The Nayak dynasties established in South India after the downfall of:
a) Chola Empire
b) Vijayanagar Empire
c) Pandya Kingdom
d) Hoysala Empire
86. Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai was the greatest example of __ style.
a) Dravidian
b) Indo-Saracenic
c) Vesara
d) Nagara
87. The style of Thanjavur painting originated under which dynasty?
a) Chola
b) Vijayanagar
c) Nayak
d) Pallava
88. The Nayaks issued coins made of:
a) Gold
b) Silver
c) Copper
d) Bronze
89. Visvanatha Nayaka’s capital was:
a) Thanjavur
b) Madurai
c) Tiruchirapalli
d) Gingee
90. Tipu Sultan was the son of:
a) Hyder Ali
b) Ali Adil Shah
c) Nawab of Arcot
d) Ibrahim Khan
91. The first Anglo-Mysore war was fought between:
a) Tipu Sultan and British East India Company
b) Hyder Ali and Marathas
c) Hyder Ali and British East India Company
d) Tipu Sultan and Marathas
92. Who won the 2nd Anglo-Mysore war?
a) British East India Company
b) Tipu Sultan
c) Marathas
d) Nizam of Hyderabad
93. The treaty of Srirangapatnam was signed between Tipu Sultan and __.
a) British East India Company
b) Marathas
c) Nizam of Hyderabad
d) French East India Company