14000+ MCQs Ancient History (Sangam Period)
Total Questions:- 50
Time:- 30 Minutes
MCQ Pattern
Date:- 03/05/2026
1. Which of the following customs were prevalent in the Sangam period social system?
2. Which river is praised in the fifth century Tamil epic, Silappadikaram?
3. Assertion (A) Sangam texts are different from the Vedic texts particulary from Rigvedic texts. Reason (R) They do not constitute religious literature and they are secular in nature.
4. Consider the following statements.
I. Senguttuvan, the son of Imayavaramban was the contemporary of Yajna Sri Satkarni.
II. The Silappadikaram gives a detailed account of the exploits of Senguttuvan. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
5. Who among the following was the author of the Tamil Ramayanam or Ramavataram?
6. Where was the capital of Pandya Dynasty?
7. Pratisthana an important trading centre was on the river:
8. Who were ‘Umanar’ in the Sangam Age?
9. The protracted Civil War between two Chola chieftains Nalankili and Nedunkilli, were mentioned by which poet?
10. Which of the following Chera ruler is known by the name ‘Red Chera’?
11. Which site supposedly yielded a dock?
12. Which of the following were parts of the Chera kingdom?
I. Korkkai II. Musiri III. Puhar IV. Saliyur V. Tondi Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
13. Ginger and cinnamon were produced in large quantities in the Pandya country is mentioned by:
14. Assertion (A) Many Roman gold and silver coins belonging to the first and second countries have been discovered in South India. Reason (R) Some parts of South India were under Roman occupation during this period.
15. The epic, ‘Silappadikaram’ refers to:
16. Puram in Sangam literature is a:
17. The sage who is said to have Aryanised South India was:
18. The most popular God of the Tamil during the Sangam age was:
19. The first translator of Mahabharata into Tamil was:
20. Which of the following source/s gives information about the early Cholas?
21. In which of the following battles, the greatest Pandya ruler Nedunjeliyan defeated combined armies of Cholas and Cheras?
22. The early Tamil anthologies mention terms such as ‘Pahri’, ‘Otam’, ‘Tamil’ and ‘Patagu’. These were used for:
23. Which of the following is called ‘The Bible of Tamil land’?
24. Which of the following Tamil text has been called ‘Laghuveda’?
25. Consider the following statements with reference to early Chola.
I. The culture of early Chola is an amalgam of Dravidian and Aryan. II. The stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana were well known to early Chola people. III. There is evidence that, there were trade relations between Early Chola and Roman empire. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
26. The Roman settlement has been found in:
27. Who is the earliest known ‘Chera’ king?
28. Match item of List I (Sangam Text) with those of List II (Subject/Content) and select your correct answer from the code given below in the lists.
| List I (Sangam Text) | List II (Subject/Content) |
| A. Thirukkural | 1. Love Story (Later life) |
| B. Tolkappiyam | 2. Philosophy/Ethics |
| C. Silappadikaram | 3. Merchant Story (Anklet) |
| D. Manimekalai | 4. Grammar |
29. The author of the Silappadikaram was:
30. Religious anthology ‘Kural’ composed in which language?
31. Match List I (Sangam Official/Class) with List II (Function/Designation) and select the correct answer.
| List I (Official/Class) | List II (Function/Designation) |
| A. Amaichhar | 1. Purohits (Priests) |
| B. Anthanar | 2. Ministers |
| C. Senaptiyar | 3. Spies |
| D. Orar | 4. Senapati (Military Commander) |
32. Match the following (Five-fold Division of Sangam Land - Tinai).
| List I (Physiographic Division/ Tinai) | List II (Inhabitant/Occupation) |
| A. Kurinji (Hills) | 1. Kuravar (Hunters/Gatherers) |
| B. Palai (Arid Zone/Desert) | 2. Maravar (Warriors/Plunderers) |
| C. Mullai (Pastoral/Forest) | 3. Ayar (Cattle rearers/Shepherds) |
| D. Marutam (Wet/Agricultural Land) | 4. Uzhavar (Farmers/Cultivators) |
| E. Neytal (Coastal Region) | 5. Valayar (Fishermen/Salt Makers) |
33. According to Sangam texts, the terms Kon, Ko and Mannan were attributed to which of the following?
34. Where was the capital of Sangam period Chola located?
35. Consider the following statements.
I. In the Sangam age, the exchange was based on a kind of barter system.
II. There were certain fixed points of exchange called ‘avanam’. Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
36. The ‘Pattuppattu’ is a collection of poems in the praise of which of the following kings?
37. Match the following (Ancient Port) with their Location.
| List I (Port) | List II (Location) |
| A. Barygaza | 1. Malabar Coast (South-West Coast) |
| B. Muziris | 2. Present Day Mumbai Coast |
| C. Sopara | 3. The Eastern Coast of India |
| D. Suvarnabhumi | 4. At the North of the Narmada River (Gulf of Khambhat) |
38. “In a space in which an elephant could lie, one can produce enough grain to feed seven”. This was stated in Sangam poems for which of the following Kingdom?
39. Which of the following poets of the Sangam age has referred to a Mauryan expedition against a Tamil chieftain?
40. Who is the author of Manimekalai?
41. Which one of the following is not a Chola revenue term?
42. The term ‘Yavanpriya’ mentioned in ancient Sanskrit text denoted:
43. Which of the following was not a ruling dynasty of the Tamil country during the Sangam Age?
44. From the excavations of which ancient site, information has been gathered regarding brisk trade relations between India and Rome, during the early centuries of Christian era.
45. Which one of the following document gives evidence of a temple of Augustus at Muziris in South India?
46. Consider the following statements.
I. The largest source of revenue during Sangam period was land tax called ‘Karai’.
II. The kingdom was divided into Mandalam, Nadu, Ur, Sirur and Perur. Choose the correct answer using the codes given below.
47. The story of the transformation of a dancing girl into a Buddhist nun is narrated in:
48. Where was the capital of Chera Kingdom?
49. Consider the following statements.
I. Nedunjeliyan, a Pandyan king, patronised Buddhism.
II. He was also the king of the epic Silappadikaram, authored by Ilango Adigal. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.