The Maurya Empire, which ruled India for 137 years, fell in Post Mauryan Period 185 BCE when Pushyamitra Sunga, the commander of Vrihadratha’s army, killed Vrihadratha and founded a new dynasty. Pushyamitra Sunga laid the foundation of the Sunga dynasty in 185 BCE, which ruled for 112 years. A total of 10 kings ruled under this dynasty.
Post Mauryan Period
Pushyamitra Sunga and his son Agnimitra Sunga were the majestic and great kings of this dynasty. Very little information is available in history about other kings of this dynasty. The last king of this dynasty, Devbhuti Sunga was a very luxurious king. Taking advantage of this demerit, Devbhuti’s secretary Vasudev Kanva killed Devbhuti and established the Kanva dynasty. The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45 years and a total of 4 kings ruled under it. Susharma was the last ruler of this dynasty who was murdered by Simuka and established the Satavahana Empire which ruled India for hundreds of years.
Chronological order of Post: Mauryan Dynasty
- Shunga Dynasty (185 BCE-73 BCE)
- Kanva Dynasty ( 73 BCE-28 BCE)
- Saatvaahan Dynasty ( 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE)
Multiple Choice Questions on Post Mauryan Period
Q1. Who founded a new dynasty by killing Vrihadratha, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty?
i) Shatkarni
ii) Shimuk
iii) Vasudev
iv) Pushyamitra Sunga
Q2. In whose reign was the first Smriti Granth “Manusmriti” composed?
i) Gupta Dynasty
ii) Kanva Dynasty
iii) Shatavahan
iv) Sunga period
Q3. Who constructed the Bharhut Stupa that we see in Satna, Madhya Pradesh at present?
i) Ashoka
ii) Pushyamitra Sunga
iii) Vasudev
iv) Vikramaditya
Q4. Who composed Malavikagnimitram?
i) Kalidas
ii) Tulsidas
iii) Patanjali
iv) Panini
Q5. Susharma was the last ruler of which of the following dynasty?
i) Gupta Dynasty
ii) Kanva Dynasty
iii) Saatavahan
iv) Sunga period
Q6. During whose reign the size of the Sanchi Stupa was doubled?
i) Shatkarni
ii) Shimuk
iii) Vasudev
iv) Pushyamitra Sunga
Q7. “Hala” was the ruler of which dynasty who composed Gathasaptshati?
i) Gupta Dynasty
ii) Kanva Dynasty
iii) Saatavahan
iv) Sunga period
Q8. Vidisha, the capital of the Sunga dynasty, is located in which state of present-day India?
i) Andhra Pradesh
ii) Haryana
iii) Madhya Pradesh
iv) Maharashtra
Q9. The “Saka group” has been discussed at many places in Ancient History. Where were they from?
i) Central Asia
ii) Mangolia
iii) Tibet
iv) Greece
Q10. In which period Gandhara and Mathura craft emerged?
i) Vedic period
ii) Kushan period
iii) Gupta period
iv) Maurya period
Q11. The great ruler “Kanishka” was the ruler of which dynasty?
i) Gupta Dynasty
ii) Maurya Dynasty
iii) Saatavahan
iv) Kushan Dynasty
Q12. What was the name of the last ruler of Shunga dynasty?
i) Yagyashree
ii) Vrihadratha
iii) Devbhoomi
iv) Susharma
Q13. Saatavahan Dynasty की राजकीय भाषा क्या था ?
i) Sanskrit
ii) Prakrit
iii) Hindi
iv) Marathi
Q14. Saatavahan Dynasty की राजधानी “प्रतिष्ठान” वर्तमान भारत के किस राज्य में स्थित हैं?
i) Andhra Pradesh
ii) Haryana
iii) Madhya Pradesh
iv) Maharashtra
Q15. What was the official language of Saatavahan Dynasty?
i) Sanskrit
ii) Prakrit
iii) Hindi
iv) Marathi
Q16. Amaravati art was developed during…?
i) Gupta Dynasty
ii) Maurya Dynasty
iii) Saatavahan
iv) Kushan Dynasty
Q17. King “Gautamiputra Shatkarni” of the Satavahana dynasty revived the dynasty by defeating the Shakas. Which of the following inscriptions mentions the victory of Gautamiputra Satakarni?
i) Nashik inscription
ii) Nanaghat inscription
iii) Amaravati inscription
iv) Prayagraj inscription
Q18. By killing whom did Shimuka established the Satavahana dynasty?
i) Shatkarni
ii) Vrihadratha
iii) Vasudev
iv) Susharma
Q19. Information about Kanv Dynasty is obtained from Harshacharita. Harshacharita describes how Amatya Vasudev killed King Devbhuti of Shunga dynasty. Who wrote Harshacharita?
i) Baanbhatt
ii) Tulsidas
iii) Kalidasa
iv) Harshvardhan
Q20. Patanjali was the priest of which of the following King?
i) Vasudev
ii) Shimuk
iii) Pushyamitra
iv) Kanishka
Q21. The Kushan rulers are most known for the development of which field?
i) religion
ii) Architecture
iii) Language
iv) Literature
Q22. “Nagarjuna”, the founder of Shunyavad, was the pride of court of which of the following King?
i) Kanishka
ii) Chandragupta Maurya
iii) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
iv) Vasudev
Q23. Consider the following dynasties:
a. mauryan dynasty
b. shunga dynasty
c. Kanv Dynasty
d. Saatvahan Dynasty
Select the chronological order of the above dynasties…?
i) a,b,c,d
ii) b,a,c,d
iii) a,b,d,c
iv) a,c,d,b
Q24. He was the first Greek ruler who conquered Iran, Afghanistan and many parts of India. After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, He was the first Greek who invaded India and won many parts of it. He crossed the Hindukush mountain and conquered Sindh and Punjab. What was the name of this Greek king?
i) Demetrius
ii) minander
iii) Rudradaman
iv) Nahpaan
Q25. Charak was…?
i) Contemporary of Tulsidas
ii) Contemporary of Nagarjuna
iii) Contemporary of Patanjali
iv) Contemporary of Kalidasa
FAQs on Post Mauryan Period
Q1. The capital of Saatavahan Dynasty “Pratishthan” is located in which state of present India?
Answer: Maharashtra
Q2. In which language was the Gathasaptshati poem written?
Answer: Prakrit
Q3. What is Post Mauryan Period?
Answer: The Maurya period collapsed in 185 BC. The rule of the subsequent dynasties is called the Post Maurya Period.
Q4. What came after Maurya Period?
Answer: Rule of Shunga dynasty (185BC to 73BC)
Q5. Maurya Period Timeline.
Answer: 322BC -185 BC
Q6. Kanva dynasty.
Answer: Vasudev established this dynasty in 73BC.