1. Who was the first Persian ruler to invade north-western India?
A. Cyrus the Great
B. Darius I
C. Xerxes I
D. Seleucus I
Answer: A. Cyrus the Great
2. Which Persian ruler annexed parts of north-western India into the Achaemenid Empire?
A. Cyrus the Great
B. Darius I
C. Xerxes I
D. Cambyses II
Answer: B. Darius I
3. Which region became the 20th Satrapy (province) of the Persian Empire?
A. Magadha
B. Gandhara and the Indus Valley region
C. Avanti
D. Kalinga
Answer: B. Gandhara and the Indus Valley region
4. Which system of provincial administration was introduced by the Persians?
A. Mansabdari System
B. Satrapy System
C. Iqta System
D. Jagirdari System
Answer: B. Satrapy System
5. The Persian invasions mainly affected which part of India?
A. South India
B. Eastern India
C. North-Western India
D. Central India
Answer: C. North-Western India
6. Alexander belonged to which dynasty?
A. Maurya Dynasty
B. Achaemenid Dynasty
C. Argead Dynasty of Macedonia
D. Seleucid Dynasty
Answer: C. Argead Dynasty of Macedonia
7. Alexander invaded India in:
A. 356 BCE
B. 327 BCE
C. 326 BCE
D. 322 BCE
Answer: B. 327 BCE
8. Alexander crossed into India through the:
A. Bolan Pass
B. Khyber Pass
C. Nathu La Pass
D. Ship route
Answer: B. Khyber Pass
9. Which Indian ruler submitted to Alexander without resistance?
A. Porus
B. Ambhi (Taxiles) of Taxila
C. Dhana Nanda
D. Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: B. Ambhi (Taxiles) of Taxila
10. The famous Battle of Hydaspes was fought between Alexander and:
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Dhana Nanda
C. King Porus (Puru)
D. Ambhi
Answer: C. King Porus (Puru)
11. The Battle of Hydaspes was fought in:
A. 327 BCE
B. 326 BCE
C. 325 BCE
D. 322 BCE
Answer: B. 326 BCE
12. The Battle of Hydaspes was fought on the banks of the:
A. Indus River
B. Jhelum River (Hydaspes)
C. Chenab River
D. Ravi River
Answer: B. Jhelum River (Hydaspes)
13. After defeating Porus, Alexander restored his kingdom because he admired his:
A. Wealth
B. Military strength and courage
C. Religious knowledge
D. Trade relations
Answer: B. Military strength and courage
14. Alexander’s soldiers refused to march beyond the:
A. Indus River
B. Jhelum River
C. Beas (Hyphasis) River
D. Ganga River
Answer: C. Beas (Hyphasis) River
15. Alexander returned from India in:
A. 326 BCE
B. 325 BCE
C. 324 BCE
D. 323 BCE
Answer: B. 325 BCE
16. Alexander died in:
A. Babylon
B. Taxila
C. Pataliputra
D. Persepolis
Answer: A. Babylon
17. Alexander died in:
A. 326 BCE
B. 325 BCE
C. 323 BCE
D. 321 BCE
Answer: C. 323 BCE
18. The contemporary ruler of Magadha during Alexander’s invasion was:
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ashoka
C. Dhana Nanda
D. Bindusara
Answer: C. Dhana Nanda
19. Which Indian ruler later defeated Seleucus I Nicator?
A. Porus
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Ashoka
D. Samudragupta
Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
20. Seleucus I Nicator was the successor of:
A. Cyrus
B. Alexander the Great
C. Darius I
D. Xerxes
Answer: B. Alexander the Great
21. Which Greek ambassador visited the court of Chandragupta Maurya?
A. Fa-Hien
B. Megasthenes
C. Xuanzang
D. Pliny
Answer: B. Megasthenes
22. Megasthenes wrote the book:
A. Arthashastra
B. Indica
C. Geographica
D. Periplus
Answer: B. Indica
23. Alexander’s invasion opened trade routes between India and:
A. China only
B. Greece and West Asia
C. Japan
D. Rome only
Answer: B. Greece and West Asia
24. Which city became a major centre of Indo-Greek culture after Alexander’s invasion?
A. Madurai
B. Taxila
C. Pataliputra
D. Kanchipuram
Answer: B. Taxila
25. Which of the following was an important effect of the Greek invasion?
A. Spread of Buddhism to China
B. Cultural contact between India and the West
C. Decline of trade
D. End of the Mauryan Empire
Answer: B. Cultural contact between India and the West
26. Which Persian ruler organized a naval expedition in the Indus region?
A. Cyrus
B. Darius I
C. Xerxes
D. Cambyses
Answer: B. Darius I
27. Match the following correctly:
- Cyrus – First Persian invasion
- Darius I – 20th Satrapy
- Alexander – Battle of Hydaspes
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
28. Which of the following rivers was known as Hydaspes by the Greeks?
A. Ravi
B. Beas
C. Jhelum
D. Sutlej
Answer: C. Jhelum
29. Which of the following statements is correct?
A. Alexander defeated Chandragupta Maurya.
B. Alexander defeated Porus.
C. Alexander defeated Ashoka.
D. Alexander defeated Samudragupta.
Answer: B. Alexander defeated Porus.
30. The first direct contact between India and Europe occurred due to:
A. Mauryan Empire
B. Persian invasions
C. Alexander’s invasion
D. Gupta Empire
Answer: C. Alexander’s invasion
31. Which pair is correctly matched?
| Person | Associated With |
| Darius I | Persian Satrapy |
| Alexander | Battle of Hydaspes |
| Porus | Jhelum River |
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
32. Consider the following statements:
- Darius I annexed north-western India.
- Alexander invaded India in 327 BCE.
- Porus fought Alexander at the Battle of Hydaspes.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
33. Arrange the following events chronologically:
- Persian invasion by Cyrus
- Persian invasion by Darius I
- Alexander’s invasion
- Seleucus–Chandragupta Treaty
A. 1 → 2 → 3 → 4
B. 2 → 1 → 3 → 4
C. 1 → 3 → 2 → 4
D. 3 → 2 → 1 → 4
Answer: A. 1 → 2 → 3 → 4
34. Which Indian king famously replied to Alexander’s question, “How should I treat you?” with “Treat me as a king”?
A. Ambhi
B. Porus
C. Dhana Nanda
D. Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: B. Porus
35. Which of the following is NOT an effect of Alexander’s invasion?
A. Increased trade with the West
B. Cultural exchanges
C. Immediate conquest of the Gangetic Plain
D. Political changes in north-western India
Answer: C. Immediate conquest of the Gangetic Plain
36. The Greek name “Hydaspes” refers to which Indian river?
A. Indus
B. Chenab
C. Jhelum
D. Beas
Answer: C. Jhelum
37. Which ruler’s empire extended from Greece to north-western India?
A. Cyrus
B. Darius I
C. Alexander the Great
D. Seleucus I
Answer: C. Alexander the Great
38. Which of the following is correctly matched?
A. Indica — Megasthenes
B. Arthashastra — Kautilya
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Answer: C. Both A and B
39. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Ambhi was the ruler of Taxila.
- Porus ruled the region between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers.
- Alexander’s army refused to cross the Beas River.
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
40. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The Persian invasions introduced the Satrapy system.
- Alexander invaded India in 327 BCE.
- Seleucus I Nicator was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya.
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3