praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: History_of_India
Context: At the end of the Rigvedic period, the Aryan society began to expand from the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, into the western Ganges plain. It became increasingly agricultural and was socially organised around the hierarchy of the four varnas, or social classes. This social structure was characterized both by syncretising with the native cultures of northern India, but also eventually by the excluding of indigenous peoples by labelling their occupations impure. During this period, many of the previous small tribal units and chiefdoms began to coalesce into monarchical, state-level polities.

question: When did the Aryan culture begin its expansion? 

answer: Rigvedic period

question: Into what area did the Aryan culture expand? 

answer: western Ganges plain

question: What were the Aryan social classes called? 

answer: varnas

question: What did the Aryans label as impure in the indigenous peoples in order to exclude them from certain social classes? 

answer: occupations

question: What groupings formed up into larger monarchical groups? 

answer: small tribal units
Title: History_of_India
Context: The Kuru kingdom was the first state-level society of the Vedic period, corresponding to the beginning of the Iron Age in northwestern India, around 1200 – 800 BCE, as well as with the composition of the Atharvaveda (the first Indian text to mention iron, as śyāma ayas, literally "black metal"). The Kuru state organized the Vedic hymns into collections, and developed the orthodox srauta ritual to uphold the social order. When the Kuru kingdom declined, the center of Vedic culture shifted to their eastern neighbours, the Panchala kingdom. The archaeological Painted Grey Ware culture, which flourished in the Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh regions of northern India from about 1100 to 600 BCE, is believed to correspond to the Kuru and Panchala kingdoms.

question: What was the first state size society in the Vedic period? 

answer: Kuru kingdom

question: What is the dating of the Kuru kingdom? 

answer: 1200 – 800 BCE

question: At the beginning of what age are the dates of the Kuru kingdom? 

answer: Iron Age

question: What is the first Indian text to mention iron? 

answer: Atharvaveda

question: When the Kuru kingdom declined, to what kingdom did Vedic culture go? 

answer: Panchala
Title: History_of_India
Context: In addition to the Vedas, the principal texts of Hinduism, the core themes of the Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are said to have their ultimate origins during this period. The Mahabharata remains, today, the longest single poem in the world. Historians formerly postulated an "epic age" as the milieu of these two epic poems, but now recognize that the texts (which are both familiar with each other) went through multiple stages of development over centuries. For instance, the Mahabharata may have been based on a small-scale conflict (possibly about 1000 BCE) which was eventually "transformed into a gigantic epic war by bards and poets". There is no conclusive proof from archaeology as to whether the specific events of the Mahabharat have any historical basis. The existing texts of these epics are believed to belong to the post-Vedic age, between c. 400 BCE and 400 CE. Some even attempted to date the events using methods of archaeoastronomy which have produced, depending on which passages are chosen and how they are interpreted, estimated dates ranging up to mid 2nd millennium BCE.

question: What were the principle texts of Hinduism? 

answer: Vedas

question: In what language were the Vedas ? 

answer: Sanskrit

question: What were the core epics of the Vedas? 

answer: Ramayana and Mahabharata

question: Which Vedic text is the longest single poem on Earth? 

answer: Mahabharata

question: On what type of clash is the Mahabharata thought to have been based? 

answer: small-scale conflict
Title: History_of_India
Context: During the time between 800 and 200 BCE the Shramana-movement formed, from which originated Jainism and Buddhism. In the same period the first Upanishads were written. After 500 BCE, the so-called "Second urbanization" started, with new urban settlements arising at the Ganges plain, especially the Central Ganges plain. The Central Ganges Plain, where Magadha gained prominence, forming the base of the Mauryan Empire, was a distinct cultural area, with new states arising after 500 BC[web 1] during the so-called "Second urbanization".[note 3] It was influenced by the Vedic culture, but differed markedly from the Kuru-Panchala region. It "was the area of the earliest known cultivation of rice in South Asia and by 1800 BC was the location of an advanced neolithic population associated with the sites of Chirand and Chechar". In this region the Shramanic movements flourished, and Jainism and Buddhism originated.

question: What philosophical movement appeared during 800-200 BCE? 

answer: Shramana-movement

question: What was the origins of the Shramana movement? 

answer: Jainism and Buddhism

question: During what time were the first Upanishads written? 

answer: between 800 and 200 BCE

question: What period started after 500 BCE? 

answer: Second urbanization

question: Where was the central location of the Muayan Empire? 

answer: Central Ganges Plain
Title: History_of_India
Context: In the later Vedic Age, a number of small kingdoms or city states had covered the subcontinent, many mentioned in Vedic, early Buddhist and Jaina literature as far back as 500 BCE. sixteen monarchies and "republics" known as the Mahajanapadas—Kashi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji (or Vriji), Malla, Chedi, Vatsa (or Vamsa), Kuru, Panchala, Matsya (or Machcha), Shurasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja—stretched across the Indo-Gangetic Plain from modern-day Afghanistan to Bengal and Maharashtra. This period saw the second major rise of urbanism in India after the Indus Valley Civilisation.

question: By what age had many small states covered the subcontinent? 

answer: later Vedic Age

question: How many small states covered the Ganges Plain of India? 

answer: sixteen monarchies

question: What were the sixteen kingdoms called? 

answer: Mahajanapadas

question: What second period did the rise of the small kingdoms show? 

answer: urbanism

question: What was the first major urbanization in India? 

answer: Indus Valley Civilisation
Title: History_of_India
Context: Many smaller clans mentioned within early literature seem to have been present across the rest of the subcontinent. Some of these kings were hereditary; other states elected their rulers. Early "republics" such as the Vajji (or Vriji) confederation centered in the city of Vaishali, existed as early as the 6th century BCE and persisted in some areas until the 4th century CE. The educated speech at that time was Sanskrit, while the languages of the general population of northern India are referred to as Prakrits. Many of the sixteen kingdoms had coalesced to four major ones by 500/400 BCE, by the time of Gautama Buddha. These four were Vatsa, Avanti, Kosala, and Magadha. The Life of Gautam Budhha was mainly associated with these four kingdoms.

question: Where was the Vajji confederation located? 

answer: Vaishali

question: How early did the small republic states exist in India? 

answer: 6th century BCE

question: Until what century did the republic states endure in India? 

answer: 4th century CE

question: In what language did the educated Indian speak? 

answer: Sanskrit

question: What was the general population's common language ? 

answer: Prakrits
Title: History_of_India
Context: The 7th and 6th centuries BC witnessed the composition of the earliest Upanishads. Upanishads form the theoretical basis of classical Hinduism and are known as Vedanta (conclusion of the Vedas). The older Upanishads launched attacks of increasing intensity on the ritual. Anyone who worships a divinity other than the Self is called a domestic animal of the gods in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. The Mundaka launches the most scathing attack on the ritual by comparing those who value sacrifice with an unsafe boat that is endlessly overtaken by old age and death.

question: When were the earliest Upanishads composed? 

answer: 7th and 6th centuries BC

question: Of what philosophical system do the Upanishads form the basis? 

answer: Hinduism

question: What are the Upanishads called in Hinduism? 

answer: Vedanta

question: What part of the Hinduism belief system did the Upanishads attack? 

answer: ritual

question: What worship system is central to Hinduism? 

answer: Self
Title: History_of_India
Context: Increasing urbanisation of India in 7th and 6th centuries BCE led to the rise of new ascetic or shramana movements which challenged the orthodoxy of rituals. Mahavira (c. 549–477 BC), proponent of Jainism, and Buddha (c. 563-483), founder of Buddhism were the most prominent icons of this movement. Shramana gave rise to the concept of the cycle of birth and death, the concept of samsara, and the concept of liberation. Buddha found a Middle Way that ameliorated the extreme asceticism found in the Sramana religions.

question: What did the shramana movements challenge? 

answer: orthodoxy of rituals

question: Who was the founder of Jainism? 

answer: Mahavira

question: What prominent icon founded Buddhism?  

answer: Buddha

question: What path did Buddha find to soothe the strictness of Sramana religions? 

answer: Middle Way

question: What belief system taught the idea of samsara? 

answer: Shramana
Title: History_of_India
Context: Magadha (Sanskrit: मगध) formed one of the sixteen Mahā-Janapadas (Sanskrit: "Great Countries") or kingdoms in ancient India. The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganges; its first capital was Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) then Pataliputra (modern Patna). Magadha expanded to include most of Bihar and Bengal with the conquest of Licchavi and Anga respectively, followed by much of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Orissa. The ancient kingdom of Magadha is heavily mentioned in Jain and Buddhist texts. It is also mentioned in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas. A state of Magadha, possibly a tribal kingdom, is recorded in Vedic texts much earlier in time than 600 BC. Magadha Empire had great rulers like Bimbisara and Ajatshatru.

question: Of what was Magadha one of sixteen? 

answer: Mahā-Janapadas

question: How does the Sanskrit translate Maha-Janapadas? 

answer: Great Countries

question: Where was the center of Magadha? 

answer: Bihar

question: Where were there early records of the Magadha kingdom? 

answer: Vedic texts

question: What time do the texts locating Magadha kingdom predate? 

answer: 600 BC.
Title: History_of_India
Context: The earliest reference to the Magadha people occurs in the Atharva-Veda where they are found listed along with the Angas, Gandharis, and Mujavats. Magadha played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism, and two of India's greatest empires, the Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire, originated from Magadha. These empires saw advancements in ancient India's science, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and philosophy and were considered the Indian "Golden Age". The Magadha kingdom included republican communities such as the community of Rajakumara. Villages had their own assemblies under their local chiefs called Gramakas. Their administrations were divided into executive, judicial, and military functions.

question: Where is the earliest mention of Magadha people? 

answer: Atharva-Veda

question: In the development of which religions did Magadha participate? 

answer: Jainism and Buddhism

question: Where was the location origin of the Maurya and Gupta empires? 

answer: Magadha

question: Due to advances in science and culture, what are the Magadha region empires considered to represent? 

answer: Golden Age

question: What were local villages' assemblies called in the Magadha kingdoms? 

answer: Gramakas
Title: History_of_India
Context: In 530 BC Cyrus the Great, King of the Persian Achaemenid Empire crossed the Hindu-Kush mountains to seek tribute from the tribes of Kamboja, Gandhara and the trans-India region (modern Afghanistan and Pakistan). By 520 BC, during the reign of Darius I of Persia, much of the northwestern subcontinent (present-day eastern Afghanistan and Pakistan) came under the rule of the Persian Achaemenid Empire, as part of the far easternmost territories. The area remained under Persian control for two centuries. During this time India supplied mercenaries to the Persian army then fighting in Greece.

question: What Persian king wanted tribute from the tribes of northern India? 

answer: Cyrus the Great

question: By 520 BC what empire ruled the northwestern Indian subcontinent? 

answer: Persian Achaemenid Empire

question: What king ruled Persia in 520 BC? 

answer: Darius I of Persia

question: How long did the Persian empire control the northern India subcontinent? 

answer: two centuries

question: What did India supply to the Persian war efforts against Greece? 

answer: mercenaries
Title: History_of_India
Context: By 326 BC, Alexander the Great had conquered Asia Minor and the Achaemenid Empire and had reached the northwest frontiers of the Indian subcontinent. There he defeated King Porus in the Battle of the Hydaspes (near modern-day Jhelum, Pakistan) and conquered much of the Punjab. Alexander's march east put him in confrontation with the Nanda Empire of Magadha and the Gangaridai of Bengal. His army, exhausted and frightened by the prospect of facing larger Indian armies at the Ganges River, mutinied at the Hyphasis (modern Beas River) and refused to march further East. Alexander, after the meeting with his officer, Coenus, and learning about the might of Nanda Empire, was convinced that it was better to return.

question: When did Alexander the Great reach India? 

answer: 326 BC

question: Who did Alexander defeat in the area now Pakistan? 

answer: King Porus

question: At what battle did Alexander beat King Porus? 

answer: Battle of the Hydaspes

question: Where did Alexander's army finally mutiny? 

answer: Hyphasis

question: The strength of what empire's army pushed Alexander to retreat? 

answer: Nanda Empire
Title: History_of_India
Context: The Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE) was the first empire to unify India into one state, and was the largest on the Indian subcontinent. At its greatest extent, the Mauryan Empire stretched to the north up to the natural boundaries of the Himalayas and to the east into what is now Assam. To the west, it reached beyond modern Pakistan, to the Hindu Kush mountains in what is now Afghanistan. The empire was established by Chandragupta Maurya in Magadha (in modern Bihar) when he overthrew the Nanda Dynasty. Chandragupta's son Bindusara succeeded to the throne around 297 BC. By the time he died in c. 272 BC, a large part of the subcontinent was under Mauryan suzerainty. However, the region of Kalinga (around modern day Odisha) remained outside Mauryan control, perhaps interfering with their trade with the south.

question: What was the first empire to unify India? 

answer: Maurya Empire

question: What was the time span of the Mauryan Empire? 

answer: 322–185 BCE

question: Who formed the Maurya Empire in Magadha? 

answer: Chandragupta Maurya

question: What dynasty did Chandragupta Maurya defeat? 

answer: Nanda Dynasty

question: In what year did Chandraguta's son come to the throne? 

answer: 297 BC
Title: History_of_India
Context: The Arthashastra and the Edicts of Ashoka are the primary written records of the Mauryan times. Archaeologically, this period falls into the era of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). The Mauryan Empire was based on a modern and efficient economy and society. However, the sale of merchandise was closely regulated by the government. Although there was no banking in the Mauryan society, usury was customary. A significant amount of written records on slavery are found, suggesting a prevalence thereof. During this period, a high quality steel called Wootz steel was developed in south India and was later exported to China and Arabia.

question: What are the basic written records of the Mauryans? 

answer: Arthashastra and the Edicts of Ashoka

question: What is the archaeological period of the Mauryan Empire? 

answer: Northern Black Polished Ware

question: What metal was developed in south India during the time of the Mauryan Empire? 

answer: Wootz steel

question: To where was wootz steel exported? 

answer: China and Arabia

question: What organization closely monitored business dealings in the Mauryan Empire?  

answer: government
Title: History_of_India
Context: During the Sangam period Tamil literateure flourished from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. During this period the 3 Tamil Dynasties Chera dynasty, Chola dynasty and the Pandyan Dynasty ruled parts of southern India. The Sangam literature deals with the history, politics, wars and culture of the Tamil people of this period. The scholars of the Sangam period rose from among the common people who sought the patronage of the Tamil Kings but who mainly wrote about the common people and their concerns. Unlike Sanskrit writers who were mostly Brahmins, Sangam writers came from diverse classes and social backgrounds and were mostly non-Brahmins. They belonged to different faiths and professions like farmers, artisans, merchants, monks, priests and even princes and quite few of them were even women.

question: During what period did Tamil literature thrive? 

answer: Sangam period

question: How many Tamil dynasties ruled during the Sangam period? 

answer: 3

question: What was the extent of the Sangam period? 

answer: 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE

question: In what part of India did the Tamil dynasties rule? 

answer: southern India

question: How were Tamil writers different from earlier Sanskrit writers? 

answer: non-Brahmins
Title: History_of_India
Context: The Śātavāhana Empire was a royal Indian dynasty based from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar (Pune) and Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward. Sātavāhanas started out as feudatories to the Mauryan dynasty, but declared independence with its decline. They are known for their patronage of Hinduism and Buddhism which resulted in Buddhist monuments from Ellora (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to Amaravati. The Sātavāhanas were one of the first Indian states to issue coins struck with their rulers embossed. They formed a cultural bridge and played a vital role in trade as well as the transfer of ideas and culture to and from the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the southern tip of India. They had to compete with the Shunga Empire and then the Kanva dynasty of Magadha to establish their rule. Later, they played a crucial role to protect a huge part of India against foreign invaders like the Sakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas. In particular their struggles with the Western Kshatrapas went on for a long time. The notable rulers of the Satavahana Dynasty Gautamiputra Satakarni and Sri Yajna Sātakarni were able to defeat the foreign invaders like the Western Kshatrapas and to stop their expansion. In the 3rd century CE the empire was split into smaller states.

question: What empire covered most of India from 230 BCE? 

answer: Śātavāhana Empire

question: Of what were the Satavahanas patrons? 

answer: Hinduism and Buddhism

question: What did the Satavahanas issue embossed with their king's head? 

answer: coins

question: When was the Satavahana Empire divided into smaller states? 

answer: 3rd century CE

question: From what did the Satavahana Empire protect much of India? 

answer: foreign invaders
Title: History_of_India
Context: The Shunga Empire or Shunga Empire was an ancient Indian dynasty from Magadha that controlled vast areas of the Indian subcontinent from around 187 to 78 BCE. The dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Shunga, after the fall of the Maurya Empire. Its capital was Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar, modern Vidisha in Eastern Malwa. Pushyamitra Shunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Shunga rulers. The empire is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and indigenous powers. They fought battles with the Kalingas, Satavahanas, the Indo-Greeks, and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras. Art, education, philosophy, and other forms of learning flowered during this period including small terracotta images, larger stone sculptures, and architectural monuments such as the Stupa at Bharhut, and the renowned Great Stupa at Sanchi. The Shunga rulers helped to establish the tradition of royal sponsorship of learning and art. The script used by the empire was a variant of Brahmi and was used to write the Sanskrit language. The Shunga Empire played an imperative role in patronizing Indian culture at a time when some of the most important developments in Hindu thought were taking place.

question: What was the time span of the Shunga Empire? 

answer: 187 to 78 BCE

question: Who founded the Shuga empire after the fall of the Maurya empire? 

answer: Pushyamitra Shunga

question: How long did Pushyamitra Shunga rule? 

answer: 36 years

question: What script variant was used to write the Sanskrit language? 

answer: Brahmi

question: What tradition did Shunga rulers help begin? 

answer: sponsorship of learning and art
Title: History_of_India
Context: During the reign of Khārabēḷa, the Chedi dynasty of Kaḷinga ascended to eminence and restored the lost power and glory of Kaḷinga, which had been subdued since the devastating war with Ashoka. Kaḷingan military might was reinstated by Khārabēḷa: under Khārabēḷa's generalship, the Kaḷinga state had a formidable maritime reach with trade routes linking it to the then-Simhala (Sri Lanka), Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Vietnam, Kamboja (Cambodia), Malaysia, Borneo, Bali, Samudra (Sumatra) and Jabadwipa (Java). Khārabēḷa led many successful campaigns against the states of Magadha, Anga, Satavahanas till the southern most regions of Pandyan Empire (modern Tamil Nadu).

question: What Kalingan ruler brought the Chedi dynasty back into power? 

answer: Khārabēḷa

question: What power had previously defeated the Kalingans?  

answer: Ashoka

question: In what arena was Kalinga a formidable power? 

answer: maritime

question: What maritime advantage did the Kalingans have? 

answer: trade routes

question: What militaristic leader restored might to the Kalinga empire? 

answer: Khārabēḷa
Title: History_of_India
Context: The Kushan Empire expanded out of what is now Afghanistan into the northwest of the subcontinent under the leadership of their first emperor, Kujula Kadphises, about the middle of the 1st century CE. They came of an Indo-European language speaking Central Asian tribe called the Yuezhi, a branch of which was known as the Kushans. By the time of his grandson, Kanishka, they had conquered most of northern India, at least as far as Saketa and Pataliputra, in the middle Ganges Valley, and probably as far as the Bay of Bengal.

question: From what area did the Kushan Empire come? 

answer: Afghanistan

question: Who was the first ruler of the Kushan empire? 

answer: Kujula Kadphises

question: In the middle o what century did the Kushan empire begin? 

answer: 1st century CE

question: What was the language base of the Kushans? 

answer: Indo-European

question: What had the Kushans conquered much of by the time of Kanishka 

answer: northern India