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Sangam age MCQs

Explore Sangam Age: Advanced MCQs with Answers and Explanations. This set of 20 unique multiple-choice questions covers literature, polity, economy, trade, religion, and society of the Sangam era, providing in-depth insights for UPSC, SSC, and competitive exam preparation.

Table of Contents

MCQ 1.

Which Sangam text provides the earliest reference to the concept of Tamilakam as a unified cultural region?

A) Tolkappiyam
B) Silappadikaram
C) Pattinappalai
D) Purapporul Venbamalai

Answer: A) Tolkappiyam

Explanation:
Tolkappiyam, the earliest extant Tamil grammar, refers to Tamilakam as a cultural-geographical identity uniting Chera, Chola, and Pandya lands. It reflects both linguistic unity and regional consciousness during the Sangam Age.

MCQ 2.

Which economic activity is repeatedly highlighted in Pattinappalai, reflecting the urban prosperity of the Chola capital Kaveripattinam?

A) Pearl fishing
B) Maritime trade
C) Cattle rearing
D) Salt making

Answer: B) Maritime trade

Explanation:
Pattinappalai glorifies Kaveripattinam as a bustling port city, emphasizing its maritime trade with Rome and Southeast Asia. It highlights customs officers, warehouses, and merchant guilds, reflecting early urbanization and international commerce.

MCQ 3.

Which feature distinguishes the Muvendar (Chera, Chola, Pandya) polity from northern Mahajanapadas?

A) Emphasis on tribal assemblies
B) Hereditary monarchy with local chieftains
C) Strong republican traditions
D) Absence of military expansion

Answer: B) Hereditary monarchy with local chieftains

Explanation:
Unlike the republics and kingdoms of North India, Sangam polity revolved around hereditary monarchs supported by subordinate chieftains (Velir). This created a decentralized system blending tribal autonomy with dynastic rule.

MCQ 4.

Which foreign coin hoards discovered in Tamil Nadu confirm Indo-Roman trade during the Sangam Age?

A) Greek silver drachmas
B) Roman gold aurei and denarii
C) Parthian bronze coins
D) Kushan copper coins

Answer: B) Roman gold aurei and denarii

Explanation:
Excavations at sites like Arikamedu yielded Roman aurei and denarii, proving direct Indo-Roman trade. Tamil ports exported spices, pearls, and textiles, while gold inflow enriched local economies.

MCQ 5.

Which Sangam literary work describes the Pandya king as a patron of the first Sangam assembly at Madurai?

A) Agananuru
B) Tolkappiyam
C) Kalithogai
D) Tirumurukarruppadai

Answer: B) Tolkappiyam

Explanation:
Tradition associates the Pandya dynasty with the patronage of Sangam assemblies. Tolkappiyam, though primarily a grammar, is linked to the First Sangam at Madurai, illustrating royal encouragement of literary culture.

MCQ 6.

The Sangam concept of “Tinai” classified:

A) Religious sects
B) Landscape-based human activities
C) Types of warfare
D) Genealogies of rulers

Answer: B) Landscape-based human activities

Explanation:
“Tinai” in Sangam literature refers to ecological divisions—Kurunji (mountains), Mullai (forests), Marutam (plains), Neydal (coasts), and Palai (arid). Each was linked to occupations, deities, and emotional themes in poetry.

MCQ 7.

Which Sangam text portrays Karikala Chola as a powerful ruler credited with military victories and economic reforms?

A) Pattinappalai
B) Paripadal
C) Ahananuru
D) Silappadikaram

Answer: A) Pattinappalai

Explanation:
Pattinappalai vividly praises Karikala Chola, describing his military triumph at Venni and his role in fortifying Kaveripattinam. It underscores his leadership in agriculture, irrigation, and maritime trade.

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MCQ 8.

The practice of Velir chieftains acting as patrons of Sangam poets reflects:

A) Decline of monarchy
B) Tribal democracy
C) Localized elite cultural sponsorship
D) Absence of temple institutions

Answer: C) Localized elite cultural sponsorship

Explanation:
Velir chiefs, subordinate to major dynasties, gained prestige by patronizing poets and scholars. This localized elite sponsorship sustained Sangam literature and created regional cultural identities.

MCQ 9.

Which deity was especially revered in Paripadal, reflecting the prominence of Vaigai river rituals?

A) Indra
B) Murugan
C) Vishnu
D) Varuna

Answer: C) Vishnu

Explanation:
Paripadal hymns praise Vishnu (often identified with Kṛṣṇa) in connection with Madurai and the Vaigai River. It shows how Sangam society integrated devotional themes into literary traditions.

MCQ 10.

The Sangam text Maduraikanchi describes:

A) The ritual coronation of Chera kings
B) The social and economic life of Madurai
C) The maritime route to Southeast Asia
D) The religious debate between Jains and Buddhists

Answer: B) The social and economic life of Madurai

Explanation:
Maduraikanchi, part of Pathinenmelkanakku, provides vivid accounts of Madurai’s urban life, markets, rituals, and festivals. It is a valuable source for studying Sangam urbanism and polity.

MCQ 11.

Which occupation is most often linked with the Neydal (coastal) Tinai?

A) Hunting
B) Pastoralism
C) Pearl fishing and salt making
D) Agriculture

Answer: C) Pearl fishing and salt making

Explanation:
The Neydal tinai reflects coastal livelihood practices such as pearl diving, salt production, and maritime trade. It also portrays emotional themes of longing and separation associated with the sea.

MCQ 12.

Which evidence from archaeology complements Sangam literary references to Yavana (Greek-Roman) merchants?

A) Black and red ware pottery
B) Amphorae jars and Roman coins
C) Stone inscriptions in Prakrit
D) Stupa relics

Answer: B) Amphorae jars and Roman coins

Explanation:
Amphorae (wine jars) and Roman coins found at Arikamedu and Alagankulam corroborate Sangam texts mentioning Yavana traders. These items prove active Indo-Mediterranean commerce.

MCQ 13.

What does the “Vellalas” class signify in Sangam society?

A) Warrior clans
B) Agricultural landlords
C) Sea traders
D) Poets and scholars

Answer: B) Agricultural landlords

Explanation:
Vellalas were dominant agricultural landlords in Sangam society. They controlled land, organized production, and often enjoyed high social prestige, shaping the agrarian economy of Tamilakam.

MCQ 14.

Which Sangam source refers to Puhar (Kaveripattinam) as a cosmopolitan port city?

A) Maduraikanchi
B) Silappadikaram
C) Pattinappalai
D) Akananuru

Answer: C) Pattinappalai

Explanation:
Pattinappalai celebrates Puhar (Kaveripattinam) as a thriving maritime hub, filled with warehouses, merchants, and ships. It underscores Tamilakam’s integration into Indian Ocean trade networks.

MCQ 15.

The Chera ruler Senguttuvan is remembered for:

A) Constructing dams on the Kaveri
B) Leading overseas expeditions to Sri Lanka
C) Patronizing the “Silappadikaram” epic
D) Promoting Buddhist monasteries

Answer: C) Patronizing the “Silappadikaram” epic

Explanation:
Senguttuvan, known as the “Red Chera,” is linked with the epic Silappadikaram, where he is credited with consecrating Kannagi as goddess of chastity. His reign symbolizes Sangam cultural florescence.

MCQ 16.

Which Sangam poem describes wealth redistribution through gift-giving by kings?

A) Purananuru
B) Paripadal
C) Ahananuru
D) Kuruntokai

Answer: A) Purananuru

Explanation:
Purananuru portrays kings as generous donors, redistributing wealth through gifts of gold, land, and cattle. It reflects the patron-client relationship essential for Sangam political and social order.

MCQ 17.

Which Sangam practice highlights the importance of hereditary bardic traditions?

A) Poets accompanying war expeditions
B) Bards documenting genealogies of rulers
C) Oral recitation in temple rituals
D) Singing in agricultural festivals

Answer: B) Bards documenting genealogies of rulers

Explanation:
Bards (panars) preserved dynastic genealogies and heroic exploits through oral poetry. Their role sustained cultural memory and legitimized rulers, blending literature with political propaganda.

MCQ 18.

Which element of Sangam economy is highlighted by the frequent literary references to paddy fields and irrigation tanks?

A) Maritime orientation
B) Pastoral economy dominance
C) Agrarian surplus and water management
D) Decline of agriculture

Answer: C) Agrarian surplus and water management

Explanation:
Sangam texts describe fertile plains (Marutam tinai), emphasizing irrigated paddy cultivation. Surplus production allowed urban growth, trade expansion, and social stratification.

MCQ 19.

Which Sangam source integrates secular themes with devotion to Murugan?

A) Paripadal
B) Akananuru
C) Silappadikaram
D) Pathirruppattu

Answer: A) Paripadal

Explanation:
Paripadal combines secular landscape poetry with devotional hymns, particularly dedicated to Murugan. It reveals the fusion of literary and religious expressions in Sangam culture.

MCQ 20.

The Sangam polity’s reliance on “Vellir” chieftains indicates:

A) Centralized bureaucracy
B) Absence of kingship
C) Feudal-like decentralization
D) Priest-led governance

Answer: C) Feudal-like decentralization

Explanation:
The Vellir chieftains exercised local power under major dynasties, resembling proto-feudal structures. Their semi-autonomous authority reflects the decentralized nature of Sangam polity.

🏺 Sangam Age Advanced MCQs with Answers and Explanations