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Historical Geography of Central India

Matching Ancient Kings with Capitals: Bhoj to Ashoka

The correct pairings are: King Bhoj with Dhar, Queen Durgawati with Gondwana, Samudragupta with Vidisha, and Ashoka with Ujjain. These associations reflect their respective capitals or primary administrative centers.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part 2

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Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer:
List-IList-II
A. Bhoj1. Ujjain
B. Durgawati2. Vidisha
C. Samudragupta3. Dhar
D. Ashoka4. Gondwana

[MPPCS (Pre) 2008]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Identifying the geographic centers of power for different dynasties across different eras is crucial for understanding the political history of Central India.

Authentic Source Evidence


  • Bhoj (Paramara Dynasty): Ruled Malwa from his capital at Dhar. He was a renowned polymath and builder.

  • Durgawati (Gond Dynasty): Ruled the Gondwana region from Garha-Mandla; she is famous for resisting Akbar's expansion.

  • Samudragupta (Gupta Dynasty): Linked to Vidisha, which served as a critical administrative center for the Western Malwa branch of the Guptas.

  • Ashoka (Mauryan Dynasty): Served as the viceroy of Ujjain (Avanti) before ascending the throne in Pataliputra.

    • Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: A matches 3. King Bhoj of the Paramaras established Dhar as a hub of learning and architecture.

  • Logic 2: B matches 4. Rani Durgawati was the valiant ruler of the Gond kingdom of Gondwana.

  • Logic 3: C matches 2. Vidisha (Besnagar) was a key Gupta stronghold in Central India.

  • Logic 4: D matches 1. Ashoka’s early career as a governor in Ujjain is well-documented in Buddhist chronicles.

    • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "Which king among these is known as a polymath and author of 'Samarangana Sutradhara'?"

    King Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty was a scholar-king credited with works on architecture, grammar, and philosophy.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The recurring importance of cities like Ujjain and Vidisha across Mauryan and Gupta periods highlights their strategic role on ancient trade routes (Dakshinapatha)."

    Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

    Gondwana 2
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