Cheras Dynasty Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. The Chera dynasty was one of the three great Tamil dynasties along with __________.
A) Satavahanas and Pallavas
B) Pandyas and Cholas
C) Guptas and Mauryas
D) Rashtrakutas and Chalukyas

2. The Chera kingdom was located in present-day__________.
A) Karnataka
B) Kerala and western Tamil Nadu
C) Andhra Pradesh
D) Odisha

3. The capital of the early Cheras was__________.
A) Uraiyur
B) Vanji (Karur)
C) Madurai
D) Kanchipuram

4. The Chera emblem was__________.
A) Bow and arrow
B) Tiger
C) Fish
D) Elephant

5. The Cheras were known in Roman sources as__________.
A) Kalings
B) Sabaras
C) Kedros (Kerala people)
D) Cholas

6. The port city of the Cheras during Sangam age was__________.
A) Muziris (Muchiri)
B) Tamralipti
C) Puhar
D) Korkai

7. The main export of Chera kingdom in Sangam age was__________.
A) Horses
B) Spices, especially pepper
C) Iron
D) Cotton

8. The Sangam poem Silappadikaram was written by__________.
A) Ilango Adigal, a Chera prince
B) Kapilar
C) Avvaiyar
D) Banabhatta

9. Chera king Senguttuvan is famous for__________.
A) Pearl trade
B) Red flower garland emblem
C) Pattini (Kannagi) cult
D) Conquering Cholas

10. The first Chera ruler mentioned in Sangam literature was__________.
A) Uthiyan Cheralathan
B) Senguttuvan Chera
C) Imayavaramban Neduncheralathan
D) Perum Cheral Irumporai

11. The Chera ruler who is said to have fed both armies in the Mahabharata war (legendary claim in Sangam texts) was__________.
A) Neduncheralathan
B) Senguttuvan
C) Perum Cheral Irumporai
D) Mantharan Cheral

12. The Chera king Senguttuvan Chera extended his rule up to__________.
A) Kaveri delta
B) Himalayas
C) Sri Lanka
D) Konkan coast

13. The Sangam text Pathitrupathu provides details about__________.
A) Chola kings
B) Pandya kings
C) Chera kings
D) Pallavas

14. The Greek writer Pliny referred to trade with__________.
A) Muziris port of Cheras
B) Arikamedu (Pondicherry)
C) Sopara (Maharashtra)
D) Bharuch (Gujarat)

15. The Cheras supplied pepper to__________.
A) Rome
B) China
C) Arabia
D) All of the above

16. The Cheras were contemporaries of__________.
A) Mauryas
B) Guptas
C) Both A and B
D) None

17. Ashoka’s Rock Edicts mention the__________.
A) Cholas
B) Pandyas
C) Cheras
D) All of the above

18. “Keralaputras” in Ashokan inscriptions refers to__________.
A) Cholas
B) Pandyas
C) Cheras
D) Satavahanas

19. Chera polity was based on__________.
A) Feudal monarchy with hereditary rule
B) Republic system
C) Nomadic chieftaincies
D) Priest rule

20. Chera kings patronized __________.
A) Jainism and Buddhism
B) Vedic religion
C) Bhakti cult
D) All of the above (in different periods)

21. The Sangam text Silappadikaram revolves around which Chera king?
A) Neduncheralathan
B) Senguttuvan
C) Uthiyan
D) Perum Cheral

22. The Sangam epic Manimekalai is associated with __________.
A) Buddhism
B) Shaivism
C) Jainism
D) Vaishnavism

23. The Sangam period Chera society was famous for __________.
A) Matrilineal system (later Kerala tradition)
B) Pearl trade
C) Spice cultivation
D) All of the above

24. The Cheras were known as “Keralas” in__________.
A) Sanskrit texts
B) Tamil Sangam literature
C) Roman sources
D) All of the above

25. The decline of the early Cheras (Sangam age) was due to__________.
A) Kalabhra invasion
B) Roman collapse
C) Chola conquest
D) Pallava expansion

26. The Medieval Cheras are also known as__________.
A) Kongu Cheras
B) Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram
C) Chalukya Cheras
D) Perum Cheras

27. The capital of the Medieval Cheras was__________.
A) Madurai
B) Uraiyur
C) Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur)
D) Vanji (Karur)

28. The founder of the Kulasekhara Chera dynasty was__________.
A) Sthanu Ravi Varma
B) Rama Rajasekhara
C) Bhaskara Ravi Varman
D) Rajasekhara Varman

29. The Chera ruler who issued the Jewish Copper Plate Grant (1000 CE) to the Jewish merchant Joseph Rabban was__________.
A) Rama Kulasekhara
B) Sthanu Ravi Varma
C) Bhaskara Ravi Varman
D) Bhaskara Ravi Kulasekhara

30. The “Anjuvannam” and “Manigramam” merchant guilds flourished under__________.
A) Cholas
B) Cheras
C) Pallavas
D) Satavahanas

31. The ruler associated with the Tharisapalli Copper Plate Grant (849 CE) to Christians was__________.
A) Rama Rajasekhara
B) Sthanu Ravi Varma
C) Rajasekhara Varman
D) Jatavarman

32. The Tharisapalli plates were given to__________.
A) Jewish traders
B) Muslim merchants
C) Syrian Christian community
D) Buddhist monks

33. The Kulasekhara rulers followed a system of government known as__________.
A) Chola-type centralized monarchy
B) Temple-centered administration
C) Feudalism based on Brahmadeyas
D) Tribal chieftainship

34. The administrative division of Chera territory was called__________.
A) Nadu
B) Ur
C) Desam
D) All of the above

35. The ruler Kulasekhara Alvar is remembered as__________.
A) Shaiva saint
B) Vaishnava saint and Bhakti poet
C) Buddhist monk
D) Jain scholar

36. The medieval Cheras maintained friendly relations with__________.
A) Arabs
B) Chinese
C) Jewish traders
D) All of the above

37. The most important port under the medieval Cheras was__________.
A) Muziris (Kodungallur)
B) Nagapattinam
C) Korkai
D) Sopara

38. The second important port of the medieval Cheras was__________.
A) Kollam (Quilon)
B) Madurai
C) Uraiyur
D) Bharuch

39. The Cheras were contemporaries and rivals of__________.
A) Cholas and Pandyas
B) Pallavas and Chalukyas
C) Both A and B
D) Guptas

40. The Cheras were defeated by Rajendra Chola I during__________.
A) His naval expedition to Sri Lanka
B) Kalinga war
C) Gangetic expedition
D) Conflict with Western Chalukyas

41. The Chera kings issued inscriptions mainly in__________.
A) Tamil and Sanskrit
B) Prakrit
C) Kannada
D) Telugu

42. The famous Jewish copper plates of 10th century CE highlight__________.
A) Chera patronage of Abrahamic communities
B) Roman trade
C) Buddhism in Kerala
D) Decline of temple economy

43. The medieval Cheras maintained military alliances with__________.
A) Rashtrakutas
B) Pandyas
C) Chalukyas
D) All of the above

44. The Chera kings gave extensive land grants to__________.
A) Buddhist viharas
B) Jain monasteries
C) Brahmanas and temples
D) Sufi saints

45. The ruler who defeated the Cholas at Kandalur Salai was__________.
A) Bhaskara Ravi Varman
B) Rama Kulasekhara
C) Rajasekhara Varman
D) Maravarman

46. The Chera military was famous for its__________.
A) Infantry
B) Navy
C) War elephants
D) Archery

47. The medieval Cheras patronized__________.
A) Sanskrit poets
B) Bhakti saints
C) Temple-building activity
D) All of the above

48. The collapse of the Kulasekhara Cheras in the 12th century was due to__________.
A) Chola invasions
B) Rise of Zamorins of Calicut
C) Civil wars
D) All of the above

49. After the fall of the medieval Cheras, political power in Kerala shifted to__________.
A) Pandyas
B) Zamorins of Calicut and small chieftains
C) Chalukyas
D) Hoysalas

50. The medieval Cheras are remembered for__________.
A) Maritime trade and multi-religious patronage
B) Military conquests of North India
C) Spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka
D) Founding of Vijayanagara

51. The Chera kingdom’s economy was primarily based on__________.
A) Horse trade
B) Agriculture and spice cultivation
C) Salt production
D) Fishing

52. The Chera kingdom became world famous for exporting__________.
A) Cotton
B) Pepper and spices
C) Silk
D) Opium

53. The famous Chera port for Indo-Roman trade was__________.
A) Puhar
B) Muziris (Muchiri)
C) Korkai
D) Arikamedu

54. Roman coins found in Kerala indicate__________.
A) Roman colonization
B) Indo-Roman trade and Roman imports of pepper
C) Roman invasions
D) Missionary work

55. The Cheras exported pepper and spices mainly to__________.
A) Rome, Arabia, and China
B) Central Asia
C) Persia only
D) Greece alone

56. The Chera rulers encouraged trade by granting privileges to__________.
A) Jewish merchants
B) Syrian Christians
C) Muslim Arabs
D) All of the above

57. The guilds Manigramam and Anjuvannam were associated with__________.
A) Agricultural laborers
B) Merchant traders in Kerala
C) Temple priests
D) Army officials

58. The Chera society was unique because of the prevalence of__________.
A) Matrilineal system (Marumakkathayam)
B) Strict Brahmanical dominance alone
C) Tribal republics
D) Nomadic clans

59. The main social groups in Chera society were__________.
A) Brahmins, warriors, traders, peasants
B) Persians and Arabs
C) Greeks and Romans
D) Only tribes

60. The Cheras gave Brahmadeya land grants to__________.
A) Buddhist monks
B) Jain scholars
C) Brahmins
D) Persian merchants

61. Early Chera rulers patronized which religions?
A) Jainism and Buddhism
B) Christianity
C) Islam
D) Sikhism

62. In the medieval period, the Cheras mainly patronized__________.
A) Shaivism and Vaishnavism
B) Jainism
C) Islam
D) Christianity

63. Kulasekhara Alvar, a Chera king, is remembered as__________.
A) Jain monk
B) Shaiva saint
C) Vaishnava saint and poet
D) Buddhist scholar

64. The Bhakti saints Nayanmars and Alvars flourished during__________.
A) Early Cheras
B) Medieval Cheras
C) Kalabhra period
D) Pallava dominance only

65. The Cheras’ temple-centered society meant that__________.
A) Temples acted as centers of economy and administration
B) Temples were only for worship
C) Temples were ignored in politics
D) Temples were under Buddhist monks

66. The Chera kingdom produced one of the great Tamil epics__________.
A) Silappadikaram
B) Raghuvamsha
C) Arthashastra
D) Mrichhakatika

67. The sequel to Silappadikaram was__________.
A) Periyapuranam
B) Manimekalai
C) Ramayana
D) Kuruntokai

68. The Sangam text Pathitrupathu is important because__________.
A) It records genealogy of Chera kings
B) It explains Vedic rituals
C) It describes Chola victories
D) It deals with astronomy

69. The Chera art style is best reflected in__________.
A) Rock-cut cave temples and sculptures in Kerala & Tamil Nadu
B) Indo-Islamic domes
C) Mughal forts
D) Nagara-style temples

70. The Cheras encouraged maritime trade with__________.
A) Roman Empire
B) Arab merchants
C) Chinese Song dynasty
D) All of the above

71. The Chinese traveler who mentioned Kerala trade was__________.
A) Hiuen Tsang
B) I-Tsing
C) Ma Huan
D) Fa-Hien

72. Chinese coins and ceramics found in Kerala are evidence of__________.
A) Arab settlements
B) Strong Indo-China trade under Cheras
C) Buddhist missions
D) Persian conquest

73. The Arabs called Kerala__________.
A) Malabar
B) Hindustan
C) Cheranadu
D) Tamilakam

74. The main contribution of Cheras to Indian culture is__________.
A) Tamil epics and Bhakti literature
B) Overseas spice trade
C) Temple-based society
D) All of the above

75. The Chera society became famous in history for__________.
A) Spice trade and cultural pluralism
B) Wars against Guptas
C) Conquest of Delhi
D) Mongol trade

76. The early Cheras (Sangam age) declined mainly due to__________.
A) Roman invasions
B) Kalabhra occupation
C) Gupta expansion
D) Arab raids

77. The medieval Cheras (Kulasekharas of Mahodayapuram) declined by the__________.
A) 9th century CE
B) 12th century CE
C) 6th century CE
D) 14th century CE

78. The immediate cause of decline of Kulasekharas was__________.
A) Chola invasions
B) Internal civil wars among chieftains
C) Rise of Calicut Zamorins
D) All of the above

79. After the decline of Cheras, political power in Kerala passed to__________.
A) Cholas
B) Pandyas
C) Zamorins of Calicut and local Nair chiefs
D) Rashtrakutas

80. The decline of Roman Empire in 5th century CE affected the Cheras by__________.
A) Reducing overseas spice trade
B) Ending Buddhism
C) Stopping pepper cultivation
D) Leading to Muslim invasion

81. The Chera dynasty is remembered in history primarily for__________.
A) Maritime spice trade
B) Patronage of Sangam and Bhakti literature
C) Cultural pluralism
D) All of the above

82. The Cheras’ emblem was__________.
A) Fish
B) Bow
C) Tiger
D) Elephant

83. The Cheras’ capital during Sangam period was__________.
A) Madurai
B) Karur (Vanji)
C) Kanchipuram
D) Mahodayapuram

84. The capital of Medieval Cheras was__________.
A) Madurai
B) Uraiyur
C) Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur)
D) Puhar

85. The Chera ruler associated with the Silappadikaram epic was__________.
A) Perum Cheral Irumporai
B) Senguttuvan Chera
C) Uthiyan Cheralathan
D) Mantharan Cheral

86. Which Chera ruler introduced the Pattini (Kannagi) cult?
A) Senguttuvan Chera
B) Perum Cheral Irumporai
C) Neduncheralathan
D) Sthanu Ravi Varma

87. The Chera polity was characterized by__________.
A) Hereditary monarchy with feudal chieftains
B) Republics
C) Theocratic rule
D) Nomadic governance

88. The Cheras encouraged a multicultural society by__________.
A) Patronizing Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism
B) Granting privileges to Christians and Jews
C) Trading with Arabs and Chinese
D) All of the above

89. The medieval Chera kings issued copper plate grants to__________.
A) Brahmins
B) Syrian Christians
C) Jews
D) All of the above

90. The Chera dynasty is most associated with which river valley?
A) Ganga
B) Periyar and Bharathapuzha
C) Krishna
D) Godavari

91. The Arabs knew the Chera land (Kerala) as__________.
A) Tamilakam
B) Malabar
C) Cheranadu
D) Keralaputra

92. Which foreign traveler described Kerala as rich in pepper and trade?
A) Marco Polo
B) Ibn Battuta
C) Pliny the Elder
D) All of the above

93. The Chera military strength was noted for__________.
A) Horses
B) Elephants
C) Camel corps
D) Navy only

94. The Chera administration was centered around__________.
A) Temples
B) Forts
C) Cities only
D) Republic councils

95. The Cheras’ decline was hastened by__________.
A) Chola invasions
B) Arab domination of trade
C) Rise of Zamorins of Calicut
D) All of the above

96. The Chera contribution to literature includes __________.
A) Silappadikaram
B) Pathitrupathu
C) Bhakti hymns of Kulasekhara Alvar
D) All of the above

97. The Chera economy is significant in Indian history because__________.
A) It linked India to global maritime trade
B) It produced surplus iron
C) It focused on inland trade only
D) It was closed to foreigners

98. The Chera legacy in Kerala includes__________.
A) Temple-based society
B) Matrilineal traditions
C) Religious pluralism
D) All of the above

99. The most enduring Chera symbol in South Indian history is__________.
A) Twin fish emblem
B) Bow emblem
C) Tiger emblem
D) Conch emblem

100. The Cheras’ place in Indian history can be summed up as__________.
A) Regional dynasty only
B) A maritime power that shaped Kerala’s cultural identity
C) A North Indian power
D) A Buddhist-only dynasty