Medieval Indian History MCQs
Multiple choice questions on Medieval Indian History for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
11. Who among the following rulers built Moti Masjid in Delhi ?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahangir
[C] Shahjahan
[D] Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Aurangzeb]
Notes:
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb built the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in the Red Fort complex in Delhi. It is a white marble mosque built around 1659-1660 AD.
12. Who among the following was the architect of Firoz Shah Tughlaq?
[A] Ghai Malik
[B] Ghazi Shahna
[C] Malik Khan
[D] Kafur Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ghazi Shahna]
Notes:
Malik Ghazi Shahna was the architect of Firoz Shah Tughlaq and held the gold staff of office.
13. During the reign of whom ‘Dahsala system’ introduced?
[A] Aurangzeb
[B] Shahjahan
[C] Jahangir
[D] Akbar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Akbar]
Notes:
The finance minister of Akbar, Raja Todar Mal introduced the Dahasala system, a system of taxation. In this system, the land cultivation and price of the produce was calculated for a period of 10 years and one tenth of this part was the part of state for one year. This new system could give per Bigha Revenue to the different regions.
14. Who among the following was the last ruler of Bahmani Kingdom?
[A] Kallimullah
[B] Tajuddin Firoj Shah
[C] Ahmad Shah Wali
[D] Ibrahim Adil Shah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kallimullah]
Notes:
Kallimullah (1524-1527) was the last ruler of Bahmani dynasty.
15. During whose reign Ibn Battuta visited India?
[A] Allauddin Khilji
[B] Mohamad bin Tughlaq
[C] Akbar
[D] Iltutmish
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mohamad bin Tughlaq]
Notes:
A Moroccan traveller, Ibn Butula (1333-1347 AD) visited India during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. His book Rehla (the Travelogue) throws a lot of light on the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq and the geographical, economic and social conditions in India.
16. What is the exact meaning of the word “Mansabdars” used in Mughal period?
[A] Landlords and Zamindars
[B] Officials of the state
[C] Those who had to give revenue
[D] Revenue collectors
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Officials of the state]
Notes:The literal meaning of word Mansab is “official appointment of rank and emoluments”. Every important officer of Akbar held a Mansab or a rank in the imperial cadre and his rank was measured on how many horsemen he commanded. Thus, it was a military rank also. These Mansabdars were paid in Zat and Sawar. Zat was a fixed personal salary while sawar was paid as per their rank or number of horsemen to be controlled by them.
Akbar classified the office holders into total 33 grades ranging from mansabs of 10 to 10 thousand. However, these all were broadly categorized into three types as follows:
- Those who commanded 10 to 400 horsemen were commonly called mansabdars(officers).
- Those who commanded 500 to 2500 horsemen were amirs (nobles)
- Those in higher ranks belonged to the category of umara-i-kabiror umara-i-azim (grandees).
The highest amir in the third category was honored with the title of amir-ul-umara.
17. Which of the following was used in the buildings of Delhi Sultanate?
[A] Mehrab
[B] Gumbaj
[C] Arched openings
[D] Decoration figures
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arched openings]
Notes:
Fine arts, primarily architecture, made progress during the period of the Delhi Sultanate. The architecture of the period of the Sultanate can be divided into three categories for the sake of convenience. First is the Delhi or the Imperial style of architecture which grew under the patronage of Sultans of Delhi. It includes all those buildings which were constructed by different Sultans. The other is provincial style of architecture which grew under the patronage of provincial ruling dynasties which were mostly Muslims.
Features:
• Corbelled arches are constructed by laying stone blocks on top of each other
• The facade was decorated with Arabic calligraphy and vegetal motifs
• They used limestone, brick and plaster
18. Mahmud Gawan was the Prime Minister in which of the following kingdoms?
[A] Gujarat kingdom
[B] Kingdom of Kashmir
[C] Bahmani kingdom
[D] Kingdom of Mysore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bahmani kingdom]
Notes:
Mahmud Gawan (1411, Iran – 1481) was a Prime Minister in the Bahamani Sultanate of Deccan.
19. Consider the following European missions during the Mughal period:
- Thomas Roe
- Tavernier
- Rudolf Acquaviva
The correct chronological order of their visits is
[A] 1 — 2 — 3
[B] 2 — 3 — 1
[C] 2 — 1 — 3
[D] 3 — 1 — 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [3 — 1 — 2]
Notes:
• After completing his studies Acquaviva was chosen by his superiors for the prestigious and challenging Indian missions.He travelled to Lisbon, starting point for the voyage east. There he was ordained a priest and sailed for India in 1578.
• In January 1615, Sir Thomas Roe presented his credentials to the emperor Jahangir as the Ambassador of the King of England. The objective of Thomas Roe was to finish what was left unfinished by Captain Hawkins.
• Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a 17th-century French gem merchant and traveler. Tavernier, a private individual and merchant traveling at his own expense, covered, by his own account, 60,000 leagues in making six voyages to Persia and India between the years 1630 and 1668.
20. Who among the following was the member of Shivaji’s Astha Pradhana looking after foreign affairs?
[A] Peshwa
[B] Sachiv
[C] Pandit Rao
[D] Sumant
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Sumant]
Notes:
A Peshwa was the equivalent of a modern Prime Minister in the Maratha Empire of the Indian subcontinent. Originally, the Peshwas served as subordinates to the Chhatrapati, but later, they became the de facto leaders of the Marathas, and the Chatrapati was reduced to a nominal ruler.
The member of Shivaji’s Astha Pradhana who looked after foreign affairs was Sumant.
Sachiv was the minister in charge of royal correspondence.
Pandit Rao – religious matter.