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 Mughal Emperors was illiterate?
[A] Jahangir
[B] Aurangzeb
[C] Akbar
[D] Shah jahan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Akbar]
Notes:
Akbar remained illiterate and uneducated all his life. He had to occupy the throne at the early age of 13 years after the untimely death of his father Humayun.
12. From which original text did J. Briggs translate “Rise of the Mohammedan Power in India”?
[A] Baburnama
[B] Tarikh-i-Subuktikin
[C] Akbarnama
[D] Tarikh-i-Firishta
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tarikh-i-Firishta]
Notes:
Tarikh-i-Firishta (16th century) by Firishta, or Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah, was translated by J.Briggs, titled Rise of the Mohammedan Power in India. It is a general history of India, largely based upon earlier Persian historical works. It is generally regarded as one of the best of the later compilations based on earlier works, and it was relied upon heavily by early European historians of India such as Elphinstone.
13. Who is the medieval author whose work throws light on the Bahmani Sultans of Gulbarga and Bidar and the Nizamshahi dynasty of Ahmednagar?
[A] Burhan-i-ma’asir
[B] Sayyid Ali Tabataba
[C] Diwan Ali Muhammad Khan
[D] Rafiuddin Shirazi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Burhan-i-ma’asir]
Notes:
Burhan-i-Ma’asir, named after Burhan Nizam Shah II of Nizam Shahi dynasty of the Muslim kingdom of Ahmadnagar, is written by Sayyid Ali Tabataba who came to India in 1580. Burhan-i-Ma’asir describes the events pertaining to the Bahmani kingdom and its subsequent break-up into five Muslim dynasties in South India.
14. Tazkirat-ul-Muluk is about which dynasty?
[A] The Nizams
[B] Sultans of Golconda
[C] The Khaljis
[D] Adilshahi Sultans of Bijapur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Adilshahi Sultans of Bijapur]
Notes:
Adilshahi Sultans of Bijapur have their rule documented in Tazkirat-ul-Muluk, written by Rafiuddin Shirazi. It is also considered a history of the contemporary dynasties in the Deccan, Hindustan and Persia.
15. Which of the following scripts was used in initial Maratha coins?
[A] Persian
[B] nastaliq
[C] Pali
[D] Nagari
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Nagari]
Notes:
Shivaji and his successors issued coins in Gold and Copper. The script used on the coins was Nagari. The coins bore the name Chhatrapati Shivaji on one side and Sri Raja Siva on the other. It is believed that the first lot of minting with 7 lakh coins were showered on Shivaji, which later were melted under Aurangzeb’s Government as a response of animosity. Some of the mints where the coins were issued at the time were Bagalkot, Mulher, Chandor, Kolaba, Sangli, Miraj, Panhala, Balwantnagar (Jhansi), Jalaun, Kalpi, Kunch, Balanagar Gadha (Gadha Mandla), Ravishnagar (Sagar).
16. Most of the soldiers called “Pilwan” in Mahmud’s army were Hindus. The work of Pilwan was to __?
[A] Assist the infantry in war-fields
[B] Maintain supplies during War
[C] Elephant Drivers
[D] Cavalry Soldiers
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Elephant Drivers]
Notes:
Pilwans were the elephants troops and most of them were Hindus. Their commanders were called Muqaddam-i-Pilbanan. The reason for Hindu elephant troops was that most of the elephants in his army were actually looted from Indian Kings as ransom or booty.
17. Who was the Ghaznavid ruler in Punjab when it was attacked by Mohammad Ghori?
[A] Khusrau Shah
[B] Khusrau Malik
[C] Bahram Shah
[D] Shirzad
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Khusrau Malik]
Notes:
The last Ghaznavid Sultan was Khusrau Malik, who at the time of Ghori’s attack, was ruling around Punjab and Lahore region. Ghori captured Lahore in 1186 and Khusrau Malik and his son were taken to Ghur where they were imprisoned, and possibly executed.
18. Which of the following was the first ruler in history to assume the title of “sultan”?
[A] Alaptagin
[B] Subuktagin
[C] Mahmud of Ghazni
[D] Muhammad bin Qasim
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mahmud of Ghazni]
Notes:
Mahmud of Ghazni who was the son of Sabuktigin was born on Nov. 2, 971. He was the eldest son of Sabuktigin and ascended the throne after his death. He was the first ruler in history to assume the title of “sultan”.
19. Which of the following was the capital of the first Muslim empire of Afghanistan?
[A] Khurasan
[B] Ghazni
[C] kabul
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ghazni]
Notes:
Mahmud of Ghazni led as many as seventeen raids into North India between 1001-27 CE. His kingdom stretched from Khurasan (northeastern Iran) and Afghanistan to northern India, became the first Muslim empire of Afghanistan, with Ghazni as its capital.
20. Babur defeated and killed which of the following in the first Battle of Panipat?
[A] Sikander Lodhi
[B] Bahlol Lodhi
[C] Ibrahim Lodhi
[D] Daulat Khan Lodhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ibrahim Lodhi]
Notes:
Daulat Khan Lodhi invited Babur to invade India. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi at the first Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526, ending the Delhi Sultanate and starting the Mughal Empire. Babur’s victory was aided by field artillery and tactics. Ibrahim Lodhi’s death marked the end of Afghan rule in India.
