Medieval Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Deva Raya II, who ruled the Vijayanagara Empire from 1422–1446 CE, bore the title of Gajabentakara. The title, which translates to “Hunter of Elephants”, was a reference to his victories over enemies as strong as elephants.
Deva Raya II was also known as Gajabetekara, which means “the elephant hunter”. He was the greatest ruler of the Sangama family of the Vijayanagara empire. He was a scholar who wrote Sobagina Sone in Kannada and the dramas Sudhanidhi and Brahmasutra in Sanskrit. He also began the practice of employing Muslim cavalrymen and archers in the army.

Notes:
The correct chronological order of their reigns is: Iltutmish (1211-1236), Rukn-ud-din Firuz (1236), Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1246-1266), and Muiz-ud-din Kaiqabad (1287-1290). Iltutmish was one of the most influential Sultans, solidifying the Sultanate’s rule. Rukn-ud-din Firuz’s short and ineffective reign was followed by the pious Nasir-ud-din Mahmud. Lastly, Muiz-ud-din Kaiqabad ruled briefly before the transition to the Khalji Dynasty.

Notes:
Mahmud Gawan (1411, Iran – 1481) was a Prime Minister in the Bahamani Sultanate of Deccan.

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.

Notes:
Sri Krishnadevaraya wrote the Amuktamalyada in Telugu, in which he beautifully describes the pangs of separation suffered by Andal (one of the twelve bhakti era alwars) for her lover Lord Vishnu.

Notes:
Surat was called Gate of Makka because the pilgrimage to Makka started from Surat. Surat is the main city in Gujarat. It is familiar for its textiles and, now, it is one of the main centres of “diamond cutting and polishing”. It is an important seaport in the history of the world, during the medieval period. It is known as gate to mecca as many pilgrims set sail from Surat via sea route. It is also known as the gateway of West Asia as Surat is one of the main hubs of goods and clothing traded via sea routes to other Asian countries.

Notes:
Zia-ud-din-Barani was a contemporary of Muhammad Tughlaq and Firoz Tughlaq. He enjoyed the patronage of both the sultans. He composed Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi and Fatwa-i-Jahandari.

Notes:
Yahya Bin Ahmed Bin Abdullah Sarhindi had collected historical information from various other sources for his book Tarikh-i-Mubarakshahi after the death of Saiyid Sultan Mubarak Shah about the middle of the fifteenth century.

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.

Notes:
Like his ideology, coins of Akbar also reflect secularism. The Hindu symbol of Swastika appears on many of his coins along with the “Kalima” (Islamic affirmation of faith). He also issued gold half mohurs with depictions of Rama and Sita on them. Some silver coins also had the words “Rama” and “Gobind” on them.