Medieval Indian History MCQs

Notes:
On February 14, 1556, Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar was coronated at Kalanour (now in Gurdaspur, Punjab). Akbar, known for his great administrative reforms, is credited with establishing the Mughal empire’s cultural and economic prosperity. His court was adorned by the famous “Navaratnas” or “Nine Jewels,” which included outstanding personalities like Tansen, a legendary musician, and Birbal, renowned for his wit. His rule marked the flowering of art and cultural syntheses between Hindu and Muslim traditions.

Notes:
For the welfare of an empire, the Mughal emperor Jahangir issued the 12 ordinances called as Dastur-ul-Amal (or 12 rules of code of conduct). The excerpts of the ordinances are
a) abolished the Tagma’ and “meerwahi” toll taxes.
b) banned the manufacture and sale of the intoxicants.
c) Banned animal slaughter for two days i.e. i.e. Thursday (on his Coronation day) and Sunday (the day of his father Mughal empeor Akbar died).
d) Disallowed the mutilation of the limbs of the criminals, etc.

Notes:
In 1689 AD, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured, tortured, and executed Chhatrapati Shivaji’s son, Sambhaji. Chhatrapati Shivaji was the founder of the Maratha Empire in Deccan.

Notes:
Qutub-ud-din Aibak was a Turk of an Aibak tribe, which in Turkish language means Lord of the Moon. He was known in Indian history as the founder of Mamluk dynasty (or Slave dynasty), which ruled India from 1206-90 AD.

Notes:
Milk, Inam, waqf were abolished by Iltutmish.

Notes:
Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq sent the famous Arab traveller, Ibn Battuta, as an ambassador to the Chinese court of Mongol ruler.

Notes:
In the Sultanate period of Delhi, Sar-i-Jandar was the Chief of Royal bodyguards or Jandars of the Sultan.

Notes:
In the battle of Kannauj, Humayun again defeated by Sher Shah Suri in 1540 AD. This time Rana Virsala, a Hindu Rajput ruler of Amarkot, gave shelter to Humayun where Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar was born. Previously, he was defeated by Sher Shah Suri at Chausa in 1539 AD and he had to take refuge in the court of Shah Tasham of Persia.

Notes:
Miftah-ul-Futuh also known as “Key to the Victories” was composed by Amir Khusro in honour of Jalaluddin Firuz Khilji.

Notes:
• The Dayabhaga is a Hindu law treatise written by Jimutavahana which primarily focuses on inheritance procedure.
• Vijnaneshwara was a prominent jurist of twelfth century India. His treatise, the Mitakshara, dealt with inheritance, and is one of the most influential legal treatises in Hindu law. Mitakshara is the treatise on Rishi Yajnavalkya’s Smriti called Yajnavalkya Smriti .
• Nagananda is a Sanskrit play attributed to king Harsha. Nagananda is among the most acclaimed Sanskrit dramas.
• Krittivasi Ramayan, or Krittibasi Ramayan or Sri Ram Panchali, composed by 15th century Bengali poet Krittivasa Ojha, is rendition of the Ramayana into Bengali.