Medieval Indian History MCQs

Notes:
In the Maratha Land revenue system, assessment of land revenue was based on measurement. The Kathi of Malik Ambar was adopted as the unit of measurement. The length of this kathi was five cubits and five closed fists and was later called Shivkathi. (Malik Ambar was the regent of the Nizamshahi dynasty of Ahmednagar from 1607 to 1626 and pioneer in guerilla warfare). Other common land measurement units in West India states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa include Bigha, Biswa, and Biswansi.

Notes:
Muhatasib was an officer appointed to maintain law and order in a muncipality which is directly responsible for the public morals.

Notes:
The Mughal Emperor Humayun died after a sudden fall from the stairs of his library in his fort at Delhi in 1556 AD. The tomb of Humayun was situated at Delhi on the bank of river Yamuna near the shrine of the Nizamuddin Auliya Chisti, a sufi saint.

Notes:
The Bahamani Dynasty initially established their capital in Gulbarga (now Kalaburagi) before shifting it to Bidar in 1425 AD. Despite its historic importance, Gulbarga’s capital description is often overlooked with Bidar commonly mistaken as the dynasty’s original capital. Gulbarga, was originally known as Ahsanabad, and Bidar was known as Muhammadabad.

Notes:
The Nizam Shahi dynasty was founded by Malik Ahmad Bahri in 1490 AD with its capital at Ahmadnagar on the bank of the river  Sina. The dynasty ruled over the sultanate of Ahmadnagar till Mughal emperor Shahjahan annexed it in 1633 AD.

Notes:
The famous Golconda fort was built by Sultan Quli Qutub Shah.

Notes:
In the Vijayanagar kingdom, there was a council of ministers, headed by a Prime-minister to assist and advise the king in administration. For it, the council of ministers met in a hall known as Venkat Vilas Mandapa.

Notes:
The structure of tax collection in Vijayanagar empire: The empire was divided into five main rajyas or mandalam (provinces) which were divided into regions (Kottams). These were further divided into counties (Nadus) which were again sub-divided into municipalities (Sthales). To facilitate tax administration at the lowest level, a separate department Niyoga) was assigned with the function of tax collection duly supervised by feudal landlords (Goudas) and Karanikam (accountants).

Notes:
Under Cholas, the general assemblies were of three types:

• the ur, comprising of the tax-paying residents of an ordinary village.
• the sabha, whose membership was open only to the Brahmans of the village or else was found exclusively in villages gifted to brahmans;
• the nagaram, found in centres of trade and commerce, since it was devoted entirely to serving the interests of the mercantile community.

The Chola economy was based on a three- tiered system. At the local level, agricultural settlements formed the foundation. Groups of these communities were, in turn, linked to commercial towns called “nagaram,” which acted as redistribution.

Notes:
During the Mughal period, under the Zabti system, land revenue was assessed and was required to be paid by the peasants were given option to pay either in cash or kind, whichever was convenient to them.