Medieval Indian History Questions (MCQs) for UPSC, SSC and States PCS Examinations

Notes:
Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram also known by his regnal name Shah Jahan, was the fifth Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1628 to 1658.

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

Notes:
The king was the highest court of appeal in the Vijayanagara Empire, but since he could not afford to hear all the cases, there was an officer called Dandanyaka who heard important cases. Pradhani was overall in charge of administration of justice and may be called the chief justice. Dharmasutras generally formed the basis on which cases were decided. The local governments operated autonomously during the Vijayanagara Empire and village was the basic unit of administration which was headed by Gauda. Third statement is incorrect because Caste system prevailed during the Vijayanagara Empire and while Brahmins followed the traditional profession of teachers and priests, Vaishyas were generally merchants. While the Sudras were mainly involved in agricultural and other works, Kshatriya Varna seems to be absent during the empire.

Notes:
In 1579, Akbar issued gold coins called Ilahi coins to propagate his new religious idea of ‘Din-i-Illahi’. On this coin, it was written ‘God is great, may his glory be glorified’. The value of an ilahi coin was equal to 10 rupees. Sahansah was the largest gold coin. These coins bore the names of the Persian solar months.

Notes:
Battle of Bahraich (1033) was a decisive battle between Raja Suheldev and Saiyyad Salar Masud of Ghazni in 1033 AD. This battle was fought near Bahraich city, Uttar Pradesh. In this battle, the invading Ghaznavid army of 100,000 people was completely annihilated leading the a pause on Muslim conquests for more than a century thereafter. The Ghaznavides were completely routed from all areas except Multan and Lahore. (This was in June 1033 AD at Behraich when Salar Masood Ghazni was killed with his entire Army with not a single person left alive. Raja Bhoj who ruled for around 50 years from 1000 to 1050 AD played a big role in this defeat of Masood. The tomb of Salar Masood Ghazni is still there in Behraich, Uttar Pradesh).

Notes:
Kotwal were the head of city administration. Kotwal often controlled the fort of a major town or an area of smaller towns on behalf of another ruler. It was similar in function to a British India zaildar.

Notes:
The Tarikh-i- Sind which is also known as the Tarikh-i-Masumi, was written by Mir Muhammad Masum. According to Chach Nama, it is an account of the history of Sind from the Arab conquest to the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Notes:
The Qanun-i Humayuni which is also called Humayun Namah was composed in 1534 CE by Khvandamir who was one of the officials under Humayun’s patronage. The memoir is an eyewitness account of Humayun’s reign.

Notes:
The first organized attempt to enter the Indian territory was made during the reign of caliph AI-Walid in the early 8th century when an Arab ship carrying Muslim pilgrims from Ceylon with valuable presents for the caliph was seized at Dewal.

Notes:
Muhammad-bin-Qasim was a very bold, courageous, and ambitious young man of hardly seventeen years when he was entrusted with the work of invading Sind. He killed Dahir in a pitched battle near Alor, the capital of Sind.