Medieval Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Akbar appointed Khan-i-Khanan as the governor of Multan in 1509 A.D. Akbar gave him the responsibility of subduing Bilochis, a tribe in the Sindh region, and to conquer the whole territory.

Notes:
Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, or Abul Fazl, was the Grand Vizier of Mughal Emperor Akbar and authored the Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari. He was part of Akbar’s Navaratnas and promoted Sulh-i-Kul (universal tolerance). His brother, Faizi, was a noted poet. Abul Fazl was assassinated in 1602, ordered by Prince Salim, later Emperor Jahangir.

Notes:
Shaikh Abu al-Faiz ibn Mubarak also popularly known as Faizi was one of the courtiers who were collectively known as Akbar’s Navratnas (or nine jewels). Under his supervision, the Mahabharata was translated into the Persian language.

Notes:
Raja Todar Mal who overlooked the revenue system introduced the standard weights and measurements, revenue districts, and officers. In 1582 CE, Akbar bestowed on him the title of Diwan-i- Ashraf.

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Raja Birbal or Mahesh Das was one of the Navratnas in the court of Akbar. He was the only Courtier to whom Akbar gave the title of both Raja and Birbal. He died fighting Yusuf Shahis on the northwest frontier.

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In 1668 CE, Aurangzeb banned music at his court, halted birthday festivities, and ended Tuladan and Jharokadarshan. He reintroduced the Jizya tax on non-Muslims, enforced strict Islamic law, destroyed Hindu temples, and shifted from the inclusive policies of previous Mughal emperors.

Notes:
After the death of Rajaram in 1700 CE who ruled the Maratha Empire from 1989 CE, his widow Tarabai assumed the control of the Maratha empire in the name of her infant son Shivaji II.

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Akbar’s finance minister, Todar Mal, introduced the Zabti System (Ain-i-Dahsala), calculating the average land produce over 10 years (1570-1580) and fixing one-third as the state’s share. This standardized revenue collection, reduced corruption, and included detailed land surveys recorded in the Ain-i-Akbari. Farmers could pay in cash or kind.

Notes:
Sher Shah divided his kingdom into 47 Sarkars, each with Parganas. A Shiqdar maintained law and order in Parganas. He introduced the Patwari system for land revenue, established roads like the Grand Trunk Road, and implemented standardized currency and a postal system.

Notes:
In 1327, Muhammad bin Tughluq passed an order to shift the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, also known as Devagiri, in present-day Maharashtra. The transfer of capital was one of his controversial steps since the inhabitants of Delhi were made to leave their homes and were forced to march 700 miles down south with their women, children and all such belongings they could carry. Many were killed on the way in the 40-days journey and few could survive.