Indian History and World History (Part-13)

Medieval History

Total Questions: 19

1. Prophet Muhammad founded the faith of Islam in the ________ century. [S.S.C. Online CGL (T-I) 24.08.2021 (Shift-I)]

(a) eighth
(b) sixth
(c) ninth
(d) seventh

Correct Answer: (d) seventh

Solution:Prophet Muhammad founded the faith of Islam in the seventh century.

The Arabic word Islam, which literally means “surrender,”

illuminates the fundamental religious idea of Islam — that the believer (called a Muslim, from the active particle of Islam) accepts surrender to the will of Allah (in Arabic, Allah = God).

2. Who among the following had invaded India in 712 AD? [S.S.C. Online CGL (T-I) 24.08.2021 (Shift-I)]

(a) Mahmud Ghazni
(b) Muhammad Bin-Qasim
(c) Muhammad Ghori
(d) Qutb-ud-Din Aybak

Correct Answer: (b) Muhammad Bin-Qasim

Solution:In 712AD an Arab general named Muhammad Qasim conquered Sind, which became part of the Caliph’s domain.

Regarded as the first Muslim conqueror of India.
Seen as a hero in Islamic history.
His invasion marked the beginning of Islamic cultural and political influence in South Asia.

3. In 711 AD, Arab general ________ conquered Sind, which became a part of the Caliph’s domain. [S.S.C. Online C.H.S.L. (T-I) 9.08.2021 (Shift-III)]

(a) Qutb-ud-din Aybak
(b) Muhammad-Bin-Tughluq
(c) Muhammad Ghori
(d) Muhammad Bin-Qasim

Correct Answer: (d) Muhammad Bin-Qasim

Solution:In 712AD an Arab general named Muhammad Qasim conquered Sind, which became part of the Caliph’s domain.

Regarded as the first Muslim conqueror of India.
Seen as a hero in Islamic history.
His invasion marked the beginning of Islamic cultural and political influence in South Asia.

4. Chachnama records the history of which conquest? [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 10.09.2016 (Shift-III)]

(a) Kushanas
(b) Hunas
(c) Arabs
(d) Greeks

Correct Answer: (c) Arabs

Solution:Chachnama is one of the only written sources about the Arab conquest of Sindh, and therefore the origins of Islam in India.

Chach Nama, also known as the Fateh Nama Sindh, is a valuable source of Arab history, written in Arabic by Kazi Ismail, who was appointed the first Qazi of Alor by Muhammad Qasim after the conquest of the Sindh.

Treated as an important source for early Islamic history in India.
Used by Delhi Sultanate and Mughal historians to understand Sindh’s history.
Still studied by scholars for insights into early medieval South Asian history.

5. Which Turkish ruler invaded India 14 times between 1000 and 1026 AD? [C.P.O. S.I. 5.06.2016 (Shift-I)]

(a) Mahmud Ghazni
(b) Muahmmed Tughlaq
(c) Changez Khan
(d) Mahmood Ghalib

Correct Answer: (a) Mahmud Ghazni

Solution:Mahmud Ghazni is believed to have invaded India 17 times during which he plundered many richest cities and temple towns in India between 999 and 1027 A.D.

It is to be noted that instead of "14 times" mentioned in the question, it should be 17 times.

Mahmud was not interested in empire-building in India.
His focus was on looting temples, acquiring wealth, and glorifying Islam.
He weakened Indian kingdoms like the Hindu Shahis, but never stayed to rule directly.

6. How many times did Mahmud of Ghazni invade India? [S.S.C. Online CHSL (T-I) 15.10.2020 (Shift-III)]

(a) 7
(b) 5
(c) 17
(d) 15

Correct Answer: (c) 17

Solution:Mahmud Ghazni is believed to have invaded India 17 times during which he plundered many richest cities and temple towns in India between 999 and 1027 A.D.

It is to be noted that instead of "14 times" mentioned in the question, it should be 17 times.

Mahmud was not interested in empire-building in India.
His focus was on looting temples, acquiring wealth, and glorifying Islam.
He weakened Indian kingdoms like the Hindu Shahis, but never stayed to rule directly.

7. When did Mahmud Ghaznavi first invade India? [S.S.C. JE Mechanical Exam 27.10.2020 (Shift-II)]

(a) 1192 A.D.
(b) 1003 A.D.
(c) 1112 A.D.
(d) 1001 A.D.

Correct Answer: (d) 1001 A.D.

Solution:Mahmud Ghaznavi made the first attack on India in 1001A.D. as Mahmud of Ghaznavi, known as Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahmud-i-Jabuli.

He was the son of Subuktagin. Attracted by India’s wealth, Ghaznavi attacked India a total of 17 times.

The last Indian invasion of Mahmud Ghaznavi was against the Jats in 1027 AD.

8. Who attacked and looted of the famous Somnath temple in 1026 AD? [S.S.C. Online Graduate Level (T-I) 4.06.2019 (Shift-I)]

(a) Muhammad Ghori
(b) Genghis Khan
(c) Mahmud Ghazni
(d) Nadir Shah

Correct Answer: (c) Mahmud Ghazni

Solution:In 1025/1026, the Turkic Muslim ruler Mahmud of Ghazni raided and plundered the Somnath temple, and damaged its jyotirlinga. He took away a booty of 20 million dinars.

Mahmud Ghazni is believed to have invaded India 17 times during which he plundered many richest cities and temple towns in India between 999 and 1027 A.D.

9. Who among the following travellers came to India from Uzbekistan in the 11th century? [S.S.C. Online C.H.S.L. (T-I) 10.08.2021 (Shift-III)]

(a) Francois Bernier
(b) Al-Biruni
(c) Ibn Battuta
(d) Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi

Correct Answer: (b) Al-Biruni

Solution:Along with Mahmud Ghazni, Al-Biruni was a traveller who came to India from Uzbekistan in the 11th century.

He wrote extensively about the religious and cultural aspects of the people of India in his book called Tarikh-ul-Hind (History of India).

He also wrote about the divide and conflict between the Hindu and Islamic communities in his book.

Famous Foreign Travelers to India

Traveler	Country	Period	Visited During Reign Of	Purpose / Contribution
Megasthenes	Greece	4th century BCE	Chandragupta Maurya	Ambassador of Seleucus I; wrote Indica
Fa-Hien (Faxian)	China	399–414 CE	Chandragupta II (Gupta Empire)	Buddhist pilgrim; wrote about Gupta society and religion
Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)	China	630–645 CE	Harshavardhana	Buddhist pilgrim; wrote Si-yu-ki detailing Indian politics and religion
Al-Biruni	Persia	11th century	Mahmud of Ghazni	Scholar; wrote Tahqiq-i-Hind—a detailed study of Indian culture and science
Marco Polo	Italy (Venice)	Late 13th century	During Kakatiya Dynasty (South India)	Merchant & explorer; described South Indian prosperity
Ibn Battuta	Morocco	1333–1347 CE	Muhammad bin Tughlaq	Appointed as Qazi in Delhi; wrote Rihla describing Indian court life
Niccolò de' Conti	Italy	15th century	Vijayanagar Empire	Merchant; described cities and trade of South India
Abdur Razzaq	Persia	1443–1444 CE	Deva Raya II (Vijayanagar)	Diplomat from Persia; described Hampi's grandeur
Duarte Barbosa	Portugal	Early 16th century	Vijayanagar Empire	Wrote early observations of India’s coastal trade
Domingo Paes	Portugal	1520–1522 CE	Krishna Deva Raya	Gave vivid descriptions of Vijayanagar’s wealth
Francisco Pelsaert	Netherlands	17th century	Shah Jahan	Wrote about Mughal society, administration, and economy
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier	France	17th century	Aurangzeb	Traveled for trade; described Indian diamond trade
Bernier (François Bernier)	France	1656–1668 CE	Aurangzeb	Physician and writer; described Mughal politics and society

10. Battle of Tarain was fought in the year _______. [S.S.C. Online CHSL (T-I) 19.07.2017 (Shift-III)]

(a) 1526
(b) 1757
(c) 1191
(d) 1857

Correct Answer: (c) 1191

Solution:The first battle of Tarain was fought in 1191 between the Ghurids, a Turkish tribe, led by Muhammad Ghori and the Rajputs led by Prithviraj Chauhan and his allies.

The encounter ended in victory for the Rajput forces.

The Second Battle of Tarain was fought in 1192 between Muhammad Ghuri and Prithviraj Chauhan. The battle ended in decisive victory for the invading Ghurids and their successful entry in north Indian plain.

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