Medieval History (Part-I)

Total Questions: 60

21. Sultan of Delhi who is reputed to have built theals in India was: [1998]

Correct Answer: (c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Solution:Firoz Shah Tughlaq built and repaired a large number of canals. His ambitious projects spanned from the Yamuna to Hisar, the Sutlej to Ghaggar, the Ghaggar to Firozabad and Mandvi, and from the Sirmour to Hansi.
  • After Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq’s death in 1325 AD, his son Muhammad bin Tughlaq, or Jauna Khan, came to power.
  • Muhammad bin Tughlaq was one of the most controversial rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. He introduced many ambitious schemes and experiments, but most of them failed.
  • Muhammad bin Tughlaq was a learned Arabic and Persian scholar who was tolerant of religious affairs.

22. Assertion (A): At first the essentially military. [1998]

Assertion (A) : At first the Turkish administration in India was essentially military

Reason (R): The country was parcelled out as 'Iqtas' among leading military leaders.

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Solution:Iqta is that part of land granted by the sultan to its military chiefs for maintenance of troopers. The land was taken back when the Iqtadars were not in a position to maintain the army.

Iqta system was a crucial administrative and land distribution mechanism during the Delhi Sultanate period. Under this system, the empire was divided into iqtas, which were assigned to nobles, officers, and soldiers for revenue collection and governance. These Iqtas were transferable and Muqtis, or Iqtadars, managed tax collection, maintained troops, and ensured administration, with surplus revenue sent to the Sultan’s treasury.

Over time, the Iqta system evolved under various rulers like Iltutmish, Allauddin Khilji, and Muhammad Tughluq, introducing changes to improve central control. However, by the Mughal period, its significance declined due to centralized governance, financial reforms, and the emergence of alternative systems.

23. Assertion (A): During the reign of Shahjahan, Dara Sikoh was sent on expedition to Balkha, Badakhshan and Qandahar [1998]

Reason (R): The expedition sent by Shahjahan to the Middle-East was a marvellous success.

Correct Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Solution:R is incorrect as this expedition failed miserably.
During Shah Jahan’s reign, Dara Shikoh was indeed sent on an expedition to Balkh, Badakhshan, and Kandahar in 1653, but the campaign to recover Kandahar ended in failure, leading to the Mughal retreat. The Mughal presence in Balkh was short-lived, lasting from 1646 to 1647, while subsequent attempts to regain it failed.

24. Consider the following statements: [1998]

Ahadis were those troopers who:

1. offered their services singly

2. did not attach themselves to any chief

3. had the emperor as their immediate colonel

4. attached themselves to Mirzas Of these statements:

Correct Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
Solution:Ahadis were the gentlemen troopers who were recruited individually and were under the command of a separate mansabdar or officer, and had a diwan and a bakshi of their own. They were considered very efficient and loyal troops and were paid high salaries.

Mughal Army-

  • The cavalry was the principal army of the Mughal army and the Mansabdar proved the overwhelming proportion of it.
  • In addition to the Mansabdars, the Mughal emperors used to entertain individual troopers, called Ahadis.
  • The Ahadis have been called gentlemen-troopers and received much higher salaries than other troopers.
  • They were highly trusted corps, being recruited directly by the emperors.
  • In addition to the Ahadis, the emperor’s maintained royal bodyguards (wala-shuhis) and armed palace guards.

25. Consider the following: [1998]

1. Tughlaqabad fort

2. Lodi Garden

3. Qutab Minar

4. Fatehpur Sikri

The correct chronological order in which they were built is:

Correct Answer: (b) 3, 1, 2, 4
Solution:

Tughlaqabad Fort is a ruined fort in Delhi, stretching across 6.5 km, built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of Tughlaq dynasty, of the Delhi Sultanate of India in 1321, which was later abandoned in 1327.

Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570, in honour of Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti. Qutab Minar - 1206 -1236; Lodi Garden-1451-1526.

26. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [1998]

List-I (Author) List-II (Text) 
A. 15561. Battle of Haldi Ghati
B. 16002. Nadir Shah's capture of Delhi
C. 16863. Death of Shivaji
D. 17394. Grant of Charter to East India Company
5. Accession of Akbar

Codes:

ABCD
(a)3421
(b)5432
(c)5214
(d)1532
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:

The Battle of Haldighati was fought between the Mughal Empire and the forces of Mewar on June 21, 1576 at Haldighati in Rajasthan, India.

It was a decisive victory for the Mughal Emperor Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Akbar's general Raja Man Singh against the Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. Akbar was 14 years old when he was crowned at Kalanaur in 1556.

27. In the given map, the shaded part represents Akbar's empire at a certain juncture, A stands for an independent country and 'B' marks the site of city. Which one of the following alternative gives all correct information? [1998]

Correct Answer: (d) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana, (B) Lahore
Solution:The shaded part represents Akbar's territory at the time of his death in 1605. A-Gondwana; B - Lahore

About Akbar

  • Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, reigned from 1556 to 1605 and is often celebrated as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.
  • Ascending to the throne at a young age, he rapidly expanded the Mughal Empire to encompass much of the Indian subcontinent.
  • Renowned for his visionary policies, Akbar implemented administrative reforms promoting religious tolerance and cultural integration, establishing a legacy of pluralism and governance resonating throughout the empire.
  • His commitment to fostering dialogue between different faiths and his patronage of the arts laid the foundation for a vibrant cultural renaissance.

28. The first writer to use Urdu as the medium of poetic expression was: [1999]

Correct Answer: (a) Amir Khusrau
Solution:Amir Khusrau (1253-1325 CE), a Persian poet was associated with the rulers of Delhi Sultanate. He composed poetry in Arabic and Persian besides being the first writer to use Urdu as a medium of poetic expression.

About Amir Khusrau: The ‘Indian Turk’

  • Early Life and Heritage: Born in 1253 to a Central Asian immigrant and an Indian Muslim mother, he embodied a fusion of Turkic and Indian cultures.
  • Birthplace Debate: Patyiali (Etah, Uttar Pradesh) is widely believed to be his birthplace.
  • Court Patronage: Served as a court poet under five Delhi Sultans — Muizuddin Qaiqabad, Jalaluddin Khalji, Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
  • Royal Honors: Jalaluddin Khalji granted him the title ‘Amir,’ and historian Ziauddin Barani documented his esteemed status.
  • Praise Poetry: Excelled in royal praise poetry, a crucial tool for rulers to assert cultural legitimacy in medieval Islamic society.
  • Sufi Influence: A devoted disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, he was deeply influenced by Sufism and maintained a strong spiritual connection with his master.
  • Balancing Court and Khanqah: Managed to earn equal respect in the royal court and the Sufi order.
  • Final Days (1325): Passed away shortly after Nizamuddin Auliya’s death, mourning with his famous lament, “Beauty sleeps on the bed… night has set over this place.”

29. To which Lodi Sultan does the given map relate and what town does the site marked. A represent A on the map represent? [1999]

Correct Answer: (a) Bahlol Lodi - Jaunpur
Solution:Bahlol Lodi defeated Hussain Shah Sharqi of Jaunpur in 1479.

Bahlul Lodi (1451-89 AD)

  • Bahlul Lodi founded the Lodi dynasty in 1451 AD and ruled the Delhi sultanate until 1489 AD.
  • Bahlul Lodi was a great soldier and a capable General. He maintained good relations with the nobles.
  • The significant achievement of Bahlul Lodi’s reign was the eventual annexation of the Jaunpur kingdom.
  • Bahlul Lodi extended his territories over Gwalior, Jaunpur and upper Uttar Pradesh.
  • Bahlul Lodi also annexed the entire Sharqi kingdom and was known to issue the Bahluli coins. After the death of Bahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi ascended to the throne.

30. Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses. [1999]

Reason (R): Horses had to be rested while on march and replacements' were necessary in times of war.

Correct Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Solution:During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalry men, the iransabdar had to maintain twenty horses for horses that had to be provided rest while on march and replacements were necessary in time of war.

About Akbar

  • Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, reigned from 1556 to 1605 and is often celebrated as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.
  • Ascending to the throne at a young age, he rapidly expanded the Mughal Empire to encompass much of the Indian subcontinent.
  • Renowned for his visionary policies, Akbar implemented administrative reforms promoting religious tolerance and cultural integration, establishing a legacy of pluralism and governance resonating throughout the empire.
  • His commitment to fostering dialogue between different faiths and his patronage of the arts laid the foundation for a vibrant cultural renaissance.