Medieval History (Part-II)

Total Questions: 57

51. In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to: [2022-1]

Correct Answer: (b) Coins
Solution:Fanam was name of the coins In circulation in South India during the Vijaynagar Empire.
According to Abdur Razzaq, “In this country, they have three kinds of money, made of gold mixed with alloy; one called varahab, weight about one mithkal, equivalent to two dinars; lopek, the second which is called, which is called pertab, is half of the thirst; the third called fanam, is equivalent in value to the tenth part of the last mentioned coin. Of these different coins, the fanam is the most useful. They cast in pure silver a coin which is the sixth of the fanam, which they call tar. This latter is also a very useful coin in the currency. A copper coin with a third of tar is called dijitel. According to the practice adopted in this empire, all the provinces at a fixed period, bring their gold to the mint. If any man receives from the divan an allowance in gold, he was to be paid by the darabkhana.”

52. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements: [2022-1]

1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.

2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city.

3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of north-west of his kingdom to Mongols.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:Statement 1 is wrong: First Mongol invasion took place during the reign of Alauddin Khilji. Statement 2 is correct: The Mongols besieged the Delhi city during the reign of Alauddin Khilji. Statement 3 is wrong: Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq did not loose North-West part of kingdom to Mongols.

53. With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as "Kulah-Daran"? [2022-1]

Correct Answer: (d) Sayyids
Solution:Option (d) is correct: The Sayyids were recognized by their distinctive head dress of a pointed cap or kulah and were -known as kulah - daran or cap - wearers
About Sayyid Dynasty
• The Sayyid Dynasty came to power after the Tughlaq Dynasty’s disintegration, largely influenced by Timur’s conquests.
• Following his victory over the Delhi Sultanate, Timur appointed Khizr Khan as the governor of Multan.
• Historical texts like the Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi suggest that Khizr Khan was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, which helped legitimise his rule in the eyes of many.
• Despite its historical significance, the Sayyid Dynasty is characterised by its remarkably brief tenure, being the shortest of all the dynasties in the Delhi Sultanate.
• Source– Next IAS

54. Consider the following dynasties: [2023-1]

1. Hoysala

2. Gahadavala

3. Kakatiya

4. Yadava

How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

Correct Answer: (d) None
Solution:These dynasties occurred between 9th to 14th century so all options are wrong.

Hoysala
• The Hoysalas came into the limelight from the beginning of the 11th century. In the Kaliyur (near Talakad) inscription of about 990 A.D., a Hoysala chief is mentioned in the Ganga confederacy fighting against Aprameya, a Chola general, and this chief is identified as Nripakama, the earliest known member of the Hoysala dynasty. His son and successor Vinayaditya is first referred to in a record of 1047 A.D. So, option 1 is not correct.

Gahadwala
• With the break-up of the Pratihara empire, a number of Rajput states came into existence in north India.
• Chandradeva (1089–1103 CE), also known as Chandratitya, was an Indian king from the Gahadavala dynasty. He ruled the Antarvedi country in present-day Uttar Pradesh, including Kanyakubja and Varanasi.
• At its height, the Gahadval kingdom extended from Mongyr in Bihar to Delhi. The greatest ruler in the dynasty was Govind Chandra who ruled in the first half of the twelfth century. He made Kanauj his capital, with Banaras remaining a second capital. Persian sources of the time call Govind Chandra the greatest ruler of Hindustan.
• The Gahadvars are reputed to be the biggest defenders against the continued Ghaznavid raids into the doab. Govind Chandra was succeeded by Jai Chandra who had to contend with the rising power of the Chauhans. So, option 2 is not correct.

Kakatiya
• The sub-feudatories of the Rashtrakutas emerged themselves as independent kings and founded the Kakatiya dynasty around 950 AD and this kingdom became a strong and united whole of Telugu-speaking lands and lasted for more than three centuries and a half. The kingdom saw powerful kings like Ganapatideva, Rudradeva and Prataparudra as well as the first-ever woman ruler in the subcontinent, Rudramadevi. The Kakatiyas ruled from Hanumakonda in the beginning and shifted their capital to Warangal later. So, option 3 is not correct.

Yadava
• In the last quarter of the 12th century AD the Yadavas of Devagiri came into prominence. They had previously been ruling over Seunadesha (Khandesh) as feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The founder of the family was Dridhaprahara, the son of Subahu. So, option 4 is not correct.

Source- Vajirzm and Ravi IAS

55. Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city? [2023-1]

Correct Answer: (a) Devaraya I
Solution:

• In view of the growing Portuguese threat to the Gujarat trade and coastal areas, the sultan of Gujarat sent an embassy to the Ottoman ruler, congratulating him on his victories, and seeking his support. In return, the Ottoman ruler expressed a desire to combat the infidels, that is, the Portuguese, who had disturbed the shores of Arabia. From this time on, there was a continuous exchange of embassies and letters between the two countries.

Surrender of Diu to the Portuguese
• The Turks ousted the Portuguese from the Red Sea, and in 1529, a strong fleet under Sulaiman Rais was dispatched to aid Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujarat. Bahadur Shah received it well, and two of the Turkish officials, who were given Indian names, were appointed governors of Surat and Diu, respectively. Of these two, Rumi Khan was later to earn a great name for himself as a master-gunner.
• In 1531, after intriguing with local officials, the Portuguese attacked Daman and Diu but the Ottoman commander, Rumi Khan, repulsed the attack. However, the Portuguese built a fort at Chaul lower down the coast.
• Before the Gujarat–Turkish alliance could be consolidated, a bigger threat to Gujarat appeared from the side of the Mughals. Humayun attacked Gujarat. In order to meet this threat, Bahadur Shah granted the island of Bassein to the Portuguese. A defensive-offensive alliance against the Mughals was also concluded, and the Portuguese were allowed to build a fort at Diu. Thus were the Portuguese able to establish their foothold in Gujarat.
• Bahadur Shah soon repented the concessions to the Portuguese. Following the evacuation of the Mughals from Gujarat, he once again appealed to the Ottoman sultan for help, and tried to limit the Portuguese encroachments at Diu. During the negotiations, Bahadur Shah who was aboard one of the ships given for the comfort of the fort suspected treachery. In the scuffle which ensued, the Portuguese governor was killed and Bahadur Shah drowned while swimming ashore. This was in 1536.

Source- Vajiram and Ravi IAS

56. Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese? [2023-1]

Correct Answer: (c) Bahadur Shah
Solution:Portuguese Governor Nino da Cunha (1529-38) transferred his capital from Cochin to Goa (1530) and acquired Diu and Bassein (1534) from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.

57. Who of the following rulers of medieval India gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal ? [2024-1]

Correct Answer: (a) Krishnadevaraya
Solution:Option (a) is correct: Emperor Krishnadevaraya permitted the Portuguese to construct a fort at Bhatkal in 1510 in Karnataka.

Krishnadevaraya, the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, reigned over the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529, leading it to its zenith in military, administrative, and cultural achievements. His administration emphasized justice and accountability, guided by advisors like Timmarusu and Tenali Ramakrishna. He promoted agricultural expansion and abolished burdensome taxes to improve the people's welfare.

Krishnadevaraya's military successes included major victories in four significant battles: the defeat of the Bahmani Sultanates, victory over the Gajapatis of Odisha, the Tuluva war with Kalinga, and the decisive Battle of Raichur. His reign also marked a literary golden age, promoting works in Telugu, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Tamil. A devout Hindu, he supported religious diversity and contributed to constructing and restoring temples across his empire.

Source- Vajiram and Ravi IAS