Medieval Indian History MCQs
Multiple choice questions on Medieval Indian History for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
1. What was the largest import item for the Vijayanagar Empire?
[A] Precious stones
[B] Luxury goods
[C] Raw silk
[D] Horses
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Horses]
Notes:
Horses were the biggest import to Vijayanagar Empire, imported mainly from West Asia including Balkh, Herat, and Bukhara. They were brought to improve cavalry breeds as local horses were unsuitable for warfare. Traveler Fernão Nunes recorded purchases at three horses for 1,000 pardaos, with annual expenditures up to 30,000 pardaos. The horse trade was managed by local merchants called Kudirai Chettis.
2. Baburnama was written in which language?
[A] Para-Mongolic
[B] Chagatai Turkic
[C] Hijazi Arabic
[D] Bahrani Arabic
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chagatai Turkic]
Notes:
Babur has written his biography i.e. Baburnama which is also known as Tuzk-e Babri. Babur and Jahangir are the only two emperors of Mughal Empire who wrote their own biographies. Baburnama is also known to be the first true autobiography in the Islamic li
3. Ustad Isa is related to the design and architecture of which of the following Buildings in Mughal Era?
[A] Taj Mahal
[B] Buland Darwaza
[C] Red fort
[D] Itimad-ud-daula’s tomb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Taj Mahal]
Notes:
Ustad Isa was the chief architect of Taj Mahal.
4. “Sur Sagar”, a treatise on music was written during the reign of which of the following Mughal emperors?
[A] Humayun
[B] Akbar
[C] Jahanagir
[D] Shahjahan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Akbar]
Notes:
Surdas was born somewhere between 1478 and 1483; and died somewhere between 1579 and 1584. He was contemporary of Akbar (reign. 1556-1605). Thus, Sur Sagar was composed during his reign. Tulsidas was also a contemporary of Akbar.
5. Hazi Ibrahim Sarhindi is known to be a Persian Writer during the reign of Akbar was translated the following Sanskrit work in Persian?
[A] Ramayana
[B] Mahabharata
[C] Atharva Veda
[D] Rigveda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Atharva Veda]
Notes:Akbar had a committee of scholars with cross lingual expertise. Some of them were Naqeeb Khan, Mulla Abdul Qadir Badayuni, Mulla Sheri and Sultan Haji Thanesari.
- In that era Mahabharat was translated into Persian and was renamed as Razm Namah (Saga of the Battlefield).
- Ramayana was translated by Mulla Abdul Qadir Badayuni. Badayuni also took up the task of Singhasan Batisi into Persian , which was later titled Khurd Afza in Persian.
- Atharva Veda was translated by Haji Ibrahim Sirhindi. Rajataringini by Kalhana was translated by Maulana Shah Mohammad Shahabadi. Panchtantra were rendered into Persian by Mulla Hussain Waiz and it was called Anwar-i-Suhaili.
- Panchatantra was also translated in Persian by Maulana Husain Faizi and its translated name was Yar-i-Danish.
- Abul Fazal, Vazeer of Akbar and author of Akbarnama had translated Panchatantra in persian as Anvar-i-Saadat.
6. In which year , after defeating Jaypala, Mahmud of Ghazni proceeded to Gujarat where he destroyed the temple of Somnath?
[A] 900 A.D
[B] 935 A.D
[C] 1025 A.D
[D] 810 A.D
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1025 A.D]
Notes:
In 1025, during the reign of Bhima I, the Turkic Muslim ruler Mahmud of Ghazni raided Gujarat. He raided Somnath temple and breaking its jyotirlinga. He took away a booty of 20 million.
7. Which among the following was not an Independent Kingdom?
[A] Bahamani Kingdom
[B] Qutub Shahi of Golconda
[C] Vijayanagar Empire
[D] Madurai Sultanate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Qutub Shahi of Golconda]
Notes:
Qutub Shahi of Golconda was not an independent kingdom. The Qutub Shahi dynasty ruled Golconda from 1518, initially as a breakaway state from the Bahmani Sultanate. It lost independence after Aurangzeb’s Mughal conquest in 1687, becoming a Mughal suba. Later, as the Nizam’s state and under British paramountcy post-1858, it was a princely state until 1948.
8. Padmavat, an epic poem was composed by
[A] Malik Muhammad Jayasi
[B] Amir Khusro
[C] Firdausi
[D] Tulsi das ji
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Malik Muhammad Jayasi]
Notes:
An epic poem, Padmavat was written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540 AD. The epic poem is a fictionalized version of the historic siege of Chittor by Alauddin Khilji in 1303 AD, who attacks Chittor after hearing of the beauty of Queen Rani Padmini, the wife of King Rawal Ratan Singh.
9. Who was the ruler of Chittorgarh when Allauddin Khilji invaded and annexed it?
[A] Raja Karan
[B] Rana Hammir Deva
[C] Rana Rawal Ratan Singh
[D] Rama Chandra Deva
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rana Rawal Ratan Singh]
Notes:
In 1303 AD, Rana Rawal Ratan Singh was the ruler of Chittorgarh when Allauddin Khilji invaded and annexed it. The first Jauhar of royal Rajput ladies at Chittorgarh was also took place. It led by Rani Padmini, wife of Rawal Ratan Singh (King of Mewar) as she preferred to die rather than to surrender themselves against Sultan.
10. During the reign of Jalaluddin Khilji, Ali Gurushap captured which of the following states?
[A] Bhilsa
[B] Devgiri
[C] Chanderi
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [All of the above]
Notes:
During the reign of Jalaluddin Khilji, Allauddin Khilji ( or Ali Gurushap) captured Bhilsa, Devgiri and Chanderi.