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. The Sayyid dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate is called so because__?
[A] Its founder and his successors adopted the title Sayyid
[B] Its founder and his successors belonged to the Sayyid tribe of eastern Turkistan
[C] Its founder and his successors were descendant of the prophet Muhammad
[D] Its founder was a scholar of Islamic theology
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Its founder and his successors were descendant of the prophet Muhammad]
Notes:
Khizr Khan was the descendant of the prophet Muhammad .The Sayyid dynasty was the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate from 1414 to 1451 A.D. Khizr Khan was the founder ruler of Sayyid dynasty and he is said to be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
2. During the Delhi Sultanate, who among the following were called the Barids?
[A] Craftsmen
[B] Bodyguards of the Sultan
[C] Officer-in-charge of state exchequer
[D] The spy / news reporters
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [The spy / news reporters]
Notes:
Barid-i-mumalik was the head of the information and intelligence department. Only a nobleman who enjoyed the fullest confidence of Sultan was appointed the chief barid. The Barid-i-Mumalik had to keep information of all that was happening in the Sultanate
3. Which of the following battles is subject matter of Alha Khand, a 12th Century epic poetic work in Hindi?
[A] Battle of Mandsaur
[B] Battle of Chittor
[C] Battle of Mahoba
[D] Battles of Tarain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Battle of Mahoba]
Notes:
Paradidev (Parmal) who fought Prithviraj Chauhan-III in 1182 AD in the Battle of Mahoba. This battle is the subject matter of the Alha Khand (c. 12th Century) is an early poetic work in Hindi which consists of a number of ballads describing the brave acts
4. Which among the following terms was used for the Royal cavalry of the Maratha Army System?
[A] The Shiledars
[B] The Bargirs
[C] The Hazari
[D] The Subedars
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [The Bargirs]
Notes:
Bargir was the Royal cavalry of the Maratha army system. There were two kinds of cavalry viz. Bargirs and the Shiledars. Bargirs were provided horses from the state and thus, the horses were property of the royal household and were looked after by state o
5. Ibaadat Khana which was constructed by Akbar at fatehpur Sikri was basically for the purpose of ______?
[A] Discuss matters related to propagation of Islam
[B] Discuss matters related to expansion of Din-i-Ilahi
[C] Discuss matters related to all religions
[D] Discuss matters related to Hinduism
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Discuss matters related to all religions]
Notes:
Abul Fazal encouraged Akbar for debates on doctrinal and philosophical enquiries. Akbar displayed a curiosity in these discussions. The debate took place in the Ibadat Khana or Hall of Worship. The Ibadat Khana is now recognized to be the Diwan-i-Khas, which was founded in 1574 at the City of Fatehpur Sikri. It was opened for Sunni Muslims initially and was opened to all religions viz. Sufis, Shias, Christians, Zoroastrians, Hindus and Jains.
6. 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.
7. Chishti Order is a Sufi order which arose from Chisht, a small town in which among the following countries?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Turkmenistan
[C] Kazakhstan
[D] Uzbekistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Afghanistan]
Notes:
The Chishti Order is a Sufi order which arose from Chisht, a small town near Herat, in western Afghanistan. It was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami in about 930 CE. Before returning to western Asia he trained and deputed the son of local emir, Abu Ahmad Abdal, under whose leadership the Chishtiyya flourished as a regional mystical order. Moinuddin Chishti is credited with laying its foundations in India. Other famous saints of the Chishti Order are Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Nizamuddin Auliya and Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari.
8. Who amongst the following rulers of Delhi Sultanate built Jamait Khana Mosque?
[A] Qutub-ud-din-Aibak
[B] Ibrahim Lodhi
[C] Allauddin Khilji
[D] Mohammad Tughlaq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Allauddin Khilji]
Notes:
Allauddin Khilji built Hauz Khas, Mahal Hazaar Satoon and Jamait Khana Mosque in Delhi.
9. In which year Pratap Rudradeva ( Kakatiya ruler of Warangal) was defeated by Allauddin Khilji’s army?
[A] 1303 AD
[B] 1305 AD
[C] 1310 AD
[D] 1312 AD
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1310 AD]
Notes:
In 1310 AD, Pratap Rudradeva ( Kakatiya ruler of Warangal) was defeated by Allauddin Khilji’s army. After the war, the Koh-i-Noor diamond passed from Kakatiya ownership to that of Alauddin Khilji, along with 20,000 horses and 100 elephants.
10. Shivaji’s father Shahji was a military commander under the Nizam Shahi rulers of which state?
[A] Ahmedanagar
[B] Pratapgarh
[C] Raigad
[D] Kolhapur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ahmedanagar]
Notes:
Shivaji’s father Shahji Bhonsle was the military commander under the Nizam Shahi rulers of Ahmednagar. After the decline of Ahmednagar, he transferred his services to Bijapur.
