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. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
[A] Baz Bahadur- Malwa
[B] Sultan Muzaffar Shah-Gujarat
[C] Yusuf Adil Shah-Ahmednagar
[D] Qutub Shah -Golkunda
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Yusuf Adil Shah-Ahmednagar]
Notes:
Yusuf Adil Shah – Ahmednagar is not correctly matched. Yusuf Adil Shah founded the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur (not Ahmednagar) in 1489-90. Ahmednagar was founded by Malik Ahmad Nizam Shah. Qutub Shah correctly refers to the founder of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golkonda (Golconda). Baz Bahadur was the last Sultan of Malwa (1555-1562 CE). Sultan Muzaffar Shah ruled Gujarat.
2. What was the real name of Afzal Khan, commander of the Adil Shahi dynasty?
[A] Samsuddin
[B] Sabar
[C] Abdullah Bhatari
[D] Muhammad Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Abdullah Bhatari]
Notes:
Afzal Khan was a general of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur Sultanate. His real name was Abdullah Bhatari. He led military campaigns in former Vijayanagara territories, capturing forts such as Sira and Belur. In 1659, he was sent to fight Shivaji but died during a truce meeting at Pratapgad on November 10 or 20, followed by his army’s defeat.
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. Who are the only two emperors of the Mughal Empire to have written their own autobiographies?
[A] Humayun and Akbar
[B] Babur and Jahangir
[C] Akbar and Shah Jahan
[D] Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Babur and Jahangir]
Notes:
Babur and Jahangir were the only two Mughal emperors who penned their own autobiography. Babur created “Baburnama”, his memoirs recounted in a vivid and extremely rich prose. Jahangir, on the other hand, wrote his autobiography “Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri”, which is widely recognized for its unique storytelling and meticulous details covering his life and administration.
5. During the reign of which among the following Mughal Emperors, Mughal Architecture reached its zenith?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahangir
[C] Shahjahan
[D] Aurangazeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shahjahan]
Notes:
The Mughal emperor Shahjahan was the last great Mughal emperor who patronized the architecture. Taj Mahal was built during his reign. Architecture declined completely after Aurangzeb.
6. ‘Padshah-nama’ (Chronicle of the Emperor) written by Abdul Hamid Lahori, is the official visual history giving a detailed account of the reign of which of the following Mughal Emperor?
[A] Babur
[B] Jahanagir
[C] Shah Jahan
[D] Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shah Jahan]
Notes:
Padshahnama or Badshah Nama is a genre of works written as the official history of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan’s reign.
7. 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.
8. Which of the following Mughal Emperors shifted his imperial court and residence from Agra to Sikri, later renamed as Fatehpur Sikri?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahangir
[C] Shahjahan
[D] Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Akbar]
Notes:
Akbar is the Mughal emperor who shifted his imperial court and residence deom Agra to Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri is a town in the Agra District of Uttar Pradesh, India. The city itself was founded as the capital of Mughal Empire in 1571 by Emperor Akbar.
9. 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.
10. Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India for the first time during the reign of which among the following Mughal Emperors?
[A] Muhammad Shah
[B] Ahmad Shah
[C] Shah Alam-II
[D] Akbar-II
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shah Alam-II]
Notes:
Ahmad Shah Abdali came to India first time during Nadir Shah’s invasion. He invaded for the first time during Shah Alam II in 1748.
