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. 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
2. Kamal-ud-Din Abd-ur-Razzaq ibn Ishaq Samarqandi, a Persian Islamic Scholar, visited which Indian city during early 1440s?
[A] Surat
[B] Calicut
[C] Chennai
[D] Chinsurah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Calicut]
Notes:
Calicut is a metropolitan city in the state of Kerala in southern India on the Malabar Coast. Kamal-ud-Din Abd-ur-Razzaq ibn Ishaq Samarqandi visited Calicut in early 1440s. He wrote a narrative of what he saw in Calicut which is valuable as information on Calicut’s society and culture.
3. What was the capital of the Bahamani Sultanate?
[A] Gulbarga
[B] Halebidu
[C] Hampi
[D] Badami
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gulbarga]
Notes:
Gulbarga was the capital of the Bahamani Sultanate from 1347 to 1425.
Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (also known as Hasan Gangu or Zafar Khan) founded the sultanate in 1347 after rebelling against the Delhi Sultanate and established its headquarters at Aḥsanābād (Gulbarga).
In 1425, Ahmad Shah I shifted the capital to Bidar (Muḥammadābād).
Halebidu, Hampi, and Badami were capitals of Hoysala, Vijayanagara, and Chalukya dynasties, respectively.
4. Who among the following was not included in the “Asta Pradhan” of Shivaji?
[A] Sumant
[B] Majmudar
[C] Vakiyanavis
[D] Vakeel
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Vakeel]
Notes:
Ashta Pradhan Pantpradhan or Peshwa – Prime Minister, general administration of the Empire. Amatya – Finance Minister, managing accounts of the Empire. Sacheev – Secretary, preparing royal edicts. Mantri – Interior Minister, managing internal affairs especially intelligence and espionage. Senapati – Commander-in-Chief, managing the forces and defense of the Empire. Sumant – Foreign Minister, to manage relationships with other sovereigns. Nyayadhish – Chief Justice, dispensing justice on civil and criminal matters. Panditrao – High Priest, managing internal religious matters.
5. Who among the following is said to be the pioneer of guerilla warfare in the Deccan region?
[A] Shivaji
[B] Shah ji Bhosle
[C] Malik Ambar
[D] Maloji Bhosale
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Malik Ambar]
Notes:
Malik Ambar (1548 – 13 May 1626) was a Siddi military leader in the Deccan region of India. He was the ruler of Ahmednagar. He humbled the might of the Mughals and Adil Shah of Bijapur and raised the low status of the Nizam Shah.
6. Rajasekhara, the eminent Sanskrit poet, dramatist and critic, who is best known for his work Kavyamimamsa, has described himself as guru of which king of Gurjara Pratiharas?
[A] Bhoj II
[B] Mihirbhoja I
[C] Mahendrapala I
[D] Mahipala I
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mahendrapala I]
Notes:
Rajasekhara was an eminent Sanskrit poet, dramatist and critic of 10th century and was court poet of the Gurjara Pratihara Kings. His most important works are Kavyamimamsa and Karpurmanjari. He had written Karpurmanjari to please his wife Avantisundari. Karpurmanjari is written in Sauraseni Prakrit. In his plays, Rajshekhara has described himself as teacher / guru of Gurjara Pratihara King Mahendrapala I.
7. 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.
8. Which among the following Mughal emperors prohibited the use of tobacco?
[A] Aurangzeb
[B] Jahnagir
[C] Akbar
[D] Babur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jahnagir]
Notes:
Jahangir prohibited the use of tobacco in 1617. Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor, holding the throne from 1605-1627.
9. The ordinances issued by Jahangir was also called as
[A] Dastur-ul-Amal
[B] Etmad-ud-Daulla
[C] Dastur-e-Amir
[D] Dastur-e-Haq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Dastur-ul-Amal]
Notes:
For the welfare and betterment of an empire, the Mughal emperor Jahangir issued the ordinances called as Dastur-ul-Amal (or 12 rules of code of conduct).
10. After Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak’s death who was his successor?
[A] Iltutmish
[B] Aram shah
[C] Rajia Sultan
[D] Ruknuddin Firoj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Aram shah]
Notes:
After Qutb-ud-din Aibak’s death, his son Aram Shah became the Sultan of Delhi, reigned from 1210 to 1211.