Medieval Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Bhimdev Solanki II is famous for opposing the invasions of Muhammad Ghori. His most significant victory over Ghori was near Mount Abu around 1178 AD. This historical event denotes the valor of Bhimdev and his determined efforts in halting the expansion of Ghori. The Solanki dynasty, also known as the Chalukyas of Gujarat, is renowned for its bravery and resistance against foreign invasions.

Notes:
Al Beruni was the First Muslim Scholar to study India and its Brahmanical tradition. He is called father of Indology and the first anthropologist. He is called one of the earliest and greatest polymath of the Islamic World.
Alberuni in his book Kitab-ul-Hind appreciated a very high degree of proficiency of Indians in construction of Tanks and reservoirs at holy places.

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.

Notes:
Varaha was a gold coin issued by the Vijayanagar Empire featuring the boar emblem. It was minted during the reigns of rulers like Harihara II and Krishnadevaraya between the 14th and 16th centuries CE. Tara was a silver coin, and Kakini was a copper coin used in the empire.

Notes:
The jagirdari crisis during the reign of Aurangzeb led to an unhealthy competition among the nobles to gain control over the fertile jagirs. The jagirdars faced the insecurity of getting transferred within a short period.

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.

Notes:
Nasiruddin Mahmud Chirag-e-Delhi (ca 1274-1356) was a 14th century mystic-poet and a Sufi saint of the Chishti Order. He was a murid (disciple) of noted Sufi saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, and later his successor. He was the last important Sufi of the Chishti Order from Delhi. He was given the title, “Roshan Chirag-e-Delhi”, which in Urdu, means “Illuminated Lamp of Delhi”

Notes:
The Treaty of Purandar was signed in 1665 AD. It was between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Raja Jai Singh of Amber, who was chosen by the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. This treaty resulted in Shivaji surrendering 23 out of his 35 forts to the Mughals, while simultaneously recognising Shivaji’s authority over Konkan and parts of Balaghat – a strategic win that reflected Shivaji’s diplomatic prowess.

Notes:
On December 26,1530 AD, Mughal emperor Babur died in Agra due to over drinking. Initially, he was buried in Agra against his wishes. Later on, he was buried in Bagh-e Babur Garden in Kabul, Afghanistan by Sher Shah Suri.

Notes:
Mian Tansen ( also known as Ramtanu Pandey) was a prominent Hindustani classical music composer, musician and vocalist, known for a large number of compositions. He was one of the nine jewels at the royal court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The nine jewels in the royal court of Akbar viz. Abdul Rahim, Abdul Fazal, Birbal, Faizi, Hamim Human, Raja Man Singh, Shaikh Mubarak, Tansen and Todar Mal.