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. Who among the following Sultans of Delhi assumed the title Sikandar-i-Sani?
[A] Balban
[B] Alauddin Khalji
[C] Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
[D] Sikandar Lodi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Alauddin Khalji]
Notes:
Alauddin Khilji was a militarist and imperialist to the core. He was very ambitious. Alauddin, whose original name was Ali Gurshap, assumed the title Sikandar-i-Sani (Alexander the Second) and proclaimed Delhi as Dar-ul-Khilafa (Seat of the Caliphate).
2. Muhammad bin Qasim, who was the first Muslim to have successfully invaded Sindh in 712 AD was commander of which caliphate?
[A] Rashidun Caliphate
[B] Umayyad Caliphate
[C] Abbasid Caliphate
[D] Fatimid Caliphate
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Umayyad Caliphate]
Notes:
Muhammad bin Qasim, who was the first Muslim to have successfully invaded Sindh in 712 AD was commander of Umayyad Caliphate general, who, during the reign of Caliph al-Walid I led the Muslim conquest of Sindh and Multan. He was able to defeat the third and the last Maharaja of the Brahmin dynasty, Raja Dahir. Raja Dahir was killed in the Battle of Aror.
3. In which year, Akbar had centralized the control and functioning of various mints?
[A] 1570
[B] 1572
[C] 1576
[D] 1578
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1570]
Notes:
Mughal Emperor issued coins from this mint in all the three metals in 1570. Silver coins of Akbar were issued from this mint with the mint epithet ‘Hazrat’. Copper coins were also issued along with gold.
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. Who among the following forbade the inscription of kalma on Coins?
[A] Akbar
[B] Shahjahan
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] Jahangir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Aurangzeb]
Notes:
Kalima or Islamic religious messages were introduced in the inscriptions of the coins in accordance with the orthodox Islamic belief of the emperor. They were forbade by Aurangzeb.
6. Which gold coin was issued during the Vijayanagar Empire?
[A] Varaha
[B] Tara
[C] Kakini
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Varaha]
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.
7. Which among the following was prevalent in the Indian Society before the Muslim conquest?
[A] Purdah System
[B] Child Marriage
[C] Sati System
[D] Slavery
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Slavery]
Notes:
Comparing to the other options, some sort of slavery was prevalent before Muslim conquests. The Purdah was a gift of Muslim invasions, and same applies to Child marries which came into practice to avoid the new danger of lifting Hindu girls by Muslims as an holy act of Jihad, Sati & Jauhar also got established as the wives of the invaded used to kill themselves before their husbands went on the last battle.
Slavery became more prevalent because it was a fashion and a status symbol among the Muslims at that time. As we read Aladdin had 84000 slaves and Firuz Tughlaq had 2 lakhs, all of them were maintained at the state cost.
8. In context with the Ashta Pradhan, that helped with the administration of the Maratha empire of Shivaji, who among the following was in charge of General Administration?
[A] Moro Trimbak Pingale
[B] Ramchandra Neelkanth Mujumdar
[C] Annaji Datto
[D] Dattaji Trimbak Waknis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Moro Trimbak Pingale]
Notes:
Ashta Pradhan of Shivaji:
1. Pantpradhan(Moro Trimbak Pingale) – General administration of the kingdom.
2. Amatya(Ramchandra Neelkanth Mujumdar) – Accounts of the kingdom.
3. Sachiv(Annaji Datto) – To prepare royal edicts.
4. Mantri(Dattaji Trimbak Waknis) – state correspondence.
5. Senapati(Hambirrao Mohite) – Managing the army and protection of the kingdom.
6. Sumant(Ramchandra Trimbak Dabir) – Foreign relations.
7. Nyayadhish(Niraji Raoji) – to dispense justice.
8. Panditrao(Moreswar Panditrao) – Religious matters.
9. Who among the following Tuluva dynasty ruler wrote ‘Amuktamalayada’ ?
[A] Krishna Devraya
[B] Venkata I
[C] Achyuta Devraya
[D] VirNarsimha Raya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Krishna Devraya ]
Notes:
The emperor of Vijayanagar empire, Sri Krishna Devraya wrote the epic peom ‘Amuktamalayada’ in telugu. The epic poem tells the well-known story of the daughter of Periazhvar, Goda Devi, who used to wear the garlands intended for Lord Ranganatha before they were offered to the deity. Therefore, the name ‘Amukta Malya Da’ was given that means one who wears and gives away garlands
10. In the Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan, who looked after the foreign affairs?
[A] Surnavis
[B] Dabir
[C] Sar-i-Naubat
[D] Pratinidhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Dabir]
Notes:
In the Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan ( or Council of Eight Ministers), Dabir ( or Samant) looked after the foreign affairs ministry. He helped the king on matters relating to foreign states and on problems of war and peace.
