Medieval Indian History MCQs

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Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq was the Sultan of Delhi when the Vijayanagar empire was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka. He reigned from 1325 to 1351 as the second Tughlaq ruler after Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-1325). Rebellions in South India during his rule, including by Harihara and Bukka, led to Vijayanagar’s establishment as Delhi lost control. 

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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).

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Bundelkhand region was known as Jejakabhukti in early Medieval India. The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti ruled the region between the 9th and 13th centuries. The Chandelas were a dynasty in Central India, and belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs. Their capital city was Khajuraho, which was later changed to Mahoba. Their important fort was Kalinjar.
The early medieval period in India lasted from the 6th to the 13th century. The late medieval period lasted from the 13th to the 16th century, ending with the start of the Mughal Empire in 1526.

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Ashta Pradhan was a council of eight ministers that administered the Maratha empire. The council was formed in 1674 by founding Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji.The term Ashta Pradhan literally translates to “the Prime Eight”, from the Sanskrit ashta (“eight”) and pradhan (“prime”). The body discharged the functions of a modern council of ministers; this is regarded as one of the first successful instances of ministerial delegation in India. The council is credited with having implemented good governance practices in the Maratha heartland, as well as for the success of the military campaigns against the Mughal Empire.

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Bawarij were Sindhi pirates who used special ships called barja warships. They looted Arab shipping bound for the Indian subcontinent and China. One of the cited reasons of Arab conquest of Sindh was to punish the Bawarij who used to prey on Arab shipping from their bases at Kutch, Debal and Kathiawar.

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Iltumish was the first sultan of Delhi when the Mongols appeared for the first time in India’s soil. Iltutmish was born in an affluent family: his father Ilam Khan was a leader of the Ilbari Turkic tribe.

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In 1308, Malik Kafur had defeated the Yadavas, the neighbours of the Kakatiyas, and the Yadava king Ramachandra had become a vassal of Alauddin. According to the Delhi courtier Amir Khusrau, Alauddin ordered Malik Kafur to invade the Kakatiya kingdom on 31 October 1309.

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Alp-Tegin, was a Turkic slave commander of the Samanid Empire, who would later become the semi-independent governor of Ghazna from 962 until his death in 963. He founded th principality of Ghazani in AD 962.

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Mongol invasions were repulsed by Zafar Khan who was military general in the reign of Allauddin Khilji. In 1298, as per order of Sultan Allauddin Khilji , about 30,0000 New Muslims were slaughtered in a day, as he suspected them of being involved in a conspiracy against him and of being a threat to his power. (Mongolians who settled near Delhi and accepted Islam were called “New Muslims”).

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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.