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 rulers had stamped the figure of Goddess Lakshmi on his coins and had his name inscribed in Nagari Characters ?
[A] Muhammad Ghazni
[B] Muhammad Ghori
[C] Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
[D] Iltutmish
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Muhammad Ghori]
Notes:
Muhammad Ghori is known to have adopted the seated goddess Lakshmi type of the coins of Gahadavalas/ Rajputs for circulation in the Gahadavala territories. He got stamped the figure of Goddess Lakshmi on his coins and had his name inscribed in Nagari Characters.
2. Which among the following Mughal Emperor was also known as Roshan Akhtar ?
[A] Ahmed Shah
[B] Muhammad Shah
[C] Jahandar Shah
[D] Shah Alam
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Correct Answer: B [ Muhammad Shah]
Notes:
Muhammad Shah Rangile also known as Roshan Akhtar, was the Mughal emperor between 1719 and 1748. During his time, Nadir Shah attacked and looted Delhi and took the Peacock Throne with himself.
3. What was the largest import item for the Vijayanagar Empire?
[A] Precious stones
[B] Luxury goods
[C] Raw silk
[D] Horses
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Horses]
Notes:
Horses were the biggest import to Vijayanagar Empire, imported mainly from West Asia including Balkh, Herat, and Bukhara. They were brought to improve cavalry breeds as local horses were unsuitable for warfare. Traveler Fernão Nunes recorded purchases at three horses for 1,000 pardaos, with annual expenditures up to 30,000 pardaos. The horse trade was managed by local merchants called Kudirai Chettis.
4. Who was the first Indian ruler to organize Haj pilgrimage at the expense of the state?
[A] Alauddin Khilji
[B] Feroz Tughlaq
[C] Akbar
[D] Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Akbar]
Notes:
Akbar was the first Indian ruler to organize Haj pilgrimage at the expense of the state.
5. Who among the following poets used to write the Urdu Ghazals with the pen name “Asad”?
[A] Mir Taqi Mir
[B] Dushyant
[C] Mirza Ghalib
[D] Amir Khusrow
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mirza Ghalib]
Notes:
His original name was “Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan. Most of us know that “Ghalib” was his pen name. But before Ghalib, he wrote with a pen name “Asad“: which means a Lion. He was honored with title of Dabeer-ul-Mulk by Bahadur Shah Zafar II. When another title Mirza Nosha was given to him, he came to be known as Mirza Ghalib.
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. Who among the following is called Zinda Peer?
[A] Babur
[B] Akbar
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] Humayun
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Correct Answer: C [Aurangzeb]
Notes:
Aurangzeb is called Zinda Peer. He was a devoted worshipper and thus known as Zinda Pir (living saint). He was not anti-Hindu but kept changing his policies.
8. The silver coin which was introduced by Sher Shah and continued by the Mughals was :
[A] Rupaya
[B] Dinar
[C] Asharfi
[D] Muhar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Rupaya]
Notes:
Sher Shah issued a coin of silver which was termed ‘Rupaya’. This weighed 178 grains and was the precursor of the modern rupee. It remained largely unchanged till the early 20th Century. Together with the silver Rupaya were issued gold coins called the Mohur weighing 169 grains and copper coins called Dam.
9. When did the first Jauhar at Chiitorgarh happened ?
[A] 1303
[B] 1305
[C] 1307
[D] 1309
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1303]
Notes:
In 1303 AD, Allauddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, attacked and captured Chittorgarh. Then, the first Jauhar of royal Rajput ladies at Chittorgarh took place. It led by Rani Padmini, wife of Rawal Ratan Singh (King of Mewar) as she preferred to die rather than to surrender themselves against Sultan.
10. In which year Shivaji attacked and sacked Surat for the first time?
[A] 1662 AD
[B] 1664 AD
[C] 1666 AD
[D] 1670 AD
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1664 AD]
Notes:
In 1664 AD, Chhatrapati Shivaji attacked and sacked Surat , a wealthy Mughal trading centre, for the first time.