Medieval Indian History MCQs

Notes:
Nizamuddin Ahmad Akbar’s courtier wrote Tabaqat-i Akbari. It offers an objective account of Akbar’s reign. It is considered to be one of the most reliable source of information about Akbar’s reign.

Notes:
Minhas-us-Siraj (1193 CE) was a historian who wrote “Tabaqat-i-Nasiri” in 1260 CE, patronized by Iltutmish, the third ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. His work offers insights into the socio-political conditions, Mongol invasions, and Iltutmish’s administrative reforms, essential for understanding early Delhi Sultanate history.

Notes:
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, the Sultan of Delhi, appointed spies to monitor the activities of the nobles. Balban created a powerful spy network to keep an eye on the nobles and the common people. He appointed spies, called “Barids”, to watch the activities of his governors, military and civil officers, and even his own sons. The spies were well-paid and reported suspicious activities to Balban.
Balban was determined to break the power of the Turkish nobles. He spared only the most obedient nobles and eliminated all others by fair or foul means. For example, he publicly flogged Malik Baqbaq, the governor of Badaun, for his cruelty towards his servants.
Balban’s strong army helped him to quell rebellions and invasions from neighboring kingdoms.

Notes:
Alauddin married Kamla Bai who was the wife of  Rai Karan, the ruler of Gujarat and acquired Malik Kafur who was an eunuch, who later led the Khalji dynasty invasions to South India. Malik Kafur also became reason of death of Alauddin.

Notes:
Khusrau Khan belonged to the Baradu Hindu military clan. He was He was captured by the Delhi army during Alauddin Khalji’s conquest of Malwa in 1305. After being brought to Delhi as a slave, he converted to Islam. He was one of the favourites of Mubarak Shah but later he not only hatched a conspiracy against Mubarak Shah but also got murdered him in 1320 and himself ascended the throne. He remained the Sultan for only 2 months with title “Nasiruddin”.He was soon deposed by a group of rebels led by the noble Ghazi Malik, who succeeded him on the throne as Ghiasuddin Tughlaq. This ended Khilji dynasty and installed Tughlaq dynasty on Delhi sultanate.

Notes:
Firoz Shah Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Khairat for orphans and widows, founded free hospitals (Dar-ul-Shafa), and marriage bureaus for poor Muslims. He initiated public works like canals, rest houses, and Qutub Minar repairs, planted trees for shade, and created a network of inns (sarai). His reign included the compilation of the Fatawa-e-Firoz Shahi legal text.

Notes:
Mahmud Shah I who took the title of Mahmud Begarha  was responsible for the destruction of the Dwarkadhish temple in Dwarka, Gujarat.

Notes:
Deva Raya I was a patron of Kannada literature and architecture. A noted Jain poet, Madhura, was in his court. Madhura was also in the court of Deva Raya’s father King Harihara II.

Notes:
Krisha Deva Raya succeeded his brother Vira Narasimha. Krishna Deva Raya is generally regarded as the greatest of the Vijayanagar kings. The kingdom reached new heights of territorial expansion during his rule.

Notes:
The king Achyuta Deva Raya was a patron of music and art. He patronized the Kannada poet Chatu Vittalanatha, the great singer and composer Purandaradasa (father of Carnatic music), and the Sanskrit scholar Rajanatha Dindima II.