Medieval India General Knowledge
1. During which centuries did the Rajputs emerge as a powerful force in Northern India?
Ans: 9th and 10th centuries AD |
2. Which mythical figure do four Rajput clans claim descent from?
Ans: Agnikula origin |
3. Which Rajput clan is associated with East Rajasthan?
Ans: Chauhans |
4. The Pratihara Pariharas are associated with which region?
Ans: South Rajasthan |
5. The Chalukyas/Solankis are associated with which region?
Ans: Kathiawar |
6. The Parmars/Pawars are associated with which region?
Ans: Malwa |
7. What is the most accepted theory about the origin of the Rajputs?
Ans: Foreign origin, who came as conquerors and settled in West India |
8. What are the two main clans of the Rajputs?
Ans: Surya Vansha and Chandra Vansha |
9. Which Rajput ruler assisted Muhammad Ghori against Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarrain?
Ans: Jai Chand Gadhawal/Rathore |
10. Who was the Chahamana ruler of Delhi and Agra who fought two battles with Muhammad Ghori?
Ans: Prithviraj Chauhan |
11. In which battle did Prithviraj Chauhan defeat Muhammad Ghori?
Ans: First Battle of Tarrain (1191) |
12. In which battle was Prithviraj Chauhan defeated and killed by Muhammad Ghori?
Ans: Second Battle of Tarrain (1192) |
13. Which Rajput ruler of Malwa was known as Kaviraj?
Ans: Bhoja Parmar |
14. Which temple at Khajuraho was built by the Chandellas of Bundelkhand?
Ans: Kandariya Mahadeva temple |
15. Who built the Dilwara temple at Mount Abu?
Ans: Siddharaja Solanki of Gujarat |
16. Which temple in Cambodia was built by Suryavarman II?
Ans: Angkorvat Temple |
17. The Sun Temple at Konark is located in which Indian state?
Ans: Orissa |
18. The Lingaraja Temple is located in which city?
Ans: Bhubaneshwar |
19. Who wrote the Kathasaritasagar?
Ans: Somadeva |
20. Who wrote the biography of Chalukya King Vikramdeva VI?
Ans: Bilhana |
21. What is the name of the history of Kashmir written by Kalhana?
Ans: Rajtarangini |
22. Who wrote the Gita Govinda in Sanskrit?
Ans: Jayadeva |
23. What is the name of the history of Sind?
Ans: Chachanama |
24. Who was the ruler of Delhi-Ajmer in the Chauhan/Chahaman dynasty?
Ans: Prithviraj Chauhan |
25. Which ruler of Malwa belonged to the Pawar dynasty?
Ans: Sri Harsha |
26. Which dynasty ruled Kannauj in the Pratihara period?
Ans: Nagabhatta I |
27. Who was the ruler of Manyakheta in the Rashtrakuta dynasty?
Ans: Dantidurga (Dantivarman II) |
28. Who was the ruler of Kathiawar in the Chalukya/Solanki dynasty?
Ans: Mularaja I |
29. Which dynasty ruled Tripuri in the Kalchuri/Haihaya period?
Ans: Kokkala I |
30. Which dynasty ruled Khajuraho in the Chandela period?
Ans: Nannuk Chandela |
31. Which dynasty ruled Kannauj in the Gadhawal/Rathor period?
Ans: Chandradeva |
32. Which ruler of Mewar belonged to the Guhilota/Sisodiya dynasty?
Ans: Bappa Rawal, Hammir I |
33. Who was the first Muslim to invade India in AD 712?
Ans: Md Bin Qasim |
34. Who was the ruler of Punjab and the North-West of India during Subuktigins period?
Ans: Jaipal of the Shahiya dynasty |
35. In which year did Mahmud Ghaznavi plunder the Somnath temple?
Ans: AD 1025 |
36. Who succeeded Jaipal on the throne after his defeat by Mahmud Ghaznavi?
Ans: Anandapala |
37. Which battle is regarded as one of the turning points in Indian history?
Ans: Second Battle of Terrain (1192) |
38. Who annexed Bihar and Bengal and destroyed Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities?
Ans: Bakhtiyar Khilji |
39. Who left the charge of his empire with Qutub-ud-din Aibak after his death in AD 1206?
Ans: Muhammad Ghori |
40. Which dynasty is also known as the Ilbari Dynasty?
Ans: Slave Dynasty |
41. Who was the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty?
Ans: Qutubuddin Aibak |
42. What title was given to Qutubuddin Aibak for his generosity?
Ans: Lakh Baksh |
43. Which mosques were constructed by Qutubuddin Aibak?
Ans: Quwwat-ul-Islam at Delhi and Adhai Din ka Jhopra at Ajmer |
44. Who completed the construction of Qutub Minar?
Ans: Iltutmish |
45. Who is considered the greatest slave king and the real consolidator of the Turkish conquest in India?
Ans: Iltutmish |
46. Which ruler introduced the Iqta system in the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: Iltutmish |
47. Who was the first Muslim woman ruler of Medieval India?
Ans: Raziya Sultan |
48. Who was given the title "Zil-i-Ilahi" (Shadow of God)?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Balban |
49. Which ruler started the festival of Nauroz in the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Balban |
50. Who was the first ruler of the Khalji Dynasty?
Ans: Jalaluddin Khalji |
51. Who was the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate that emphasized the separation of religion from politics?
Ans: Alauddin Khalji |
52. Which ruler banned the use of wines and intoxicants and instituted a spy service?
Ans: Alauddin Khalji |
53. Which dynasty followed the Ilbari Dynasty?
Ans: Khalji Dynasty |
54. Who was the founder of the Khalji Dynasty?
Ans: Jalaluddin Khalji |
55. Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate is known for conquering Gujarat and marrying Kamla Devi?
Ans: Alauddin Khalji |
56. Who introduced the system of Dagh (branding of horses) and Chehra (detailed description of each soldier)?
Ans: Alauddin Khalji |
57. Which ruler built the Alai Darwaja, the entrance gate of the Qutub Minar?
Ans: Alauddin Khalji |
58. Who was known for the policy of Blood and Iron?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Balban |
59. Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was a patron of Amir Khusro?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Balban |
60. Who constructed the Sultan Garhi, considered the first Islamic Mausoleum in Delhi?
Ans: Iltutmish |
61. Who was the son-in-law of Qutubuddin Aibak and considered a great ruler of the Slave Dynasty?
Ans: Iltutmish |
62. Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate was assassinated near Kaithal (Haryana) by the Jats?
Ans: Raziya Sultan |
63. Who started paying soldiers in cash and had a permanent army?
Ans: Alauddin Khalji |
64. Which ruler is credited with separating military affairs from the finance department (Diwan-i-Wazarat)?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Balban |
65. Who was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq |
66. Which Sultan took the title "Ghazi" or "slayer of the infidels"?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq |
67. Who built the city of Tughlagabad near Delhi?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq |
68. Which Sultan sent Jauna Khan to re-establish authority in Warangal and Madurai?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq |
69. How did Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq die?
Ans: After falling from a high raised pavilion |
70. Who succeeded Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq as the Sultan of Delhi?
Ans: Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq |
71. What was Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq known for?
Ans: His rational and innovative mind |
72. Which ill-advised financial experiment did Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq undertake in the Doab region?
Ans: Increased taxation and additional cesses |
73. Which controversial decision did Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq make regarding the capital of Delhi?
Ans: Transferred it to Deogiri and renamed it Daulatabad |
74. What was the purpose of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaqs Khurasan expedition?
Ans: Vision of universal conquest |
75. Which new department of agriculture did Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq establish?
Ans: Diwan-i-Kohi |
76. Who was Ibn Battuta and what role did he play during Muhammad-bin-Tughlaqs reign?
Ans: Moroccan traveller who acted as Qazi of Delhi |
77. Who succeeded Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq?
Ans: Firoz Shah Tughlaq |
78. How did Firoz Shah Tughlaq attempt to prevent the break-up of the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: By appeasing nobility, army, and theologians |
79. What system did Firoz Shah Tughlaq make hereditary?
Ans: Iqta system |
80. Which canals were repaired or constructed by Firoz Shah Tughlaq to encourage agriculture?
Ans: From Sutlej to Ghaggar and from Yamuna to Hissar |
81. Which two pillars of Ashoka did Firoz Shah Tughlaq bring to Delhi?
Ans: From Topara and Meerut |
82. What was the purpose of Firoz Shah Tughlaqs Diwan-i-Bandagon?
Ans: Department for slaves |
83. Who invaded India during the reign of Nasiruddin Muhammad Tughlaq?
Ans: Timur |
84. Which tax did Firoz Shah Tughlaq make separate and imposed upon Brahmans for the first time?
Ans: Jaziya |
85. Who founded the Sayyid dynasty after the Tughlaqs?
Ans: Khizr Khan |
86. Who was the last Sayyid king before the Lodhi dynasty took over?
Ans: Alauddin Shah Alam |
87. Who founded the Lodhi dynasty in India?
Ans: Bahlol Lodhi |
88. Which Sultan of the Lodhi dynasty conquered Bihar and Bengal and built Agra as his capital?
Ans: Sikandar Lodhi |
89. Who invited Babur to overthrow Ibrahim Lodhi?
Ans: Daulat Khan Lodhi |
90. In which battle was Ibrahim Lodhi defeated by Babur, marking the end of the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: First Battle of Panipat |
91. What were the causes of the decline of the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: Despotic rule, wars of succession, financial instability, Timurs invasion, incompetent nobility |
92. Which department managed religious matters under the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: Diwan-i-Risalat |
93. What was the role of the Barids in the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: Intelligence agents |
94. Who was Amir Khusro, and what contributions did he make?
Ans: Persian poet, musician who invented the Sitar, innovated Khayal |
95. Who founded the Vijayanagara Kingdom in AD 1336?
Ans: Harihara I |
96. Which ruler of Gujarat built the city of Ahmedabad?
Ans: Ahmed Shah I |
97. Who was the greatest ruler of Kashmir known as "Badshah"?
Ans: Zainulabdin |
98. Which dynasty replaced the Sangama dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Saluva dynasty |
99. Who was the founder of the Tuluva dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Vir Narasimha |
100. Which Vijayanagara ruler is known for his work "Amuktamalyada"?
Ans: Krishnadevaraya |
101. Which dynasty succeeded the Tuluvas in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Aravidu dynasty |
102. Who was the first king of the Bahmani Kingdom?
Ans: Alauddin Hasan Bahaman Shah |
103. Which Bahmani ruler shifted the capital from Gulbarga to Bidar?
Ans: Ahmed Shah I |
104. Which ruler of Malwa built the famous victory tower "Vijay Stambh"?
Ans: Rana Kumbha |
105. Who defeated Rana Sanga in the Battle of Khanwa in AD 1527?
Ans: Babur |
106. Which Bengal Sultan established friendly relations with China?
Ans: Ghiyasuddin Azam |
107. Who was the founder of the Iliyas Shahi Dynasty in Bengal?
Ans: Iliyas Khan |
108. Which Mewar ruler built the famous "Jahaz Mahal" at Mandu?
Ans: Hasan Shah |
109. Which Kashmiri ruler is credited with introducing the art of shawl making?
Ans: Zainulabdin |
110. Which dynasty succeeded the Sangama dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Saluva dynasty |
111. Who was the greatest ruler of Malwa known for building "Hindol Mahal"?
Ans: Rana Kumbha |
112. Which Gujarat Sultan was annexed by Akbar in AD 1573?
Ans: Mahmud Beghra |
113. Which dynasty succeeded the Sangama dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Saluva dynasty |
114. Who was the last ruler of the Sangama dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Deva Raya II |
115. Which Mughal emperor annexed Gujarat in AD 1573?
Ans: Akbar |
116. Which Vijayanagara ruler was known as the "Elephant Hunter"?
Ans: Deva Raya II |
117. Which Vijayanagara ruler wrote the Sanskrit drama "Jambavati Kalyanam"?
Ans: Krishnadevaraya |
118. Who was the greatest ruler of the Tuluva dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Krishnadevaraya |
119. Which Vijayanagara ruler was contemporary to Babur?
Ans: Krishnadevaraya |
120. Which Vijayanagara ruler is known as "Abhinava Bhoja"?
Ans: Krishnadevaraya |
121. Who was the founder of the Saluva dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Saluva Narasimha |
122. Which Vijayanagara ruler shifted the capital from Vidyanagar to Vijayanagara?
Ans: Bukka I |
123. Who founded the Tuluva dynasty in Vijayanagara after killing Immadi of the Saluva dynasty?
Ans: Vir Narasimha |
124. Which Mughal emperor defeated Rana Sanga in the Battle of Khanwa?
Ans: Babur |
125. Who was the last ruler of the Sangama dynasty in Vijayanagara?
Ans: Deva Raya II |
126. Who is considered the progenitor of the Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra?
Ans: Tukaram |
127. Which Bhakti saint was known for condemning the caste system and accepting disciples from lower castes?
Ans: Ramananda |
128. Who among the following Bhakti saints was a contemporary of Shivaji and a great devotee of Vithal?
Ans: Ramadas |
129. Which Bhakti saint founded the Pushti sect and emphasized worship of Krishna?
Ans: Vallabhacharya |
130. Which saint was a weaver and represented the Nirguna Bhakti tradition?
Ans: Kabir |
131. Who founded the Sikh faith in India and emphasized oneness of God?
Ans: Guru Nanak |
132. Which Bhakti saint was known as the founder of modern Vaishnav Sect of Bengal?
Ans: Chaitanya |
133. Which saint was a disciple of Vallabhacharya and wrote extensively on Krishna and Radha?
Ans: Surdas |
134. Who founded the Brahma Sampradaya and advocated service to humanity?
Ans: Dadu Dayal |
135. Which saint worshipped Krishna and Radha and was a contemporary of Ramanuja?
Ans: Nimbarakacharya |
136. Which saint composer laid the foundation of Carnatic music?
Ans: Purandar Das |
137. Who is known for composing the Ramcharitmanas and belonged to the Ram Bhakti cult of Vaishnavism?
Ans: Tulsidas |
138. Which saint poet wrote thousands of love ballads on Radha and Krishna?
Ans: Vidyapati |
139. Who was the founder of the Sikh community kitchen known as Guru-ka-Langar?
Ans: Guru Nanak |
140. Which saint was a contemporary of Shivaji and wrote the didactic work Dasabodha?
Ans: Ramadas |
141. Who was the first to compile the teachings of Nanak into the Adi Granth?
Ans: Guru Arjan Dev |
142. Which saint emphasized Bhakti as a means to merge with the Almighty?
Ans: Vallabhacharya |
143. Who founded the Vaishnav Sect of Bengal and was considered an incarnation of Krishna?
Ans: Chaitanya |
144. Which saint was known for his devotional songs on Radha and Krishna?
Ans: Surdas |
145. Who composed hymns that are included in the Guru Granth Sahib?
Ans: Namdeva |
146. Who invited Babur to attack India?
Ans: Daulat Khan Lodhi |
147. In which battle did Babur defeat Ibrahim Lodhi?
Ans: First Battle of Panipat |
148. After defeating Rana Sanga, what title did Babur take?
Ans: Ghazi |
149. Who translated Baburs memoir, Tuzuk-i-Babari, into Persian?
Ans: Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan |
150. Which battle marked the first simultaneous land and water battle in medieval India?
Ans: Battle of Ghaghra |
151. Where was Babur originally ruling before coming to India?
Ans: Ferghana |
152. Who defeated Babur in the Battle of Chanderi?
Ans: Medini Rai |
153. In which battle did Babur defeat Muhammad Lodhi?
Ans: Battle of Ghaghra |
154. Who was the first Mughal emperor to coin coins?
Ans: Babur |
155. Who was the last Mughal ruler to be sent to jail by the British?
Ans: Bahadur Shah II |
156. When was the first war of Indian independence fought?
Ans: 1857 |
157. Who was the last Mughal ruler?
Ans: Bahadur Shah II |
158. Who was the first Mughal ruler to use artillery?
Ans: Babur |
159. Which Mughal ruler did not issue any gold coins?
Ans: Humayun |
160. Who was the first Mughal ruler to write his autobiography in Turkish?
Ans: Babur |
161. Which Mughal ruler issued "Din-E-Ilahi"?
Ans: Akbar |
162. Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire?
Ans: Babur |
163. Which Mughal ruler, before ruling India, first went to Iran and then came to India?
Ans: Humayun |
164. Which Mughal ruler introduced Mansabdari system?
Ans: Akbar |
165. Who was the last Mughal ruler to have ruled India?
Ans: Bahadur Shah II |
166. Who ascended the Mughal throne with the title Bahadur Shah and was known as Shah Alam-I?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
167. Which Mughal emperor pursued a pacifist policy and was known as Shah Bekhabar?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
168. Who made peace with Guru Gobind Singh and Chatrasal?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
169. Which Mughal emperor granted Sar Deshmukhi to Marathas and released Shahu?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
170. Who defeated Banda Bahadur at Lohgarh?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
171. Who was the first puppet Mughal emperor?
Ans: Jahandar Shah |
172. Who was the Mughal emperor when Jahandar Shah abolished Jaziya?
Ans: Jahandar Shah |
173. Who ascended the Mughal throne with the help of Sayyid brothers?
Ans: Farrukhsiyar |
174. Who was the Mughal emperor when Banda Bahadur was executed at Gurudaspur?
Ans: Farrukhsiyar |
175. Who was appointed as the Wazir after the Sayyid brothers helped Farrukhsiyar ascend the throne?
Ans: Abdullah Khan |
176. Who invaded India in AD 1739 and took away the Peacock Throne and the Kohinoor diamond?
Ans: Nadir Shah |
177. Who raided the Mughal kingdom for the first time during Muhammad Shahs reign?
Ans: Ahmed Shah Abdali |
178. Who was known as "Rangeela" due to his love for pleasure and entertainment?
Ans: Muhammad Shah |
179. Who was the Mughal emperor when Shah Alam-II fought the Battle of Buxar and was defeated by the British?
Ans: Muhammad Shah |
180. Who was the last Mughal emperor?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-II |
181. During whose reign did Ahmed Shah Abdali occupy Delhi?
Ans: Alamgir II |
182. Who was the Mughal emperor when Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Alamgir II |
183. Who was the Mughal emperor when the British claimed the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa by the Treaty of Allahabad?
Ans: Shah Alam-II |
184. Who was given the title of Raja by Akbar-II?
Ans: Raja Rammohan Roy |
185. Who was the last Mughal emperor confined by the British in the Red Fort?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-II |
186. Who was known for introducing a regular postal service and improving transportation through road construction?
Ans: Sher Shah Suri |
187. Who defeated Humayun in the Battle of Chausa and assumed the title of Shershah as emperor?
Ans: Sher Shah Suri |
188. Who built the Purana Qila and his own tomb at Sasaram in Bihar?
Ans: Sher Shah Suri |
189. Who was the historian at Sher Shah Suris court and wrote Tarikh-i-Shershahi?
Ans: Abbas Khan Sarwani |
190. Which system fixed both the status in the official hierarchy and the salary based on a nobles civil and military capacity?
Ans: Mansabdari system |
191. Who was the Mughal emperor known as "Shah Bekhabar" due to his pacifist policy?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
192. During whose reign did the Maratha leader Shahu receive Sar Deshmukhi from the Mughals?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
193. Which Mughal emperor made peace with Guru Gobind Singh?
Ans: Bahadur Shah-I |
194. Who was the first puppet Mughal emperor, supported by Zulfiqar Khan?
Ans: Jahandar Shah |
195. During whose reign was Jaziya abolished briefly?
Ans: Jahandar Shah |
196. Who ascended the Mughal throne with the help of the Sayyid brothers, Abdullah Khan and Husain Khan?
Ans: Farrukhsiyar |
197. Which emperor was murdered by the Sayyid brothers in AD 1719?
Ans: Farrukhsiyar |
198. Who defeated Muhammad Shah in the Battle of Karnal and took away the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor diamond?
Ans: Nadir Shah |
199. During whose reign did Bengal acquire virtual independence under Murshid Quli Khan?
Ans: Muhammad Shah |
200. Who was the Mughal emperor when Ahmed Shah Abdali raided India for the first time?
Ans: Muhammad Shah |
201. Who was Shivajis spiritual teacher?
Ans: Guru Ramdas |
202. In which year did Shivaji kill Afzal Khan?
Ans: 1659 |
203. Which Mughal governor was sent to defeat Shivaji in 1660?
Ans: Shaista Khan |
204. Under which treaty did Shivaji visit the Mughal court at Agra?
Ans: Treaty of Purandhar |
205. In which year did Shivaji escape from house arrest in Agra?
Ans: 1666 |
206. Which battle did Shivaji win in 1672 against the Mughals?
Ans: Battle of Salher |
207. Where was Shivaji crowned in 1674?
Ans: Raigarh |
208. What title did Shivaji assume at his coronation?
Ans: Chhatrapati |
209. Who succeeded Shivaji after his death in 1680?
Ans: Sambhaji |
210. Who was the Mughal emperor when Shahu, Shivajis grandson, was released?
Ans: Bahadur Shah |
211. Who became the first Peshwa in 1713?
Ans: Balaji Vishwanath |
212. Under whose leadership did the Marathas defeat the Nizam-ul-Mulk near Bhopal?
Ans: Baji Rao I |
213. Which treaty marked Maratha control over Salsette and Bassin from the Portuguese?
Ans: Treaty of Durai Sarai |
214. Who succeeded Balaji Baji Rao as Peshwa in 1761?
Ans: Madhav Rao I |
215. Which Peshwa lost power after the death of Madhav Rao I?
Ans: Raghunath Rao |
216. Who was the Peshwa during the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761?
Ans: Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Sahib) |
217. Which British Governor-General declared war on the Pindaris?
Ans: Lord Francis Rawdon-Hastings |
218. Which treaty ended the First Anglo-Maratha War?
Ans: Treaty of Salbai |
219. Who was the Maratha ruler during the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
Ans: Baji Rao II |
220. Which convention saw the Marathas victorious against the British in 1779?
Ans: Convention of Wadgaon |
221. Who succeeded Narayan Rao as Peshwa?
Ans: Sawai Madhav Rao |
222. In which year did the First Anglo-Maratha War begin?
Ans: 1775 |
223. Who was the Peshwa during the Second Anglo-Maratha War?
Ans: Baji Rao I |
224. Which Maratha ruler signed the Subsidiary Alliance Treaty with the British?
Ans: Baji Rao II |
225. In which year did the Third Anglo-Maratha War end?
Ans: 1818 |