Medieval History Set 17 | MROY Class

Medieval History Set 17 Questions & Answers

The Arab empire under the Abbasids commanded important trade routes and attained massive wealth. This allowed them to establish which of the following advanced financial practices? – Double entry book-keeping, advanced accountancy, and bills of exchange (hundis)
Which prominent Sanskrit astronomical work was revised and reformed by Aryabhatta, and subsequently translated into Arabic during the Abbasid period? – Surya Siddhanta
The Kambuja empire, which attained a high level of cultural development and prosperity up to the fifteenth century, was established after it replaced which earlier Hinduized kingdom? – The Funan kingdom
The Pala ruler Dharmapala revived the famous Nalanda university. According to Tibetan chronicles, how many villages were set apart specifically for meeting its expenses? – 200 villages
The great Pratihara ruler Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted a specific title that has been found inscribed on some of his coins. What was this title? – Adivaraha
The Baghdad native Al-Masudi, who visited Gujarat in 915–16, referred to the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom as al-Juzr. What name did he use to refer to its king, likely a mispronunciation of Adivaraha? – Baura
According to Al-Masudi’s accounts, the vast empire of Juzr (Gurjara-Pratihara) contained how many villages, cities, and rural areas? – 1,80,000
The Rashtrakuta king Krishna III invaded north India around AD 963 and defeated the Pratihara ruler. Earlier, in AD 949, he had also defeated which Chola king? – Parantaka I
In the Deccan, the rise of hereditary revenue officers significantly impacted society and politics. What were these officers called during the Rashtrakuta period? – Nad gavundas or desa gramakutas
In 1077, a Chola embassy of 70 merchants reached China. According to a Chinese account, they received a massive return for their articles of tribute. What did they receive? – 81,800 strings of copper-cash
In the Chola village administration, while the mahasabha was the gathering of adult men in Brahman villages, what was the term for the general assembly of an ordinary village? – Ur
The author of the Rajatarangini highlights economic disparities in twelfth-century Kashmir by noting ordinary people had to be content with rice and: – A wild vegetable of bitter taste called utpala-saka
The agnikula legend claims that four Rajput clans were produced out of a sacrificial fire by which sage? – Vashishtha
The noted scientist and scholar Al-Biruni lived in India for about ten years during the early part of the eleventh century. Where was he originally from? – Central Asia
Who is explicitly mentioned in the text as the consort of Buddha in eastern India? – Tara
Who were the founders of this Lingayat (Vir Saiva) movement? – Basava and his nephew, Channabasava
In 1001, the Hindushahi ruler Jayapala suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni in a furious battle near which city? – Peshawar
For his famous 1025 campaign to plunder the wealthy temple of Somnath, Mahmud of Ghazni marched via which specific route? – Via Multan and Jaisalmer
During the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Muizzuddin Muhammad was severely wounded. His life was saved by a young horseman belonging to which group? – A Khalji horseman
What specific historical evidence suggests that Prithviraj III was allowed to rule over Ajmer as a feudatory for some time after his defeat? – Coins bearing ‘Prithvirajadeva’ on one side and ‘Sri Muhammad Sam’ on the other
Which Sena capital did Bakhtiyar Khalji subsequently occupy without opposition after the ruler Lakshmana Sena fled? – Lakhnauti
Following the death of Iltutmish, his daughter Raziya faced a massive rebellion. Where was Raziya initially imprisoned? – Tabarhinda
Who was the wazir of Iltutmish that opposed her elevation and backed the rebellion against her? – Nizam-ul-Mulk Junaidi
To strengthen his authoritarian rule, Balban claimed descent from which legendary Iranian king? – Afrasiyab
In 1241, a massive Mongol force appeared at Lahore. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces? – Tair Bahadur
Decades later, in 1292, the Mongols again advanced on Delhi but were defeated by Jalaluddin Khalji. Who commanded this Mongol invasion? – Abdullah
Changez Khan destroyed the Khwarizmi empire and pursued its crown prince to the Indus river in which year? – 1218 (Attack on Khwarizm) / 1221 (Indus pursuit)
In 1303, Alauddin Khalji rushed back from his campaign in Chittor and fortified himself at his new capital near Delhi. What was it called? – Siri
According to the Arab writer Sulaiman, the Pala king was customarily accompanied by a massive force of how many war elephants? – 50,000
Arab science began to decline after which century due to political developments and growing orthodoxy? – The twelfth century

MROY Class

Medieval History Set 17

Q: What were the hereditary revenue officers called during the Rashtrakuta period in the Deccan?

Nad gavundas or desa gramakutas.

Q: According to the Rajatarangini, ordinary people in 12th-century Kashmir had to be content with rice and what else?

A wild vegetable of bitter taste called utpala-saka.

Q: Who were the founders of the Lingayat (Vir Saiva) movement?

Basava and his nephew, Channabasava.

🔍

📌 Economy • Abbasid Empire

Q.1) The Arab empire under the Abbasids commanded important trade routes and attained massive wealth. This allowed them to establish which of the following advanced financial practices?

Ans > Double entry book-keeping, advanced accountancy, and bills of exchange (hundis)

Economic Boom under Abbasids: The Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 AD) oversaw a massive economic boom by controlling strategic overland and maritime trade routes linking Asia, Africa, and Europe. This vast network required sophisticated financial instruments to handle large-scale transactions safely and efficiently across long distances.
Evolution of Banking: To facilitate this expansive trade, the Arabs pioneered elaborate banking systems. They established complex credit mechanisms, including the extensive use of bills of exchange, which were locally known as hundis in the Indian subcontinent. This allowed merchants to travel without carrying huge amounts of vulnerable physical gold or silver.
Advanced Accounting Practices: Alongside credit, the Abbasid administration and its merchant class developed advanced accountancy methods. The introduction of double-entry book-keeping was a revolutionary financial practice that allowed for accurate tracking of massive commercial enterprises and state revenues, fundamentally shaping the future of global trade and modern financial systems.

📌 Science • Translations

Q.2) Which prominent Sanskrit astronomical work was revised and reformed by Aryabhatta, and subsequently translated into Arabic during the Abbasid period?

Ans > Surya Siddhanta

The Translation Movement: During the Abbasid period, particularly under Caliph Al-Mansur and Harun al-Rashid, Baghdad became a thriving global center of learning. The “Translation Movement” sponsored the translation of major Greek, Persian, and Indian scientific texts into Arabic, drastically preserving and expanding classical knowledge.
Indian Astronomy in Baghdad: The Surya Siddhanta, an ancient and highly prominent Sanskrit treatise on Indian astronomy, was one of the most significant works translated. This text had previously been thoroughly revised, updated, and reformed by the legendary Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta, making it the most accurate astronomical model of its time.
Impact on Arab Science: The Arabic translation of this work (often referred to in the Arab world alongside the Brahmasphutasiddhanta as the Zij al-Sindhind) profoundly influenced Islamic astronomy. It introduced the Arabs to advanced Indian trigonometry, the concept of sine, and detailed calculations of planetary motions, which later Arab astronomers heavily built upon.

📌 Southeast Asia • Kambuja Empire

Q.3) The Kambuja empire, which attained a high level of cultural development and prosperity up to the fifteenth century, was established after it replaced which earlier Hinduized kingdom?

Ans > The Funan kingdom

Rise of the Kambuja Empire: The Kambuja Empire, commonly known as the Khmer Empire, emerged as a dominant power in Southeast Asia, extending its vast territorial control over modern-day Cambodia, parts of Thailand, Laos, and southern Vietnam (Annam). It reached its absolute cultural and architectural zenith between the 9th and 15th centuries.
Transition from Funan: Before the rise of the Khmers, the region was heavily dominated by the Funan kingdom. Funan was an early, deeply Hinduized maritime and agricultural empire heavily influenced by Indian culture, trade, and statecraft. The Kambuja empire progressively absorbed and ultimately replaced Funan’s political and economic structures.
Cultural Continuity and Architecture: Despite replacing the Funan state, the Kambuja rulers adopted and expanded upon its rich Hindu-Buddhist syncretic traditions. This cultural continuity culminated in massive, world-renowned architectural achievements, most notably the construction of the sprawling temple complex of Angkor Wat, initially dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu before transitioning to a Buddhist center.

📌 Education • Pala Empire

Q.4) The Pala ruler Dharmapala revived the famous Nalanda university. According to Tibetan chronicles, how many villages were set apart specifically for meeting its expenses?

Ans > 200 villages

Revival by the Pala Dynasty: The Pala Empire, which dominated Bengal and Bihar from the 8th to the 12th century, were staunch patrons of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Dharmapala, the second and one of the greatest Pala emperors, took personal interest in reviving the declining fortunes of the ancient Nalanda University, restoring it to its former glory.
Massive State Patronage: To ensure the university’s complete financial independence and the sustenance of its thousands of monks and international scholars, Dharmapala explicitly dedicated the tax revenues of 200 nearby villages. This massive land grant covered the costs of food, clothing, accommodation, and the maintenance of the sprawling monastic complex.
International Hub of Learning: According to historical Tibetan chronicles and the accounts of later traveling monks, this royal patronage allowed Nalanda to thrive once again as the premier educational center of the eastern world. It attracted brilliant scholars not just from all over India, but heavily from Tibet, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

📌 Numismatics • Pratihara Dynasty

Q.5) The great Pratihara ruler Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted a specific title that has been found inscribed on some of his coins. What was this title?

Ans > Adivaraha

Peak of Pratihara Power: Mihira Bhoja (often simply referred to as Bhoja I) was arguably the most powerful and successful ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. Ruling in the 9th century, he consolidated a massive empire in Northern India, successfully defending the frontiers against Arab incursions from Sindh and maintaining strict law and order.
Devotion to Lord Vishnu: Unlike some contemporary rulers who favored Shaivism or Buddhism, King Bhoja was a deeply devout follower of Vaishnavism. He specifically venerated the ‘Varaha’ (boar) avatar of Lord Vishnu, which mythologically represents the divine rescuer of the Earth (Bhumi) from cosmic chaos and demonic forces.
Numismatic Evidence: To project his divine mandate and role as the protector of his realm, Bhoja officially adopted the grand title of ‘Adivaraha’. This title is prominently featured and clearly inscribed on a large number of his widely circulated silver coins, which depict the Varaha avatar on one side, serving as a powerful tool for political and religious propaganda.

📌 Foreign Accounts • Gurjara-Pratihara

Q.6) The Baghdad native Al-Masudi, who visited Gujarat in 915–16, referred to the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom as al-Juzr. What name did he use to refer to its king, likely a mispronunciation of Adivaraha?

Ans > Baura

Al-Masudi’s Travel Accounts: Al-Masudi was a highly prominent 10th-century Arab historian, geographer, and traveler from Baghdad. During his extensive global travels in 915–916 AD, he visited the prosperous coastal region of Gujarat, meticulously documenting the political, social, and economic conditions of the contemporary Indian kingdoms he encountered.
The Kingdom of al-Juzr: In his detailed Arabic chronicles, Al-Masudi specifically refers to the vast Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom as “al-Juzr,” which is a clear Arabic linguistic adaptation of the term “Gurjara.” He noted the empire’s immense military strength, particularly its highly maintained cavalry, which was consistently used to fight against the Arab emirs of Multan and Mansura.
Mispronunciation of Royal Titles: Al-Masudi recorded the title of the reigning Pratihara king as “Baura.” Modern historians strongly believe that “Baura” was not a personal name, but rather a phonetic mispronunciation or Arabic corruption of “Adivaraha,” the royal and religious title originally adopted by the great Pratihara emperor Mihira Bhoja and likely continued by his successors.

📌 Foreign Accounts • Gurjara-Pratihara

Q.7) According to Al-Masudi’s accounts, the vast empire of Juzr (Gurjara-Pratihara) contained how many villages, cities, and rural areas?

Ans > 1,80,000

Scale of the Pratihara Empire: The Gurjara-Pratihara empire, at its absolute zenith during the 9th and early 10th centuries, was one of the most formidable and territorially expansive empires in early medieval Northern India. Their domain stretched massively from the foothills of the Himalayas down to the Narmada River, and from Gujarat in the west to Bengal in the east.
Demographic and Economic Might: According to the detailed observations recorded by the visiting Arab historian Al-Masudi, the empire of al-Juzr (Gurjara) was staggeringly vast. He famously documented that the kingdom encompassed a mind-boggling 1,80,000 villages, cities, and rural settlements, highlighting the immense agricultural and demographic wealth supporting the state.
Military Dominance: This massive population and dense network of villages provided the Pratihara kings with an inexhaustible tax base and a continuous supply of manpower. Al-Masudi specifically noted that this wealth allowed the empire to maintain four massive, highly organized standing armies, continuously deployed in all four cardinal directions to defend against the Rashtrakutas, the Palas, and the Arabs.

📌 Military History • Rashtrakutas

Q.8) The Rashtrakuta king Krishna III invaded north India around AD 963 and defeated the Pratihara ruler. Earlier, in AD 949, he had also defeated which Chola king?

Ans > Parantaka I

The Battle of Takkolam: In AD 949, a highly decisive and bloody military conflict known as the Battle of Takkolam took place between the aggressive Rashtrakuta Empire of the Deccan and the rising Chola Empire of the deep south. The Rashtrakuta forces were personally led by their formidable emperor, Krishna III.
Defeat of Parantaka I: The Chola army, fighting under the command of Rajaditya (the crown prince and son of the reigning Chola king Parantaka I), suffered a catastrophic defeat. Rajaditya was killed in the battlefield by a treacherous arrow while seated on his war elephant, leading to the complete rout of the Chola forces.
Geopolitical Consequences: Following this massive victory, Krishna III successfully annexed Tondaimandalam (the northern part of the Chola empire). This devastating defeat severely crippled Chola imperial ambitions for nearly three decades, forcing them into a defensive posture until they eventually recovered their strength and territory under the later reign of Rajaraja Chola I.

📌 Administration • Rashtrakuta Period

Q.9) In the Deccan, the rise of hereditary revenue officers significantly impacted society and politics, mirroring the functions of later deshmukhs and deshpandes. What were these officers called during the Rashtrakuta period?

Ans > Nad gavundas or desa gramakutas

Decentralization of Deccan Administration: During the rule of the Rashtrakutas (8th to 10th centuries), the vast Deccan plateau saw a significant shift in its agrarian and administrative structure. To efficiently manage land revenue collection across difficult terrains, the central state increasingly relied on deeply entrenched, localized administrative officers rather than direct royal bureaucracy.
Rise of the Nad Gavundas: This period witnessed the rapid rise and empowerment of hereditary revenue officers who were officially designated as ‘nad gavundas’ or ‘desa gramakutas’. These powerful individuals acted as the crucial intermediaries between the peasant cultivators at the village level and the imperial Rashtrakuta treasury.
Precursors to Later Systems: Over generations, these ‘nad gavundas’ accumulated immense local political power, massive landholdings, and significant military influence. Their historical role perfectly mirrors the societal and administrative functions of the wealthy ‘deshmukhs’ and ‘deshpandes’ who would later dominate the rural political landscape of Maharashtra and the Deccan during the Maratha and Peshwa periods.

📌 International Trade • Chola Dynasty

Q.10) In 1077, a Chola embassy of 70 merchants reached China. According to a Chinese account, they received a massive return for their articles of tribute. What did they receive?

Ans > 81,800 strings of copper-cash

Chola Maritime Dominance: The Imperial Cholas were not just a formidable land power; they possessed an incredibly advanced blue-water navy. This massive naval strength was utilized strictly to monopolize the highly lucrative maritime trade routes connecting the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea, bypassing traditional Arab middlemen.
Diplomatic and Trade Missions: To officially secure state-level trade agreements and bypass piracy in the Malacca Straits, the Chola emperors regularly dispatched massive diplomatic and commercial embassies to the imperial court of the Song Dynasty in China. One of the most famous of these missions was sent in the year AD 1077 during the reign of Kulottunga Chola I.
Massive Economic Returns: According to detailed Chinese imperial customs accounts, this specific Chola embassy consisted of 70 prominent merchants. In exchange for their precious “articles of tribute” (which included rare spices, glassware, and ivory), the Chinese emperor gifted them a staggering return of 81,800 strings of copper-cash, highlighting the massive scale and profitability of Sino-Indian medieval trade.

📌 Administration • Chola Dynasty

Q.11) In the Chola village administration, while the mahasabha was the gathering of adult men in Brahman villages, what was the term for the general assembly of an ordinary village?

Ans > Ur

Chola Local Self-Government: The Chola dynasty is historically renowned for establishing one of the most highly evolved, democratic, and autonomous systems of local self-government in early medieval India. Village assemblies possessed massive administrative, judicial, and financial powers, operating with minimal interference from the central imperial capital.
Differentiating the Assemblies: The administrative structure was heavily divided based on the demographic nature of the village. The Mahasabha or Sabha was an exclusive gathering of adult male property owners specifically found in Brahmadeya villages (entire villages gifted tax-free to learned Brahmanas).
The Function of the Ur: In contrast, the Ur was the general, highly inclusive assembly found in ordinary, non-Brahmanical (Vellanvagai) peasant villages. The Ur comprised all the tax-paying agrarian residents of the village. They collectively managed communal agricultural lands, maintained local irrigation tanks, collected state revenues, and resolved minor disputes, forming the absolute bedrock of the Chola agrarian economy.

📌 Society & Culture • Kashmir

Q.12) The author of the Rajatarangini highlights economic disparities in twelfth-century Kashmir by noting that while courtiers ate fried meat and drank cooled wine, ordinary people had to be content with rice and:

Ans > A wild vegetable of bitter taste called utpala-saka

The Chronicle of Kings: The Rajatarangini (“River of Kings”) is a highly significant historical chronicle composed in Sanskrit by the Kashmiri Brahmin Kalhana in the 12th century. Unlike mythological Puranas, Kalhana’s work is celebrated for its relatively objective, critical approach to history, heavily documenting the political intrigues and socio-economic realities of medieval Kashmir.
Stark Economic Inequality: Kalhana did not restrict his writings to royal court politics; he acutely observed the immense wealth disparity within Kashmiri society. He specifically highlighted that while the powerful courtiers, corrupt officials, and wealthy elites indulged in luxurious feasts of fried meat and drank expensive, snow-cooled wine, the peasantry lived in abject poverty.
Diet of the Commoners: The text explicitly notes that the ordinary, heavily taxed citizens of Kashmir had a grim and monotonous diet. They were forced to be content with basic rice and a wild, uncultivated vegetable known as utpala-saka, which was known for its distinctly bitter taste, deeply underscoring the harsh agrarian realities of the 12th century.

📌 Mythology • Rajput Origins

Q.13) The agnikula legend, traced to the eleventh century, claims that four Rajput clans (Pratiharas, Chalukyas, Parmars, and Chauhans) were produced out of a sacrificial fire by which sage?

Ans > Vashishtha

The Quest for Legitimacy: Following the collapse of the major ancient Indian empires and the disruption caused by Hunnic invasions, several new martial clans emerged in northern and western India. To legitimize their newfound political power and elevate their social status to that of pure Kshatriyas, these clans patronized bards to weave divine origin myths.
The Fire-Pit Ritual: The most famous of these origin myths is the Agnikula (fire-family) legend, which was popularized by the 11th-century poet Chand Bardai in his epic Prithviraj Raso. According to the legend, the gods and prominent sages were constantly harassed by demons who polluted their sacred sacrifices at Mount Abu.
Creation by Vashishtha: To destroy these demons, the great sage Vashishtha performed a massive, magical fire sacrifice (yajna). From the raging sacrificial fire-pit, four valiant warriors miraculously emerged, fully armed. These four divine heroes were declared the mythical founders of the four supreme Rajput clans: the Pratiharas, the Chalukyas (Solankis), the Parmars (Paramaras), and the Chauhans (Chahamanas).

📌 Biography • Al-Biruni

Q.14) The noted scientist and scholar Al-Biruni lived in India for about ten years during the early part of the eleventh century. Where was he originally from?

Ans > Central Asia

A Polymath from Khwarizm: Abu Rayhan al-Biruni was one of the most brilliant scholars and polymaths of the medieval Islamic Golden Age. He was originally born in the late 10th century in the culturally rich region of Khwarizm in Central Asia (located in modern-day Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan), which was a major hub of learning.
Arrival in India: Al-Biruni’s life changed drastically when the aggressive conqueror Mahmud of Ghazni attacked Khwarizm and forcibly took many scholars, including Al-Biruni, back to his capital in Afghanistan. Recognizing his genius, Mahmud brought Al-Biruni along during his subsequent military campaigns into the Indian subcontinent in the early 11th century.
The Study of Indology: Al-Biruni lived in India for about ten years, primarily residing in the Punjab region. Unlike typical conquerors, he possessed a massive thirst for knowledge. He mastered complex Sanskrit, intensely studied Hindu philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy under Brahman priests, and eventually wrote the monumental Tahqiq ma li-l-Hind (Book of India), providing an unparalleled, objective encyclopedic account of 11th-century Indian society.

📌 Religion • Eastern India

Q.15) As Hinduism expanded and synthesized with other traditions in eastern India, the consorts of major deities became chief objects of worship. Who is explicitly mentioned in the text as the consort of Buddha in this context?

Ans > Tara

The Rise of Tantric Buddhism: In early medieval eastern India (specifically Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha under the Pala Empire), traditional Mahayana Buddhism underwent a massive transformation. It heavily absorbed esoteric, magical, and ritualistic elements, evolving into Vajrayana (the Thunderbolt Vehicle) and deeply embracing Tantric practices that focused on mystical mantras and complex mandalas.
Syncretism with Hinduism: Simultaneously, a powerful wave of religious syncretism occurred between this evolving Buddhism and resurgent Puranic Hinduism, specifically Shaktism (the worship of the divine feminine). The absolute boundaries between the two religions blurred, heavily influencing each other’s iconography, theology, and methods of worship.
Elevation of Consorts: A defining feature of this era was the massive elevation of female deities. The divine consorts of major male gods were no longer secondary figures; they were elevated to independent, supreme objects of worship. Alongside Hindu goddesses like Durga and Kali (consorts of Shiva), Tara was officially formalized and widely worshipped in Eastern India as the powerful, compassionate consort of the Buddha, embodying the feminine principle of salvation.

📌 Religion • Lingayat Movement

Q.16) A popular religious movement arose in Karnataka during the twelfth century that strongly opposed the caste system, rejected fasts and sacrifices, and allowed widow remarriage. Who were the founders of this Lingayat (Vir Saiva) movement?

Ans > Basava and his nephew, Channabasava

A Radical Social Reform: During the 12th century, a highly powerful, radically egalitarian religious and social movement emerged in the Karnataka region. Known as the Vir Saiva (Heroic Shaivism) or Lingayat movement, it directly challenged the deeply entrenched, rigid orthodoxies of the contemporary Brahmanical socio-religious order.
The Role of Basavanna: The undisputed leader and primary founder of this movement was Basava (or Basavanna), a brilliant poet, philosopher, and social reformer who actually served as a powerful minister in the court of the Kalachuri king Bijjala. He was massively supported by his equally intellectual nephew, Channabasava, in organizing and spreading the philosophy.
Rejection of Orthodoxy: Under Basava’s guidance, the Lingayats vehemently opposed the discriminatory caste system and the oppressive concept of ritual impurity. They completely rejected complex Vedic sacrifices, tedious fasts, and the authority of Brahman priests. Instead, they championed gender equality, actively promoted the highly controversial practice of widow remarriage, and focused on intense, personalized devotion (Bhakti) solely to Lord Shiva, symbolized by the Ishtalinga worn directly on the body.

📌 Military History • Ghaznavid Invasions

Q.17) In 1001, the Hindushahi ruler Jayapala suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni in a furious battle near which city?

Ans > Peshawar

The Hindushahi Frontier: The Hindushahi dynasty was a formidable martial kingdom that controlled the crucial, strategic territories of eastern Afghanistan and the Punjab. They acted as the primary, stalwart defenders of the Indian subcontinent’s northwestern frontier against the rising, aggressive Islamic empires pushing out of Central Asia and the Iranian plateau.
The Threat of Mahmud: Mahmud of Ghazni, an incredibly ambitious and militarily brilliant Turkic conqueror, ascended the throne of the Ghaznavid Empire and immediately targeted the immense wealth of the Indian subcontinent. The Hindushahi ruler, King Jayapala, recognized this existential threat and had previously fought Mahmud’s father, Sabuktigin.
The Battle of Peshawar: In the year 1001, Mahmud launched a massive, highly organized cavalry invasion. King Jayapala met him in a furious, large-scale battle near the strategic city of Peshawar. Despite fighting bravely, the Hindushahi forces were decisively outmaneuvered and completely defeated by the superior mobility of the Ghaznavid cavalry. Unable to bear the deep humiliation of this crushing defeat and subsequent capture, Jayapala later committed ritual suicide by stepping into a funeral pyre, passing the crown to his son Anandapala.

📌 Military History • Ghaznavid Invasions

Q.18) For his famous 1025 campaign to plunder the wealthy temple of Somnath, Mahmud of Ghazni marched with a regular cavalry of 30,000 via which specific route?

Ans > Via Multan and Jaisalmer

The Target of Somnath: Mahmud of Ghazni is historically infamous for launching seventeen devastating military campaigns into India between 1000 and 1027 AD. His absolute most famous, lucrative, and destructive expedition occurred in 1025 AD, targeting the extraordinarily wealthy and deeply venerated Shiva temple of Somnath, located on the distant coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat.
A Logistical Nightmare: The campaign to Somnath was incredibly risky and required massive, precise logistical planning. To reach Gujarat from his capital in Afghanistan without being intercepted by a coalition of powerful North Indian Rajput armies, Mahmud deliberately avoided the heavily defended traditional invasion routes through the fertile Punjab and Delhi.
The Desert March: Instead, Mahmud gambled by taking an extremely harsh, direct route. He marched a massive, highly disciplined regular cavalry force of 30,000 men southward through Multan, and then directly across the unforgiving, arid Thar desert via Jaisalmer. This surprise desert maneuver totally bypassed major Rajput defenses, allowing him to successfully sack the temple, plunder its staggering treasury, and escape back across the desert before a massive counter-attack could be properly organized.

📌 Military History • Battles of Tarain

Q.19) During the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Muizzuddin Muhammad was severely wounded and completely routed by Prithviraj Chauhan. According to the text, his life was saved by a young horseman belonging to which group?

Ans > A Khalji horseman

The First Battle of Tarain (1191): The First Battle of Tarain was a massive, watershed military clash between the invading Ghurid army led by Muizzuddin Muhammad (commonly known as Muhammad Ghori) and a vast Rajput confederacy led by the heroic Chauhan king, Prithviraj III. The battle took place on the strategic plains of Tarain, near modern-day Haryana.
The Rajput Charge: The battle opened with a devastating, coordinated frontal charge by the heavy Rajput cavalry. The fierce Rajput onslaught completely shattered the Ghurid flanks, causing massive panic. In a desperate attempt to rally his fleeing troops, Muhammad Ghori personally charged into the center of the fray, entering into direct, violent hand-to-hand combat with the Rajput commander, Govind Rai.
A Close Call with Death: During this intense personal duel, Ghori was severely struck and heavily wounded by Govind Rai’s spear. The Ghurid sultan was critically injured, began bleeding profusely, and was about to fall from his horse, which would have meant certain death and total disaster. At that absolute critical moment, a quick-thinking, incredibly brave young Khalji horseman leapt onto the sultan’s horse, grabbed him, and galloped him safely off the battlefield, saving his life while the rest of the Ghurid army was completely routed.

📌 Numismatics • Ghurid Conquest

Q.20) Evidence suggests that Prithviraj III was allowed to rule over Ajmer as a feudatory for some time after his defeat in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192). What specific historical evidence from the period supports this?

Ans > Coins bearing ‘Prithvirajadeva’ on one side and ‘Sri Muhammad Sam’ on the other

The Second Battle of Tarain (1192): Exactly one year after his humiliating defeat, Muhammad Ghori returned with a massive, highly retrained army of 120,000 mounted archers. In the Second Battle of Tarain, he utilized brilliant mobile cavalry tactics, feigning retreats to break the disciplined Rajput lines, ultimately securing a crushing, decisive victory and capturing Prithviraj Chauhan alive.
A Pragmatic Political Arrangement: Popular legends and later Rajput epics often romantically claim that Prithviraj was immediately blinded and executed in Ghazni. However, hard historical and archaeological evidence paints a very different, pragmatic picture. Ghori initially needed local administrative stability to consolidate his massive new conquests in hostile territory.
The Numismatic Proof: To prevent immediate mass rebellions, Ghori actually reinstated the defeated Prithviraj III to rule over his core territory of Ajmer, but strictly as a subjugated vassal (feudatory) of the Ghurid Empire. The undeniable proof of this brief political arrangement lies in specific copper coins minted during this period. These fascinating dual-legend coins bear the Hindu name ‘Prithvirajadeva’ on one side and the Islamic title ‘Sri Muhammad Sam’ on the reverse, clearly acknowledging Ghori’s ultimate suzerainty.

📌 Military History • Khalji Conquests

Q.21) In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji launched a surprise attack pretending to be a horse-merchant. Which Sena capital did he subsequently occupy without opposition after the ruler Lakshmana Sena fled?

Ans > Lakhnauti

The Eastern Expansion: While Muhammad Ghori and his top general Qutbuddin Aibak were busy violently consolidating their hold over Delhi and northern India, a highly aggressive, independent Ghurid commander named Ikhtiyaruddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji launched daring, unsanctioned military raids into the wealthy, vulnerable eastern regions of Bihar and Bengal.
The Raid on Nadia: In 1204, utilizing extreme stealth and audacity, Bakhtiyar Khalji marched into Bengal. To bypass the heavy border defenses, he rapidly advanced with only 18 elite horsemen, successfully disguising themselves as peaceful horse merchants. They managed to enter the city of Nadia, where the aging Sena king, Lakshmana Sena, was currently residing.
Collapse of the Sena Dynasty: Khalji launched a sudden, incredibly violent attack directly on the royal palace. Caught completely off guard while having lunch, the terrified King Lakshmana Sena fled through a back door, escaping barefoot toward East Bengal. Following this shocking raid, Bakhtiyar’s main army arrived. He then easily marched onward and occupied the primary Sena capital of Lakhnauti without facing any organized military opposition, establishing Islamic rule in Bengal.

📌 Biography • Delhi Sultanate

Q.22) Following the death of Iltutmish, his daughter Raziya faced a massive rebellion fueled by her appointment of the Abyssinian Yaqut Khan. Where was Raziya initially imprisoned after an internal rebellion broke out on her way to Sirhind?

Ans > Tabarhinda

A Controversial Ascension: Sultan Iltutmish broke all contemporary Islamic political traditions by nominating his highly capable daughter, Raziya Sultan, as his heir, explicitly stating she was far more competent than any of his sons. When she finally secured the throne in 1236, her ascension deeply angered the “Turkan-i-Chahalgani” (The Forty), an elite, highly orthodox cabal of powerful Turkish nobles who despised taking orders from a woman.
The Yaqut Khan Incident: Raziya further alienated the racist Turkish nobility by attempting to break their absolute monopoly on power. She systematically promoted non-Turkish nobles, most notably elevating an Abyssinian (African) slave named Jamaluddin Yaqut to the highly prestigious military post of Amir-i-Akhur (Superintendent of the Royal Horses).
The Rebellion and Imprisonment: This promotion served as the perfect spark for a massive, organized revolt by the provincial governors. When a major rebellion broke out in the strategic fortress of Tabarhinda (modern Bhatinda), Raziya personally marched her army to crush it. However, during the chaotic journey, a deep conspiracy unfolded within her own camp; her loyal ally Yaqut Khan was assassinated, and Raziya was forcefully arrested and subsequently imprisoned in the heavily fortified prison at Tabarhinda.

📌 Administration • Delhi Sultanate

Q.23) The ascension of Raziya was fiercely opposed by several orthodox nobles. Who was the wazir of Iltutmish that opposed her elevation and backed the rebellion against her?

Ans > Nizam-ul-Mulk Junaidi

The Power of the Wazir: In the administrative hierarchy of the early Delhi Sultanate, the Wazir (Prime Minister) was the second most powerful individual after the Sultan, heavily controlling the state finances, military appointments, and the sprawling imperial bureaucracy. During the reign of Iltutmish, this crucial position was held by the highly influential Nizam-ul-Mulk Junaidi.
Orthodox Opposition: Junaidi was a deeply conservative and orthodox official. Despite Iltutmish’s clear dying wishes, Junaidi vehemently and publicly opposed the elevation of Raziya to the throne. He firmly believed, in accordance with rigid patriarchal norms of the era, that the sovereign ruler of an Islamic state could not legally or morally be a woman.
Leading the Nobles’ Rebellion: When Raziya successfully seized power in Delhi with the massive, enthusiastic support of the city’s general populace and the local garrison, Junaidi refused to accept defeat. Using his massive bureaucratic influence, he actively backed, organized, and financially supported a major rebellion of powerful provincial Turkish nobles against her. Raziya, however, utilized brilliant diplomacy and military strategy to successfully divide this rebel coalition, eventually forcing Junaidi to flee into the Sirmur hills, where he later died.

📌 Biography • Delhi Sultanate

Q.24) To strengthen his authoritarian rule and establish legitimacy among the Turkish nobility, Balban claimed descent from which legendary Iranian king?

Ans > Afrasiyab

The Crisis of Legitimacy: Ghiyasuddin Balban originally started his career as a lowly purchased slave and a member of the famous “Forty” (Turkan-i-Chahalgani) under Iltutmish. When he finally usurped the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in 1266, he faced a massive crisis of legitimacy. The deeply arrogant, established Turkish nobility viewed him merely as an equal who had brutally murdered his way to the top, not as a divinely ordained king.
Cultivating an Aura of Majesty: To forcefully compel the nobility’s absolute submission and elevate the prestige of the monarchy, Balban implemented a highly calculated policy of psychological dominance. He completely abandoned his former peers, maintained an incredibly stern, unsmiling demeanor, and introduced rigid, deeply humiliating Persian court rituals like Sijda (prostration) and Paibos (kissing the monarch’s feet).
Fabricating Royal Lineage: As the ultimate tool for his political propaganda, Balban blatantly fabricated a glorious, ancient genealogy. He officially declared that he was a direct blood descendant of Afrasiyab, the legendary and universally respected ancient Iranian king heavily featured in the famous Persian epic, the Shahnama. By connecting his bloodline to this mythical hero, Balban successfully masked his slave origins and forced the nobility to revere him as a god-appointed sovereign.

📌 Military History • Mongol Invasions

Q.25) In 1241, a massive Mongol force appeared at Lahore, sacking and almost depopulating the town. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces?

Ans > Tair Bahadur

The Expanding Mongol Menace: Following the unstoppable rise of Changez Khan, the massive Mongol war machine rapidly expanded across Asia, utterly annihilating the powerful Khwarizmian Empire. By the mid-13th century, the heavily fortified borders of the Delhi Sultanate were constantly subjected to devastating, fast-paced probing raids by Mongol armies searching for weakness.
Internal Chaos in Delhi: In 1241, the political situation in the Delhi Sultanate was extremely fragile and chaotic. Following the tragic fall of Raziya Sultan, a series of weak, highly incompetent puppet rulers occupied the throne, while the powerful Turkish nobles engaged in violent, endless factional infighting for control of the court.
The Sacking of Lahore: Taking absolute advantage of this severe internal political paralysis, a massive, highly organized Mongol invasion force breached the northwestern frontier. Under the brutal command of the Mongol general Tair Bahadur, they swiftly descended upon the vital frontier city of Lahore. The Sultanate’s defenses failed completely; the Mongols breached the walls, heavily sacked the city, slaughtered thousands of its inhabitants, and almost completely depopulated one of the most important cultural hubs of the region before retreating.

📌 Military History • Mongol Invasions

Q.26) Decades later, in 1292, the Mongols again advanced on Delhi with 1,50,000 horses but were defeated by Jalaluddin Khalji. Who commanded this Mongol invasion, identified in the text as a grandson of Halaku?

Ans > Abdullah

A Shift in Mongol Tactics: By the late 13th century, the Mongol Empire had fractured into massive, powerful Khanates. The Chagatai Khanate, which controlled Central Asia, frequently launched massive, full-scale invasions deep into India, shifting from their earlier strategy of quick, localized border raids to attempts at absolute territorial conquest and massive plunder.
The Massive 1292 Invasion: In the year 1292, during the early reign of the elderly founder of the Khalji dynasty, Jalaluddin Khalji, the Sultanate faced an existential crisis. A staggeringly massive Mongol army, consisting of an estimated 1,50,000 highly trained light cavalry horses, violently crossed the Indus River and marched relentlessly toward the capital of Delhi.
The Role of Abdullah: This terrifying invasion force was personally commanded by Abdullah, who was historically identified as a grandson of the legendary Halaku Khan (the Mongol warlord famous for utterly destroying Baghdad in 1258). Despite his advanced age, Sultan Jalaluddin boldly marched his army out to meet the threat. In a stunning military upset, the heavily outnumbered Khalji forces successfully defeated Abdullah’s massive vanguard on the banks of the unseasonal rivers, forcing the Mongols to negotiate a humiliating truce and permanently retreat.

📌 Military History • Mongol Invasions

Q.27) Changez Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire who prided in calling himself ‘the scourge of God’, destroyed the Khwarizmi empire and pursued its crown prince to the Indus river in which year?

Ans > 1218 (Attack on Khwarizm) / 1221 (Indus pursuit)

The Destruction of Khwarizm: Changez Khan (Genghis Khan), the brilliant and utterly ruthless founder of the Mongol Empire, possessed an intense sense of divine mission, famously calling himself the ‘Scourge of God’. In 1218, following the execution of his diplomatic envoys by the Khwarizmian Shah, Changez Khan launched one of the most devastating, apocalyptic military campaigns in human history, systematically annihilating the massive Khwarizmi empire in Central Asia and Persia.
The Flight of Jalaluddin: While the Khwarizmi Shah died in miserable exile on a tiny island, his incredibly brave and resilient crown prince, Jalaluddin Mangabarni, refused to surrender. He fought a brilliant, bitter rearguard action across the mountains of Afghanistan, continuously retreating southward while relentlessly pursued by the main Mongol army commanded by Changez Khan himself.
The Standoff at the Indus: In 1221, the dramatic pursuit finally culminated at the roaring banks of the Indus River. Jalaluddin fought a desperate, heroic final battle against overwhelming Mongol forces. Recognizing defeat, he spurred his horse directly off a cliff into the raging Indus and swam across to seek political asylum in the Delhi Sultanate. Iltutmish, ruling Delhi at the time, diplomatically refused to give Jalaluddin shelter, thereby brilliantly avoiding provoking Changez Khan and saving India from total Mongol annihilation.

📌 Architecture • Delhi Sultanate

Q.28) In 1303, during a massive Mongol invasion of 1,20,000 troops, Alauddin Khalji rushed back from his campaign in Chittor and fortified himself at his new capital near Delhi. What was it called?

Ans > Siri

The Peak of the Mongol Threat: During the reign of the highly aggressive Alauddin Khalji, the Chagatai Mongols launched their absolute most massive and dangerous invasions aimed directly at the heart of the Sultanate. The most terrifying of these occurred in 1303, commanded by the Mongol general Targhi, who brought an incredibly fast, highly mobile force of 1,20,000 elite horsemen.
Caught Off Guard: The timing of this massive invasion was completely disastrous for Delhi. Alauddin had just returned with his heavily depleted army from a brutal, exhausting siege at Chittor in Rajasthan, while another massive chunk of the Sultanate army was bogged down in a failed campaign in Warangal in the deep south.
The Construction of Siri: Unable to fight the massive Mongol force in open battle due to a lack of troops, Alauddin rushed back and immediately fortified his position. He essentially locked himself and his remaining army in the vast plains just outside the old city of Delhi. He rapidly constructed heavy defensive entrenchments that would later evolve into a permanent, massive fortress city. This new, heavily fortified military capital was named ‘Siri’, designed specifically as an impregnable shield against future Mongol sieges.

📌 Military History • Pala Empire

Q.29) According to the Arab writer Sulaiman, the Pala king was customarily accompanied by a massive force of how many war elephants?

Ans > 50,000

The Unique Military Terrain of Bengal: The Pala Empire, centered in the riverine, heavily forested, and monsoon-drenched geography of Bengal and Bihar, had a vastly different military doctrine compared to the northwestern empires. While the Gurjara-Pratiharas relied heavily on swift, arid-terrain cavalry, the Palas specialized heavily in massive infantry formations and, most importantly, the deployment of devastating war elephants.
The Arab Observations: Sulaiman, a highly observant 9th-century Arab merchant and traveler who frequently visited the coastal ports of India, left behind incredibly detailed accounts of the military capabilities of the major contemporary Indian powers. He referred to the Pala kingdom as ‘Ruhma’ (likely a corruption of Dharma, referring to Dharmapala).
The Ultimate Shock Cavalry: In his widely circulated texts, Sulaiman noted with absolute awe the staggering scale of the Pala military machine. He famously recorded that it was customary for the Pala king to be accompanied on his military campaigns by a massive, almost unbelievable force of 50,000 war elephants. While this exact number might be a slight literary exaggeration, it undeniably highlights that the Palas possessed the absolute largest, most terrifying elephant corps in the known world, acting as medieval tanks to smash enemy formations.

📌 History of Science • Arab World

Q.30) The text notes that the Arab world established highly stocked libraries and leading scientific laboratories, yet Arab science began to decline after which century due to political developments and growing orthodoxy?

Ans > The twelfth century

The Islamic Golden Age: For several centuries, primarily under the Abbasid Caliphate, the Arab and broader Islamic world experienced an unprecedented Golden Age of Science. Major cities like Baghdad, Cordoba, and Cairo boasted massive, state-funded institutions like the House of Wisdom, highly stocked public libraries, and world-leading astronomical observatories and chemistry laboratories.
The Turning Point: However, this vibrant intellectual environment began to severely stagnate and actively decline following the twelfth century. This intellectual collapse was not immediate but was a complex result of massive internal and external shocks that deeply destabilized the region’s economy and social fabric.
Political Chaos and Orthodoxy: The primary external factors included the devastating, highly destructive invasions by the Crusaders from the West and, far more catastrophically, the Mongols from the East (culminating in the absolute destruction of Baghdad in 1258). Internally, continuous political fragmentation severely reduced state funding for scientific research. Furthermore, this period saw the rapid rise of rigid religious orthodoxy led by conservative theologians, who increasingly viewed secular, rational philosophy and unrestricted scientific inquiry as highly dangerous, heretical threats to religious dogma, permanently stifling innovation.

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 17

Abbasid Trade: Arabs established double entry book-keeping, accountancy, and hundis.
Sanskrit Translations: Aryabhatta’s Surya Siddhanta was translated into Arabic.
Kambuja Empire: It replaced the earlier Hinduized kingdom of Funan.
Pala Empire: Dharmapala set apart 200 villages for Nalanda university’s expenses.
Pratihara Dynasty: King Bhoja adopted the title ‘Adivaraha’ on his coins.
Foreign Accounts: Al-Masudi referred to the Gurjara-Pratihara king as Baura.
Gurjara-Pratihara: Al-Masudi claimed the Juzr empire had 1,80,000 villages and cities.
Rashtrakutas vs Cholas: Rashtrakuta Krishna III defeated Chola king Parantaka I in AD 949.
Rashtrakuta Administration: Hereditary revenue officers were called nad gavundas or desa gramakutas.
Chola Trade: A 1077 Chola embassy to China received 81,800 strings of copper-cash.
Chola Administration: ‘Ur’ was the general assembly of an ordinary village.
Kashmir Society: Ordinary people ate rice and a bitter vegetable (utpala-saka) per Rajatarangini.
Rajput Origins: Sage Vashishtha produced four clans out of a fire in the agnikula legend.
Al-Biruni: The famous scholar and scientist originated from Central Asia.
Eastern Indian Religion: Tara, consort of Buddha, became a chief object of worship.
Lingayat Movement: Founded by Basava and Channabasava in 12th-century Karnataka.
Ghaznavid Invasions: Mahmud of Ghazni defeated Jayapala near Peshawar in 1001.
Somnath Campaign: Mahmud of Ghazni marched via Multan and Jaisalmer in 1025.
Battles of Tarain: A young Khalji horseman saved Muizzuddin’s life in 1191.
Ghurid Conquest: Coins with both ‘Prithvirajadeva’ and ‘Sri Muhammad Sam’ exist.
Khalji Conquests: Bakhtiyar Khalji occupied the Sena capital Lakhnauti without opposition.
Delhi Sultanate (Mamluk): Raziya was imprisoned at Tabarhinda during the rebellion.
Delhi Sultanate (Mamluk): Wazir Nizam-ul-Mulk Junaidi opposed Raziya’s elevation.
Balban’s Legitimacy: He claimed descent from the legendary Iranian king Afrasiyab.
Mongol Invasions: Tair Bahadur commanded the Mongol force that sacked Lahore in 1241.
Mongol Invasions: Abdullah (grandson of Halaku) commanded the 1292 invasion defeated by Jalaluddin Khalji.
Mongol Invasions: Changez Khan attacked Khwarizm (1218) and reached the Indus (1221).
Delhi Sultanate (Khalji): Alauddin Khalji fortified himself at the new capital Siri in 1303.
Pala Military: Arab writer Sulaiman noted the Pala king had 50,000 war elephants.
Arab Science: Declined after the 12th century due to political and economic shifts.

Timer ⏳

30:00

Progress (0/30)

Click any card to flip and reveal the summarized answer!

Smart Review: Questions you got wrong appear here for focused study.

Navigation Menu

Medieval History Set 17

Q.1) The Arab empire under the Abbasids commanded important trade routes and attained massive wealth. This allowed them to establish which of the following advanced financial practices?

Q.2) Which prominent Sanskrit astronomical work was revised and reformed by Aryabhatta, and subsequently translated into Arabic during the Abbasid period?

Q.3) The Kambuja empire, which attained a high level of cultural development and prosperity up to the fifteenth century, was established after it replaced which earlier Hinduized kingdom?

Q.4) The Pala ruler Dharmapala revived the famous Nalanda university. According to Tibetan chronicles, how many villages were set apart specifically for meeting its expenses?

Q.5) The great Pratihara ruler Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted a specific title that has been found inscribed on some of his coins. What was this title?

Q.6) The Baghdad native Al-Masudi, who visited Gujarat in 915–16, referred to the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom as al-Juzr. What name did he use to refer to its king, likely a mispronunciation of Adivaraha?

Q.7) According to Al-Masudi’s accounts, the vast empire of Juzr (Gurjara-Pratihara) contained how many villages, cities, and rural areas?

Q.8) The Rashtrakuta king Krishna III invaded north India around AD 963 and defeated the Pratihara ruler. Earlier, in AD 949, he had also defeated which Chola king?

Q.9) In the Deccan, the rise of hereditary revenue officers significantly impacted society and politics, mirroring the functions of later deshmukhs and deshpandes. What were these officers called during the Rashtrakuta period?

Q.10) In 1077, a Chola embassy of 70 merchants reached China. According to a Chinese account, they received a massive return for their articles of tribute. What did they receive?

Q.11) In the Chola village administration, while the mahasabha was the gathering of adult men in Brahman villages, what was the term for the general assembly of an ordinary village?

Q.12) The author of the Rajatarangini highlights economic disparities in twelfth-century Kashmir by noting that while courtiers ate fried meat and drank cooled wine, ordinary people had to be content with rice and:

Q.13) The agnikula legend, traced to the eleventh century, claims that four Rajput clans (Pratiharas, Chalukyas, Parmars, and Chauhans) were produced out of a sacrificial fire by which sage?

Q.14) The noted scientist and scholar Al-Biruni lived in India for about ten years during the early part of the eleventh century. Where was he originally from?

Q.15) As Hinduism expanded and synthesized with other traditions in eastern India, the consorts of major deities became chief objects of worship. Who is explicitly mentioned in the text as the consort of Buddha in this context?

Q.16) A popular religious movement arose in Karnataka during the twelfth century that strongly opposed the caste system, rejected fasts and sacrifices, and allowed widow remarriage. Who were the founders of this Lingayat (Vir Saiva) movement?

Q.17) In 1001, the Hindushahi ruler Jayapala suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni in a furious battle near which city?

Q.18) For his famous 1025 campaign to plunder the wealthy temple of Somnath, Mahmud of Ghazni marched with a regular cavalry of 30,000 via which specific route?

Q.19) During the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Muizzuddin Muhammad was severely wounded and completely routed by Prithviraj Chauhan. According to the text, his life was saved by a young horseman belonging to which group?

Q.20) Evidence suggests that Prithviraj III was allowed to rule over Ajmer as a feudatory for some time after his defeat in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192). What specific historical evidence from the period supports this?

Q.21) In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji launched a surprise attack pretending to be a horse-merchant. Which Sena capital did he subsequently occupy without opposition after the ruler Lakshmana Sena fled?

Q.22) Following the death of Iltutmish, his daughter Raziya faced a massive rebellion fueled by her appointment of the Abyssinian Yaqut Khan. Where was Raziya initially imprisoned after an internal rebellion broke out on her way to Sirhind?

Q.23) The ascension of Raziya was fiercely opposed by several orthodox nobles. Who was the wazir of Iltutmish that opposed her elevation and backed the rebellion against her?

Q.24) To strengthen his authoritarian rule and establish legitimacy among the Turkish nobility, Balban claimed descent from which legendary Iranian king?

Q.25) In 1241, a massive Mongol force appeared at Lahore, sacking and almost depopulating the town. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces?

Q.26) Decades later, in 1292, the Mongols again advanced on Delhi with 1,50,000 horses but were defeated by Jalaluddin Khalji. Who commanded this Mongol invasion, identified in the text as a grandson of Halaku?

Q.27) Changez Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire who prided in calling himself ‘the scourge of God’, destroyed the Khwarizmi empire and pursued its crown prince to the Indus river in which year?

Q.28) In 1303, during a massive Mongol invasion of 1,20,000 troops, Alauddin Khalji rushed back from his campaign in Chittor and fortified himself at his new capital near Delhi. What was it called?

Q.29) According to the Arab writer Sulaiman, the Pala king was customarily accompanied by a massive force of how many war elephants?

Q.30) The text notes that the Arab world established highly stocked libraries and leading scientific laboratories, yet Arab science began to decline after which century due to political developments and growing orthodoxy?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 17

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Q.1) The Arab empire under the Abbasids commanded important trade routes and attained massive wealth. This allowed them to establish which of the following advanced financial practices?

Q.2) Which prominent Sanskrit astronomical work was revised and reformed by Aryabhatta, and subsequently translated into Arabic during the Abbasid period?

Q.3) The Kambuja empire, which attained a high level of cultural development and prosperity up to the fifteenth century, was established after it replaced which earlier Hinduized kingdom?

Q.4) The Pala ruler Dharmapala revived the famous Nalanda university. According to Tibetan chronicles, how many villages were set apart specifically for meeting its expenses?

Q.5) The great Pratihara ruler Bhoja was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted a specific title that has been found inscribed on some of his coins. What was this title?

Q.6) The Baghdad native Al-Masudi, who visited Gujarat in 915–16, referred to the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom as al-Juzr. What name did he use to refer to its king, likely a mispronunciation of Adivaraha?

Q.7) According to Al-Masudi’s accounts, the vast empire of Juzr (Gurjara-Pratihara) contained how many villages, cities, and rural areas?

Q.8) The Rashtrakuta king Krishna III invaded north India around AD 963 and defeated the Pratihara ruler. Earlier, in AD 949, he had also defeated which Chola king?

Q.9) In the Deccan, the rise of hereditary revenue officers significantly impacted society and politics, mirroring the functions of later deshmukhs and deshpandes. What were these officers called during the Rashtrakuta period?

Q.10) In 1077, a Chola embassy of 70 merchants reached China. According to a Chinese account, they received a massive return for their articles of tribute. What did they receive?

Q.11) In the Chola village administration, while the mahasabha was the gathering of adult men in Brahman villages, what was the term for the general assembly of an ordinary village?

Q.12) The author of the Rajatarangini highlights economic disparities in twelfth-century Kashmir by noting that while courtiers ate fried meat and drank cooled wine, ordinary people had to be content with rice and:

Q.13) The agnikula legend, traced to the eleventh century, claims that four Rajput clans (Pratiharas, Chalukyas, Parmars, and Chauhans) were produced out of a sacrificial fire by which sage?

Q.14) The noted scientist and scholar Al-Biruni lived in India for about ten years during the early part of the eleventh century. Where was he originally from?

Q.15) As Hinduism expanded and synthesized with other traditions in eastern India, the consorts of major deities became chief objects of worship. Who is explicitly mentioned in the text as the consort of Buddha in this context?

Q.16) A popular religious movement arose in Karnataka during the twelfth century that strongly opposed the caste system, rejected fasts and sacrifices, and allowed widow remarriage. Who were the founders of this Lingayat (Vir Saiva) movement?

Q.17) In 1001, the Hindushahi ruler Jayapala suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Mahmud of Ghazni in a furious battle near which city?

Q.18) For his famous 1025 campaign to plunder the wealthy temple of Somnath, Mahmud of Ghazni marched with a regular cavalry of 30,000 via which specific route?

Q.19) During the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Muizzuddin Muhammad was severely wounded and completely routed by Prithviraj Chauhan. According to the text, his life was saved by a young horseman belonging to which group?

Q.20) Evidence suggests that Prithviraj III was allowed to rule over Ajmer as a feudatory for some time after his defeat in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192). What specific historical evidence from the period supports this?

Q.21) In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji launched a surprise attack pretending to be a horse-merchant. Which Sena capital did he subsequently occupy without opposition after the ruler Lakshmana Sena fled?

Q.22) Following the death of Iltutmish, his daughter Raziya faced a massive rebellion fueled by her appointment of the Abyssinian Yaqut Khan. Where was Raziya initially imprisoned after an internal rebellion broke out on her way to Sirhind?

Q.23) The ascension of Raziya was fiercely opposed by several orthodox nobles. Who was the wazir of Iltutmish that opposed her elevation and backed the rebellion against her?

Q.24) To strengthen his authoritarian rule and establish legitimacy among the Turkish nobility, Balban claimed descent from which legendary Iranian king?

Q.25) In 1241, a massive Mongol force appeared at Lahore, sacking and almost depopulating the town. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces?

Q.26) Decades later, in 1292, the Mongols again advanced on Delhi with 1,50,000 horses but were defeated by Jalaluddin Khalji. Who commanded this Mongol invasion, identified in the text as a grandson of Halaku?

Q.27) Changez Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire who prided in calling himself ‘the scourge of God’, destroyed the Khwarizmi empire and pursued its crown prince to the Indus river in which year?

Q.28) In 1303, during a massive Mongol invasion of 1,20,000 troops, Alauddin Khalji rushed back from his campaign in Chittor and fortified himself at his new capital near Delhi. What was it called?

Q.29) According to the Arab writer Sulaiman, the Pala king was customarily accompanied by a massive force of how many war elephants?

Q.30) The text notes that the Arab world established highly stocked libraries and leading scientific laboratories, yet Arab science began to decline after which century due to political developments and growing orthodoxy?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 17

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Current Affairs

Month wise Current Affairs