Medieval History Set 37 | MROY Class

Medieval History Set 37 Questions & Answers

The Humayun-nama provides an intimate, first-hand account of the domestic and political life of the early Mughal emperors. Who authored this valuable historical text? – Gulbadan Begum
In the Mughal agrarian and administrative system, hereditary, tax-free land grants given to scholars, religious divines, and destitute persons were known as Sayurghal or: – Madad-i-Maash
The execution of which Sikh Guru by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675 at Chandni Chowk in Delhi led to a profound militarization of the Sikh community? – Guru Tegh Bahadur
Shivaji justified his collection of Sardeshmukhi (an additional 10% tax on land revenue) from the Deccan territories on what specific legal fiction? – He was the hereditary supreme headman (Deshmukh) of Maharashtra.
In 1443, Abdur Razzaq visited the Vijayanagara Empire and wrote a glowing account of its wealth and administration. He was sent as an ambassador by the Timurid ruler of which city? – Herat
Mughal painting reached its zenith under Jahangir. Among the new elements introduced into Mughal portraiture during his reign, largely influenced by European art, was the use of: – A radiant halo behind the Emperor’s head
To enforce court discipline and awe the nobility, Balban introduced the strict Persian court rituals of sijda and paibos. What did paibos specifically entail? – Kissing the monarch’s feet
The famous blind poet of Agra, Surdas, who composed the Sur Sagar centering on the childhood of Lord Krishna, lived during the reign of which Mughal Emperor? – Akbar
The architectural marvel of the Taj Mahal represents the pinnacle of Mughal structural design and ornamentation. Who was the chief architect (Ustad) generally credited with its design? – Ustad Ahmad Lahori
As part of his welfare measures, Firuz Shah Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Khairat. What was one of the primary functions of this department? – Providing financial assistance for the marriage of poor Muslim girls
At the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), the Maratha forces possessed a highly effective artillery wing trained in the European style. Who commanded this crucial Maratha artillery? – Ibrahim Khan Gardi
The ruins of the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, destroyed after the Battle of Bannihatti (Talikota) in 1565, are located around which modern-day site in Karnataka? – Hampi
Under Akbar’s Dahsala system, the state revenue demand was calculated based on the average yield and prices over a period of how many years? – Ten years
The Suhrawardi Sufi order, which did not believe in excessive asceticism and accepted state patronage, was firmly established in the Punjab and Multan by which prominent saint? – Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya
Sawai Jai Singh of Amber built five astronomical observatories (Jantar Mantar) across North India. Which of the following correctly lists the five locations? – Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, Varanasi
Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s experiment with token currency ultimately failed. What material did he use to mint these token coins, which were meant to have the same value as silver tankas? – Bronze / Copper
Before rising to prominence as Akbar’s brilliant finance minister, Raja Todar Mal had gained his crucial administrative and revenue experience working under which ruler? – Sher Shah Suri
Mahmud Gawan, the brilliant Prime Minister of the Bahmani Kingdom, drastically reformed the provincial administration and expanded the empire. What was his original profession before coming to India? – Overseas merchant/trader
In the Mughal Mansabdari system, every official was granted a Zat rank. What did this Zat rank specifically determine? – His personal status in the court hierarchy and his salary
The great Bhakti saint Tulsidas, who made the story of Rama widely accessible to the masses through his epic Ramcharitmanas, composed the work in which regional language/dialect? – Awadhi
Murshid Quli Khan laid the foundation for the independent state of Bengal. To distance his administration from the Mughal prince in Dacca, to which city did he shift his capital? – Murshidabad
François Bernier, the French traveler who spent 12 years in India during the 17th century and wrote Travels in the Mughal Empire, came to the Mughal court practicing which profession? – Physician
Raziya Sultana faced severe resentment from the Turkish nobles (Chahalgani) when she elevated a non-Turk to the high post of Amir-i-Akhur (Superintendent of the Royal Horses). Who was this noble? – Yaqut Khan (Jamaluddin Yaqut)
At the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur’s innovative defensive formation involved lashing together baggage carts to create a protective wall for his matchlockmen. What was this formation called? – Araba
Under the terms of the Treaty of Purandar (1665) dictated by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, Shivaji was compelled to surrender how many of his 35 forts to the Mughal Empire? – 23
Which revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order, a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, was famously bestowed the title Chiragh-i-Dehli (The Lamp of Delhi)? – Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud
Akbar built the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 initially for Sunni Muslims to debate theology. In which year did he open its doors to scholars of all religions (Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, Jains)? – 1578
The Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited Vijayanagara and left an incredibly detailed chronicle of the city’s bustling markets and royal ceremonies. During whose reign did he visit? – Krishna Deva Raya
The military department of the Delhi Sultanate, headed by the Ariz-i-Mamalik, was called the Diwan-i-Arz. Under which Sultan was this set up as a completely separate department for the first time? – Balban
Following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, his eldest surviving son, Prince Muazzam, defeated his brothers in a war of succession and ascended the throne under what title? – Bahadur Shah I

MROY Class

Medieval History Set 37

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📌 Mughal Empire • Literature

Q.1) The Humayun-nama provides an intimate, first-hand account of the domestic and political life of the early Mughal emperors. Who authored this valuable historical text?

Ans > Gulbadan Begum

Background and Commissioning: Gulbadan Begum was the youngest daughter of Babur (the founder of the Mughal Empire) and the half-sister of Emperor Humayun. She penned the Humayun-nama during the reign of her nephew, Emperor Akbar. Akbar specifically requested her to write down her memories of Babur and Humayun to assist his own court historian, Abu’l Fazl, who was compiling the comprehensive Akbarnama. This makes it a uniquely commissioned royal memoir.
A Rare Female Perspective: Unlike typical court chronicles written by male historians that focus heavily on military campaigns, administrative policies, and grand conquests, Gulbadan’s work provides an intimate, incredibly rare female perspective. She extensively details the domestic life of the Mughal harem, royal marriages, family conflicts, and the emotional toll of political instability on the women of the royal household.
Insights into Humayun’s Struggles: The text vividly chronicles Humayun’s turbulent reign, his devastating defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri, and his subsequent grueling exile in Persia. Gulbadan’s narrative is highly sympathetic to Humayun, depicting his personal flaws alongside his resilience, while also shedding light on the crucial diplomatic roles played by Mughal women during times of crisis.

📌 Mughal Empire • Administration

Q.2) In the Mughal agrarian and administrative system, hereditary, tax-free land grants given to scholars, religious divines, and destitute persons were known as Sayurghal or:

Ans > Madad-i-Maash

Definition and Purpose: In the Mughal administrative and agrarian system, Madad-i-Maash (also referred to as Sayurghal or Aima) were specific land grants given by the state. These were completely tax-free assignments of land revenue intended to provide a steady livelihood for scholars, religious divines, destitutes, and persons from respectable families who were unable to earn a living through conventional means.
Administrative Control: The department responsible for administering and overseeing these charitable land grants was headed by the Sadr-us-Sudur (the Chief Sadr) at the imperial level, and by local Sadrs at the provincial levels. The state maintained strict records to ensure that the grantees actually deserved the charity and that the lands were not being misused.
Evolution Under Akbar: Initially, these grants were highly susceptible to corruption. Emperor Akbar introduced sweeping reforms in this department. He personally interviewed grantees, reduced the size of grants for those who possessed too much land, and mandated that half of the granted land must be uncultivated wasteland (Bangar) so that the grantee would be forced to bring new land under cultivation, thereby expanding the empire’s agricultural base.

📌 Mughal Empire • Sikh History

Q.3) The execution of which Sikh Guru by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675 at Chandni Chowk in Delhi led to a profound militarization of the Sikh community?

Ans > Guru Tegh Bahadur

Aurangzeb’s Religious Policies: Emperor Aurangzeb adopted highly orthodox Sunni Islamic policies, leading to widespread religious intolerance, the destruction of Hindu temples, and the reimposition of the Jizya tax. His aggressive proselytization efforts particularly targeted the Kashmiri Pandits, who faced severe persecution and forced conversions.
The Intervention of the Guru: The desperate Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur (the ninth Sikh Guru) at Anandpur Sahib for protection. The Guru challenged Aurangzeb, stating that if the Emperor could convert him, all the Pandits would willingly follow suit. This was a monumental stand for religious freedom, not just for his own followers, but for those of another faith.
Martyrdom and Legacy: Guru Tegh Bahadur was summoned to Delhi, imprisoned, and subjected to horrific torture when he refused to embrace Islam. In 1675, he was publicly beheaded at Chandni Chowk (where Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib now stands). This brutal execution profoundly traumatized the Sikh community and became the primary catalyst for his son, Guru Gobind Singh, to formally militarize the Sikhs by founding the Khalsa in 1699, transforming them into a formidable martial force.

📌 Maratha Empire • Administration

Q.4) Shivaji justified his collection of Sardeshmukhi (an additional 10% tax on land revenue) from the Deccan territories on what specific legal fiction?

Ans > He was the hereditary supreme headman (Deshmukh) of Maharashtra.

Concept of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi: Shivaji Maharaj, the legendary founder of the Maratha Empire, developed a unique revenue model to finance his military campaigns against the Deccan Sultanates and the Mughal Empire. He demanded two specific levies from territories outside his direct control (the Swarajya): the Chauth (25% of the standard land revenue) and the Sardeshmukhi (an additional 10%).
The Legal Justification: While the Chauth was essentially a military protection fee paid to avoid Maratha raids, Shivaji justified the Sardeshmukhi on completely different grounds. He claimed it based on the legal fiction that he was the supreme, hereditary headman (Sardeshmukh) of the entire Maharashtra region. As the premier Deshmukh, he argued he was legally entitled to this extra 10% as his customary right.
Strategic Economic Warfare: By levying these taxes deep within Mughal and Adil Shahi territories, Shivaji effectively established a parallel Maratha administration. This not only provided a massive, continuous influx of wealth to sustain his highly mobile cavalry but also systematically drained the resources and political authority of his adversaries, laying the economic foundation for rapid Maratha expansion.

📌 Vijayanagara Empire • Foreign Travelers

Q.5) In 1443, Abdur Razzaq visited the Vijayanagara Empire and wrote a glowing account of its wealth and administration. He was sent as an ambassador by the Timurid ruler of which city?

Ans > Herat

Diplomatic Mission: Abdur Razzaq was a highly educated Persian scholar and diplomat serving in the court of Shah Rukh, the powerful Timurid ruler of Herat (located in modern-day Afghanistan). In 1443, he was sent as an official ambassador to the incredibly wealthy court of Deva Raya II, one of the greatest rulers of the Sangama dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Observations on Capital City: Razzaq’s travelogue, Matla-us-Sadain, provides an extraordinarily detailed and glowing account of the Vijayanagara capital. He famously observed that “the city of Vijayanagara is such that the eye has not seen nor ear heard of any place resembling it upon the whole earth.” He described a massive, heavily fortified metropolis with seven concentric lines of defensive walls, enclosing not just the urban center but also vast agricultural fields and water reservoirs.
Economy and Administration: His writings offer crucial insights into the empire’s booming economy. He detailed the bustling bazaars where precious stones, pearls, and diamonds were openly sold in the streets. He also documented the highly efficient administrative machinery, the incredible wealth stored in the royal treasury, and the grandeur of the Mahanavami festival, highlighting the absolute zenith of South Indian imperial power.

📌 Mughal Empire • Art & Culture

Q.6) Mughal painting reached its zenith under Jahangir. Among the new elements introduced into Mughal portraiture during his reign, largely influenced by European art, was the use of:

Ans > A radiant halo behind the Emperor’s head

European Influence on Mughal Art: During the reign of Emperor Jahangir (1605–1627), Mughal miniature painting reached its absolute zenith. Jahangir was a passionate connoisseur of art and heavily encouraged his court painters (like Abu’l Hasan and Mansur) to experiment. A major turning point occurred with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries and European diplomats, who brought with them Renaissance paintings and engravings featuring Christian religious motifs.
The Divine Right to Rule: Deeply fascinated by these European artworks, Jahangir’s artists began incorporating specific elements into Mughal portraiture. The most significant adoption was the radiant golden halo placed directly behind the Emperor’s head. This visual motif was borrowed from European depictions of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and Christian saints.
Political Symbolism: The halo was not merely a decorative element; it was a profound political statement. It visually reinforced the Persian concept of Farr-i-Izadi (Divine Light), asserting that the Mughal Emperor was directly divinely ordained to rule. By illuminating his portrait with a halo, Jahangir successfully blended Islamic concepts of kingship with Western visual symbolism to project supreme, unassailable imperial authority.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Administration

Q.7) To enforce court discipline and awe the nobility, Balban introduced the strict Persian court rituals of sijda and paibos. What did paibos specifically entail?

Ans > Kissing the monarch’s feet

The Crisis of the Crown: Ghiyasuddin Balban ascended the throne of the Delhi Sultanate in 1266 during a period of massive internal instability. The power of the Sultan had been severely eroded by the “Chahalgani” (the Group of Forty), a highly arrogant and powerful syndicate of Turkish nobles who frequently played kingmakers and treated the monarch as merely a first among equals.
Persian Ideals of Kingship: To ruthlessly crush the arrogance of these nobles and restore the absolute prestige of the crown, Balban heavily modeled his court on the ancient, autocratic traditions of the Persian Sassanid emperors. He claimed descent from the mythical Iranian king Afrasiyab and propagated the theory of Zill-i-Ilahi (the shadow of God on earth), elevating the Sultan to a near-divine status.
Implementation of Strict Rituals: As part of this psychological warfare, Balban instituted incredibly strict court etiquette. He mandated Sijda (prostrating oneself completely flat on the ground) and Paibos or Zaminbos (kissing the monarch’s feet or the ground before him). These humiliating rituals forced the haughty Turkish nobles to physically submit, breaking their pride and re-establishing the absolute terror and supremacy of the Sultan.

📌 Bhakti Movement • Literature

Q.8) The famous blind poet of Agra, Surdas, who composed the Sur Sagar centering on the childhood of Lord Krishna, lived during the reign of which Mughal Emperor?

Ans > Akbar

The Bhakti Movement Context: Surdas was one of the greatest and most revered figures of the Saguna Bhakti movement in North India. Born blind, he was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and became the lead singer (Kirtankar) at the Shrinathji temple in Govardhan. He lived during the 16th century, placing his life and poetic career directly within the culturally vibrant reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
The Magnum Opus – Sur Sagar: Surdas is universally celebrated for his magnum opus, the Sur Sagar (Ocean of Melody). Composed in the sweet, lyrical Braj Bhasha dialect of Hindi, this colossal collection originally contained over a hundred thousand devotional couplets, though only a fraction survive today. His verses vividly and emotionally depict the Bala Leela (childhood pastimes) of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan, capturing the deep affection of his mother Yashoda and the intense love of the Gopis.
Patronage and Imperial Encounters: It is widely believed by historians and literary traditions that Emperor Akbar, who had a deep, well-documented appreciation for diverse religious thoughts and regional music, was highly moved by Surdas’s devotional singing. Tansen, Akbar’s legendary court musician, was heavily influenced by Surdas, bridging the gap between temple devotional music and elite Mughal courtly classical traditions.

📌 Mughal Empire • Architecture

Q.9) The architectural marvel of the Taj Mahal represents the pinnacle of Mughal structural design and ornamentation. Who was the chief architect (Ustad) generally credited with its design?

Ans > Ustad Ahmad Lahori

The Pinnacle of Mughal Architecture: Commissioned in 1631 by Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is globally recognized as the zenith of Indo-Islamic architecture. It perfectly synthesizes Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles, utilizing pristine white Makrana marble, intricate pietra dura inlay work, and perfect bilateral symmetry.
The Chief Architect: Historical consensus and contemporary Persian manuscripts identify Ustad Ahmad Lahori as the chief architect (Ustad) of this magnificent structure. A brilliant Persian architect and engineer, Lahori led a massive international board of designers, calligraphers, and master craftsmen brought from across the Islamic world, including the Ottoman Empire and Central Asia.
Broader Contributions and Titles: Ustad Ahmad Lahori’s architectural genius was so highly regarded by Shah Jahan that the Emperor bestowed upon him the prestigious title of Nadir-ul-Asr (Wonder of the Age). Following the successful execution of the Taj Mahal, Lahori was also tasked with designing Shahjahanabad (the new imperial capital) and served as the chief architect for the iconic Red Fort (Lal Qila) in Delhi, cementing his legacy in Indian history.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Welfare

Q.10) As part of his welfare measures, Firuz Shah Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Khairat. What was one of the primary functions of this department?

Ans > Providing financial assistance for the marriage of poor Muslim girls

A Reign Focused on Public Welfare: Firuz Shah Tughlaq (ruled 1351–1388) ascended the throne after the chaotic and economically disastrous reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. To appease the nobility, the powerful ulema (Islamic scholars), and the general populace, Firuz Shah largely abandoned aggressive military conquests in favor of consolidating his territory and initiating massive public works and welfare programs.
Establishment of the Charity Department: Among his most significant socio-economic initiatives was the establishment of the Diwan-i-Khairat, a dedicated state department of charity. This department was specifically designed to provide structured financial assistance to the poor, orphans, and destitute citizens of the Delhi Sultanate.
Primary Functions and Impact: The most famous and heavily utilized function of the Diwan-i-Khairat was providing state-funded dowries and financial aid to ensure the marriage of poor Muslim girls, widows, and orphans whose families could not afford the expenses. Additionally, Firuz Shah set up the Dar-ul-Shafa (a free state hospital with skilled physicians) and a massive employment bureau to find jobs for the unemployed youth of Delhi, marking an early form of a welfare state.

📌 Maratha Empire • Military History

Q.11) At the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), the Maratha forces possessed a highly effective artillery wing trained in the European style. Who commanded this crucial Maratha artillery?

Ans > Ibrahim Khan Gardi

The Maratha Modernization Effort: In the mid-18th century, the Maratha Empire realized the critical need to modernize its military to compete with emerging European colonial powers and heavily armed Northern invaders. Moving away from their traditional reliance on highly mobile light cavalry and guerrilla tactics (Ganimi Kava), the Peshwas began building a formidable, regular standing army equipped with modern artillery and disciplined infantry.
The Role of Ibrahim Khan Gardi: To lead this modernization, the Marathas hired Ibrahim Khan Gardi, a highly experienced and brilliant Muslim artillery commander. Gardi had been rigorously trained in modern European artillery and infantry tactics by the French commander Marquis de Bussy. He brought this vital Western military science to the Maratha camp, creating a highly disciplined battalion known as the “Gardis.”
The Tragedy at Panipat: At the devastating Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 against Ahmad Shah Abdali, Ibrahim Khan Gardi commanded the left wing of the Maratha army. His European-style artillery initially inflicted catastrophic casualties on the Afghan forces. However, due to a lack of coordination with the Maratha cavalry and ultimate defeat, Gardi was captured and brutally executed by the Afghans, depriving India of one of its finest modern military minds.

📌 Vijayanagara Empire • Architecture

Q.12) The ruins of the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, destroyed after the Battle of Bannihatti (Talikota) in 1565, are located around which modern-day site in Karnataka?

Ans > Hampi

The Zenith of a Mega-City: Vijayanagara (The City of Victory) served as the imperial capital of the Vijayanagara Empire for over two centuries. At its peak under Emperor Krishna Deva Raya in the early 16th century, it was one of the wealthiest, largest, and most cosmopolitan cities on earth, rivaling Beijing and vastly outshining contemporary European capitals like London or Paris in scale and opulence.
The Catastrophe of 1565: The glory of the empire abruptly ended at the catastrophic Battle of Bannihatti (also known as the Battle of Talikota or Rakkasa-Tangadi) in 1565. The combined, massive armies of the Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar) decisively defeated the Vijayanagara forces led by Aliya Rama Raya.
Destruction and Present Status: Following the battle, the victorious Sultanate armies entered the undefended capital and engaged in a systematic, brutal sack that lasted for months. Temples, palaces, and markets were looted, burnt, and smashed into ruins. Today, these hauntingly beautiful, sprawling ruins are located at Hampi in the Bellary district of Karnataka, recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a testament to medieval Indian urban planning.

📌 Mughal Empire • Revenue Administration

Q.13) Under Akbar’s Dahsala system, the state revenue demand was calculated based on the average yield and prices over a period of how many years?

Ans > Ten years

The Need for Revenue Reform: Prior to Akbar’s reforms, the Mughal state revenue was calculated annually based on the current year’s yield and local prices. This ad-hoc system was highly inefficient, prone to immense corruption by local officials, and caused massive delays in revenue collection, causing great distress to the peasantry and uncertainty for the imperial treasury.
The Ten-Year Calculation: In 1580, Akbar’s brilliant finance minister (Diwan-i-Ashraf), Raja Todar Mal, introduced a revolutionary and highly scientific agrarian reform known as the Ain-i-Dahsala or the Ten-Year System. Under this system, the state extensively surveyed all agricultural land and calculated the average crop yield and the average local market prices of those crops over the preceding ten-year period (from 1570 to 1580).
Implementation and Benefits: The state revenue demand was then fixed at one-third of this ten-year average yield, heavily payable in cash based on the ten-year average price. This provided unprecedented stability. The state knew exactly how much revenue to expect, and the farmers knew exactly how much tax they had to pay, severely restricting the ability of corrupt intermediaries (Zamindars and Jagirdars) to extort the peasants.

📌 Sufi Movement • Religion

Q.14) The Suhrawardi Sufi order, which did not believe in excessive asceticism and accepted state patronage, was firmly established in the Punjab and Multan by which prominent saint?

Ans > Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya

Introduction to India: The Sufi movement in India was largely dominated by two major orders (Silsilas) during the Delhi Sultanate period: the Chishtis and the Suhrawardis. The Suhrawardi order was brought to the Indian subcontinent and firmly established primarily in the northwestern regions of Punjab, Multan, and Sindh by the eminent saint Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya in the 13th century.
Contrast with the Chishti Order: The philosophical and operational approach of the Suhrawardis was radically different from the popular Chishti saints (like Nizamuddin Auliya). While the Chishtis practiced extreme poverty, avoided the company of kings, and refused government grants, the Suhrawardis did not believe in excessive asceticism. They maintained that a saint could be wealthy and still be spiritually pure.
State Patronage and Political Influence: Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya openly amassed tremendous wealth, accepted massive land grants (Jagirs) from the Sultan, and willingly took up the official state title of Shaikh-ul-Islam (Leader of Islam). By closely aligning with the political establishment, the Suhrawardi order exerted massive political influence in the Multan region, advising Sultans and playing a direct role in the administration of the empire.

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Science & Tech

Q.15) Sawai Jai Singh of Amber built five astronomical observatories (Jantar Mantar) across North India. Which of the following correctly lists the five locations?

Ans > Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, Varanasi

A King of Science and Astronomy: Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II of Amber (founder of the beautiful city of Jaipur) was not merely a Rajput warrior and Mughal diplomat; he was a profound scholar, mathematician, and passionate astronomer. He was deeply dissatisfied with the inaccuracies of the existing brass and metal astronomical instruments used by Islamic and European astronomers of his era.
Building the Observatories: To ensure precise astronomical observations, calculate exact eclipses, and track planetary movements for astrological and calendar purposes, he constructed five massive, permanent, masonry observatories across North India between 1724 and 1735. These unique architectural-astronomical marvels became popularly known as the Jantar Mantars (derived from the Sanskrit ‘Yantra Mantra’, meaning instrument and formula).
The Five Locations and Legacy: He strategically built these observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi. The structures within them, such as the massive Samrat Yantra (a giant sundial), are made of stone and marble, designed to be completely immune to vibrations and wear, allowing for incredibly accurate measurements of time and celestial coordinates. The Jaipur observatory remains the largest and best-preserved today.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Economy

Q.16) Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s experiment with token currency ultimately failed. What material did he use to mint these token coins, which were meant to have the same value as silver tankas?

Ans > Bronze / Copper

The Economic Rationale: Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq is often remembered in history as a highly educated but eccentric visionary whose grandiose schemes frequently ended in disaster. In 1329-30, facing a massive global shortage of silver and a depleted royal treasury due to his disastrous military campaigns and famines, he decided to introduce a bold fiat currency system inspired by the paper currency of China and Persia.
The Bronze and Copper Coins: He ordered the mass minting of token coins made of cheap base metals—specifically bronze and copper. By imperial decree, he commanded that these new copper/bronze coins must circulate and be accepted at the exact same face value as the standard silver tanka. This meant a piece of copper was artificially declared to be worth a piece of silver.
The Catastrophic Failure: The experiment failed catastrophically due to a fatal lack of state control. The royal mints failed to implement any complex anti-counterfeiting measures on the new coins. Consequently, every goldsmith and commoner’s house turned into a private mint. The market was instantly flooded with fake copper coins, hyperinflation destroyed the economy, foreign merchants refused the currency, and the Sultan was eventually forced to humiliatingly recall all token coins and exchange them for real silver from his own treasury.

📌 Sur Empire • Administration

Q.17) Before rising to prominence as Akbar’s brilliant finance minister, Raja Todar Mal had gained his crucial administrative and revenue experience working under which ruler?

Ans > Sher Shah Suri

The Genesis of a Revenue Genius: Raja Todar Mal is historically immortalized as Emperor Akbar’s brilliant Diwan (Finance Minister) who formulated the Dahsala revenue system. However, his profound expertise in administration, land measurement, and agrarian economics was not developed under the Mughals, but rather under the brief, highly efficient Afghan rule of Sher Shah Suri.
Sher Shah’s Agrarian Reforms: During his five-year reign (1540–1545), Sher Shah Suri initiated revolutionary land reforms. He abolished arbitrary tax collections, mandated the exact measurement of all agricultural land using a standard unit (the Sikandari Gaj), and classified land based on its fertility. He introduced the Patta (title deed) and Qabuliyat (agreement of tax payment) to protect peasant rights.
Transfer of Knowledge to the Mughals: Todar Mal began his administrative career as a young officer in Sher Shah’s revenue department, where he intimately learned the mechanics of these progressive reforms. When the Sur Empire fell and the Mughals reclaimed India, Akbar wisely recruited Todar Mal. Using the solid, practical foundation he learned from Sher Shah, Todar Mal refined and perfected these concepts, successfully implementing them across the vast Mughal Empire.

📌 Bahmani Kingdom • Administration

Q.18) Mahmud Gawan, the brilliant Prime Minister of the Bahmani Kingdom, drastically reformed the provincial administration and expanded the empire. What was his original profession before coming to India?

Ans > Overseas merchant/trader

An Iranian Merchant in the Deccan: Mahmud Gawan was not a native of India, nor did he begin his career as a politician or military commander. He was an Iranian by birth, a highly educated scholar, and a profoundly wealthy international merchant (referred to as Malik-ut-Tujjar). He arrived at the port of Dabhol in the Deccan region to trade in horses and luxury goods.
Rise to Prime Minister: His incredible intellect, worldly experience, and administrative genius quickly caught the attention of the Bahmani Sultans. He rapidly rose through the court hierarchy to become the Vakil-us-Sultanat (Prime Minister). For over two decades, Gawan essentially ruled the Bahmani Kingdom, pushing the empire to its absolute zenith of territorial extent and cultural brilliance.
Sweeping Reforms and Tragic End: Gawan implemented massive administrative and military reforms. He divided the empire into eight provinces (Tarafs) to improve governance, curbed the immense power of the feudal nobles, standardized land measurements, and built a magnificent Madrasa in Bidar for Islamic studies. Unfortunately, his success and strict reforms enraged the local Deccan nobles, who forged a treasonous letter and convinced a drunk Sultan to unjustly execute this brilliant statesman in 1481, accelerating the total collapse of the Bahmani Empire.

📌 Mughal Empire • Mansabdari System

Q.19) In the Mughal Mansabdari system, every official was granted a Zat rank. What did this Zat rank specifically determine?

Ans > His personal status in the court hierarchy and his salary

The Backbone of Mughal Administration: Introduced by Emperor Akbar, the Mansabdari system was a unique, highly centralized administrative and military framework that integrated the entire Mughal nobility into a single, cohesive civil-military bureaucracy. Every imperial officer, from a regional governor down to a petty commander, was granted a Mansab (meaning rank or position).
The Dual Ranks – Zat and Sawar: To effectively manage this massive hierarchy, Akbar eventually split the Mansab into two distinct, numerical indicators: the Zat and the Sawar. The Zat (meaning personal) rank was the primary indicator of a noble’s exact personal status, precedence, and position within the complex imperial court hierarchy.
Salary Determination: Most importantly, the Zat rank directly determined the personal salary of the Mansabdar, which could be paid in cash (Naqd) or through the assignment of land revenue (Jagir). Meanwhile, the Sawar rank determined the exact number of fully equipped cavalrymen (horses and riders) the noble was legally required to maintain for the Emperor’s military campaigns. Thus, a noble could have a high personal Zat rank (high status) but a lower Sawar rank (fewer military obligations).

📌 Bhakti Movement • Literature

Q.20) The great Bhakti saint Tulsidas, who made the story of Rama widely accessible to the masses through his epic Ramcharitmanas, composed the work in which regional language/dialect?

Ans > Awadhi

The Democratization of Religion: Before the 16th century, the epic story of the Ramayana was largely restricted to the Sanskrit text written by Sage Valmiki. Because Sanskrit was strictly the domain of elite Brahmin scholars, the profoundly moving spiritual messages of the Ramayana were largely inaccessible to the illiterate, common masses of North India.
The Life and Mission of Tulsidas: Goswami Tulsidas, a deeply revered saint of the Saguna Rama-Bhakti tradition living in Varanasi during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir, sought to change this. He believed that devotion to Lord Rama should not be gatekept by language or caste. To achieve this, he undertook the monumental task of retelling the epic in the language spoken by the common people.
The Ramcharitmanas: He composed his masterpiece, the Ramcharitmanas (The Lake of the Deeds of Rama), in Awadhi—a highly popular, rhythmic, and poetic dialect of Eastern Hindi spoken widely in the Awadh region. This revolutionary act brought the divine story directly into the homes and hearts of the masses, cementing Tulsidas as one of the greatest literary and spiritual figures in Indian history and making the text a central pillar of North Indian Hindu culture.

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Bengal

Q.21) Murshid Quli Khan laid the foundation for the independent state of Bengal. To distance his administration from the Mughal prince in Dacca, to which city did he shift his capital?

Ans > Murshidabad

The Decline of Mughal Central Authority: Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, the central authority of the Mughal Empire in Delhi rapidly disintegrated. Powerful provincial governors (Subahdars and Diwans) across the empire seized the opportunity to stop sending revenues to the capital and began establishing their own independent, hereditary regional kingdoms.
The Rise of Murshid Quli Khan: In the incredibly wealthy province of Bengal, Murshid Quli Khan, who was initially appointed as the Diwan (finance head) by Aurangzeb, masterfully consolidated all political, military, and financial power. He effectively became the first independent Nawab of Bengal, recognizing the Mughal Emperor only in name while ruling as an absolute sovereign.
Shifting the Capital: To physically and politically distance his administration from the intrigues of the Mughal princes who were stationed in the old provincial capital of Dacca (modern Dhaka), he relocated his seat of power. He moved the capital to the city of Maksusabad, strategically situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi river. He subsequently renamed the city Murshidabad in his own honor, turning it into a thriving commercial hub and the political nerve center of 18th-century Bengal.

📌 Mughal Empire • Foreign Travelers

Q.22) François Bernier, the French traveler who spent 12 years in India during the 17th century and wrote Travels in the Mughal Empire, came to the Mughal court practicing which profession?

Ans > Physician

The Golden Age of European Travelers: During the 17th century, the immense wealth, political stability, and exotic allure of the Mughal Empire attracted numerous European travelers, merchants, and adventurers. Among the most observant, highly educated, and historically significant of these was the French traveler François Bernier, who resided in India for twelve years (1656–1668).
Access to the Imperial Elite: Unlike ordinary merchants, Bernier was a highly trained medical doctor (physician) who had graduated from the University of Montpellier in France. His advanced Western medical expertise granted him unprecedented, intimate access to the highest echelons of the Mughal elite, a privilege denied to almost all other foreigners.
Political and Social Observations: He briefly served as the personal physician to the liberal Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh, and later attached himself to the court of a powerful noble, Danishmand Khan, at the court of Emperor Aurangzeb. Bernier’s extensive writings, compiled in Travels in the Mughal Empire, provide invaluable, critical (though sometimes Eurocentric) socio-economic analyses of Mughal India, detailing the brutal war of succession, the exploitative Jagirdari system, and the state of Indian science and industry.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Politics

Q.23) Raziya Sultana faced severe resentment from the Turkish nobles (Chahalgani) when she elevated a non-Turk to the high post of Amir-i-Akhur (Superintendent of the Royal Horses). Who was this noble?

Ans > Yaqut Khan (Jamaluddin Yaqut)

The Challenge of a Female Monarch: Raziya Sultana (ruled 1236–1240) was the first and only female Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Nominated by her visionary father Iltutmish, her accession was violently opposed by the orthodox ulema and the deeply entrenched “Chahalgani” (The Group of Forty)—a powerful clique of arrogant Turkish nobles who despised taking orders from a woman.
Breaking the Turkish Monopoly: To assert her independence as a sovereign and break the suffocating monopoly of these Turkish elites over high state offices, Raziya began appointing non-Turks to crucial administrative and military positions. This was a highly dangerous, yet necessary, political maneuver to create a loyal faction that owed its power entirely to her.
The Appointment of Yaqut: The breaking point for the Turkish nobility came when Raziya elevated Jamaluddin Yaqut, an Abyssinian (Ethiopian) slave-noble, to the highly prestigious and powerful post of Amir-i-Akhur (Superintendent of the Royal Horses). This position granted him immense proximity to the Sultana. Enraged by the promotion of an African non-Turk over them, the Turkish nobles spread vicious rumors regarding their relationship, sparking massive provincial rebellions that eventually led to Raziya’s tragic assassination.

📌 Mughal Empire • Military Tactics

Q.24) At the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur’s innovative defensive formation involved lashing together baggage carts to create a protective wall for his matchlockmen. What was this formation called?

Ans > Araba

A Massive Numerical Disadvantage: In 1526, Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur, the Timurid ruler of Kabul, invaded India and confronted the massive, heavily armored army of the Delhi Sultan, Ibrahim Lodi, at the dusty plains of Panipat. Babur’s forces were drastically outnumbered, facing an army of nearly 100,000 men and 1,000 war elephants with a force of just 12,000 to 15,000 veterans.
The Ottoman Defensive Tactic: To counter this overwhelming numerical superiority and protect his crucial technological advantage—matchlock infantry and field artillery—Babur employed a brilliant defensive tactic he had learned from the Ottoman Turks, known as the Araba.
Execution of the Barricade: He requisitioned roughly 700 baggage and supply carts, lashing them together tightly with raw hide and leather ropes to form a formidable, mile-long physical barricade across the battlefield. Between these tied carts, he placed his matchlockmen and cannons, protected by breastworks. When Lodi’s massive cavalry and elephants charged, they smashed into this impenetrable wall of carts and were instantly slaughtered by point-blank artillery and musket fire, securing Babur a decisive victory and founding the Mughal Empire.

📌 Maratha Empire • Treaties

Q.25) Under the terms of the Treaty of Purandar (1665) dictated by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, Shivaji was compelled to surrender how many of his 35 forts to the Mughal Empire?

Ans > 23

Aurangzeb’s Decisive Move: Deeply alarmed by the meteoric rise of Shivaji Maharaj and his daring, highly successful raids on Mughal territories (including the humiliating night attack on Shaista Khan in Pune and the massive looting of the port of Surat), Emperor Aurangzeb decided to crush the Maratha threat once and for all. He dispatched his most capable and experienced Rajput general, Mirza Raja Jai Singh of Amber, with a massive, heavily armed imperial army.
The Siege and Maratha Capitulation: Jai Singh brilliantly isolated Shivaji politically and militarily. He laid a relentless, suffocating siege to the highly strategic Maratha fortress of Purandar. Realizing that further resistance would result in the complete annihilation of his people and his army, Shivaji pragmatically chose to negotiate, leading to the signing of the incredibly harsh Treaty of Purandar in 1665.
The Drastic Terms: The treaty was a massive temporary setback for the Marathas. Shivaji was forced to surrender 23 of his 35 heavily fortified hill forts to the Mughals, retaining only 12 for himself. The ceded forts were the economic backbone of his nascent state, yielding an enormous annual revenue of 4 lakh huns. Additionally, Shivaji was compelled to acknowledge Mughal suzerainty and assist them in their military campaigns against the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur.

📌 Sufi Movement • Religion

Q.26) Which revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order, a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, was famously bestowed the title Chiragh-i-Dehli (The Lamp of Delhi)?

Ans > Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud

The Chishti Legacy: The Chishti Silsila (Sufi order) was the most popular and deeply influential spiritual movement in the Delhi Sultanate, emphasizing love, tolerance, and service to humanity. It reached its absolute peak under the legendary Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, whose Khanqah (hospice) in Delhi became a sanctuary for the poor, the rich, and the politically disenfranchised alike.
The Successor During Turbulent Times: Following the death of Nizamuddin Auliya, the immense spiritual responsibility of leading the Chishti order in Delhi fell to his most prominent and devoted disciple, Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud. His tenure coincided with the highly volatile and brutal reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who actively antagonized the Sufis and forced the population of Delhi to migrate to Daulatabad.
The Lamp of Delhi: Despite intense state persecution, constant threats, and the forced depopulation of the city, Shaikh Nasiruddin refused to abandon his Khanqah. He remained steadfast in Delhi, providing immense spiritual solace and moral courage to those who stayed behind. For his unwavering dedication in keeping the spiritual and humanitarian flame of the Chishti order burning during the city’s darkest hour, he was lovingly bestowed the title Chiragh-i-Dehli (The Lamp of Delhi).

📌 Mughal Empire • Religion

Q.27) Akbar built the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 initially for Sunni Muslims to debate theology. In which year did he open its doors to scholars of all religions (Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, Jains)?

Ans > 1578

The House of Worship: Emperor Akbar was a ruler characterized by a profound, restless intellectual curiosity and a deep spiritual seeking. In 1575, he commissioned the construction of a magnificent building named the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) in his newly built, spectacular capital of Fatehpur Sikri.
Initial Exclusivity and Disillusionment: Initially, the Ibadat Khana was exclusively reserved for Sunni Muslim scholars, theologians, and jurists. Akbar organized weekly Thursday night debates to understand the deeper truths of Islam. However, he quickly became profoundly disgusted. Instead of engaging in enlightened spiritual discourse, the conservative Ulema engaged in petty, arrogant, and highly intolerant screaming matches, frequently calling each other heretics over minor sectarian differences.
Opening to All Faiths: Realizing that no single religion possessed the absolute monopoly on truth, Akbar made a revolutionary decision. In 1578, he famously threw open the doors of the Ibadat Khana to the brilliant scholars of all major religions. He invited Hindu philosophers, Jesuit priests (Christians) from Goa, Jain monks, and Zoroastrian priests. These unprecedented, massive inter-faith dialogues fundamentally shaped Akbar’s liberal worldview and eventually led him to formulate the syncretic ethical code of Din-i-Ilahi.

📌 Vijayanagara Empire • Foreign Travelers

Q.28) The Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited Vijayanagara and left an incredibly detailed chronicle of the city’s bustling markets and royal ceremonies. During whose reign did he visit?

Ans > Krishna Deva Raya

The Lure of the Diamond Capital: During the 16th century, the Portuguese had established a powerful maritime empire with their capital at Goa. They maintained intense, highly lucrative trade relations with the neighboring Vijayanagara Empire, primarily trading heavily in imported Arabian warhorses in exchange for Indian textiles and spices.
The Visit of Domingo Paes: Around 1520, during the absolute zenith of Vijayanagara’s military and economic power, a Portuguese traveler and horse trader named Domingo Paes visited the imperial capital. He spent significant time observing the city and later penned an incredibly detailed, exhaustive chronicle of his experiences, which remains one of the most vital primary sources for historians today.
Observations of Greatness: Paes’s account corresponds entirely with the reign of the empire’s greatest monarch, Krishna Deva Raya. He was completely awestruck by the sheer scale of the city, comparing its massive physical size to Rome. He provided vivid, minute descriptions of the bustling, highly organized markets, the incredible irrigation systems, the overwhelming grandeur of the Navaratri (Mahanavami) festival, and famously described Emperor Krishna Deva Raya as a physically robust, flawlessly just, and fiercely formidable king.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Military

Q.29) The military department of the Delhi Sultanate, headed by the Ariz-i-Mamalik, was called the Diwan-i-Arz. Under which Sultan was this set up as a completely separate department for the first time?

Ans > Balban

The Flaws of the Early Sultanate Army: During the early years of the Delhi Sultanate (under rulers like Qutbuddin Aibak and Iltutmish), the central military administration was heavily flawed. There was no large, permanent standing army. The Sultan relied heavily on the feudal Iqtadars (provincial governors) to supply troops during wartime. Furthermore, the military department was combined with the financial department (Diwan-i-Wizarat), leading to massive corruption, delayed salaries, and poor troop readiness.
The Reforms of Balban: When Ghiyasuddin Balban took power, he faced severe internal rebellions and the terrifying, constant threat of Mongol invasions from the northwest. Realizing that the survival of his empire depended on a highly professional, centrally controlled army, he initiated a massive overhaul of the military structure.
Separation and Professionalization: Balban took the revolutionary step of completely separating the military department from the financial ministry. He established the Diwan-i-Arz as an independent, highly funded Ministry of Defense. Headed by the Ariz-i-Mamalik (Minister of War), this department was strictly responsible for the direct recruitment, rigorous training, exact payment, and regular inspection of the royal standing army, ensuring the Sultan had a highly loyal, immediate strike force at his command.

📌 Later Mughals • Political History

Q.30) Following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, his eldest surviving son, Prince Muazzam, defeated his brothers in a war of succession and ascended the throne under what title?

Ans > Bahadur Shah I

The Vacuum of Power: The death of the last great Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, in 1707 marked the definitive beginning of the catastrophic decline of the mighty Mughal Empire. Unsurprisingly, his death immediately triggered a massive, bloody war of succession among his three surviving sons—Prince Muazzam, Prince Azam, and Prince Kam Bakhsh—each commanding vast armies and regional loyalties.
The War of Succession: Prince Muazzam, the eldest and most capable of the three, was the governor of Kabul at the time of his father’s death. He rapidly marched towards the capital, engaged his brother Azam at the decisive Battle of Jajau near Agra, and killed him. He subsequently defeated and killed his other brother, Kam Bakhsh, in the Deccan, securing absolute control over the fractured empire.
A Reign of Compromise: Emerging victorious at the advanced age of 63, Muazzam ascended the peacock throne under the imperial title of Bahadur Shah I (he is also referred to as Shah Alam I). Recognizing that his father’s rigid, orthodox policies had alienated the empire’s subjects, Bahadur Shah attempted a policy of pacification and compromise. He reversed many of Aurangzeb’s harsh measures, releasing Shahu (the Maratha prince) and attempting to make peace with the Rajputs and Sikhs, though the empire’s structural decline was ultimately too advanced to reverse.

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 37

Mughal Literature: Gulbadan Begum authored the Humayun-nama.
Mughal Administration: Madad-i-Maash (Sayurghal) were tax-free land grants for scholars/destitute.
Sikh History: Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb in 1675.
Maratha Revenue: Shivaji claimed Sardeshmukhi as the hereditary supreme headman of Maharashtra.
Vijayanagara Empire: Abdur Razzaq visited from Herat as an ambassador.
Mughal Art: Jahangir introduced the radiant halo in imperial portraiture.
Delhi Sultanate rituals: Balban introduced paibos (kissing the monarch’s feet).
Bhakti Literature: Surdas, composer of Sur Sagar, was a contemporary of Akbar.
Mughal Architecture: Ustad Ahmad Lahori was the chief architect of the Taj Mahal.
Tughlaq Welfare: Diwan-i-Khairat provided financial help for poor Muslim girls’ marriages.
Panipat Artillery: Ibrahim Khan Gardi commanded the Maratha artillery at the Third Battle of Panipat.
Vijayanagara Ruins: The destroyed capital’s ruins are located at modern-day Hampi.
Dahsala System: Akbar’s revenue system was based on a ten-year average of yield and prices.
Sufism: Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya established the Suhrawardi order in India.
Astronomy: Sawai Jai Singh built Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura, and Varanasi.
Token Currency: Muhammad bin Tughlaq used bronze/copper for his failed token currency.
Sur Administration: Raja Todar Mal gained early revenue experience under Sher Shah Suri.
Bahmani Kingdom: Prime Minister Mahmud Gawan originally came to India as an overseas trader.
Mansabdari: The Zat rank determined a noble’s personal status and salary.
Bhakti Movement: Tulsidas composed the epic Ramcharitmanas in the Awadhi dialect.
Bengal Autonomy: Murshid Quli Khan shifted his capital to Murshidabad.
Mughal Travelers: François Bernier served in the Mughal court as a French physician.
Delhi Sultanate: Raziya Sultana appointed the Abyssinian Yaqut Khan as Amir-i-Akhur.
Military Tactics: Babur used the Araba (cart barricade) formation at the First Battle of Panipat.
Treaty of Purandar: Shivaji surrendered 23 forts to the Mughals under this treaty.
Sufi Saints: Shaikh Nasiruddin Mahmud was bestowed the title Chiragh-i-Dehli.
Mughal Religion: Akbar opened the Ibadat Khana to all religions in 1578.
Foreign Travelers: Domingo Paes visited Vijayanagara during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya.
Delhi Military: Balban separated the military department (Diwan-i-Arz).
Later Mughals: Prince Muazzam succeeded Aurangzeb as Bahadur Shah I.

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Medieval History Set 37

Q.1) The Humayun-nama provides an intimate, first-hand account of the domestic and political life of the early Mughal emperors. Who authored this valuable historical text?

Q.2) In the Mughal agrarian and administrative system, hereditary, tax-free land grants given to scholars, religious divines, and destitute persons were known as Sayurghal or:

Q.3) The execution of which Sikh Guru by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675 at Chandni Chowk in Delhi led to a profound militarization of the Sikh community?

Q.4) Shivaji justified his collection of Sardeshmukhi (an additional 10% tax on land revenue) from the Deccan territories on what specific legal fiction?

Q.5) In 1443, Abdur Razzaq visited the Vijayanagara Empire and wrote a glowing account of its wealth and administration. He was sent as an ambassador by the Timurid ruler of which city?

Q.6) Mughal painting reached its zenith under Jahangir. Among the new elements introduced into Mughal portraiture during his reign, largely influenced by European art, was the use of:

Q.7) To enforce court discipline and awe the nobility, Balban introduced the strict Persian court rituals of sijda and paibos. What did paibos specifically entail?

Q.8) The famous blind poet of Agra, Surdas, who composed the Sur Sagar centering on the childhood of Lord Krishna, lived during the reign of which Mughal Emperor?

Q.9) The architectural marvel of the Taj Mahal represents the pinnacle of Mughal structural design and ornamentation. Who was the chief architect (Ustad) generally credited with its design?

Q.10) As part of his welfare measures, Firuz Shah Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Khairat. What was one of the primary functions of this department?

Q.11) At the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), the Maratha forces possessed a highly effective artillery wing trained in the European style. Who commanded this crucial Maratha artillery?

Q.12) The ruins of the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, destroyed after the Battle of Bannihatti (Talikota) in 1565, are located around which modern-day site in Karnataka?

Q.13) Under Akbar’s Dahsala system, the state revenue demand was calculated based on the average yield and prices over a period of how many years?

Q.14) The Suhrawardi Sufi order, which did not believe in excessive asceticism and accepted state patronage, was firmly established in the Punjab and Multan by which prominent saint?

Q.15) Sawai Jai Singh of Amber built five astronomical observatories (Jantar Mantar) across North India. Which of the following correctly lists the five locations?

Q.16) Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s experiment with token currency ultimately failed. What material did he use to mint these token coins, which were meant to have the same value as silver tankas?

Q.17) Before rising to prominence as Akbar’s brilliant finance minister, Raja Todar Mal had gained his crucial administrative and revenue experience working under which ruler?

Q.18) Mahmud Gawan, the brilliant Prime Minister of the Bahmani Kingdom, drastically reformed the provincial administration and expanded the empire. What was his original profession before coming to India?

Q.19) In the Mughal Mansabdari system, every official was granted a Zat rank. What did this Zat rank specifically determine?

Q.20) The great Bhakti saint Tulsidas, who made the story of Rama widely accessible to the masses through his epic Ramcharitmanas, composed the work in which regional language/dialect?

Q.21) Murshid Quli Khan laid the foundation for the independent state of Bengal. To distance his administration from the Mughal prince in Dacca, to which city did he shift his capital?

Q.22) François Bernier, the French traveler who spent 12 years in India during the 17th century and wrote Travels in the Mughal Empire, came to the Mughal court practicing which profession?

Q.23) Raziya Sultana faced severe resentment from the Turkish nobles (Chahalgani) when she elevated a non-Turk to the high post of Amir-i-Akhur (Superintendent of the Royal Horses). Who was this noble?

Q.24) At the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur’s innovative defensive formation involved lashing together baggage carts to create a protective wall for his matchlockmen. What was this formation called?

Q.25) Under the terms of the Treaty of Purandar (1665) dictated by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, Shivaji was compelled to surrender how many of his 35 forts to the Mughal Empire?

Q.26) Which revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order, a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, was famously bestowed the title Chiragh-i-Dehli (The Lamp of Delhi)?

Q.27) Akbar built the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 initially for Sunni Muslims to debate theology. In which year did he open its doors to scholars of all religions (Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, Jains)?

Q.28) The Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited Vijayanagara and left an incredibly detailed chronicle of the city’s bustling markets and royal ceremonies. During whose reign did he visit?

Q.29) The military department of the Delhi Sultanate, headed by the Ariz-i-Mamalik, was called the Diwan-i-Arz. Under which Sultan was this set up as a completely separate department for the first time?

Q.30) Following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, his eldest surviving son, Prince Muazzam, defeated his brothers in a war of succession and ascended the throne under what title?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 37

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Q.1) The Humayun-nama provides an intimate, first-hand account of the domestic and political life of the early Mughal emperors. Who authored this valuable historical text?

Q.2) In the Mughal agrarian and administrative system, hereditary, tax-free land grants given to scholars, religious divines, and destitute persons were known as Sayurghal or:

Q.3) The execution of which Sikh Guru by Emperor Aurangzeb in 1675 at Chandni Chowk in Delhi led to a profound militarization of the Sikh community?

Q.4) Shivaji justified his collection of Sardeshmukhi (an additional 10% tax on land revenue) from the Deccan territories on what specific legal fiction?

Q.5) In 1443, Abdur Razzaq visited the Vijayanagara Empire and wrote a glowing account of its wealth and administration. He was sent as an ambassador by the Timurid ruler of which city?

Q.6) Mughal painting reached its zenith under Jahangir. Among the new elements introduced into Mughal portraiture during his reign, largely influenced by European art, was the use of:

Q.7) To enforce court discipline and awe the nobility, Balban introduced the strict Persian court rituals of sijda and paibos. What did paibos specifically entail?

Q.8) The famous blind poet of Agra, Surdas, who composed the Sur Sagar centering on the childhood of Lord Krishna, lived during the reign of which Mughal Emperor?

Q.9) The architectural marvel of the Taj Mahal represents the pinnacle of Mughal structural design and ornamentation. Who was the chief architect (Ustad) generally credited with its design?

Q.10) As part of his welfare measures, Firuz Shah Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Khairat. What was one of the primary functions of this department?

Q.11) At the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), the Maratha forces possessed a highly effective artillery wing trained in the European style. Who commanded this crucial Maratha artillery?

Q.12) The ruins of the magnificent capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, destroyed after the Battle of Bannihatti (Talikota) in 1565, are located around which modern-day site in Karnataka?

Q.13) Under Akbar’s Dahsala system, the state revenue demand was calculated based on the average yield and prices over a period of how many years?

Q.14) The Suhrawardi Sufi order, which did not believe in excessive asceticism and accepted state patronage, was firmly established in the Punjab and Multan by which prominent saint?

Q.15) Sawai Jai Singh of Amber built five astronomical observatories (Jantar Mantar) across North India. Which of the following correctly lists the five locations?

Q.16) Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s experiment with token currency ultimately failed. What material did he use to mint these token coins, which were meant to have the same value as silver tankas?

Q.17) Before rising to prominence as Akbar’s brilliant finance minister, Raja Todar Mal had gained his crucial administrative and revenue experience working under which ruler?

Q.18) Mahmud Gawan, the brilliant Prime Minister of the Bahmani Kingdom, drastically reformed the provincial administration and expanded the empire. What was his original profession before coming to India?

Q.19) In the Mughal Mansabdari system, every official was granted a Zat rank. What did this Zat rank specifically determine?

Q.20) The great Bhakti saint Tulsidas, who made the story of Rama widely accessible to the masses through his epic Ramcharitmanas, composed the work in which regional language/dialect?

Q.21) Murshid Quli Khan laid the foundation for the independent state of Bengal. To distance his administration from the Mughal prince in Dacca, to which city did he shift his capital?

Q.22) François Bernier, the French traveler who spent 12 years in India during the 17th century and wrote Travels in the Mughal Empire, came to the Mughal court practicing which profession?

Q.23) Raziya Sultana faced severe resentment from the Turkish nobles (Chahalgani) when she elevated a non-Turk to the high post of Amir-i-Akhur (Superintendent of the Royal Horses). Who was this noble?

Q.24) At the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur’s innovative defensive formation involved lashing together baggage carts to create a protective wall for his matchlockmen. What was this formation called?

Q.25) Under the terms of the Treaty of Purandar (1665) dictated by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, Shivaji was compelled to surrender how many of his 35 forts to the Mughal Empire?

Q.26) Which revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order, a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, was famously bestowed the title Chiragh-i-Dehli (The Lamp of Delhi)?

Q.27) Akbar built the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 initially for Sunni Muslims to debate theology. In which year did he open its doors to scholars of all religions (Hindus, Christians, Zoroastrians, Jains)?

Q.28) The Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited Vijayanagara and left an incredibly detailed chronicle of the city’s bustling markets and royal ceremonies. During whose reign did he visit?

Q.29) The military department of the Delhi Sultanate, headed by the Ariz-i-Mamalik, was called the Diwan-i-Arz. Under which Sultan was this set up as a completely separate department for the first time?

Q.30) Following the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, his eldest surviving son, Prince Muazzam, defeated his brothers in a war of succession and ascended the throne under what title?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 37

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