Medieval History Set 29 | MROY Class

Medieval History Set 29 – Questions & Answers

The Arab merchants established the gold dinar and the silver dirham which became the currency of trade all over the world. According to the text, this was made possible by the Arab access to what specific resource? – African gold
Information about the Palas being great patrons of Buddhist learning is provided by Tibetan chronicles. According to the text, in which century were these Tibetan chronicles written? – The seventeenth century
The Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha ruled for 64 years and was a great builder. It is said that he built the capital city Manyakhet so as to excel the city of which deity? – Indra
The famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo visited Malabar in the thirteenth century. He noted that men and women wore only a loin-cloth, and claimed that which specific profession was completely unknown there? – Tailor
Due to the highly favorable trade balance enjoyed by India and Southeast Asia, the Chinese government attempted to restrict the export of gold and silver from China in which century? – The thirteenth century
Under the Rajput societal organization, a clan generally dominated a compact territory. The text states that these settlements were sometimes based on units of how many villages? – 12, 24, 48, or 84
Prior to the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Prithviraj Chauhan had a successful general who was unfortunately engaged elsewhere when the Ghurid threat materialized. What was this general’s name? – Skanda
In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji occupied the Sena capital of Lakhnauti. Following this surprise attack, the Sena ruler Lakshmana Sena moved to which location where he and his successors continued to rule? – Sonargaon
At the time of Iltutmish’s accession in 1210, Qubacha had declared himself the independent ruler of Multan and seized Lahore. Qubacha was a fellow slave of whom? – Qutbuddin Aibak
The rebel Iwaz assumed independence in Bengal and Bihar and took the title of Sultan Ghiyasuddin. He was defeated and killed in a battle near Lakhnauti in 1226-27 by whom? – A son of Iltutmish
In 1253, a conspiracy of Turkish chiefs ousted Balban from his position as naib (deputy) to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud. Who was appointed to replace Balban? – Imaduddin Raihan
The Mongols posed a persistent threat to the Delhi Sultanate. In 1241, they sacked and almost depopulated Lahore. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces? – Tair Bahadur
Decades later, in 1292, Jalaluddin Khalji defeated an advancing Mongol force of 1,50,000 horses near his frontier line. Who led this Mongol force? – Abdullah
To improve military efficiency and prevent soldiers from passing off useless mounts at the muster, Alauddin Khalji introduced the branding system for horses. What was this system called? – Dagh
Under Alauddin Khalji’s strict market control regulations, what was the fixed price range for a tattu (pony) that was not fit for the army? – 10 to 25 tankas
In his effort to extend and improve cultivation in the doab region, Muhammad bin Tughlaq set up a separate agricultural department. What was this department called? – Diwan-i-amir-i-kohi
Firuz Tughlaq sought to appease the nobility by abolishing the practice of torturing nobles and their officials if any balance was found against them during the auditing of the accounts of what? – Their iqtas
Firuz Tughlaq publicly burnt a Brahman for preaching to the people on the grounds that it was against the sharia. According to the text, on the very same ground, what other action did he take within his own palace? – He erased beautiful wall paintings.
In the central administration of the Delhi Sultanate, the department of religious matters, pious foundations, and stipends was called the diwan-i-risalat. It was generally presided over by the chief: – Sadr
Which official of the royal household (antahpur) in the Delhi Sultanate was responsible for the maintenance of proper decorum at the court and placing nobles in their proper order of precedence? – Wakil-i-dar
During the Tughlaq period, some nobles amassed massive fortunes. Firuz Tughlaq’s ariz-i-mamalik left an astonishing 13 crores at his death. What was his name? – Bashir
Mahmud Gawan was an Iranian by birth who started as a trader but eventually dominated the affairs of the Bahmani state for 20 years. What title was he initially granted by the sultan? – Malik-ut-Tujjar
Recognizing the superiority of the Bahmani army’s mounted archers, the Vijayanagara king Deva Raya II enlisted 2,000 Muslim cavalrymen. What specific skill did he command his Hindu soldiers to learn from them? – Archery
The 1367 battle over Mudkal between the Bahmani Sultan and the Vijayanagara Empire is historically significant. According to the text, the Bahmani victory was due to more efficient cavalry and the first regional use of what weapon? – Artillery
The Portuguese routed a combined Egyptian and Gujarati fleet in 1509. Prior to this decisive victory, the son of which Portuguese governor was killed in an initial naval clash? – Don Almaida
In 1538, an 82-year-old Turkish admiral arrived before Diu with a formidable fleet to besiege the Portuguese. He had been appointed the governor of Cairo by the Sultan. Who was he? – Sulaiman Pasha
Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujarat who had previously granted Bassein to the Portuguese, met a tragic end in 1536. How did he die? – He drowned while swimming ashore after a scuffle aboard a Portuguese ship.
The Ahom ruler Suhungmung repulsed a Muslim attack and expanded his kingdom. Reflecting the rapid Hinduization of the Ahoms, what name did he adopt? – Svarga Narayana
Sultan Hussain Shah of Bengal wrested Chittagong from the Arakan king. According to the text, which other territory did he conquer from its ruler? – Tipperah
The magnificent temple complex near Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built by the Kambuja empire, was largely overtaken by the jungle until 1860. According to the text, what is the total area covering these temples? – 3.2 square kilometres

MROY Class

Medieval History Set 29

🔍

📌 Economy • Global Trade

Q.1) The Arab merchants established the gold dinar and the silver dirham which became the currency of trade all over the world. According to the text, this was made possible by the Arab access to what specific resource?

Ans > African gold

The Rise of a Unified Economic Zone: The rapid expansion of the Islamic Caliphates, particularly under the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties, created an unprecedented, massive unified economic zone. This vast empire spanned from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the borders of India in the east, requiring a highly stable, universally accepted financial system to facilitate complex cross-border trade.
Trans-Saharan Gold Trade: To meet the enormous demand for a reliable currency, Arab rulers and merchants established the gold dinar and silver dirham. The sheer volume of gold required to mint these coins at such a massive scale was primarily sourced through extensive access to the African continent.
Global Economic Impact: Arab merchants heavily exploited the trans-Saharan trade routes, directly connecting the bustling markets of North Africa and the Middle East with the incredibly gold-rich empires of West Africa, such as the ancient Ghana Empire. This vital access to African gold reserves not only fueled the economic dominance of the Islamic world but also deeply integrated African economies into the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean trade networks, effectively making the gold dinar the premier international currency of the medieval era.

📌 Historical Sources • Pala Dynasty

Q.2) Information about the Palas being great patrons of Buddhist learning is provided by Tibetan chronicles. According to the text, in which century were these Tibetan chronicles written?

Ans > The seventeenth century

Taranatha’s Invaluable Records: The political and cultural history of the Pala dynasty, which ruled over Bengal and Bihar for several centuries, heavily relies on foreign accounts because native historical texts from that era are scarce. Among the most crucial of these foreign sources are the extensive Tibetan chronicles compiled by the renowned Tibetan Buddhist monk and historian, Lama Taranatha, who wrote his seminal historical works in the early seventeenth century.
The Last Great Patrons of Buddhism: Taranatha’s detailed historical writings provide massive, indispensable insights into how the Pala emperors acted as the absolute last great royal patrons of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent. His chronicles meticulously document the profound generosity of rulers like Dharmapala and Devapala toward Buddhist institutions.
Funding Monastic Universities: The texts specifically highlight how these kings aggressively funded and expanded grand monastic universities (Mahaviharas). Institutions such as Vikramashila, Odantapuri, and Somapura Mahavihara became globally renowned centers of advanced learning, attracting thousands of scholars and pilgrims from Tibet, China, and Southeast Asia, thereby ensuring the survival and robust spread of Vajrayana and Mahayana Buddhism during the medieval period.

📌 Architecture • Rashtrakutas

Q.3) The Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha ruled for 64 years and was a great builder. It is said that he built the capital city Manyakhet so as to excel the city of which deity?

Ans > Indra

The Reign of Amoghavarsha I: King Amoghavarsha I, who enjoyed an incredibly long and prosperous reign of 64 years, is widely considered one of the absolute greatest monarchs of the powerful Rashtrakuta dynasty. Unlike many of his highly aggressive, warmongering predecessors, his reign was primarily characterized by deep cultural patronage, religious tolerance, and a massive focus on architectural development across his vast Deccan empire.
The Founding of Manyakheta: Driven by immense royal ambition and a desire to leave a permanent architectural legacy, Amoghavarsha founded the magnificent, heavily fortified capital city of Manyakheta (located near modern-day Malkhed in Karnataka). He meticulously planned the city’s layout, pouring massive amounts of the state treasury into constructing elaborate palaces, grand Jain basadis, and sprawling Hindu temples.
Mythological Grandeur: The architectural brilliance, vast wealth, and sheer grandeur of Manyakheta were heavily romanticized by contemporary court poets and visiting scholars. To emphasize the city’s unparalleled beauty and divine scale, literary sources of the era frequently claimed that Amoghavarsha built his capital specifically to rival, or even completely excel, the mythical splendor of Amaravati, the fabled celestial city belonging to Lord Indra, the king of the gods in Hindu mythology.

📌 Foreign Travelers • South India

Q.4) The famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo visited Malabar in the thirteenth century. He noted that men and women wore only a loin-cloth, and claimed that which specific profession was completely unknown there?

Ans > Tailor

Marco Polo’s South Indian Voyage: During his epic return journey from the Mongol court of Kublai Khan, the famous Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo visited the Coromandel and Malabar coasts of South India around the year 1292-1293. His detailed travelogues offer some of the most fascinating, unbiased insights into the socio-economic, political, and cultural norms of thirteenth-century Indian society.
Climate and Clothing Habits: While meticulously observing the daily lives of the local population, Polo was particularly struck by their sartorial choices. Noting the incredibly hot, humid, and tropical climate of the coastal regions, he observed that elaborate stitched clothing was completely unnecessary and highly impractical for the local inhabitants.
The Absence of a Profession: He recorded that both commoners and royalty, men and women alike, predominantly wore simple, unstitched fabrics elegantly wrapped around their bodies, such as loin-cloths and early forms of dhotis. Because stitched garments were practically non-existent in daily wear, Polo famously and humorously concluded in his writings that the specific profession of a “tailor” was entirely absent and completely unknown in that part of the world.

📌 Trade • India and China

Q.5) Due to the highly favorable trade balance enjoyed by India and Southeast Asia, the Chinese government attempted to restrict the export of gold and silver from China in which century?

Ans > The thirteenth century

High Demand for Indian Goods: During the thirteenth century, international maritime trade between the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Imperial China reached unprecedented heights. Chinese markets, operating under the Song and early Yuan dynasties, developed a massive, insatiable demand for highly specialized luxury goods imported from India and Southeast Asia.
The Bullion Drain Crisis: The Chinese elite heavily imported premium Indian textiles, rare spices, fragrant woods, and exquisite ivory carvings. However, the Chinese had very few manufactured goods that the Indian merchants wanted in return, leading to a massive, one-way structural trade imbalance that heavily favored the Indian merchants.
Imperial Economic Decrees: To settle these massive trade deficits, Chinese merchants were forced to pay using precious metals, resulting in a severe, continuous drain of gold and silver bullion out of the Chinese economy. To halt this catastrophic economic drainage and stabilize their domestic currency, the Chinese imperial government was forced to enact highly strict legislative decrees specifically banning the export of gold and silver from their seaports.

📌 Society • Rajput Administration

Q.6) Under the Rajput societal organization, a clan generally dominated a compact territory. The text states that these settlements were sometimes based on units of how many villages?

Ans > 12, 24, 48, or 84

Kinship-Based Territorial Control: During the early medieval period, the political and societal organization of the Rajputs was deeply rooted in strong kinship ties, bloodline loyalty, and strict clan-based territorial dominance. A single, powerful Rajput clan would typically conquer, settle, and assert total dominance over a compact, contiguous geographical territory.
The Chaurasi System: For the purposes of efficient administration, systematic revenue collection, and maintaining military readiness, these clan territories were methodically divided into highly specific numerical groupings of villages. The most famous and widespread of these territorial units was the ‘Chaurasi’, which literally translates to a cluster of exactly 84 villages.
Feudal Subdivisions: The larger Chaurasi units were further subdivided into smaller, highly organized administrative fractions consisting of 48, 24, or 12 villages. These smaller clusters were typically granted as fiefs or maintenance assignments (jagir) to minor clan brethren, loyal vassals, and junior family members in exchange for their guaranteed military service during times of war.

📌 Military History • Chauhan Dynasty

Q.7) Prior to the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Prithviraj Chauhan had a successful general who was unfortunately engaged elsewhere when the Ghurid threat materialized. What was this general’s name?

Ans > Skanda

The Eve of a Decisive Conflict: In the year 1192, the Indian subcontinent faced a monumental turning point with the Second Battle of Tarain. The Ghurid ruler, Muhammad of Ghor, returned with a massive, highly organized cavalry force to avenge his humiliating defeat from the previous year, directly challenging the powerful Rajput confederacy led by Prithviraj III (Prithviraj Chauhan).
A Critical Strategic Absence: While Prithviraj Chauhan possessed a massive army, he suffered a critical tactical disadvantage just before the battle commenced. One of his most exceptionally capable, battle-hardened, and victorious generals, named Skanda, was unfortunately engaged in a separate, distant military campaign on another frontier of the Chauhan empire.
Consequences of the General’s Absence: The sudden materialization of the Ghurid threat meant that Skanda could not return in time to assist his king. The absence of such experienced military commanders, combined with the incredibly superior shock-cavalry tactics employed by the Turkish archers, significantly contributed to the catastrophic defeat of the Rajput forces, leading directly to the establishment of Islamic rule in Delhi.

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Sena Dynasty

Q.8) In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji occupied the Sena capital of Lakhnauti. Following this surprise attack, the Sena ruler Lakshmana Sena moved to which location where he and his successors continued to rule?

Ans > Sonargaon

The Lightning Raid on Nadia: In the year 1204, a bold and highly ambitious Turkish military commander named Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji launched a daring, lightning-fast cavalry raid on Nadia (and subsequently Lakhnauti), the political heart of the powerful Sena dynasty in Bengal. Moving with incredible speed, he completely bypassed the main defense garrisons.
The Collapse of the Capital: The surprise attack caught the aging Sena administration and their royal guards entirely off guard. The suddenness of the Turkish cavalry assault induced massive panic within the city, leading to the rapid and total collapse of Sena power in the western and northern regions of Bengal.
Retreat and Re-establishment: Following the disastrous fall of his primary capital, the reigning monarch, King Lakshmana Sena, successfully managed to flee the chaos alongside his family and loyal retainers. He retreated deeply into the riverine tracts of eastern Bengal, firmly re-establishing his royal court and capital at Sonargaon (located near modern Dhaka, Bangladesh), where the Sena dynasty remarkably managed to survive and rule for several more decades.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Early Phase

Q.9) At the time of Iltutmish’s accession in 1210, Qubacha had declared himself the independent ruler of Multan and seized Lahore. Qubacha was a fellow slave of whom?

Ans > Qutbuddin Aibak

Fragmentation of the Ghurid Empire: Following the sudden assassination of Muizzuddin Muhammad Ghori in 1206, his massive empire fragmented violently. Lacking a clear heir, the empire was fiercely divided among his most powerful and capable Turkish slave-generals (Mamluks), who immediately began carving out independent domains.
The Rivalry of the Mamluks: Nasiruddin Qubacha was one of these highly powerful Mamluk commanders and a direct contemporary—and fellow slave—of Qutbuddin Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. While Aibak consolidated power in Delhi and Lahore, Qubacha firmly established his stronghold over the strategic regions of Sindh and Multan.
The Threat to Iltutmish: When Qutbuddin Aibak died suddenly in 1210, his son-in-law Iltutmish ascended the throne in Delhi amidst immense chaos. Taking direct advantage of this instability, Qubacha immediately declared himself a fully independent sovereign ruler, heavily fortified his territories, and even marched north to seize the critical city of Lahore, presenting a massive, existential military threat to the newly formed Delhi Sultanate.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Rebellions

Q.10) The rebel Iwaz assumed independence in Bengal and Bihar and took the title of Sultan Ghiyasuddin. He was defeated and killed in a battle near Lakhnauti in 1226-27 by whom?

Ans > A son of Iltutmish

The Defiance of Bengal: Throughout the history of the Delhi Sultanate, the vast, wealthy province of Bengal proved notoriously difficult for the central authority to control. The massive geographical distance, coupled with a highly complex riverine terrain, frequently encouraged ambitious local governors to rebel and sever ties with Delhi.
Iwaz Khalji’s Independence: Taking full advantage of this geographical isolation and Delhi’s preoccupation with Mongol threats, a powerful Khalji noble named Iwaz openly declared total independence over the regions of Bengal and Bihar. He went so far as to assume the royal, sovereign title of Sultan Ghiyasuddin, minting coins in his own name and building a strong navy.
Imperial Retaliation and Defeat: Sultan Iltutmish, determined to crush this blatant defiance, organized a massive military response. In the year 1226-27, a powerful imperial army commanded directly by Iltutmish’s highly capable eldest son, Prince Nasiruddin Mahmud (who was then the governor of Awadh), marched eastward. The imperial forces decisively defeated and killed Iwaz in a fierce battle near Lakhnauti, temporarily forcing Bengal back into the Sultanate’s fold.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Nobility Politics

Q.11) In 1253, a conspiracy of Turkish chiefs ousted Balban from his position as naib (deputy) to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud. Who was appointed to replace Balban?

Ans > Imaduddin Raihan

The Power of the Chahalgani: During the reign of the weak, puppet monarch Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud, the real political and military power of the Delhi Sultanate was completely monopolized by the ‘Turkan-i-Chahalgani’ (the elite ruling corps of forty Turkish slave-nobles). Among them, Ghiyasuddin Balban had amassed almost absolute dictatorial control in his role as the Naib-i-Mamlakat (the all-powerful deputy of the state).
Racial and Factional Resentment: Balban’s unchecked power, extreme arrogance, and strict policy of Turkish racial supremacy generated massive, boiling resentment among the non-Turkish factions at the court. These marginalized factions included the newly converted Indian Muslims (Hindustanis), Tajiks, and other non-Turkic elites who were entirely blocked from holding high administrative offices.
The Rise of Imaduddin Raihan: In 1253, this boiling resentment culminated in a highly successful palace conspiracy. A powerful coalition of disgruntled nobles, led by a prominent Indian Muslim convert named Imaduddin Raihan, successfully manipulated the Sultan into temporarily ousting Balban from his supreme position. Following the coup, Imaduddin Raihan was officially appointed as the new Naib, though Balban’s vastly superior political maneuvering allowed him to violently reclaim his position just a year later.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Mongol Invasions

Q.12) The Mongols posed a persistent threat to the Delhi Sultanate. In 1241, they sacked and almost depopulated Lahore. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces?

Ans > Tair Bahadur

The Shadow of the Mongol Empire: As the incredibly brutal Mongol Empire expanded aggressively under the successors of Genghis Khan, sweeping across Central Asia, Persia, and the Middle East, the northwestern frontier of the Indian subcontinent became highly vulnerable to their devastating, recurring raids.
The Crisis of 1241: During the chaotic and politically unstable reign of Sultan Muizuddin Bahram Shah (a weak successor of Iltutmish), the Delhi Sultanate’s frontier defenses were severely compromised due to massive internal infighting among the Turkish nobility. The Mongols swiftly took advantage of this glaring weakness.
The Devastation of Lahore: A massive, highly mobile Mongol army commanded by the fierce general Tair Bahadur violently crossed the frontier and laid a brutal siege to the strategic and wealthy city of Lahore in 1241. Due to a lack of reinforcements from Delhi, the city fell. The Mongols subjected Lahore to a horrific sack, slaughtering thousands, capturing slaves, and leaving the once-great city almost completely depopulated and in ruins.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Khalji Dynasty

Q.13) Decades later, in 1292, Jalaluddin Khalji defeated an advancing Mongol force of 1,50,000 horses near his frontier line. Who led this Mongol force?

Ans > Abdullah

Intensification of the Mongol Threat: By the late thirteenth century, during the establishment of the Khalji dynasty, the Mongol threat against India reached a terrifying new peak. The Mongols were no longer just conducting border raids; they began launching massive, highly organized invasions with the explicit goal of conquering Delhi itself.
The Massive Invasion of 1292: In the year 1292, an absolutely colossal Mongol army, historically estimated by chroniclers to consist of roughly 1,50,000 veteran horsemen, crossed the Indus River and advanced dangerously deep toward the heart of the Sultanate. This terrifying invasion force was commanded by Abdullah, a direct grandson of the infamous Hulagu Khan.
Jalaluddin’s Strategic Victory: Despite his advanced age, Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji displayed immense military courage. He personally led the Sultanate’s forces and successfully met the Mongols in a highly decisive battle, inflicting a crushing defeat on the invaders. Following the battle, Jalaluddin negotiated a diplomatic truce, allowing a large contingent of captured Mongols (who converted to Islam and were known as ‘New Muslims’) to permanently settle in specialized quarters near Delhi.

📌 Military Administration • Alauddin

Q.14) To improve military efficiency and prevent soldiers from passing off useless mounts at the muster, Alauddin Khalji introduced the branding system for horses. What was this system called?

Ans > Dagh

Endemic Corruption in the Ranks: Before the radical reforms of Alauddin Khalji, the military system of the Delhi Sultanate suffered from massive, systemic corruption. Powerful military nobles (Iqtadars) frequently committed blatant fraud by presenting poor quality, sick, or borrowed horses during the annual royal inspection (the muster), only to pocket the massive state cash allowance explicitly meant for maintaining high-breed cavalry.
The Introduction of Strict Regulations: Recognizing that a highly efficient, massive standing army was absolutely crucial to repel the terrifying Mongol invasions and conquer the wealth of South India, Alauddin implemented a series of ruthless, heavily centralized military reforms aimed at completely eradicating this financial corruption.
The Dagh and Chehra System: He aggressively introduced the system of ‘Dagh’, which involved the permanent, physical branding of all acceptable cavalry horses with a specific royal insignia. This was paired with the ‘Chehra’ system, which involved creating a highly detailed descriptive roll (a physical registry) of every individual soldier. This combination guaranteed that only the highest quality Arabian and Iraqi warhorses were used, and that soldiers could not illegally substitute themselves or their mounts.

📌 Economic Policies • Market Control

Q.15) Under Alauddin Khalji’s strict market control regulations, what was the fixed price range for a tattu (pony) that was not fit for the army?

Ans > 10 to 25 tankas

The Necessity of Market Reforms: Alauddin Khalji faced a massive dual challenge: he required an unprecedentedly large standing army to defend against the Mongols and execute his imperial conquests, but the state treasury simply could not afford to pay them high, inflation-adjusted salaries. To solve this critical economic problem, he introduced one of the most radical economic policies of the medieval world.
Ruthless Price Fixing: He forcefully and strictly fixed the prices of absolutely all essential commodities across the empire. This sweeping price control applied to everything from basic food grains, cooking oils, and fine textiles, to the highly lucrative markets dealing in enslaved people and all types of livestock.
Regulating the Livestock Market: The horse and livestock market was monitored with absolute severity by state spies (barids). While premium, top-tier imported warhorses meant for the royal cavalry were priced as high as 120 tankas, the state explicitly mandated that ordinary pack animals, mules, or ‘tattus’ (small ponies) that were physically unsuitable for military warfare were strictly price-capped between 10 to 25 tankas. This ensured that essential civilian transport and agricultural labor remained highly affordable.

📌 Administration • Tughlaq Dynasty

Q.16) In his effort to extend and improve cultivation in the doab region, Muhammad bin Tughlaq set up a separate agricultural department. What was this department called?

Ans > Diwan-i-amir-i-kohi

A Sultan of Ambitious Experiments: Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq is widely known in history as a highly educated but wildly experimental ruler. Following his disastrous decision to massively increase taxation in the highly fertile Ganga-Yamuna Doab region, which unfortunately coincided with a devastating multi-year famine, the agrarian economy completely collapsed.
The Creation of a New Department: Realizing that traditional, coercive revenue collection methods were utterly failing and leading to massive peasant revolts, the Sultan attempted a highly progressive, systemic solution. He established a massive, entirely separate government department dedicated exclusively to agricultural development, officially named the ‘Diwan-i-amir-i-kohi’.
Objectives and Ultimate Failure: The primary objectives of the Diwan-i-amir-i-kohi were highly modern for the time: to aggressively bring barren land under active cultivation through state intervention, to heavily promote the farming of superior cash crops (like sugarcane and wheat) over traditional low-yield grains, and to provide massive state loans (‘sondhar’) directly to destitute peasants to buy seeds and dig wells. Despite its visionary concept, the scheme ultimately failed catastrophically due to massive corruption among the appointed officials and extremely poor on-ground execution.

📌 Governance • Firuz Tughlaq

Q.17) Firuz Tughlaq sought to appease the nobility by abolishing the practice of torturing nobles and their officials if any balance was found against them during the auditing of the accounts of what?

Ans > Their iqtas

A Policy of Appeasement: Unlike his powerful predecessors, Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who ruthlessly crushed the power of the nobility and centralized all state authority, Firuz Shah Tughlaq ascended the throne under highly unstable circumstances. To secure his reign, he adopted a highly conciliatory and forgiving approach aimed specifically at winning the enduring loyalty of the powerful aristocratic class.
The Stress of the Iqta System: The administrative backbone of the Sultanate was the ‘Iqta’ system, where vast tracts of land (iqtas) were granted to powerful nobles (Muqtis or Iqtadars). They collected the land revenue, maintained a specified number of troops, and remitted the surplus to the central treasury. This system required constant, rigorous auditing by the state’s revenue department (Diwan-i-Wizarat).
Abolishing Brutal Audits: Previously, if the state auditors discovered any financial discrepancies, missing funds, or outright embezzlement during the review of an iqta’s accounts, the nobles and their accountants were subjected to horrific physical torture, public humiliation, and imprisonment. In a massive concession to the nobility, Firuz completely and officially abolished all forms of physical torture associated with revenue collection, thereby heavily empowering the feudal lords at the expense of the central treasury.

📌 Religious Policy • Firuz Tughlaq

Q.18) Firuz Tughlaq publicly burnt a Brahman for preaching to the people on the grounds that it was against the sharia. According to the text, on the very same ground, what other action did he take within his own palace?

Ans > He erased beautiful wall paintings.

A Reign of Strict Orthodoxy: The long reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq was heavily characterized by his deep, unyielding commitment to orthodox Islamic law (the Sharia) and his intense desire to present himself to his subjects as the ultimate, pious, and ideal Muslim sovereign, constantly seeking the absolute approval of the orthodox religious scholars (the Ulama).
Intolerance and the Sharia: This strict adherence to religious orthodoxy frequently manifested in highly intolerant policies. He notoriously ordered the brutal public execution by burning of a Brahman who was accused of actively preaching Hindu theology to Muslims, justifying the execution by declaring it a direct violation of the Sharia.
Iconoclasm in the Royal Quarters: This same rigid interpretation of Islamic tradition, which strictly prohibits the artistic depiction of living beings (aniconism to prevent idolatry), deeply influenced his personal life as well. Acting upon these highly orthodox grounds, Firuz ordered the systematic destruction and complete erasure of all the beautiful, historic wall paintings and frescoes that had previously decorated the interior apartments of his own royal palaces in Delhi.

📌 Central Administration • Sultanate

Q.19) In the central administration of the Delhi Sultanate, the department of religious matters, pious foundations, and stipends was called the diwan-i-risalat. It was generally presided over by the chief:

Ans > Sadr

The Structure of Central Governance: The central administration of the vast Delhi Sultanate was highly organized and divided into several specialized, massively powerful ministries (Diwans). One of the most critical of these ministries was the ‘Diwan-i-Risalat’, which operated directly under the overarching authority of the Sultan.
The Scope of the Diwan-i-Risalat: This specific department functioned as the state’s supreme ministry for religious and charitable affairs. It dealt extensively with all Islamic religious matters, managed diplomatic correspondence with neighboring Islamic states, officially granted state stipends and tax-free lands (inams) to scholars and the ulama, and meticulously managed the vast wealth of pious charitable endowments (waqfs).
The Authority of the Sadr: The Diwan-i-Risalat was generally presided over by an immensely powerful official known as the ‘Sadr-us-Sudur’ (Chief Sadr). Because religious and legal affairs were deeply intertwined in the Islamic state, this official was very often simultaneously appointed as the Chief Qazi (the supreme head of the imperial judiciary). The Sadr served as the Sultan’s highest advisor on interpreting Sharia law and controlled the massive distribution of royal charity.

📌 Court Decorum • Sultanate Admin

Q.20) Which official of the royal household (antahpur) in the Delhi Sultanate was responsible for the maintenance of proper decorum at the court and placing nobles in their proper order of precedence?

Ans > Wakil-i-dar

The Importance of the Royal Household: In the highly centralized, autocratic structure of the Delhi Sultanate, the administration of the Sultan’s personal household and the grand royal court was not merely a domestic matter; it was a massive political undertaking. The royal court was designed to physically project the absolute majesty, divine right, and terrifying power of the sovereign.
The Power of the Wakil-i-dar: The ‘Wakil-i-dar’ was the absolute chief dignitary and supreme controller of the entire royal household. Because this official managed the Sultan’s personal staff and guarded the entrances to the private apartments, they wielded immense, unparalleled political influence by strictly controlling who had direct, physical access to the Sultan.
Maintaining Imperial Discipline: The Wakil-i-dar was strictly responsible for maintaining absolute, pin-drop discipline during the grand public audiences (the ‘Durbar’). They ensured that the highly complex, Persian-inspired court protocols were flawlessly executed, and most importantly, they were responsible for meticulously placing the incredibly proud, heavily armed nobles in their exact, highly sensitive order of seating precedence, preventing deadly disputes over rank and status.

📌 Economy • Nobility Wealth

Q.21) During the Tughlaq period, some nobles amassed massive fortunes. Firuz Tughlaq’s ariz-i-mamalik left an astonishing 13 crores at his death. What was his name?

Ans > Bashir

The Consequences of Lenient Governance: Due to Firuz Shah Tughlaq’s highly lenient administrative policies, his decision to make the iqtas (land grants) effectively hereditary, and his complete abolition of strict state auditing and physical punishments for corruption, the central authority rapidly weakened. Consequently, high-ranking nobles began hoarding unimaginable, illegal amounts of wealth extracted from the peasantry.
The Rise of a Favorite Slave: This unchecked accumulation of wealth is most perfectly exemplified by the case of a man named Bashir. Originally a humble slave of Firuz Shah, Bashir rose through the ranks entirely due to the Sultan’s blind favor, eventually holding the absolutely crucial, massively powerful military portfolio of ‘Ariz-i-mamalik’ (the Supreme Minister of War).
An Unprecedented Personal Fortune: Through extensive, unchecked corruption, the blatant sale of military offices, and skimming funds meant for army maintenance over decades, Bashir amassed a mind-boggling personal fortune. Historical records state that upon his death, he left behind a staggering sum of 13 crore tankas—an amount so massively vast that it rivaled the entire official state treasury itself, perfectly highlighting the deep, terminal systemic rot within the later Sultanate administration.

📌 Deccan History • Bahmani Kingdom

Q.22) Mahmud Gawan was an Iranian by birth who started as a trader but eventually dominated the affairs of the Bahmani state for 20 years. What title was he initially granted by the sultan?

Ans > Malik-ut-Tujjar

The Arrival of a Brilliant Mind: Mahmud Gawan, an Iranian by birth and possessing an incredibly sharp intellect, initially arrived in the Deccan peninsula as a highly successful, wealthy Persian merchant trading in premium Arabian horses. His vast knowledge of international trade routes, Middle Eastern geopolitics, and Islamic law quickly caught the attention of the Bahmani court.
The Title of Chief Merchant: Recognizing his sheer brilliance and administrative genius, the Bahmani Sultan quickly absorbed him into the political elite. Before rapidly ascending through the ranks of the nobility, Gawan was initially granted the high honorific title of ‘Malik-ut-Tujjar’, which translates directly to the ‘Chief of the Merchants’, granting him immense influence over the state’s economic policies.
A Legacy of Statecraft: Gawan eventually rose to the absolute highest position of Prime Minister (Peshwa). For two decades, he dominated the Bahmani state, dramatically expanding its territorial borders from coast to coast, establishing the magnificent, world-renowned Madrasa in Bidar, and undertaking sweeping, highly equitable land revenue reforms before being tragically executed due to a forged letter in a massive court conspiracy.

📌 Military History • Vijayanagara

Q.23) Recognizing the superiority of the Bahmani army’s mounted archers, the Vijayanagara king Deva Raya II enlisted 2,000 Muslim cavalrymen. What specific skill did he command his Hindu soldiers to learn from them?

Ans > Archery

The Struggle for Deccan Supremacy: The history of the Deccan is dominated by the constant, brutal, century-long warfare between the powerful Hindu Vijayanagara Empire and the Islamic Bahmani Sultanate, primarily fighting over the incredibly fertile and wealthy Raichur Doab region. This perpetual conflict forced both massive empires to rapidly adapt and modernize their militaries.
Identifying a Critical Weakness: King Deva Raya II, one of the greatest monarchs of the Sangama dynasty, astutely realized that the Vijayanagara army, while massive in sheer numbers and relying heavily on infantry and elephants, was consistently being outmaneuvered. The Bahmani success relied heavily on highly mobile, devastatingly accurate Turkish and Persian mounted archers who could strike and retreat before the heavy infantry could engage.
Pragmatic Military Integration: To bridge this crucial tactical gap, Deva Raya II made a highly pragmatic, secular military decision. Overcoming religious prejudices, he actively enlisted 2,000 expert Muslim cavalrymen into his royal army, granted them lands, and explicitly commanded his native Hindu soldiers to intensely train under them to perfectly master the highly difficult art of horseback archery.

📌 Warfare Technology • South India

Q.24) The 1367 battle over Mudkal between the Bahmani Sultan and the Vijayanagara Empire is historically significant. According to the text, the Bahmani victory was due to more efficient cavalry and the first regional use of what weapon?

Ans > Artillery

The Flashpoint of the Raichur Doab: The Raichur Doab, representing the highly fertile and economically vital land situated between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, served as the perpetual, bloody flashpoint for unending conflict between the massive Vijayanagara Empire and the expanding Bahmani Sultanate.
The Battle of Mudkal (1367): The ferocious battle fought in the year 1367 under the command of the Bahmani Sultan Muhammad Shah I against the Vijayanagara forces for control over the fortress of Mudkal is immensely significant in the broader context of South Asian military history and technological evolution.
The Arrival of the Gunpowder Revolution: While the Bahmanis already possessed a significant advantage due to their highly efficient, mobile shock cavalry, historical texts specifically note this 1367 battle as one of the absolute earliest, definitively recorded instances of the deployment of primitive artillery (involving early gunpowder firearms and crude cannons) in the region. The terrifying shock and destructive power of these new weapons fundamentally changed the nature of siege warfare and open-field battles on the Indian subcontinent forever.

📌 European Entry • Portuguese India

Q.25) The Portuguese routed a combined Egyptian and Gujarati fleet in 1509. Prior to this decisive victory, the son of which Portuguese governor was killed in an initial naval clash?

Ans > Don Almaida

The Threat to the Spice Monopoly: The sudden arrival of the heavily armed Portuguese in the Indian Ocean severely threatened the highly lucrative, centuries-old Arab and Venetian monopoly on the spice trade. In response, the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, allied with the Sultan of Gujarat and the Zamorin of Calicut, formed a massive combined fleet to expel the European interlopers.
The Disaster at Chaul (1508): Before their ultimate, world-changing victory, the Portuguese suffered a shocking, massive defeat at the Battle of Chaul in 1508 against this combined Islamic fleet. During this chaotic naval clash, Lourenço de Almeida, the incredibly brave son of the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, Dom Francisco de Almeida (Don Almaida), was killed in action while his ship was surrounded.
The Vengeance at Diu (1509): Consumed by a terrifying desire for brutal, absolute revenge for the death of his son, Viceroy Francisco de Almeida openly defied direct orders from his King to return to Portugal. He gathered a massive, heavily armed armada, tracked down the allied Islamic fleet, and utterly destroyed them at the historic Battle of Diu in 1509, a victory that cemented absolute Portuguese naval hegemony over the Indian Ocean for the next century.

📌 Naval Warfare • Ottomans in India

Q.26) In 1538, an 82-year-old Turkish admiral arrived before Diu with a formidable fleet to besiege the Portuguese. He had been appointed the governor of Cairo by the Sultan. Who was he?

Ans > Sulaiman Pasha

The Ottoman Counter-Offensive: Following their conquest of Egypt, the massive, highly militarized Ottoman Empire gained direct control of the Red Sea. They immediately recognized the massive economic and geopolitical threat the heavily armed Portuguese posed to the Islamic holy cities and their highly lucrative Indian Ocean spice monopoly.
The Great Siege of Diu (1538): Acting on urgent appeals from the Sultan of Gujarat, the mighty Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent dispatched a massive, technologically advanced expeditionary naval force. This formidable fleet was commanded by the highly experienced, 82-year-old veteran admiral and newly appointed governor of Cairo, Hadim Suleiman Pasha.
Failure of the Coalition: Suleiman Pasha’s massive fleet successfully reached the coast of Gujarat and laid a terrifying, heavily bombarded siege to the newly constructed Portuguese fortress at Diu. However, due to severe mutual suspicion, a complete lack of military coordination with the local Gujarati forces, and incredibly fierce, desperate resistance from the heavily entrenched Portuguese defenders, the Ottomans eventually withdrew their fleet, failing to break the Portuguese blockade of India.

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Gujarat Sultanate

Q.27) Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujarat who had previously granted Bassein to the Portuguese, met a tragic end in 1536. How did he die?

Ans > He drowned while swimming ashore after a scuffle aboard a Portuguese ship.

A Complex and Desperate Alliance: Sultan Bahadur Shah, the powerful ruler of the Gujarat Sultanate, found himself trapped in a massive two-front war. Facing a terrifying, massive invasion by the Mughal Emperor Humayun from the north, he desperately sought naval and artillery assistance from the Portuguese, conceding the highly strategic coastal territory of Bassein (Vasai) to them in exchange for their military support.
Regret and Rising Tensions: Once Humayun was forced to retreat due to rebellions elsewhere, the immediate Mughal threat receded. Bahadur Shah deeply regretted giving the aggressive Portuguese a permanent, heavily fortified foothold on his coast, leading to rapidly escalating tensions as he tried to politically maneuver them out of the highly lucrative port of Diu.
The Fatal Betrayal: During a highly tense, deeply suspicious diplomatic meeting intended for negotiations aboard a Portuguese vessel anchored off the coast, a violent scuffle suddenly broke out between the Sultan’s guards and the Portuguese sailors. In the ensuing chaos and panic, the Sultan fell or was pushed into the deep waters of the Arabian Sea and tragically drowned, an event that allowed the Portuguese to fully annex and fortify Diu unopposed.

📌 Northeast India • Ahom Kingdom

Q.28) The Ahom ruler Suhungmung repulsed a Muslim attack and expanded his kingdom. Reflecting the rapid Hinduization of the Ahoms, what name did he adopt?

Ans > Svarga Narayana

The Expansion of Assam: Suhungmung, who reigned from 1497 to 1539, is widely celebrated by historians as one of the absolute greatest and most militarily successful monarchs of the Ahom kingdom in Assam. Under his brilliant leadership, the Ahoms famously defeated the powerful Chutiya kingdom, successfully repulsed highly aggressive invasions by the Bengal Sultans, and vastly expanded the territorial limits of their empire.
A Turning Point in Cultural History: Beyond his massive military conquests, Suhungmung’s reign marks a highly significant, massive turning point in the socio-cultural and religious history of the Ahom people, who had originally migrated from the Tai-speaking regions of Southeast Asia.
The Process of Hinduization: Reflecting the deep, rapid assimilation of the Ahom ruling class into mainstream Hindu society and their embrace of Brahmanical religious practices, he became the very first Ahom monarch to formally adopt a fully Sanskritized, Hindu title. Discarding purely traditional titles, he proudly declared himself ‘Svarga Narayana’, which translates to the ‘Lord of Heaven’, deeply legitimizing his rule within the Hindu cosmological framework.

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Bengal Sultanate

Q.29) Sultan Hussain Shah of Bengal wrested Chittagong from the Arakan king. According to the text, which other territory did he conquer from its ruler?

Ans > Tipperah

The Golden Age of the Hussain Shahi Dynasty: Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah, the highly capable founder of the Hussain Shahi dynasty, is widely and universally regarded by historians as one of the absolute greatest, most enlightened independent sultans of Bengal. His immensely long reign is noted for profound internal peace, massive economic prosperity, and deep religious tolerance (he famously patronized the great Bhakti saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu).
Aggressive Territorial Expansion: Despite his reputation for cultural patronage and peace, Hussain Shah was a highly aggressive and exceptionally successful military commander who sought to permanently secure Bengal’s borders against hostile neighbors. He successfully launched a massive naval and land campaign to recapture the highly strategic, wealthy port city of Chittagong from the powerful Arakanese kingdom.
The Conquest of the Eastern Frontier: Furthermore, pushing aggressively against his eastern frontiers, he launched highly coordinated, massive military campaigns against the deeply entrenched, ancient Hindu kingdom of Tipperah (modern-day Tripura). His forces successfully breached their defenses, conquering vast swathes of the territory and firmly incorporating the region into the Bengal Sultanate’s ever-expanding sphere of political and economic influence.

📌 World History • Kambuja Empire

Q.30) The magnificent temple complex near Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built by the Kambuja empire, was largely overtaken by the jungle until 1860. According to the text, what is the total area covering these temples?

Ans > 3.2 square kilometres

The Influence of Greater India: The massive, awe-inspiring architectural marvels of Southeast Asia, most notably the colossal temple complexes of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, deeply and perfectly reflect the profound cultural, religious, and architectural influence of ancient and early medieval India on the incredibly powerful Kambuja (Khmer) Empire.
A City Swallowed by Nature: These sprawling, intricately carved masterpieces of Hindu and later Mahayana Buddhist architecture were the thriving heart of a massive urban metropolis. However, following the tragic political and economic decline of the Khmer Empire, these magnificent stone cities were entirely abandoned and subsequently swallowed by the dense, incredibly aggressive tropical jungles of Cambodia for centuries.
A Monumental Rediscovery: When these lost cities were dramatically “rediscovered” and extensively mapped by French colonial explorers and naturalists in the year 1860, the sheer, unimaginable scale of the ruins absolutely astounded the western world. Detailed surveys revealed that the main temple complexes alone covered a massive, continuous physical area of exactly 3.2 square kilometres, making it one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed in human history.

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 29

Trade: Arab access to African gold facilitated global currency (Dinar/Dirham).
Sources: 17th-century Tibetan chronicles highlight Pala patronage of Buddhism.
Architecture: Amoghavarsha built Manyakhet to rival Indra’s city.
Foreign Accounts: Marco Polo claimed the “tailor” profession was unknown in Malabar.
Economy: 13th-century China restricted bullion exports due to trade imbalance with India.
Rajput Society: Clan settlements were divided into units like 12, 24, 48, or 84 villages.
Chauhans: Skanda was Prithviraj’s general who was absent at Tarain.
Sena Dynasty: Lakshmana Sena retreated to Sonargaon after losing Lakhnauti.
Early Sultanate: Qubacha, who held Multan/Lahore, was a fellow slave of Aibak.
Bengal Rebellions: Iwaz was defeated by Iltutmish’s son in 1226-27.
Court Politics: Imaduddin Raihan temporarily ousted Balban in 1253.
Mongol Threat: Tair Bahadur commanded the Mongol force that sacked Lahore in 1241.
Khalji Defense: Jalaluddin defeated Abdullah’s massive Mongol force in 1292.
Military Reforms: Alauddin Khalji introduced ‘Dagh’ (branding of horses).
Market Regulations: Tattus (unfit ponies) were priced strictly at 10-25 tankas.
Agriculture: Muhammad bin Tughlaq established ‘Diwan-i-amir-i-kohi’.
Firuz’s Reforms: He abolished the torture of nobles during ‘iqta’ audits.
Orthodoxy: Firuz Tughlaq erased wall paintings inside his own palace.
Central Admin: The ‘Sadr’ presided over the Diwan-i-risalat (religious matters).
Court Decorum: The ‘Wakil-i-dar’ maintained court precedence and decorum.
Nobility Wealth: Bashir, an ariz-i-mamalik, amassed 13 crores.
Bahmani Empire: Mahmud Gawan was initially titled ‘Malik-ut-Tujjar’.
Vijayanagara: Deva Raya II enlisted Muslims to teach ‘Archery’ to Hindu soldiers.
South Indian Warfare: The 1367 Mudkal battle saw the first regional use of ‘Artillery’.
Portuguese: Don Almaida died before the decisive 1509 naval victory.
Ottomans: Sulaiman Pasha besieged Diu in 1538.
Gujarat: Bahadur Shah drowned during a scuffle on a Portuguese ship.
Ahoms: Suhungmung adopted the Hinduized name ‘Svarga Narayana’.
Bengal Sultanate: Hussain Shah conquered Tipperah.
Kambuja: The Angkor Thom temple complex covers 3.2 square kilometres.

Timer ⏳

20:00

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 29

Q.1) The Arab merchants established the gold dinar and the silver dirham which became the currency of trade all over the world. According to the text, this was made possible by the Arab access to what specific resource?

Q.2) Information about the Palas being great patrons of Buddhist learning is provided by Tibetan chronicles. According to the text, in which century were these Tibetan chronicles written?

Q.3) The Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha ruled for 64 years and was a great builder. It is said that he built the capital city Manyakhet so as to excel the city of which deity?

Q.4) The famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo visited Malabar in the thirteenth century. He noted that men and women wore only a loin-cloth, and claimed that which specific profession was completely unknown there?

Q.5) Due to the highly favorable trade balance enjoyed by India and Southeast Asia, the Chinese government attempted to restrict the export of gold and silver from China in which century?

Q.6) Under the Rajput societal organization, a clan generally dominated a compact territory. The text states that these settlements were sometimes based on units of how many villages?

Q.7) Prior to the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Prithviraj Chauhan had a successful general who was unfortunately engaged elsewhere when the Ghurid threat materialized. What was this general’s name?

Q.8) In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji occupied the Sena capital of Lakhnauti. Following this surprise attack, the Sena ruler Lakshmana Sena moved to which location where he and his successors continued to rule?

Q.9) At the time of Iltutmish’s accession in 1210, Qubacha had declared himself the independent ruler of Multan and seized Lahore. Qubacha was a fellow slave of whom?

Q.10) The rebel Iwaz assumed independence in Bengal and Bihar and took the title of Sultan Ghiyasuddin. He was defeated and killed in a battle near Lakhnauti in 1226-27 by whom?

Q.11) In 1253, a conspiracy of Turkish chiefs ousted Balban from his position as naib (deputy) to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud. Who was appointed to replace Balban?

Q.12) The Mongols posed a persistent threat to the Delhi Sultanate. In 1241, they sacked and almost depopulated Lahore. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces?

Q.13) Decades later, in 1292, Jalaluddin Khalji defeated an advancing Mongol force of 1,50,000 horses near his frontier line. Who led this Mongol force?

Q.14) To improve military efficiency and prevent soldiers from passing off useless mounts at the muster, Alauddin Khalji introduced the branding system for horses. What was this system called?

Q.15) Under Alauddin Khalji’s strict market control regulations, what was the fixed price range for a tattu (pony) that was not fit for the army?

Q.16) In his effort to extend and improve cultivation in the doab region, Muhammad bin Tughlaq set up a separate agricultural department. What was this department called?

Q.17) Firuz Tughlaq sought to appease the nobility by abolishing the practice of torturing nobles and their officials if any balance was found against them during the auditing of the accounts of what?

Q.18) Firuz Tughlaq publicly burnt a Brahman for preaching to the people on the grounds that it was against the sharia. According to the text, on the very same ground, what other action did he take within his own palace?

Q.19) In the central administration of the Delhi Sultanate, the department of religious matters, pious foundations, and stipends was called the diwan-i-risalat. It was generally presided over by the chief:

Q.20) Which official of the royal household (antahpur) in the Delhi Sultanate was responsible for the maintenance of proper decorum at the court and placing nobles in their proper order of precedence?

Q.21) During the Tughlaq period, some nobles amassed massive fortunes. Firuz Tughlaq’s ariz-i-mamalik left an astonishing 13 crores at his death. What was his name?

Q.22) Mahmud Gawan was an Iranian by birth who started as a trader but eventually dominated the affairs of the Bahmani state for 20 years. What title was he initially granted by the sultan?

Q.23) Recognizing the superiority of the Bahmani army’s mounted archers, the Vijayanagara king Deva Raya II enlisted 2,000 Muslim cavalrymen. What specific skill did he command his Hindu soldiers to learn from them?

Q.24) The 1367 battle over Mudkal between the Bahmani Sultan and the Vijayanagara Empire is historically significant. According to the text, the Bahmani victory was due to more efficient cavalry and the first regional use of what weapon?

Q.25) The Portuguese routed a combined Egyptian and Gujarati fleet in 1509. Prior to this decisive victory, the son of which Portuguese governor was killed in an initial naval clash?

Q.26) In 1538, an 82-year-old Turkish admiral arrived before Diu with a formidable fleet to besiege the Portuguese. He had been appointed the governor of Cairo by the Sultan. Who was he?

Q.27) Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujarat who had previously granted Bassein to the Portuguese, met a tragic end in 1536. How did he die?

Q.28) The Ahom ruler Suhungmung repulsed a Muslim attack and expanded his kingdom. Reflecting the rapid Hinduization of the Ahoms, what name did he adopt?

Q.29) Sultan Hussain Shah of Bengal wrested Chittagong from the Arakan king. According to the text, which other territory did he conquer from its ruler?

Q.30) The magnificent temple complex near Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built by the Kambuja empire, was largely overtaken by the jungle until 1860. According to the text, what is the total area covering these temples?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 29

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Q.1) The Arab merchants established the gold dinar and the silver dirham which became the currency of trade all over the world. According to the text, this was made possible by the Arab access to what specific resource?

Q.2) Information about the Palas being great patrons of Buddhist learning is provided by Tibetan chronicles. According to the text, in which century were these Tibetan chronicles written?

Q.3) The Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha ruled for 64 years and was a great builder. It is said that he built the capital city Manyakhet so as to excel the city of which deity?

Q.4) The famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo visited Malabar in the thirteenth century. He noted that men and women wore only a loin-cloth, and claimed that which specific profession was completely unknown there?

Q.5) Due to the highly favorable trade balance enjoyed by India and Southeast Asia, the Chinese government attempted to restrict the export of gold and silver from China in which century?

Q.6) Under the Rajput societal organization, a clan generally dominated a compact territory. The text states that these settlements were sometimes based on units of how many villages?

Q.7) Prior to the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Prithviraj Chauhan had a successful general who was unfortunately engaged elsewhere when the Ghurid threat materialized. What was this general’s name?

Q.8) In 1204, Bakhtiyar Khalji occupied the Sena capital of Lakhnauti. Following this surprise attack, the Sena ruler Lakshmana Sena moved to which location where he and his successors continued to rule?

Q.9) At the time of Iltutmish’s accession in 1210, Qubacha had declared himself the independent ruler of Multan and seized Lahore. Qubacha was a fellow slave of whom?

Q.10) The rebel Iwaz assumed independence in Bengal and Bihar and took the title of Sultan Ghiyasuddin. He was defeated and killed in a battle near Lakhnauti in 1226-27 by whom?

Q.11) In 1253, a conspiracy of Turkish chiefs ousted Balban from his position as naib (deputy) to Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud. Who was appointed to replace Balban?

Q.12) The Mongols posed a persistent threat to the Delhi Sultanate. In 1241, they sacked and almost depopulated Lahore. Who was the commander of these Mongol forces?

Q.13) Decades later, in 1292, Jalaluddin Khalji defeated an advancing Mongol force of 1,50,000 horses near his frontier line. Who led this Mongol force?

Q.14) To improve military efficiency and prevent soldiers from passing off useless mounts at the muster, Alauddin Khalji introduced the branding system for horses. What was this system called?

Q.15) Under Alauddin Khalji’s strict market control regulations, what was the fixed price range for a tattu (pony) that was not fit for the army?

Q.16) In his effort to extend and improve cultivation in the doab region, Muhammad bin Tughlaq set up a separate agricultural department. What was this department called?

Q.17) Firuz Tughlaq sought to appease the nobility by abolishing the practice of torturing nobles and their officials if any balance was found against them during the auditing of the accounts of what?

Q.18) Firuz Tughlaq publicly burnt a Brahman for preaching to the people on the grounds that it was against the sharia. According to the text, on the very same ground, what other action did he take within his own palace?

Q.19) In the central administration of the Delhi Sultanate, the department of religious matters, pious foundations, and stipends was called the diwan-i-risalat. It was generally presided over by the chief:

Q.20) Which official of the royal household (antahpur) in the Delhi Sultanate was responsible for the maintenance of proper decorum at the court and placing nobles in their proper order of precedence?

Q.21) During the Tughlaq period, some nobles amassed massive fortunes. Firuz Tughlaq’s ariz-i-mamalik left an astonishing 13 crores at his death. What was his name?

Q.22) Mahmud Gawan was an Iranian by birth who started as a trader but eventually dominated the affairs of the Bahmani state for 20 years. What title was he initially granted by the sultan?

Q.23) Recognizing the superiority of the Bahmani army’s mounted archers, the Vijayanagara king Deva Raya II enlisted 2,000 Muslim cavalrymen. What specific skill did he command his Hindu soldiers to learn from them?

Q.24) The 1367 battle over Mudkal between the Bahmani Sultan and the Vijayanagara Empire is historically significant. According to the text, the Bahmani victory was due to more efficient cavalry and the first regional use of what weapon?

Q.25) The Portuguese routed a combined Egyptian and Gujarati fleet in 1509. Prior to this decisive victory, the son of which Portuguese governor was killed in an initial naval clash?

Q.26) In 1538, an 82-year-old Turkish admiral arrived before Diu with a formidable fleet to besiege the Portuguese. He had been appointed the governor of Cairo by the Sultan. Who was he?

Q.27) Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujarat who had previously granted Bassein to the Portuguese, met a tragic end in 1536. How did he die?

Q.28) The Ahom ruler Suhungmung repulsed a Muslim attack and expanded his kingdom. Reflecting the rapid Hinduization of the Ahoms, what name did he adopt?

Q.29) Sultan Hussain Shah of Bengal wrested Chittagong from the Arakan king. According to the text, which other territory did he conquer from its ruler?

Q.30) The magnificent temple complex near Angkor Thom in Cambodia, built by the Kambuja empire, was largely overtaken by the jungle until 1860. According to the text, what is the total area covering these temples?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 29

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Current Affairs

Month wise Current Affairs