Medieval History Set 48 | MROY Class

Medieval History Set 48 Questions & Answers

In the Mughal agrarian system, what was the administrative term for miscellaneous, illegal cesses imposed on the peasantry? – Abwab
Which formidable naval fort did Shivaji build on a rocky island off the coast of Malvan in 1664? – Sindhudurg
Which eminent Sanskrit poet at Shah Jahan’s court authored the Ganga Lahari and Rasagangadhara? – Jagannatha Pandita
What is the distinct regional architectural element from eastern India featuring a curved roof imitating bamboo huts known as in Mughal architecture? – Bangla roof (or Do-chala)
What is the artificial island in the middle of Wular Lake built by Zain-ul-Abidin called? – Zaina Lank
Which Portuguese Governor introduced the strategy famously known as the ‘Blue Water Policy’? – Francisco de Almeida
Which technological device brought by the Turks revolutionized yarn production during the Sultanate period? – The spinning wheel (Charkha)
Which master artist, honored with the title Nadir-uz-Zaman, painted the allegorical scene of Jahangir embracing Shah Abbas of Persia? – Abul Hasan
What are the classical Assamese devotional songs composed by Shankardeva and Madhavdeva called? – Borgeet
Which Portuguese traveler wrote a highly detailed account of the Vijayanagara Empire during Krishna Deva Raya’s reign? – Duarte Barbosa
Under Sher Shah Suri, what was the document recording the peasant’s landholdings and revenue assessment called? – Patta
What was the deed of agreement signed by the peasant under Sher Shah Suri’s revenue system known as? – Qabuliyat
What was the Persian term for the ‘Centurions’ who rebelled against Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the Deccan? – Amiran-i-Sada
Which 1795 battle was the last time all major Maratha chiefs fought together under the Peshwa’s banner? – Battle of Kharda
Who translated the Ramayana into Persian during Akbar’s reign? – Abdul Qadir Badauni
Which Mughal governor of Bengal granted the English East India Company the zamindari rights to three villages in 1698? – Prince Azim-ush-Shan
Which powerful South Indian merchant guild was known as the Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu? – Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu (Ayyavole)
Which Sultan originally excavated the massive water reservoir known as Hauz Khas to supply water to Siri? – Alauddin Khalji
Which remarkable Queen ruled the Kashmir Valley with an iron fist for nearly five decades during the 10th-11th centuries? – Queen Didda
Which Persian polymath at Akbar’s court is credited with inventing a multi-barreled cannon? – Fathullah Shirazi
Which ruler permanently re-annexed the independent Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur to the Delhi Sultanate? – Bahlul Lodi
Which prominent Bundela Rajput chief rebelled against Aurangzeb and carved out an independent kingdom? – Chhatrasal
Who authored the Fatawa-i-Jahandari, a prescriptive mirror for princes outlining how a Muslim monarch should rule? – Ziauddin Barani
Which 11th-century Sufi saint, widely known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, wrote the Kashf-ul-Mahjub? – Ali Hujwiri
Which English traveler documented his harrowing, eyewitness account of the devastating Gujarat-Deccan famine of 1630–1632? – Peter Mundy
In the Maratha administrative framework under Shivaji, what was the title of the vital royal official who served as the Chief Secretary? – Chitnis
Which highly revered Muslim Sufi saint was invited by Guru Arjan Dev to lay the foundation stone of the Harimandir Sahib? – Mian Mir
Who was the Mughal governor who laid the foundations for the independent Nawabs of the Carnatic with their capital at Arcot? – Saadatullah Khan
In the Mughal nobility, what was the loyal core group born and raised within the imperial household called? – Khana-zads
By signing which treaty in 1802 did Peshwa Baji Rao II allow British troops into Poona, fatally compromising Maratha independence? – Treaty of Bassein

MROY Class

Medieval History Set 48

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📌 Mughal Empire • Administration

Q.1) In the Mughal agrarian system, while the standard land revenue was fixed, local officials and zamindars often imposed additional, illegal cesses and arbitrary exactions on the peasantry. What was the administrative term for these miscellaneous cesses?

Ans > Abwab

Definition of Abwab: In the highly structured Mughal agrarian system, the official state demand for land revenue was known as Jama (assessed) and Hasil (collected). However, local zamindars, jagirdars, and corrupt state officials frequently levied unauthorized, miscellaneous cesses on the peasantry, collectively known as ‘Abwab’.
Types of Exactions: These illegal taxes were wildly arbitrary. They could include forced contributions for a zamindar’s son’s wedding, arbitrary house taxes on village artisans, grazing fees for cattle, or even forced tolls imposed on grain merchants traveling through specific territories, severely burdening the rural economy.
Imperial Edicts vs. Reality: Recognizing that these exactions economically crushed the peasantry and sparked rebellions, powerful Mughal Emperors like Akbar and Aurangzeb issued strict royal edicts (farmans) officially abolishing the Abwabs. Despite these central directives, the weak local enforcement meant that the practice remained deeply entrenched and widespread across the empire, particularly as central authority waned.

📌 Maratha Empire • Military History

Q.2) Recognizing the strategic importance of a strong navy to counter the Siddis of Janjira and European powers, Shivaji built a formidable naval fort on a rocky island off the coast of Malvan in 1664. What is this fort called?

Ans > Sindhudurg

Strategic Coastal Defense: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj possessed a rare strategic foresight among Indian rulers, recognizing that controlling the Konkan coast required a powerful blue-water navy. To counter the dominant Siddis of Janjira, the Portuguese in Goa, and the expanding English presence, he ordered the construction of Sindhudurg (literally translating to “Fort in the Sea”) in 1664.
Geographical Placement: The massive fortification was strategically constructed on the small, rocky Kurte island, located just off the coast of Malvan in present-day Maharashtra. Its isolated island location made it incredibly difficult for enemy infantry or artillery to siege it effectively from the mainland.
Engineering Marvel: The construction of Sindhudurg was a monumental engineering feat for its time. Over 4,000 pounds of lead were poured into the foundation to secure the massive stone walls against the relentless pounding of the Arabian Sea. The main entrance was ingeniously concealed so that it was virtually invisible to approaching enemy ships, a hallmark of Maratha defensive architecture.

📌 Mughal Empire • Culture & Literature

Q.3) Shah Jahan’s court was a great center of Sanskrit learning. Which eminent Sanskrit poet and scholar, who received the title of Panditaraja from the Emperor, authored the famous works Ganga Lahari and Rasagangadhara?

Ans > Jagannatha Pandita

Mughal Patronage of Sanskrit: Despite the official court language being Persian, the Mughal court, particularly under Shah Jahan and heavily influenced by his son Dara Shikoh, was a thriving, syncretic center for Sanskrit literature and Hindu philosophy. Jagannatha Pandita was the most celebrated luminary of this era.
The Title of Panditaraja: Born into a Telugu Brahman family, Jagannatha Pandita migrated to the north and gained immense favor at Shah Jahan’s court. Recognizing his unparalleled mastery over Sanskrit grammar, poetics, and logic, the Emperor bestowed upon him the prestigious title of ‘Panditaraja’ (King of Scholars).
Literary Masterpieces: His literary output was profound and enduring. He authored the Ganga Lahari, a highly emotive and popular devotional hymn dedicated to the river Ganges. However, his magnum opus is the Rasagangadhara, which remains one of the most authoritative and brilliant technical treatises on Sanskrit poetics and literary aesthetics ever written in Indian history.

📌 Mughal Empire • Architecture

Q.4) Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb heavily incorporated a distinct regional architectural element from eastern India—a curved roof imitating the shape of traditional bamboo and thatch huts. What is this feature known as?

Ans > Bangla roof (or Do-chala)

Origins in Rural Bengal: The Bangla roof design directly mimics the curved, sloping thatched roofs of traditional village bamboo huts found in the heavy-rainfall region of Bengal. The pronounced curve was originally engineered to quickly shed torrential monsoon rainwater, preventing the thatch from rotting.
Imperial Assimilation: Mughal architects were highly adaptive and integrated this elegant rural aesthetic into monumental stone and pristine white marble. This synthesis is brilliantly showcased in structures like the Naulakha Pavilion at the Lahore Fort and various prominent pavilions within the Agra and Red Forts in Delhi.
Variations and Legacy: The architectural style has two main variations: the Do-chala (a two-sided curved roof) and the Char-chala (a four-sided curved roof). Following its popularization by the Mughals, this distinct, curved cornice style was enthusiastically adopted by Rajput kingdoms, becoming a defining feature of later Rajasthani palatial architecture (such as the Chhatris).

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Kashmir

Q.5) The remarkably liberal Sultan of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abidin, undertook several public works. To construct his palace and a mosque, he built an artificial island in the middle of the Wular Lake. What is this island called?

Ans > Zaina Lank

The “Akbar of Kashmir”: Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, who ruled Kashmir in the 15th century, is often historically compared to Emperor Akbar due to his remarkably progressive, tolerant religious policies. He permanently abolished the Jizya tax, banned cow slaughter, and actively patronized the translation of Sanskrit classics like the Mahabharata into Persian.
Engineering the Artificial Island: Showcasing his ambition for massive public works, he ordered the construction of Zaina Lank, an artificial island engineered directly in the center of the expansive Wular Lake. The foundation was brilliantly stabilized by dumping massive quantities of stones into the deep lakebed.
Architectural Significance: Once the island was structurally sound, the Sultan built a magnificent royal palace and a highly ornate mosque upon it. Beyond Zaina Lank, his reign saw the construction of massive networks of irrigation canals (like the Shah Nahr) and the founding of new, prosperous cities, cementing his legacy as a master builder.

📌 European Advent • Portuguese

Q.6) Upon their arrival in India, the Portuguese aimed to monopolize the Indian Ocean trade rather than build a vast territorial empire on land. This strategy of maintaining naval supremacy was famously known as the “Blue Water Policy.” Which Portuguese Governor introduced it?

Ans > Francisco de Almeida

The First Viceroy’s Vision: Francisco de Almeida arrived in India in 1505 as the very first appointed Viceroy of the Portuguese State of India (Estado da Índia). He immediately recognized that Portugal, being a small European nation, completely lacked the immense manpower necessary to conquer and hold vast inland territories in the Indian subcontinent.
Defining the Blue Water Policy: To control the lucrative spice trade, Almeida pioneered the “Cartaz” system and the overarching “Blue Water Policy.” He argued that as long as Portugal maintained absolute, unchallenged naval supremacy over the Indian Ocean, no local or foreign power could trade without paying them exorbitant maritime tolls.
The Decisive Battle of Diu: Almeida violently cemented this doctrine in 1509 at the historic naval Battle of Diu. Using advanced naval artillery, he completely decimated a massive, combined allied fleet of the Mamluks of Egypt, the Sultan of Gujarat, and the Zamorin of Calicut, proving that European naval technology could successfully dominate Asian waters.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Economy & Technology

Q.7) The widespread production of cheaper textiles during the Sultanate period was revolutionized by the introduction of a critical technological device brought to India by the Turks in the 13th/14th centuries. What was it?

Ans > The spinning wheel (Charkha)

Technological Import by the Turks: Prior to the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, Indian weavers relied entirely on the slow, laborious hand spindle to produce yarn. The introduction of the spinning wheel (Charkha) by the incoming Turks in the 13th or 14th century fundamentally altered the economic landscape of medieval India.
Massive Surge in Productivity: The mechanical advantage of the Charkha allowed a single worker to spin yarn nearly six times faster than the traditional methods. This incredible leap in productivity drastically reduced the overall cost of yarn, directly leading to the mass production of cheaper, highly accessible cotton textiles for the common population.
Economic Boom and Urbanization: This technological shift sparked a massive economic boom. It spurred the rapid growth of a prosperous weaver class, fueled rapid urbanization as textile centers expanded, and significantly boosted the volume of Indian cloth exports to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The first explicit literary reference to the Charkha in India is found in Isami’s text, Futuh-us-Salatin (1350).

📌 Mughal Empire • Arts & Painting

Q.8) Jahangir’s painting atelier boasted artists with highly specialized skills. Which master artist, whom Jahangir honored with the title Nadir-uz-Zaman (Wonder of the Times), was particularly renowned for his exquisite human portraiture and painted the famous allegorical scene of Jahangir embracing Shah Abbas of Persia?

Ans > Abul Hasan

A Prodigy of the Imperial Court: Abul Hasan was the son of Aqa Riza, an Iranian painter who had served Jahangir since his days as a rebel prince. Growing up entirely within the royal household, Abul Hasan’s talent blossomed early, and Jahangir personally considered him to be the absolute greatest painter of his era, granting him the elite title ‘Nadir-uz-Zaman’.
Master of Allegory and Propaganda: He was deeply renowned for executing highly complex, politically charged allegorical paintings. His famous work depicting a towering Jahangir warmly embracing a diminutive Shah Abbas of Persia (standing atop a globe) was a brilliant piece of imperial psychological propaganda, visually asserting Mughal global dominance.
Integration of European Realism: Abul Hasan was instrumental in evolving the Mughal painting style by deeply absorbing European Renaissance techniques. He masterfully incorporated accurate facial realism, three-dimensional perspective, and the use of the divine halo (a Christian motif) to elevate the visual divinity of the Mughal Emperor.

📌 Bhakti Movement • Culture

Q.9) The vibrant Bhakti movement in Assam, known as the Ekasarana Dharma, heavily utilized devotional songs to spread its message. What are these classical Assamese devotional songs, composed by Shankardeva and Madhavdeva, called?

Ans > Borgeet

The Ekasarana Dharma Movement: In the 15th and 16th centuries, the great saint-scholar Srimanta Shankardeva spearheaded a massive neo-Vaishnavite Bhakti movement in Assam known as Ekasarana Dharma. It fiercely rejected rigid caste barriers and complex Brahmanical rituals, focusing purely on egalitarian devotion to Lord Krishna.
Composing the Borgeets: To propagate this egalitarian philosophy to the masses, Shankardeva and his chief disciple Madhavdeva composed profound devotional songs called Borgeets (literally meaning ‘Great Songs’). These were uniquely composed in an artificial literary language called Brajavali, which was a highly accessible mixture of Maithili and local Assamese dialects.
Musical and Cultural Legacy: Borgeets are not merely folk songs; they are highly structured, classical compositions strictly set to specific ragas and talas, forming a distinct musical tradition separate from mainstream Hindustani classical music. Today, they remain the central liturgical music performed in the Satras (monasteries) and Namghars (prayer halls) across Assam.

📌 Vijayanagara Empire • Foreign Travelers

Q.10) Which Portuguese traveler and official visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya and wrote a highly detailed account of the kingdom’s rigid caste system, massive wealth, and the widespread practice of Sati?

Ans > Duarte Barbosa

A Critical European Eyewitness: Duarte Barbosa was a seasoned Portuguese official and factory writer who spent over a decade traversing the Indian coast. He visited the magnificent Vijayanagara Empire right at its absolute zenith, during the reign of its greatest emperor, Krishna Deva Raya (circa 1509–1515).
Documenting Society and Wealth: His seminal text, The Book of Duarte Barbosa, is an incredibly valuable primary historical source. Unlike court chronicles that only praised the king, Barbosa provided a highly critical, sociological perspective. He vividly detailed the empire’s staggering urban wealth, the bustling international trade in horses and diamonds, and the rigid social stratifications of the local caste system.
Observations on Sati: One of the most historically significant aspects of his account is his harrowing, meticulous description of the widespread, ritualistic practice of Sati (widow burning) among the nobility and warrior classes. His writings serve as a crucial supplement to the accounts of other travelers like Domingos Paes and Fernao Nuniz. He later died alongside Ferdinand Magellan in the Philippines in 1521.

📌 Sur Empire • Administration

Q.11) Sher Shah Suri drastically reformed the revenue administration by documenting agrarian rights. He introduced a document that recorded the peasant’s landholdings and revenue assessment, which the state handed to the cultivator. What was it called?

Ans > Patta

Overhauling Agrarian Administration: During his brief but brilliantly impactful five-year reign, Sher Shah Suri completely overhauled the chaotic agrarian revenue system. He introduced a meticulous measurement of cultivable land (the Zabt system) based on a uniform standard, drastically cutting out middleman exploitation.
The Title Deed (Patta): To legally protect the cultivator, the state issued a formal written document called the ‘Patta’ (title deed). This crucial document explicitly specified the exact area of land the peasant held, the types of crops grown, and the precise, fixed amount of revenue they were legally obligated to pay to the state treasury, either in cash or kind.
Long-Term Historical Impact: By formalizing this direct relationship between the central state and the individual peasant (ryot), Sher Shah bypassed the oppressive zamindars. This highly systematic documentation laid the absolute foundation for the famous Dahsala revenue system later perfected by Raja Todar Mal during the reign of Emperor Akbar.

📌 Sur Empire • Administration

Q.12) Conversely, in the same revenue system, what was the deed of agreement signed by the peasant, promising to pay the assessed state revenue, known as?

Ans > Qabuliyat

The Counterpart to the Patta: While the state provided the Patta to clearly define the agrarian assessment, the peasant was required to provide a reciprocal document to the state. This legally binding deed of agreement was known as the ‘Qabuliyat’ (derived from the Arabic word ‘qabul’, meaning to accept).
Ensuring State Revenue: By signing and handing over the Qabuliyat, the cultivator formally confirmed their acceptance of the land measurement and legally promised to pay the fixed state revenue without default. This two-document system ensured absolute transparency and protected both the peasant from extortion and the state from revenue evasion.
Administrative Genius: The dual implementation of the Patta and Qabuliyat showcases Sher Shah Suri’s profound administrative genius. It transformed the agrarian sector from a chaotic system of arbitrary feudal extortion into a formalized, legally structured contractual relationship, massively stabilizing the economy of the Sur Empire.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Tughlaq Dynasty

Q.13) During the 14th century, the relentless rebellions against Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the Deccan were spearheaded by a class of revenue farmers and military commanders known as the “Centurions.” What was the Persian term for these officers?

Ans > Amiran-i-Sada

Who Were the Amiran-i-Sada? The Amiran-i-Sada (literally translating to ‘Commanders of a Hundred’ or Centurions) were a specialized class of foreign and indigenous military-revenue officers. They were appointed by the Delhi Sultanate to manage blocks of roughly a hundred villages in the newly conquered, highly volatile Deccan region.
The Spark of Rebellion: Muhammad bin Tughlaq was notoriously paranoid and prone to dispensing draconian punishments. When he suspected these Centurions of embezzling state revenue and fostering local discontent, he ordered harsh reprisals and mass executions, deeply alienating this powerful, heavily armed elite class.
Birth of the Bahmani Empire: Outraged by the Sultan’s tyranny, the Amiran-i-Sada launched a massive, coordinated rebellion across the Deccan in 1347. Under the military leadership of Hasan Gangu (who took the title Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah), they successfully shattered Tughlaq control and founded the powerful, independent Bahmani Sultanate, permanently severing the Deccan from Delhi.

📌 Maratha Empire • Battles

Q.14) In 1795, the Maratha Confederacy achieved a spectacular victory over the Nizam of Hyderabad. This battle is historically significant as it was the last time all the major Maratha chiefs (Sindhia, Holkar, Gaekwad, Bhonsle) fought together under the Peshwa’s banner. Which battle was this?

Ans > Battle of Kharda

The Final Display of Maratha Unity: The Battle of Kharda, fought in March 1795, stands as a massively significant turning point in Indian history. Under the brilliant diplomatic maneuvering of the statesman Nana Phadnavis and the nominal leadership of young Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao, the entire fractured Maratha Confederacy united for one final campaign.
Crushing the Nizam: The combined forces of the Scindias (Gwalior), Holkars (Indore), Gaekwads (Baroda), and Bhonsles (Nagpur) marched together and decisively crushed the heavily armed forces of the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nizam was forced to sign a humiliating treaty, ceding vast amounts of territory and paying a staggering war indemnity of three crore rupees.
The Tragic Aftermath: While Kharda was a spectacular military triumph, it marked the absolute peak before a rapid collapse. Shortly after the victory, Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao tragically committed suicide. Without his unifying presence, severe civil wars instantly broke out among the ambitious Maratha chiefs (especially between Holkar and Scindia), ultimately allowing the British East India Company to divide and conquer the empire.

📌 Mughal Empire • Literature

Q.15) As part of Akbar’s grand project to translate Sanskrit epics into Persian to foster cultural synthesis, the Ramayana was translated by which renowned, albeit highly orthodox, court scholar?

Ans > Abdul Qadir Badauni

Akbar’s Translation Bureau: Emperor Akbar established a massive translation bureau (Maktab Khana) at Fatehpur Sikri with the explicit political and cultural goal of translating classic Hindu Sanskrit texts (like the Mahabharata and Ramayana) into Persian. This was designed to foster mutual understanding and tolerance between the Hindu and Muslim nobility.
The Reluctant Translator: Abdul Qadir Badauni was assigned the monumental task of translating the Ramayana, a project that took him four grueling years to complete. Ironically, Badauni was a highly orthodox, deeply conservative Sunni Muslim who personally loathed Akbar’s liberal policies and despised translating what he considered to be “infidel” texts.
The Secret History: Badauni’s profound resentment toward Akbar’s religious syncretism (including the Din-i-Ilahi) and his fierce rivalry with the liberal court historian Abul Fazl culminated in his secret masterpiece, the Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh. This deeply critical, unauthorized history of Akbar’s reign was published only after the Emperor’s death, providing historians with a vital counter-narrative to Abul Fazl’s overly flattering Akbarnama.

📌 Modern History Origins • Bengal

Q.16) In 1698, the English East India Company secured the zamindari rights to the three villages that would become Calcutta. Which Mughal governor of Bengal granted them this crucial legal right?

Ans > Prince Azim-ush-Shan

The Imperial Grant: In 1698, Prince Azim-ush-Shan, who was the grandson of Emperor Aurangzeb and acting as the powerful Subahdar (Governor) of Bengal, made a fateful administrative decision. He officially granted the English East India Company the zamindari (land revenue collection) rights to three crucial villages along the Hooghly River: Sutanuti, Govindpur, and Kalikata.
The Nucleus of Calcutta: The East India Company officially purchased these rights from the local Sabarna Roy Choudhury family for a mere Rs. 1,200. These three swampy villages were systematically merged and developed by British administrator Job Charnock, forming the exact geographical nucleus of the mega-city of Calcutta (Kolkata).
Strategic Fortification: Gaining zamindari rights was a monumental shift; it gave the EIC legal authority to collect taxes, administer local justice, and most importantly, fortify their settlements. They immediately began the construction of the heavily armed Fort William in Calcutta, which eventually served as the springboard for the British conquest of Bengal following the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

📌 South India • Economy & Trade

Q.17) During the early medieval period in South India, massive merchant guilds dominated international trade, sending fleets as far as Sumatra and China. One of the most famous and powerful of these guilds was known as the:

Ans > Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu (Ayyavole)

The Giants of Medieval Trade: Also known as the Ayyavole or the Nanadesi, the “Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu” was a massively powerful, transnational merchant corporate guild that originated in the 8th century in Aihole (present-day Karnataka) during the Chalukya era. They completely dominated the commercial landscape of medieval South India.
Transnational Mercantile Operations: Their trade networks were staggeringly vast. They exported highly lucrative commodities like black pepper, cardamom, cotton textiles, and imported warhorses and elephants. Their trading fleets frequently crossed the Bay of Bengal, establishing deep commercial ties with Sri Lanka, Sumatra (Indonesia), and even Song-dynasty China.
Private Armies and Inscriptions: Operating almost like an independent state within a state, this guild was so wealthy that they maintained their own heavily armed private mercenary forces (known as the Eriviras) to aggressively protect their trade caravans from bandits. Their immense economic and political influence is heavily documented in hundreds of independent inscriptions found across South India and Southeast Asia.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Architecture

Q.18) The massive water reservoir in Delhi known today as Hauz Khas was originally constructed to supply water to the newly built fort-city of Siri. Which Sultan originally excavated this reservoir?

Ans > Alauddin Khalji

Defending Delhi Against Mongols: During the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the Delhi Sultanate faced relentless, massive invasions from the Chagatai Mongols. To protect the capital, Sultan Alauddin Khalji constructed a highly fortified new garrison city in Delhi, famously named Siri.
The Royal Reservoir (Hauz-i-Alai): To ensure a constant, reliable water supply for the massive military population stationed within Siri Fort, Alauddin ordered the excavation of an immense, 50-acre water tank originally named Hauz-i-Alai (the Royal Tank), which we know today as Hauz Khas.
Later Tughlaq Renovations: Decades later, during the Tughlaq dynasty, the massive reservoir had silted up. Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq expertly desilted and restored the tank. Recognizing its serene beauty, he constructed a magnificent Islamic seminary (Madrasa) and built his own majestic tomb along its banks, creating one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in medieval Delhi.

📌 Regional Kingdoms • Kashmir

Q.19) Which remarkable Queen ruled the Kashmir Valley with an iron fist for nearly five decades during the 10th-11th centuries, ruthlessly suppressing rebellions and ultimately transitioning the throne to the Lohara dynasty?

Ans > Queen Didda

A Half-Century of Dominance: Queen Didda is arguably one of the most powerful and ruthless female monarchs in ancient/early medieval Indian history. She originally came to power as the wife of King Kshemagupta of the Utpala dynasty. Following his death, she ruled first as a regent for her son and grandsons, and eventually assumed absolute power directly.
Overcoming Physical Disabilities: What makes her 50-year domination of the highly volatile Kashmiri political landscape even more remarkable is that she was physically disabled (reportedly lame) and had to be carried by porters. Despite this, her sheer political brilliance, diplomatic cunning, and ruthless execution of rivals kept her firmly on the throne.
Suppressing the Damaras: She is most famous for mercilessly crushing the rebellions of the powerful, land-owning feudal lords known as the Damaras. Towards the end of her life, having outlived her direct heirs, she strategically transitioned the throne to her nephew, Sangramaraja, thereby founding the new Lohara dynasty. Her complex, blood-soaked reign is vividly detailed in Kalhana’s epic chronicle, the Rajatarangini.

📌 Mughal Empire • Science & Technology

Q.20) Akbar’s court was graced by an extraordinary Persian polymath, engineer, and inventor who is credited with inventing a multi-barreled cannon and a machine that could polish sixteen gun barrels simultaneously. Who was he?

Ans > Fathullah Shirazi

The Imperial Polymath: Mir Fathullah Shirazi was a brilliant Persian engineer, mathematician, and astronomer who was initially patronized by the Sultan of Bijapur before being heavily recruited by Emperor Akbar in 1583. He was granted the title ‘Amin-ul-Mulk’ and became a core member of Akbar’s inner intellectual circle.
Master of Mechanical Inventions: Shirazi was an engineering genius far ahead of his time. According to Abul Fazl’s accounts, he invented an early version of a volley gun (a multi-barreled matchlock cannon that could fire simultaneously). He also designed a complex gear-driven mechanical device capable of perfectly boring and cleaning sixteen gun barrels at the exact same time.
Contributions to Science and Calendar: Beyond military engineering, he invented a “wagon mill”—a cart that ingeniously ground corn using the kinetic energy generated while traveling. His intellectual prowess extended to astronomy, where he played a pivotal role in formulating and designing Akbar’s new solar-based imperial calendar, the Ilahi era, deeply reflecting the peak of Mughal scientific patronage.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Lodi Dynasty

Q.21) The independent Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur, which had been a formidable rival to Delhi for nearly a century, was finally defeated, and the city was permanently re-annexed to the Delhi Sultanate by which ruler?

Ans > Bahlul Lodi

The Rise of the Lodi Dynasty: Bahlul Lodi, an ethnic Afghan, seized power in Delhi in 1451, establishing the Lodi dynasty. At that time, the Delhi Sultanate was heavily fractured and severely weakened, surrounded by powerful, newly independent regional states that constantly threatened its borders.
The Long War with the Sharqis: His most formidable rival was the wealthy and culturally vibrant Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur (often called the ‘Shiraz of the East’). The Sharqis had repeatedly besieged Delhi during the Sayyid dynasty. Bahlul Lodi engaged in a brutal, decades-long war of attrition against successive Sharqi rulers (Mahmud, Muhammad, and Hussain Shah).
Final Annexation of Jaunpur: In a decisive series of campaigns culminating in 1479, Bahlul Lodi finally crushed the army of Hussain Shah Sharqi, capturing the city of Jaunpur and driving the Sultan into exile in Bengal. By permanently re-annexing Jaunpur, Bahlul massively restored the geographical boundaries and prestige of the Delhi Sultanate across North India, appointing his son Barbak Shah as its viceroy.

📌 Mughal Empire • Rebellions

Q.22) During Aurangzeb’s reign, the aggressive expansion of the Mughal empire alienated many traditional allies. Which prominent Bundela Rajput chief, who had initially served Aurangzeb, later rebelled and carved out an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand?

Ans > Chhatrasal

From Mansabdar to Rebel: Maharaja Chhatrasal was a fierce Bundela warrior whose father, Champat Rai, had been driven to suicide by Mughal forces. Initially, Chhatrasal served as a young mansabdar in the Mughal army, fighting under Jai Singh in the grueling Deccan campaigns for Aurangzeb.
Inspired by Shivaji: Deeply disillusioned by Aurangzeb’s oppressive, anti-Hindu religious policies and the destruction of temples, Chhatrasal met Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1670. Inspired by the Maratha leader’s fierce resistance, he abandoned Mughal service, returned to his homeland, and launched a massive rebellion in 1671.
Establishing an Independent Kingdom: Utilizing brilliant guerrilla warfare tactics in the rugged terrain, he continuously harassed Mughal supply lines and defeated several imperial generals. He successfully carved out a sprawling, independent Bundela kingdom, establishing his capital at Panna. Years later, when threatened by the Mughal general Muhammad Khan Bangash, he allied with Peshwa Baji Rao I, forever cementing Maratha influence in Central India.

📌 Delhi Sultanate • Literature & Theory

Q.23) A masterpiece of medieval Indo-Islamic political theory, the Fatawa-i-Jahandari functions as a prescriptive mirror for princes, detailing how a Muslim monarch should rule, dispense justice, and manage the nobility. Who authored it?

Ans > Ziauddin Barani

The Scholar of the Sultanate: Ziauddin Barani was the most prominent political thinker and historian of the Delhi Sultanate during the 14th century, living through the reigns of Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, and Firuz Shah Tughlaq. While his Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi is a historical narrative, his Fatawa-i-Jahandari is purely a theoretical treatise on statecraft.
The Doctrine of Aristocratic Supremacy: The Fatawa-i-Jahandari functions as a “Mirror for Princes” (guidelines for rulers). In it, Barani outlines an extremely orthodox and highly classist political philosophy. He aggressively argued that political power must remain strictly in the hands of the high-born, foreign Muslim nobility, vehemently opposing the promotion of indigenous or “low-born” converts.
Advocating State Laws (Zawabit): Furthermore, Barani argued that a Sultan could not rule solely by Sharia law because ruling a complex state required pragmatic, secular state laws known as Zawabit. However, he insisted these laws must ruthlessly suppress the Hindu majority. His bitter writings heavily criticized Muhammad bin Tughlaq for elevating capable commoners to high administrative posts.

📌 Sufi Movement • Literature

Q.24) Sufism established deep roots in the Indian subcontinent long before the Delhi Sultanate. Which 11th-century Sufi saint, widely known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, settled in Lahore and wrote the Kashf-ul-Mahjub, one of the earliest Persian treatises on Sufism?

Ans > Ali Hujwiri

The Pioneer of Indian Sufism: Abul Hasan Ali Hujwiri, immensely revered across South Asia as Data Ganj Bakhsh (The Bestower of Treasures), was an 11th-century Persian Sufi mystic. He migrated to Lahore during the Ghaznavid period, well before the formal establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, making him a foundational figure of Islam in the subcontinent.
The Masterpiece of Mysticism: He authored the monumental text Kashf-ul-Mahjub (The Unveiling of the Veiled), which stands as the very first comprehensive manual and theoretical treatise on Sufi doctrine written in the Persian language. The book meticulously details the various stages of spiritual enlightenment, Sufi etiquette, and the biographies of earlier mystics.
Spiritual Legacy: His profound theological work brilliantly bridged the gap between orthodox Islamic jurisprudence and esoteric mysticism. His shrine in Lahore became an absolute focal point for later generations of Sufis. Even the legendary Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti (the founder of the Chishti order in India) spent significant time meditating at Hujwiri’s tomb before proceeding to Ajmer.

📌 Mughal Empire • Foreign Travelers

Q.25) Which English traveler thoroughly documented his journeys across the Mughal Empire during Shah Jahan’s reign, leaving behind a harrowing, eyewitness account of the devastating Gujarat-Deccan famine of 1630–1632?

Ans > Peter Mundy

A Merchant’s Journey: Peter Mundy was a highly observant Cornish merchant and traveler employed by the English East India Company. He extensively traversed the vast stretches of the Mughal Empire, traveling from Surat to Agra, and as far east as Patna, between the years 1628 and 1633 during the early reign of Emperor Shah Jahan.
Chronicling the Apocalypse: While Mughal court chronicles focused on imperial grandeur, Mundy’s diaries provide a grim, horrifying, and incredibly detailed eyewitness account of the apocalyptic famine that utterly devastated Gujarat and the Deccan regions from 1630 to 1632.
The Dark Reality of the Empire: He documented a complete societal breakdown, describing highways littered with countless unburied corpses, widespread starvation, and horrific instances where people resorted to cannibalism just to survive. His writings serve as a vital, sobering historical counter-narrative, revealing the severe economic fragility and profound human suffering that existed beneath the architectural golden age of Shah Jahan.

📌 Maratha Empire • Administration

Q.26) In the Maratha administrative framework, particularly under Shivaji, what was the title of the vital royal official who served as the Chief Secretary, responsible for drafting all royal correspondence and affixing the state seal?

Ans > Chitnis

The Backbone of Bureaucracy: In the highly organized Maratha administrative system conceptualized by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the Chitnis functioned effectively as the Chief Secretary. While operating just below the rank of the powerful Ashtapradhan (Council of Eight Ministers), the Chitnis wielded immense, direct bureaucratic influence over the daily functioning of the state.
Drafting Royal Edicts: The primary duty of the Chitnis was to expertly draft all highly sensitive royal correspondence, diplomatic letters to foreign powers, and complex state edicts regarding land grants or military orders. They were specifically trained to write in the highly stylized Modi script and were entrusted with fiercely guarding the royal state seal.
Balaji Avji Chitnis: The most famous historical figure to hold this post was Balaji Avji Chitnis, who served as Shivaji’s personal and most trusted secretary. He played an absolutely crucial role in organizing the complex logistical and theological details of Shivaji’s grand coronation in 1674, deeply centralizing the Maratha bureaucracy.

📌 Sikhism • History & Architecture

Q.27) The Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. To emphasize its openness to all faiths, Guru Arjan Dev invited a highly revered Muslim Sufi saint to lay its foundation stone. Who was this saint?

Ans > Mian Mir

The Syncretic Vision of Sikhism: When the 5th Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, conceptualized the construction of the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar in 1589, he designed it with four entrances facing all four cardinal directions. This architectural choice specifically symbolized that the shrine was open to people of all castes, creeds, and religions.
Inviting a Sufi Saint: To permanently cement this profound message of universal brotherhood and religious tolerance, Guru Arjan Dev deliberately bypassed Hindu priests and instead invited Sai Mian Mir to physically lay the foundation stone of the temple. Mian Mir was a highly venerated, peaceful Muslim Sufi saint of the Qadiri order residing in Lahore.
A Legacy of Peace: This singular event beautifully highlights the deep, syncretic bonds that existed between the mystical Sufi traditions and early Sikhism. Mian Mir remained a steadfast friend of the Gurus and later, due to his reputation for immense spiritual wisdom, became the personal spiritual mentor to the liberal Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh and Princess Jahanara.

📌 Later Mughals • Regional States

Q.28) As the Mughal Empire fragmented in the early 18th century, several provincial governors established hereditary, quasi-independent dynasties. Who was the Mughal governor who laid the foundations for the independent Nawabs of the Carnatic with their capital at Arcot?

Ans > Saadatullah Khan

The Fragmentation of the Empire: Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, the central Mughal authority in Delhi rapidly collapsed. Taking advantage of this massive power vacuum, powerful provincial governors (Subahdars) across Awadh, Bengal, and the Deccan stopped remitting revenues to Delhi and began operating as independent sovereigns.
Establishing the Carnatic State: Saadatullah Khan was officially appointed as the Nawab (Governor) of the Carnatic region (the eastern coastal plain of South India) by the Mughals in 1710, with his administrative capital firmly established at Arcot.
Making the Title Hereditary: As imperial oversight vanished, Saadatullah Khan brilliantly consolidated his local power, fostered regional economic growth, and took the decisive step of completely ignoring Delhi’s authority by making his governorship hereditary. He appointed his nephew, Dost Ali, as his successor without seeking imperial approval, formally laying the groundwork for the powerful, independent Carnatic state that would later become deeply entangled in the Anglo-French Carnatic Wars.

📌 Mughal Empire • Nobility

Q.29) In the highly complex social structure of the Mughal nobility, a special and highly trusted class of nobles consisted of those who were born and raised within the imperial household or were the sons of the Emperor’s personal servants. What was this loyal core group called?

Ans > Khana-zads

The Factions of Mughal Nobility: The Mughal mansabdari system was a melting pot of various ethnic and religious factions fiercely competing for power. These included the foreign-born Afaquis (immigrant nobles like the Iranis and Turanis), as well as indigenous groups like the Rajput princes and the Indian Muslims (Shaikhzadas).
The “House-Born” Loyalists: To counterbalance these ambitious factions, the Emperors heavily cultivated a core group known as the Khana-zads (literally translating to “house-born”). These were the sons of existing royal servants, loyal mansabdars, or individuals who had physically grown up serving within the walls of the imperial household.
Absolute Imperial Trust: Because the Khana-zads lacked an independent, external regional power base or tribal affiliations, their entire social status, wealth, and survival depended absolutely on the favor of the Emperor. Consequently, they were considered profoundly culturally assimilated and blindly loyal, making them the most trusted administrators and military commanders in the imperial core.

📌 Maratha Empire • Treaties

Q.30) The independence of the Maratha Confederacy was fatally compromised when Peshwa Baji Rao II fled to the British and signed a Subsidiary Alliance in 1802, allowing British troops into Poona. Which treaty was this?

Ans > Treaty of Bassein

The Civil War Reaches the Capital: By the early 19th century, the Maratha Confederacy had descended into a brutal, chaotic civil war. The weak and deeply unpopular Peshwa, Baji Rao II, aligned himself with the Scindias but was spectacularly defeated by the brilliant Maratha general Yashwantrao Holkar at the Battle of Poona in 1802.
Surrendering Sovereignty: Terrified and desperately fleeing his own capital, Peshwa Baji Rao II sought refuge with the British East India Company. In December 1802, he signed the disastrous Treaty of Bassein, formally accepting Lord Wellesley’s infamous Subsidiary Alliance system just to regain his lost throne.
The Spark for Continental War: By signing this treaty, the Peshwa agreed to permanently station a massive British military force in Poona and completely surrendered his right to conduct independent foreign policy. The other proud Maratha chiefs (Scindia and Bhonsle) viewed this as an absolute betrayal of Maratha independence, immediately sparking the devastating Second Anglo-Maratha War, which ultimately shattered the empire.

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 48

Abwab: Miscellaneous arbitrary cesses imposed over fixed land revenue by zamindars.
Sindhudurg: Naval fort built by Shivaji in 1664 to counter the Siddis and Europeans.
Jagannatha Pandita: Sanskrit scholar at Shah Jahan’s court; authored Ganga Lahari.
Bangla Roof: Curved roof aesthetic adopted from Bengal into Mughal architecture.
Zaina Lank: Artificial island built by Kashmir’s Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin on Wular Lake.
Blue Water Policy: Strategy introduced by Francisco de Almeida focusing on naval supremacy.
Charkha (Spinning Wheel): Introduced by Turks, it revolutionized Sultanate-era textile production.
Abul Hasan: Master painter of Jahangir given the title Nadir-uz-Zaman.
Borgeet: Devotional songs of Assam composed by Shankardeva and Madhavdeva.
Duarte Barbosa: Portuguese traveler who detailed Vijayanagara’s wealth and society.
Patta: Document of peasant landholdings and revenue issued by Sher Shah Suri.
Qabuliyat: Deed of agreement signed by the peasant accepting Sher Shah’s revenue assessment.
Amiran-i-Sada: Deccan ‘Centurion’ officers who rebelled against Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Battle of Kharda: Last great display of united Maratha victory over the Nizam in 1795.
Abdul Qadir Badauni: Orthodox scholar who translated the Ramayana into Persian for Akbar.
Prince Azim-ush-Shan: Mughal governor who gave EIC the zamindari of Calcutta villages in 1698.
Ayyavolu Guild: Transnational South Indian merchant guild with immense influence.
Alauddin Khalji: Sultan who excavated Hauz Khas to supply water to Siri Fort.
Queen Didda: Ruled Kashmir for nearly 50 years during the 10th-11th centuries.
Fathullah Shirazi: Persian polymath and engineer at Akbar’s court.
Bahlul Lodi: Conquered and permanently re-annexed the Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur.
Chhatrasal: Bundela warrior who carved an independent kingdom rebelling against Aurangzeb.
Ziauddin Barani: Authored the political treatise Fatawa-i-Jahandari.
Ali Hujwiri (Data Ganj Bakhsh): 11th-century Sufi saint who wrote the Kashf-ul-Mahjub.
Peter Mundy: English traveler who documented the horrific 1630–1632 Deccan famine.
Chitnis: Chief Secretary handling royal correspondence in the Maratha administration.
Mian Mir: Muslim Sufi saint invited by Guru Arjan Dev to lay the Harimandir Sahib foundation.
Saadatullah Khan: Founded the hereditary lineage of the Nawabs of the Carnatic.
Khana-zads: ‘House-born’ loyal nobles born into Mughal imperial service.
Treaty of Bassein: Subsidiary alliance signed by Baji Rao II in 1802 compromising Maratha freedom.

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Medieval History Set 48

Q.1) In the Mughal agrarian system, while the standard land revenue was fixed, local officials and zamindars often imposed additional, illegal cesses and arbitrary exactions on the peasantry. What was the administrative term for these miscellaneous cesses?

Q.2) Recognizing the strategic importance of a strong navy to counter the Siddis of Janjira and European powers, Shivaji built a formidable naval fort on a rocky island off the coast of Malvan in 1664. What is this fort called?

Q.3) Shah Jahan’s court was a great center of Sanskrit learning. Which eminent Sanskrit poet and scholar, who received the title of Panditaraja from the Emperor, authored the famous works Ganga Lahari and Rasagangadhara?

Q.4) Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb heavily incorporated a distinct regional architectural element from eastern India—a curved roof imitating the shape of traditional bamboo and thatch huts. What is this feature known as?

Q.5) The remarkably liberal Sultan of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abidin, undertook several public works. To construct his palace and a mosque, he built an artificial island in the middle of the Wular Lake. What is this island called?

Q.6) Upon their arrival in India, the Portuguese aimed to monopolize the Indian Ocean trade rather than build a vast territorial empire on land. This strategy of maintaining naval supremacy was famously known as the “Blue Water Policy.” Which Portuguese Governor introduced it?

Q.7) The widespread production of cheaper textiles during the Sultanate period was revolutionized by the introduction of a critical technological device brought to India by the Turks in the 13th/14th centuries. What was it?

Q.9) The vibrant Bhakti movement in Assam, known as the Ekasarana Dharma, heavily utilized devotional songs to spread its message. What are these classical Assamese devotional songs, composed by Shankardeva and Madhavdeva, called?

Q.10) Which Portuguese traveler and official visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya and wrote a highly detailed account of the kingdom’s rigid caste system, massive wealth, and the widespread practice of Sati?

Q.11) Sher Shah Suri drastically reformed the revenue administration by documenting agrarian rights. He introduced a document that recorded the peasant’s landholdings and revenue assessment, which the state handed to the cultivator. What was it called?

Q.12) Conversely, in the same revenue system, what was the deed of agreement signed by the peasant, promising to pay the assessed state revenue, known as?

Q.13) During the 14th century, the relentless rebellions against Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the Deccan were spearheaded by a class of revenue farmers and military commanders known as the “Centurions.” What was the Persian term for these officers?

Q.14) In 1795, the Maratha Confederacy achieved a spectacular victory over the Nizam of Hyderabad. This battle is historically significant as it was the last time all the major Maratha chiefs (Sindhia, Holkar, Gaekwad, Bhonsle) fought together under the Peshwa’s banner. Which battle was this?

Q.15) As part of Akbar’s grand project to translate Sanskrit epics into Persian to foster cultural synthesis, the Ramayana was translated by which renowned, albeit highly orthodox, court scholar?

Q.16) In 1698, the English East India Company secured the zamindari rights to the three villages that would become Calcutta. Which Mughal governor of Bengal granted them this crucial legal right?

Q.17) During the early medieval period in South India, massive merchant guilds dominated international trade, sending fleets as far as Sumatra and China. One of the most famous and powerful of these guilds was known as the:

Q.18) The massive water reservoir in Delhi known today as Hauz Khas was originally constructed to supply water to the newly built fort-city of Siri. Which Sultan originally excavated this reservoir?

Q.19) Which remarkable Queen ruled the Kashmir Valley with an iron fist for nearly five decades during the 10th-11th centuries, ruthlessly suppressing rebellions and ultimately transitioning the throne to the Lohara dynasty?

Q.20) Akbar’s court was graced by an extraordinary Persian polymath, engineer, and inventor who is credited with inventing a multi-barreled cannon and a machine that could polish sixteen gun barrels simultaneously. Who was he?

Q.21) The independent Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur, which had been a formidable rival to Delhi for nearly a century, was finally defeated, and the city was permanently re-annexed to the Delhi Sultanate by which ruler?

Q.22) During Aurangzeb’s reign, the aggressive expansion of the Mughal empire alienated many traditional allies. Which prominent Bundela Rajput chief, who had initially served Aurangzeb, later rebelled and carved out an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand?

Q.23) A masterpiece of medieval Indo-Islamic political theory, the Fatawa-i-Jahandari functions as a prescriptive mirror for princes, detailing how a Muslim monarch should rule, dispense justice, and manage the nobility. Who authored it?

Q.24) Sufism established deep roots in the Indian subcontinent long before the Delhi Sultanate. Which 11th-century Sufi saint, widely known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, settled in Lahore and wrote the Kashf-ul-Mahjub, one of the earliest Persian treatises on Sufism?

Q.25) Which English traveler thoroughly documented his journeys across the Mughal Empire during Shah Jahan’s reign, leaving behind a harrowing, eyewitness account of the devastating Gujarat-Deccan famine of 1630–1632?

Q.26) In the Maratha administrative framework, particularly under Shivaji, what was the title of the vital royal official who served as the Chief Secretary, responsible for drafting all royal correspondence and affixing the state seal?

Q.27) The Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. To emphasize its openness to all faiths, Guru Arjan Dev invited a highly revered Muslim Sufi saint to lay its foundation stone. Who was this saint?

Q.28) As the Mughal Empire fragmented in the early 18th century, several provincial governors established hereditary, quasi-independent dynasties. Who was the Mughal governor who laid the foundations for the independent Nawabs of the Carnatic with their capital at Arcot?

Q.29) In the highly complex social structure of the Mughal nobility, a special and highly trusted class of nobles consisted of those who were born and raised within the imperial household or were the sons of the Emperor’s personal servants. What was this loyal core group called?

Q.30) The independence of the Maratha Confederacy was fatally compromised when Peshwa Baji Rao II fled to the British and signed a Subsidiary Alliance in 1802, allowing British troops into Poona. Which treaty was this?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 48

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Q.1) In the Mughal agrarian system, while the standard land revenue was fixed, local officials and zamindars often imposed additional, illegal cesses and arbitrary exactions on the peasantry. What was the administrative term for these miscellaneous cesses?

Q.2) Recognizing the strategic importance of a strong navy to counter the Siddis of Janjira and European powers, Shivaji built a formidable naval fort on a rocky island off the coast of Malvan in 1664. What is this fort called?

Q.3) Shah Jahan’s court was a great center of Sanskrit learning. Which eminent Sanskrit poet and scholar, who received the title of Panditaraja from the Emperor, authored the famous works Ganga Lahari and Rasagangadhara?

Q.4) Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb heavily incorporated a distinct regional architectural element from eastern India—a curved roof imitating the shape of traditional bamboo and thatch huts. What is this feature known as?

Q.5) The remarkably liberal Sultan of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abidin, undertook several public works. To construct his palace and a mosque, he built an artificial island in the middle of the Wular Lake. What is this island called?

Q.6) Upon their arrival in India, the Portuguese aimed to monopolize the Indian Ocean trade rather than build a vast territorial empire on land. This strategy of maintaining naval supremacy was famously known as the “Blue Water Policy.” Which Portuguese Governor introduced it?

Q.7) The widespread production of cheaper textiles during the Sultanate period was revolutionized by the introduction of a critical technological device brought to India by the Turks in the 13th/14th centuries. What was it?

Q.9) The vibrant Bhakti movement in Assam, known as the Ekasarana Dharma, heavily utilized devotional songs to spread its message. What are these classical Assamese devotional songs, composed by Shankardeva and Madhavdeva, called?

Q.10) Which Portuguese traveler and official visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya and wrote a highly detailed account of the kingdom’s rigid caste system, massive wealth, and the widespread practice of Sati?

Q.11) Sher Shah Suri drastically reformed the revenue administration by documenting agrarian rights. He introduced a document that recorded the peasant’s landholdings and revenue assessment, which the state handed to the cultivator. What was it called?

Q.12) Conversely, in the same revenue system, what was the deed of agreement signed by the peasant, promising to pay the assessed state revenue, known as?

Q.13) During the 14th century, the relentless rebellions against Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the Deccan were spearheaded by a class of revenue farmers and military commanders known as the “Centurions.” What was the Persian term for these officers?

Q.14) In 1795, the Maratha Confederacy achieved a spectacular victory over the Nizam of Hyderabad. This battle is historically significant as it was the last time all the major Maratha chiefs (Sindhia, Holkar, Gaekwad, Bhonsle) fought together under the Peshwa’s banner. Which battle was this?

Q.15) As part of Akbar’s grand project to translate Sanskrit epics into Persian to foster cultural synthesis, the Ramayana was translated by which renowned, albeit highly orthodox, court scholar?

Q.16) In 1698, the English East India Company secured the zamindari rights to the three villages that would become Calcutta. Which Mughal governor of Bengal granted them this crucial legal right?

Q.17) During the early medieval period in South India, massive merchant guilds dominated international trade, sending fleets as far as Sumatra and China. One of the most famous and powerful of these guilds was known as the:

Q.18) The massive water reservoir in Delhi known today as Hauz Khas was originally constructed to supply water to the newly built fort-city of Siri. Which Sultan originally excavated this reservoir?

Q.19) Which remarkable Queen ruled the Kashmir Valley with an iron fist for nearly five decades during the 10th-11th centuries, ruthlessly suppressing rebellions and ultimately transitioning the throne to the Lohara dynasty?

Q.20) Akbar’s court was graced by an extraordinary Persian polymath, engineer, and inventor who is credited with inventing a multi-barreled cannon and a machine that could polish sixteen gun barrels simultaneously. Who was he?

Q.21) The independent Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur, which had been a formidable rival to Delhi for nearly a century, was finally defeated, and the city was permanently re-annexed to the Delhi Sultanate by which ruler?

Q.22) During Aurangzeb’s reign, the aggressive expansion of the Mughal empire alienated many traditional allies. Which prominent Bundela Rajput chief, who had initially served Aurangzeb, later rebelled and carved out an independent kingdom in Bundelkhand?

Q.23) A masterpiece of medieval Indo-Islamic political theory, the Fatawa-i-Jahandari functions as a prescriptive mirror for princes, detailing how a Muslim monarch should rule, dispense justice, and manage the nobility. Who authored it?

Q.24) Sufism established deep roots in the Indian subcontinent long before the Delhi Sultanate. Which 11th-century Sufi saint, widely known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, settled in Lahore and wrote the Kashf-ul-Mahjub, one of the earliest Persian treatises on Sufism?

Q.25) Which English traveler thoroughly documented his journeys across the Mughal Empire during Shah Jahan’s reign, leaving behind a harrowing, eyewitness account of the devastating Gujarat-Deccan famine of 1630–1632?

Q.26) In the Maratha administrative framework, particularly under Shivaji, what was the title of the vital royal official who served as the Chief Secretary, responsible for drafting all royal correspondence and affixing the state seal?

Q.27) The Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar is the holiest shrine in Sikhism. To emphasize its openness to all faiths, Guru Arjan Dev invited a highly revered Muslim Sufi saint to lay its foundation stone. Who was this saint?

Q.28) As the Mughal Empire fragmented in the early 18th century, several provincial governors established hereditary, quasi-independent dynasties. Who was the Mughal governor who laid the foundations for the independent Nawabs of the Carnatic with their capital at Arcot?

Q.29) In the highly complex social structure of the Mughal nobility, a special and highly trusted class of nobles consisted of those who were born and raised within the imperial household or were the sons of the Emperor’s personal servants. What was this loyal core group called?

Q.30) The independence of the Maratha Confederacy was fatally compromised when Peshwa Baji Rao II fled to the British and signed a Subsidiary Alliance in 1802, allowing British troops into Poona. Which treaty was this?

📌 Quick Summary — Medieval History Set 48

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