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PART-II DYNASTIES OF EARLY MEDIEVAL INDIA – GURJARA

PRATIHARAS, PALAS & RASHTRAKUTAS
MEDIEVAL INDIA
The Gurjara Pratiharas
MUSLIM ATTACKS IN INDIA  Gurjara Pratihara dynasty was founded by
Nagabhatta-I.
Topics  The Pratiharas revived under Vatsaraja’s son and
 Ascent of Rajput Power successor Nagabhata-ll, who also defeated Pala
king Dharmapala.
 The Rise of Delhi Sultanate
 Bhoja, also known as Mihir Bhoja was the greatest
 Provincial Kingdoms king of Pratihara dynasty. Bhoja was a Vishnu
 Bhakti Movement and Sufism worshipper. Bhoja called himself ‘Adi Varaha’.

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 Bhoja defeated Kalchuris of Gorakhpur and the
ASCENT OF RAJPUT POWER Chandellas of Bundelkhand. Bhoja also recovered
 The timed the fading away of Harsha Vardhana Kannauj from Palas. Bhoja was succeeded by his
(606-646 AD) and with it the Vardhana might and son Mahendrapal.
the rise of Islamic power in India was occupied with  The great Sanskrit poet and dramatist Rajashekhar
the ascent of Rajput power. This, however, was a very lived at the court of Mahipala, the grandson of Bhoja.

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short-lived period, mainly due to the in-fighting among  Rajashekhar wrote Karpurmanjari, Bal Ramayan,
the fiercely divided Rajputs. As can be imagined, India
Bal Mahabharata and Kabya Mimamsa.
under the Rajputs was not exactly what one could call
a single and completely unified unit. The Palas
 Delhi and Ajmer, under the Chauhans, were the
 The Pala Kingdom was founded by Gopala. Gopala
most powerful states of this period. However, the
was succeeded by his son Dharmapala.
first Rajputs to hit Delhi were the Tomaras. In
 Dharmapala was defeated by the Rashtrakuta
fact, the second city of Delhi, Lal Kot (the Red ruler, Dhruva.
ra Fort) was built in 1060 A.D. by Raja Anang Pal,
 The Gurjara Pratihara ruler; Nagabhatta-II also
one of the earliest Tomara rulers to settle in defeated Dharmapala.
Delhi. Their rule was pretty short-lived though,
 The Palas were the followers of Buddhism.
and soon the Chauhan Rajputs under the
generalship of Prithviraj Chauhan seized control  The Nalanda University was revived by Dharma-
pala. He also founded the Vikramshila University
of Lal Kot in the 12th century.
which became second only to Nalanda in fame.
 There were other states where Rajputs were The Palas had close trade contacts and cultural
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
gaining prominence. Like Kanauj (in present Uttar links with south-east Asia.
Pradesh) where in this period ruled Jaichand, a
 The powerful Sailendra dynasty, which ruled over
Rathore (another Rajput family) ruler, who was a
Malaya, Java, Sumatra and neighbouring islands was
bitter rival of Prithviraj Chauhan. Buddhist in faith. They sent many embassies to the
In Bundelkhand (in Madhya Pradesh), the Chandravansi Pala court and sought permission to build a monastery
(of the moon family) Chandelas were ruling. at Nalanda for the benefit of foreign students.
 Malwa and Gujarat were under the Paramaras
(the most important ruler was king Bhoj) and The Rashtrakutas
Chalukyas (who are supposed to be descendants  This dynasty was founded by Dantidurga.
of the Chalukyas) respectively. Rashtrakutas were called Ballahara by Arabs.
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
 This was a very troubled time in Indian history.  Their capital was Mankir or Manyakheta (present
There was no clear central authority in sight and Malkhed near Sholapur, Maharashtra).
each petty ruler was daring to dream the mad
 Krishna-I built the famous Shiva temple (rock cut
dream of ruling all over the country, which at
temple at Ellora).
that point of time meant basically the Gangetic
plains and the Deccan.  Dhruva incorporated the symbols of Ganga and
Yamuna into Rashtrakuta emblem.
 This is the main reason why no ruler was able to
hold Delhi long enough to establish a kingdom  Amoghavarsha composed one of the earliest texts,
there and also the principal reason why the Arabs in Kannada literature, the “Kaviraj Marga”. He
and Turks did not exatly have to sweat to the bone ended his life by taking Jal Samadhi in the
to stamp their authority all over them. Tungabhadra river.

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 The Rashtrakutas also fought constantly against the  He entered India through Gomal Pass and
eastern Chalukyas of Vengi and in the south against conquered Multan ahd Uchch.
the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Pandyas of Madurai.  In 1191, he was defeated by Prithviraja Chauhan in
 The greatest Rashtrakuta rulers were Govinda- the First Battle of Tarain and in 1192, he defeated
III and Amoghavarsha. Prithviraja Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain.
 Krishna-Ill defeated the Chola king Parantaka-I  Prithviraja was captured and released. He ruled
and annexed the northern part of the Chola empire. over Ajmer for some time and soon after, executed
He then pressed down to Rameshwaram and set on a charge of conspiracy.
up a pillar of victory there and built a temple.  In 1194, Mohammad Ghori defeated Jaichand, ruler
 he Rashtrakutas patronized not only Shaivism and of Kannauj in Battle of Chandawar and killed him.
Vaishnavism but Jainism as well.  He deputed Qutbuddin Aibak as incharge of his
 The great Apbhramsha poet, Svayambhu lived at Indian possessions.

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the Rashtrakuta court.  Mohammad Ghori led his last campaign into India
in 1206 in order to deal with the Khokhar
Cholas of Thanjavur
rebellion. He crushed the rebellion, but on his way
 Cholas were the greatest among all the south back to Ghazni, he was killed by a Muslim fanatic
Indian dynasties. belonging to a rival sect.
 Vijayalaya was the founder of Chola dynasty.

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THE DELHI SULTANATE
 Rajaraja-I annexed important territories in Indian
Ocean like Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka Under Delhi Sultanate five dynasties ruled in a
(northern part) also called Anuradhapura, thereby hierarchical manner.
making Cholas a naval power. Cholas maintained 1. Slave Dynasty 2. Khilji Dyansty
a huge navy.
3. Tughlak Dynasty 4. Sayyid Dyansty
 Rajaraja-I constructed Brihadisvara temple at
5. Lodi Dynasty
Thanjavur. It is also called Rajarajeswara temple.
ra It is the tallest temple in South India. After 1000 AD, Mahmud of Ghazni (Afghanistan)
 Rajendra-I was the most important Chola king. encroached upon Indian territories for the first time
He controlled the whole of Indian Ocean. His and then made these invasions almost an annual
influence reached south east Asian islands. feature. Later a herd of Muslim invaders followed, who
 Rajendra-I sent an expedition to north India. His in turn established their kingdoms in India.
army emerged victorious there and he assumed Prominent among them were Mohammad Ghori and
the title “Gangaikonda Chola”. Mahmud of Ghazni.
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 He constructed a new capital Gangaikondachola The Sultanate of Delhi (1206 AD-1526 AD)
puram. He also constructed a Shiva temple, also
called Brihadisvara temple. Mohammad Ghori’s conquests became the nucleus
of a new political entity in India.The Sultanate of Delhi
ARRIVAL OF MUSLIMS and the beginning of Muslim rule in India. The first
Sultanate dynasty was known as slave, its ruler
Mahmud of Ghazni Altamash (1211 -1236 AD) was the son-in-law and
successor of Qutub-ud-din Aibak. The Slave Dynasty is
 In AD 1001, Mahmud defeated Jayapala, a Hindushahi
also famous for giving India its first woman king, Raziya
king who ruled from Peshawar in 1008-09.
Sultan (1237- 1240 AD), the daughter and successor of
From 1008-1025-26, he made 17 raids into India
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 Altamash. She was followed by a very tough customer,

and the subsequent raids of Mahmud were aimed Ghiyas- ud-din Balban (1266-1286 AD) who gave the
at plundering the rich temples of cities. Delhi Sultanate its character and finished the
 He completely destroyed the Somnath temple of consolidation work. Now the Sultanate saw the rise of
Gujarat in 1025 and looted its wealth. the Khaljis, together with Jalal-ud-din Khalji (1290-1296
 Al-Beruni accompanied Mahmud to India with his AD) and Ala-ud-din Khalji (1296-1316 AD). They were
army and Firdausi was a poet in the court of followed by the Tughlaqs who produced three strong
Mahmud.He died in 1030 AD. rulers-Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (1320-1414 AD),
Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (1325- 1351 AD) and Feroz
Mohammad Ghori
Shah Tughlaq (1350-1388 AD). Another prominent
 In 1173, Mohammad Ghori ascended the throne at dynasty was Lodi dynasty. The last ruler of this dynasty
Ghazni and started moving towards India around 1175.

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was Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526 AD), who was a very  She further offended the nobles and theologians
unpopular king. The reign of Lodi dynasty ended with for her preference for an Abyssinian (Ethiopian)
the arrival of Mughals. officer, Jalaluddin Yakut.
 Soon after her accession, the governors of the
1. Slave Dynasty (1206-1290) provinces of Multan, Badaun, Hansi and
 This dynasty was founded by llbari Turks. Hence, Lahore openly revolted against her.
it is also called llbari dynasty.  There was a serious rebellion in Bhatinda
where Altunia, the governor of Bhatinda
 This dynasty is also called Mamluk dynasty.
refused to accept suzerainty of Raziya.
 It is called Slave dynasty because three important
Sultans of this dynasty were slaves. Qutbuddin  Raziya accompanied by Yakut marched against
Aibak was a slave of Mohammad Ghori, lltutmish Altunia. However, Altunia got Yakut murdered
or Altamash was a slave of Qutbuddin Aibak and and imprisoned Raziya.
Subsequenty Raziya married Altunia and proceeded

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Balban was a slave of lltutmish. 
with her to Delhi to capture it by force. They were
(a) Qutbuddin Aibak (1206-1210) defeated by Bahram Shah’s army and compelled to
 Qutbuddin Aibak was the founder of the first return towards Bhatinda (Tabarhinda).
Turkish kingdom in northern India. He ruled  Their troops deserted them and near Kaithal
from Lahore. (Haryana), they were murdered by some
He built two mosques, one at Delhi known as robbers in 1240.

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
Quwwat-ul-lslam and the other at Ajmer known
as Adhai Din Ka Jhompra. (d) Ghiyasuddin Balban (1265-1287)
 He was a great donator, hence called Lakh  Balban was formerly one of the members of
Bakhsh i.e. giver of lakhs. chahalgani.
 He started construction of Qutub Minar which was  He broke the power of chahalgani and restored
named after a sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. the prestige of the crown.
He died because of injuries received as the  He organized the spy system and created a
ra 
result of a fall from his horse while playing strong centralized army to deal with internal
chaugan (Polo). disturbances.
 Aram Shah, (1210-1211) son of Qutbuddin Aibak  He introduced Persian etiquettes like sijda
succeeded him, but was killed by lltutmish. (prostration before the monarch) and paibos
(kissing the feet of monarch) as the normal
(b) lltutmish (1211-1236) forms of salutation.
Qutbuddin Aibak gave his daughter in  He established the military department diwan-i-arz.
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
marriage to lltutmish and subsequently  He also started the nauroj (Persian New Year)
appointed him as governor of Badaun. festival to heighten the splendor of his court.
 He was the real founder of Delhi Sultanate.  Balban died in 1287 nominating Kai Khusrau,
He ruled from Delhi in place of Lahore. son of the deceased prince Muhammad as his
 In 1221, he saved Delhi Sultanate from the successor. But, his nobles set aside Kai
wrath of Chengiz Khan, the Mongol leader by Khusrau and placed another grandson of
refusing shelter to Khwarizm Shah, whom Balban, Kaiqubad on the throne.
Chingiz Khan was chasing.  The last Sultan of the Slave dynasty Kayumars
 He completed the construction of Qutub Minar. was put to death by Jalaluddin Khalji in 1290.
He issued the silver tanka and copper jital.
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  He showed special attention to the poet Amir Khusrau.

 He devised a system called Iqtadari System.
The head of an iqta was a muqti. 2. Khalji Dynasty (1290-1320)
 He setup an official nobility of slaves known (a) Jalaluddin Khalji (1290-1296)
as chahalgani (group of forty).  He ascended the throne in 1290 at the age of
 He patronized Minhaj-us-Siraj, the author of seventy.
Tabaqat-i-Nasiri.
 He was an iqtadar of an iqta and served Balban
 He died due to illness in his palace in 1236. for many years.
(c) Raziya (1236-1240)  He was a pious Muslim with the desire to be
recognized as the Mujahid-fi-Sabilillah (fighter
 Raziya, daughter of lltutmish was nominated
in the path of god).
by him against the will of chahalgani.

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(b) Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) Amir Khusrau
 His original name was Ali Gurshasp.  He was a prolific Persian poet associated with the
 He ascended the throne after getting his uncle royal courts of more than seven rulers of Delhi
Jalaluddin Khalji murdered in 1296. Sultanate during 1253-1325. Amir Khusrau was
 He was the first Turkish Sultan of Delhi who a versatile person. He was a soldier, a composer
separated religion from politics. He proclaimed of poetry in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and a diplomat,
“kingship knows no kinship”. shrewd in court matters.
 In Deccan, Alauddin’s army led by his slave Malik
 He was also a good musician.
Kafur defeated Yadavas of Devagiri, Kakatiyas of
Warangal, Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra and Pandyas  He accompanied Alauddin Khalji on his Chittor
of Madurai between 1308-1311. expedition. He talked about performing of Jauhar
 The Somnath temple which was rebuilt in mid by Rajput women there.

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12th century was again demolished by Alauddin  Amir Khusrau is also known as Tuti-i-Hind or
Khalji. Parrot of India.
 He was the first sultan of Delhi to lay the
foundation of a permanent standing army. Literary works of Amir Khusrau
 He instituted the practice of recording the Khazain-ul-Futuh Expeditions of Alauddin Khalji
descriptive roll of individual soldiers (huliya

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(Tarikh-i-Alai)
or chehra) and branding of horses (dagh).
Tughlaqnama History of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
 He established the market control department
under a minister called diwan-i-riyasat. He Khamsah A collection of his five works
fixed the prices of food grains, cloth and other Miftahul Futuh The military campaigns of
commodities far below the usual market rates. Jalaluddin Khalji
The markets were individually looked after by Ashiqa & Khizr Khan Love story of Deval Rani
Shahana-i-mandi.
ra  He fixed the state’s share at 50% of the gross (c) Qutbuddin Mubarak Khalji (1316-1320)
produce of the land. Besides this, Hindus were  Shihabuddin Umar, grandson of Alauddin
required to pay the Jizya.
Khalji was nominated as his successor. He was
 He introduced the measurement of land with placed on the throne by Malik Kafur.
a view of ascertaining the amount of land in
 Mubarak Khan, son of Alauddin Khalji got Malik
the possession of each cultivator and actual
Kafur murdered and raised himself to the throne
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produce thereof.
with the title of Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah.
 He declared himself as Sikandar-i-Sani, the
 He appointed Khusrau as malik naib (prime
second Alexander.
minister).
 He was a great patron of learning and fine arts.
 He was killed by Khusrau in his palace in
Literary lights such as Amir Khusrau and Amir
1320. Later on, Khusrau was also killed by
Hasan resided at his court.
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq of Tughlaq dynasty.
 He constructed Alai Darwaza, beautiful and
per fect specimen of early Turkish 3. Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
architecture. He built fort of Siri and the
(a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-1325)
Palace of Thousand Pillars called Hazar Situn.
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 He served as Alauddin’s muqti in Dipalpur

ALAUDDIN’S EXPEDITIONS (Punjab) for several years.
Expedition Year  He had estranged relations with Sheikh
Nijamuddin Auliya.
Gujarat AD 1299
Ranthambhor 1300-1301  He sent two expeditions against the Kakatiya
rulers of Warangal, under the command of his
Warangal 1303 and 1308
son, Jauna Khan. The first expedition (1321)
Chittor 1303
ended in a defeat by some heroic resistance by
Malwa 1305 the Kakatiyas, but the second (1323), managed
Jalor 1311 to secure the surrender of the kingdom.

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 In 1324 he directed himself, a campaign against  He declared that whenever a noble dies, his
Bengal, which had been an independent son should be allowed to succeed his position
principality since the death of Balban, and including his iqta and if he had no son, his
annexed eastern and southern Bengal. son- in-law and in his absence his slave.
 He has the credit of improving the system of  He made jizya a separate tax, and he imposed
communication, particularly perfecting the this tax upon the Brahmanas for the first time
postal system. in the history of Sultanate.
 Early in his reign, he laid the foundation of a  His mostimportant contribution was the introduction
big palace fort called Tughlaqabad. of a series of canals for irrigation purpose.
 He died in 1326 when a pavilion which was  He founded many towns viz. Firozabad,
erected by Jauna Khan for his reception, fell Fatehabad, Hissar, Jaunpur and Ferozpur.

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upon him.  He established a charity bureau which was
called Diwan-i-Khairat.
(b) Muhammad-bin Tughlaq (1325-1351)
 He also established a charitable hospital Dar-
 Jauna Khan became Muhammad-bin Tughlaq. ul- Shifa.
 He was the most learned Sultan of Delhi, but  He patronized Ziauddin Barani and Shams-i-

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he lacked practical judgment. siraj Afif. Two important works of history, namely
 He created the department of agriculture Fatwa-i-Jahandari and Tarikh-i-Firozshahi by
Barani were written during his reign.
which was called Diwan-i-Kohi.
 Firoz wrote his autobiography called as
 He is known for his experiments which failed Futuhat- i-Firozshahi.
miserably. They are:
 He also started translation of Sanskrit works
(i) Transfer of capital from Delhi to Devagiri into Persian.
(in 1326-27) which was renamed as  He is known for his first effort to decode the
ra Daulatabad. script of Ashokan pillars.
(ii) Introduction of token currency in 1329-30.  His longest campaigns were to Thatta (Sind)
(iii) Enhancement of land revenue in doab and Gujarat, during which he expressed
region up to 50% of the produce. sadness for the sufferings of his soldiers and
 He issued maximum number of coins among pledged never to go to war again. The Thatta
the Delhi Sultans. Hence, he has been called expedition has been described as the most
as ‘prince of moneyers’. mismanaged military operation in the entire
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 He faced maximum number of rebellions history of the Delhi Sultanate.
among the Delhi sultans. Out of many  His campaign against Nagarkot was his most
rebellions, two are important to mention, as successful campaign.
these led to the formation of two independent  He died in 1388.
kingdoms viz. Vijayanagara Kingdom (1336)
and Bahmani Kingdom (1349). (d) Later Tughlaqs (1388-1414)
 He completed the construction of Tughlaqabad  On Firoz’s death in 1388, the throne of Delhi
fort and it was named as Jahanpanah by him. was passed to his grandson Tughlaq Shah, who
 He proceeded to Sindh to punish a rebel and there assumed the title of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq II.
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he was taken ill. He died due to the same in 1351.

 Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq II offended his nobles by
 Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta visited Delhi during his conduct. So they deposed him and placed
the reign of Muhammad-bin Tughlaq in 1333. Abu Bakr, another grandson of Firoz Tughlaq
in 1389.
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388)
 Muhammad Khan, son of Firoz Tughlaq with
 He was a cousin of Muhammad-bin Tughlaq. the help of some powerful officials deposed Abu
 After his accession, Firoz Tughlaq was faced Bakr and placed himself on the throne in 1390.
with the problem of preventing the imminent  Muhammad Khan also could not rule for long.
He died due to illness in 1394.
breakup of Delhi Sultanate. So, he declared
 Alauddin Sikandar Shah, elder son of
his state as a Sunni Islamic State under the Muhammad Khan succeeded him, but he also
influence of clergy. died in 1395.

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 Nasir uddin Mahmud, younger son of  His second achievement was the conquest and
Muhammad Khan came to the throne in 1395. annexation of the kingdom of Jaunpur.
 Nasiruddin Mahmud was the Sultan, when  He started coins called Bahloli.
Timur attacked in 1398.
 Timur fought and defeated Nasiruddin Mahmud (b) Sikandar Lodi (1489-1517)
on December 17, 1398 at Delhi. Timur deputed  Nizam Khan, son of Bahlol Lodi came to the
Khizr Khan to look after north west India. throne in 1489 and assumed the title of
 Nasiruddin Mahmud, the last ruler of the Sikandar Shah Lodi.
dynasty died in 1413 and the Tughlaq dynasty  He founded the city of Agra in 1504 and
came to an end. transferred his capital from Delhi to Agra.
 The nobles chose one of them, named Daulat  He was a contemporary of Mahmud Begarha
Khan as Sultan. of Gujarat and Rana Sanga of Mewar.

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 He introduced a unit of measurement called
SHARQI DYNASTY Gaz- i-Sikandari.
 Malik Sarwar (1394-1399) was the founder of  He demolished famous Jwalamukhi temple at
Sharqi dynasty with capital at Jaunpur. Nagarkot. He charged jizya and pilgrim tax
from the Hindus with severity.
 Mubarak Shah (1399-1402) succeeded Malik Sarwar.
 He has written a book called Lahjat-i-Sikandari.
Ibrahim Shah (1402-1440) was the most

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
 A Sanskrit tr eatise on medicine was
acclaimed ruler of Sharqi dynasty.
translated into Persian under the name
 He was a great patron of art, architecture, cultural Farhang-i-Sikandari during his reign.
development, etc.  He built his father’s tomb at Delhi.
 Under him Jaunpur evolved a distinct  He died due to illness in 1517.
architecture of its own which is known by the (c) Ibrahim Lodi (1517-1526)
name of Sharqi style of architecture.  Ibrahim, eldest son of Sikandar Lodi came to

ra The construction of Atala mosque was completed
by Ibrahim Shah.
throne with unanimous consent of Afghan
peers in 1517.
 The Lal Darwaza Mosque was built during the  He assumed the title Ibrahim Shah.
reign of Mahmud Shah (1440-1456).  He was defeated by Rana Sanga of Mewar.
 The Jami Mosque was built in 1470 during the  He offended the nobles through his conduct.
reign of the last ruler Hussain Shah (1458-1479). Daulat Khan Lodi, governor of Punjab assumed
virtual independence and opened negotiations
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4. Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)
with Babur, the king of Kabul, whom he invited
Khizr Khan (1414-1421)
to invade India and overthrow Ibrahim.
 Khizr Khan defeated Daulat Khan and became  Ibrahim Lodi was defeated and killed by Babur
ruler of Delhi in 1414.
in the First Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526.
 He was the first and the most able ruler of the so
called Sayyid dynasty. The Sultanate Administration
 He claimed to be the descendant of Prophet Muhammad.  The Wazir was the most important minister in
 He did not assume the title of Sultan, but the Sultanate administration. Initially, he dealt
contended ‘himself with that of Rayat-i-Ala. with matters of finance only but later on, his
controlling authority in practice was extended to
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 He died in 1421. every branch of public administration.

 He pretended to act as the Viceroy of Mirza  Amir was incharge of the royal guards of Sultan
Shahrukh, the fourth son and successor of Timur.
and war like commander of army.
5. Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)  Arz-i-Mamalik was the head of military department.
(a) Bahlol Lodi (1451-1489)  Diwan-i-Risalat was presided over by a chief sadr
or chief qazi. It dealt with religious matters.
 Bahlol Lodi, an Afghan was the founder of Lodi dynasty.
 The qazi dispensed civil law based on Muslim Law
 His main achievement was the restoration of a
part of the credit and prestige of the Delhi kingdom (Sharia). The Hindus were governed by their own
which has fallen considerably low under the later personal laws, which were decided by panchayats
Tughlaqs and the Sayyids. in villages.

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 Barids were the intelligence agents appointed by Taxation in Sultanate Period
the rulers in different parts of empire to keep
Under the Sultanate period only four different
themselves informed of what was going on in their territory.
sources of revenue were sanctioned by the Quran - Kharaj,
 Turks after conquering the country divided it into
Khams, Jizya and Zakat. But the Sultanate of Delhi
number of tracts called iqtas, which were parcelled
among the leading Turkish nobles. The holders charged many taxes. Some of the taxes are given below:
of the office were called muqti or walis. It were  Zakat: The religious taxes were collectively known
these iqtas, which later became province or subas. as the Zakat. This was realized from well to do Muslims
 Provinces were followed by the shiqs and below amounting at the rate of 1/4th of one’s property.
them were the pargana. The villages were grouped  Jizya: This was the tax levied on non-Muslims in
into units of 100 or 84 traditionally called chaurasi. return for the protection of life and property and
The pargana was headed by amil. The most exemption from military services.

er
important people in villages were the khuts (land-  Kharaj: It was the land tax realized from non- Muslims.
owners) or muqaddam or headmen.

AUTHOR BOOK MAIN CONTENT

Abu Bakr Chachanama History of Sind
Alberuni Qanun-i-Maudis Astronomy

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Alberuni Jawahir fil-Jawahir Mineralogy
Alberuni Kitab-ul-Hind Indian philosophy and sciences
Chand Bardai Prithviraj Raso Heroic exploits of Prithiviraja Chauhan III
Feroz Shah Tughlaq Futuhat-i-Firozshahi An autobiographical work
Firdausi Shahnama Empire of Mahmud Ghazni
Hasan Nizami Tajul Maasir History of the llbari dynasty
Ibn-Batuta Kitab-ul-Rehla Travelogue
ra
Kalhana Rajatarangini A history of Kashmir
Minhas-us-Siraj Tabaqat-i-Nasiri History of the Islamic dynasty till 1260.
Malik Muhammad Jayasi Padmavat About Queen Padmavati
Shams-i-siraj Afif Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi History of Tughlaqs
Ziauddin Barani Fatwa-i-Jahandari Judicial advice on worldly affairs
Ziauddin Barani Tahkik-i-Firuz Shah History of Tughlaqs
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PROVINCIAL KINGDOMS Vijayanagar Kingdom (AD 1336-1580)
Gujarat  Founded by Harihara I and Bukka I.
 Broke away from Delhi in AD 1407 under Zafar Khan,  Devaraya I built a dam across Tungabhadra river
who assumed the title of Sultan Muzaffar Shah.
and Italian traveller Nicolo de Conti visited his
 His grandson Ahmed Shah I built a new city
court followed by Russian merchant Nikitin.
Ahmedabad.
 The next prominent ruler was Mahmud Begarha.  Devaraya II, the greatest ruler, who was seen as
During his rule Portuguese set up a factory at Diu. incarnation of Indra by Commoners; He was also
Kashmir called ‘Gajabetekara’ (the elephant hunter) and
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 K as h mir was ruled by Hindu rulers until wrote Mahanataka Sudhanidhi and commentary
Shamsuddin Shah asserted himself in AD 1339. on the Brahma Sutras in Sanskrit; Persian
 The greatest ruler was Zain-ul-Abidin (AD 1420- Ambassador Abdur Razzaq visited his court.
70), who is called the Akbar of Kashmir, built
 Krishnadeva Raya (AD 1509-29) was the greatest
Zaina lake and artificial island in Wular lake.
ruler. He was known as Abhinava Bhoja, Andhra
Mewar
Pitamah and Andhra Bhoja because of being a
 Rajput rule was restored by Rana Hamir after
Alauddin Khalji captured Chittor in AD 1303. great patron of literature.
 The greatest was Rana Kumbha who built Vijay  In Battle of Talikota (AD 1565) Sadasiva, the last
Stambh at Chittor to commemorate his victory ruler of Tuluva dynasty was defeated by alliance
over Mahmud Khalji of Malwa. of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar.

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THE TULUVA DYNASTY Bahmani Kingdom

 The most remarkable figure in the Bahmani
Vira Narasimha (1505-1509) kingdom was Firuz Shah Bahmani (1397-1422).
 Vira Narasimha founded the Tuluva dynasty. He  He was well acquainted with the religious
was the son of Narasa Nayaka. sciences, i. e. commentaries on the Quran,
 He became king after the assassination of Immadi Jurisprudence, etc.
Narasimha.  He was particularly fond of the natural sciences
such as botany, geometry, logic, etc.
Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529)
 He was a good calligraphist and a poet.
 Krishna Deva Raya was the younger brother of
Vira Narasimha.  Firoz Shah Bahmani was married to the daughter of
Deva Raya-I (1404-1422). However, Deva Raya-I
 Saluva Timma, the Chief Minister of Vira
defeated him in 1419 for the Krishna-Godavari basin.

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Narasimha, placed Krishna Deva Raya on the
throne, after imprisoning his two step brothers  Ahmad Shah-I, who is called a saint (wali) on
and Vira Narasimha’s minor son. account of his association with the famous Sufi
 He built the Vijaya Mahal (House of Victory) and saint Gesu Daraz succeeded Firoz Shah Bahmani.
expanded the Hazara Rama Temple (Hampi) and  Ahmad Shah-I shifted the capital from Gulbarga
the Vithal Swami Temple. He took the titles of to Bidar.
Yavanaraja Sthapanacharya (restorer of the

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 The Bahmani kingdom gradually expanded and
Yavana Kingdom, i.e. Bahamani) and Abhinava reached its height of power and territorial limits
Bhoja (Great patron of literature). during the Prime Ministership of Mahmud Gawan.
 He was a talented scholar in both Telugu and
Sanskrit. The Telugu work on his political ideas Parts of Bahmani Kingdom
is Amuktamalyada and the Sanskrit drama is KINGDOM FOUNDER DYNASTY
Jambavati Kalyanam.
Golconda Sultan Quli Hamadani Qutab Shahi
 His court was adorned by the Ashta-diggajas (the
or Qutbul Mulk
raeight celebrated poet;). Tenalirama was one of them.
Bijapur Yusuf Adil Khan Adil Shahi
 After the death of Krishna Deva Raya, his half
Ahmadnagar Ahmad Nizam Shahi
brother Achyuta Raya succeeded him.
Berar Fatullah Imadul Imad Shahi Mu
 A book The Forgotten Empire by Robert Swell talks
about Vijayanagar. Bidar Qasim Barid Barid Shahi
 In 1543 Sadashiva Raya ascended the throne and Religious Movements
reigned till 1567. Rama Raya was the leading
Form of worship of the goddess was often called as
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person in his court. 
‘Tantric’. Tantric practices were spread in
 Bijapur, Golconda and Ahmadnagar combined to
different parts of sub-continent. Both men and
inflict a defeat of Vijayanagar at Bannihatti near
women were free to take part in it.
Talikota in 1565. This is also called Battle of
Talikota or the Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi.  Ideas of Tantric practices also influenced
Shaivism and Buddhism, especially in the
Features of Vijayanagar Empire eastern, northern and southern parts of sub-
 It was a monarchy. continent. All of these beliefs and practices were
classified as ‘Hindu’.
 Land tax was an important source of revenue for
the empire.  The Bhakti tradition includes the devotion of deity
in temples and to ecstatic adoration where
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 Most of the kings followed Vaishnavism.

devotees attained a state of trance. The singing and
 Women were having a very honourable position chanting of devotional composition was generally a
in the Vijaynagar society. part of these kinds of worship.
Famous Travellers to Vijaynagar Kingdom  Historians of religion generally divide Bhakti
traditions into two categories and these were Saguna
Travellers Country Rulers (with attributes) and Nirguna (without attributes).
Ibn Batuta Morocco Harihara-I  Earliest Bhakti movements were led by the Alvars
Nicolo de conti Italy (Venice) Deva Raya-I and Nayanars. Alvars were devotees of Vishnu and
Abdur Razzak Persia Deva Raya-II Nayanars were devotees of Shiva. They travelled
Domingo Paes Portugal Krishnadeva Raya from one place to another singing hymns in Tamil
Duarte Barbosa Portugal Krishnadeva Raya language in praise of their gods.

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 Some historians are of the opinion that Alvar and  Some mystic men started movements on the basis
Nayanar saints raised their voice against caste of radical interpretation of Sufi ideas. These
system and dominance of Brahmanas. This fact mystics scorned the Khanqah, took to mendicancy
seems to be true for some extent because Bhakti and observed celibacy. They ignored rituals and
saints belonged to different communities like observed extreme forms of asceticism. They were
Brahmanas, artisans, farmers, etc. known by different names like Qalandars,
 One of the major themes of Tamil Bhakti hymns Malangs, Madaris, Haidaris, etc.
was their opposition to Jainism and Buddhism.  The Khanqah was the centre of social life. Khanqah
Historians gave the reason of this opposition that of Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Auliya (14th century) had
many small rooms and a big hall called as Jamaat
there was a competition between these religious
Khana.
communities to attain royal patronage.
 Ziyarat to the tomb of Sufi saints is prevalent all
Powerful Chola rulers gave their support to

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 over the Islamic world. This practice is an
Brahmanical and Bhakti traditions. They gave occasion to seek the spiritual grace of Sufi saint.
land grants to build Vishnu and Shiva temples.  This dargah of Ajmer had become very popular by
 Nayanar and Alvar saints were greatly respected the 16th century. The spiritual singing of pilgrims
by the Vellala peasants. That is why rulers also bound for Ajmer inspired Akbar to visit the tomb.
tried to win their support. He visited the tomb 14 times. He gave generous
A new movement emerged in Karnataka in 12th gifts on each of his visit.

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
century which was led by a Brahmana Basavanna  Chishtis not only adopted local language in ‘Sama’
(1106-1168). His followers were called as Virashaivas but people of Delhi associated with Chishti Silsila
(heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of Linga). as they talked with people in Hindavi, the
 Lingayats believed that the devotees will be language of the people.
united with Shiva after their death and will  One of the major features of Chishti tradition was
not return to this world. That is why they do austerity. They maintained a distance from worldly
not practice funeral rites and Shradhas, given power. The Sufis generally accepted unsolicited
ra in Dharmashastras, and ceremonially bury
their dead.
grants and donations from the political elites.
 The Chishtis accepted donations in cash and kind.
 Lingayats also opposed the idea of caste and pollution
labelled by Brahmanas on certain communities. But they did not accumulate donations. They liked
They also questioned the theory of rebirth. to use these grants on immediate requirements of
food, clothes, living quarters and ritual necessities.
 Many new religious leaders challenged the
authority of Vedas and expressed their views in  Kabir occupies a special place among all the poet
saints. Verses of Kabir have been compiled in three
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language of general masses. Over the centuries,
distinct traditions. First is Kabir Bijak which is
these languages developed into the ones used today.
preserved by the Kabirpanth in Varanasi. Second is
 Theoretically, Muslim rulers had to follow the path Kabir Granthavali which is associated with the
of ‘Ulemas’. It was expected from Ulemas that Dadupanth in Rajasthan. Third is that many of his
they ruled according to the Sharia. But situation compositions are found in the ‘Adi Granth Sahib’.
in sub-continent was complex because a large  Kabir used a range of traditions to describe the
portion of population did not believe in Islam. ultimate reality like Islamic tradition, he called the
 ‘Zimmis’ were the non-Muslims who lived in the ultimate reality as Allah, Hazrat, Khuda and Pir.
areas of Islamic rulers. They paid a tax called  Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in a Hindu family (1469-
‘Jaziya’. In lieu of Jaziya, they were protected by 1539) in a village Nankana Sahib of Punjab (at present
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their Muslim rulers. in Pakistan). The messages of Guru Nanak Dev Ji

 Institutionally, the Sufis started to organise the are spelt out in his hymns and teachings.
Khanqah (Persian). Khanqah was controlled by a  The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, compiled all the
teaching master called as Shaikh (in Arabic), pir hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, his four successors,
or murshid (in Persian). Baba Farid, Ravidas Ji and Kabir, etc., in the ‘Adi
Granth Sahib’. These hymns are known as ‘Gurbani’.
 Sufi silsilas began to organise in different
 Mirabai is perhaps the best known poet of Bhakti
parts of Islamic world around 12th century.
tradition. She was married against her will to a prince
The t erm ‘Silsila’ lit erally means a chain of the Sisodia clan of Mewar. She declined to perform
which signified a continuous link between a traditional roles of wife and mother and recognised one
master and his disciple. of Vishnu’s avatar ‘Krishna’ as her only husband.

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Some Major Religious Teachers in the Subcontinent  Surdas (1483-1513 AD): He belonged to Saguna
school. He was a disciple of famous religious
C. 500-800 CE Appar, Sambandar, Sundaramurti teacher Vallabhacharya. He sang the glory of
in Tamil Nadu. Krishna’s childhood and youth in his Sursagar.
C. 800-900 Nammalvar, Manikkavachakar,  Tulsi Das (1532-1623 AD): He belonged to Saguna
Andal, Tondaradippodi in Tamil Nadu. school Hindu Mystics. He composed the famous
C. 1000-1100 Al Hujwiri, Data Ganj Baksh in Punjab, Ramacharitamanas.
Ramanujacharya in Tamil Nadu.
Sufism
C. 1100-1200 Basavanna in Karnataka.
 Those saints among the Muslims who advocated
C. 1200-1300 Jnanadeva, Muktabhai in a life of purity and renunciation were called
Maharashtra; Khwaja Muin-ud-din sufis. Another view is that the word sufi came

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Chishti in Rajasthan; Baha-ud-din out of the word Sooph meaning wool.
Zakariyla and Farid-ud-din Ganj-i-  Sufism sprang from the doctrine of Wahadat-ul-
Shakar in the Punjab, Qutub-ud- wajud or unit of being. This doctrine was
propounded by lbn-ul-Arabi (1165-1240) AD.
din Bakhtiyar Kaki in Delhi.
 One of the earliest sufis was a woman saint
C. 1300-1400 Lal Ded in Kashmir, Lal Shahbaz Rabin of Basra who laid great emphasis on love

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Qalandar in Sind; Nizam-ud-din as bond between god and individual soul.
Auliya in Delhi, Ramananda in  The sufis were organized in 12 orders or Silsilas.
Uttar Pradesh; The silsilas were generally led by a prominent mystic
who lived in Khanqah along with his disciples.
C. 1400-1500 Kabir, Raidas, Surdas in Uttar  The link between the teacher or Pir and his
Pradesh; Baba Guru Nanak in the disciple or Murid was a vital part of Sufi system.
Punjab, Shankardeva in Assam; Every Pir nominated a successor or Wali to carry
ra Tukaram in Maharashtra. out his work.
C. 1500-1600 Sri Chaitanya in Bengal; Mirabai THE MUGHAL EMPIRE
in Rajasthan, Shaikh Abdul Quddus
Gangohi, Malik Muhammad Jaisi,
Topics
Tulsidas in Uttar Pradesh.  Mughal Emperors and their works
 Sur Dynasty
C. 1600-1700 Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi in
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 Later Mughals
Haryana; Miyan Mir in the Punjab.
 The Marathas and The Sikhs
Bhakti Saints
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER/ FACTS,
 Ramanuja: In 11th century Ramanuja tried to
FIGURES & IMPORTANT EVENTS
assimilate Bhakti to the tradition of Vedas. He
argued that grace of God was more important than  Jalal-ud-din Akbar is considered as the greatest
knowledge about him in order to attain salvation. Mughal ruler. He not only expanded his empire
The tradition established by Ramanuja was followed but also consolidated it and made it one of the
by number of thinkers such as Madhvacharya, strongest and the richest empires of this time.
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Ramananda, Vallabhacharya and others.  Akbar made Persian as the main language of
 Ramadasa (1608): He established ashramas all the Mughal court. Probably, the emperor was
over India. It was from him that Shivaji received motivated, for this, by cultural and intellectual
the inspiration to overthrow Muslim authority contacts with Iran and regular stream of Iranian
and found the kingdom. and Central Asian migrants.
 Gurunanak (1469-1539 AD): He was a mystique  Picture possessed special powers of communicating
of Nirguna School. But his followers branched off ideas about the powers of a king and his kingdom.
from Hinduism and founded a separate religious  Mughal artists began to portray kings wearing a
system. He became a wandering preacher of a halo. These halo were the symbols of divine
casteless, universal, ethical, anti-ritualistic light. These pictures show that rulers possessed
monotheistic and highly spiritual religion. divine power to rule over the empire.

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 The idea of Sulh-i-Kul was motivated by the unification  Abul Fazl worked for thirteen years on Akbarnama.
and peace among all classes and racial and religious He repeatedly revised its drafts. This chronicle is
communities. All the religions and schools of thought based on the actual descriptions of the events,
in Sulh-i-Kul had the freedom of expression. royal document s and oral testimonies of
 Jahanara was the daughter of the Mughal knowledgeable persons.
emperor, Shah Jahan. She took part in many  After Noor Jahan, the Mughal queens and
architectural plannings of the new capital of princesses began to control the financial
Shah Jahan, Shahjahanabad (Delhi). These resources. The daughters of Shah Jahan,
included two storeyed building Caravan Saraya Jahanara and Roshanara, had annual income,
with a garden and a court room. which was equal to higher mansabdars.
 Painters had an important role in the creation  Turani and Iranian nobles were already present
of the Mughal manuscripts. A lot of people were in Akbar’s court right from the beginning of the

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involved in this work. Paper makers were required inception of Mughal empire. Some of them came
to prepare folios of manuscript, calligraphers copied to India with Humayun and some of them later
the texts, gilders illuminated the pages, painters on migrated to the Mughal court.
illustrated the seen from the text.
 Badshahnama, like Akbarnama, is also the Important Terms
official history, which has three volumes (daftar).  Calligr aphy: The art of handwr iting, was

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Every volume consisted of information of ten considered a skill of great importance.
lunar years.  Axis Mundi: It is a Latin phrase for a pillar or
 Every department of the administration had a large pole that is visualised as the support of the earth.
support staff including accountants, clerks,  Tajwiz: It was a petition presented by a nobleman
messengers, auditors and other functionaries. to the emperor, recommending that an applicant
They were functioning according to like be recruited as mansabdar.
standardised rules and procedures.  Faujdar: The chief off icer of the Sar kar

ra Every province was divided into many Sarkars. The
(administrative unit) was called faujdar. He was
in charge of law and order in his territory.
Sarkars often overlapped with the jurisdiction of the
 Amalguzar: Amalguzar was one of the chief
faujdars. Faujdars in these districts were deployed officers of Sarkar. He was responsible for the
with the contingents of heavy cavalry and musketeers. assessment and collection of the land revenue.
 Abul Fazl gave the highest place to the Mughal  Diwan-i-ala: Wazir occupied an important place
kingship in the order of objects, which received in the central administrative set up of Akbar.
light from the God. In this regard, he was very
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Akbar generally used the title of Diwan-i-ala in
much influenced by the ideas of famous Iranian- preference to the word Wazir. Diwan-i-ala was an
Sufi Shahab-Al-Din Suhrawardi. expert in revenue affairs.
 Gulbadan Begum was the daughter of Babur and  Barids: Intelligence officers were called Barids.
the sister of Humayun. She wrote Humayunama,  Qazi: During the Akbar’s reign the chief judicial
which gives us a glimpse into the domestic world officer was known as Qazi.
of the Mughals. She could write fluently in  Zawabit: Zawabit meant secular laws.
Turkish as well as Persian.  Sharah: Sharah means Islamic law.
 The place of all the courtiers was determined by
 Chitrics: Chitrics was the official who helped the
the king himself. When an emperor sat on his
emperor with his correspondency.
throne then no one was allowed to move from his
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 Debir: The Debir was master of ceremonies and also

position or to leave without permission.
helped the emperor in his dealings with foreign affairs.
 Jharokha darshan was introduced by Akbar.
According to this, the emperor used to begin his  Majumdar: Accountant in the administration of
day at sunrise with a few religious prayers. Then, Shivaji was called Majumdar.
he used to appear on a small balcony, i.e., the  Mokasa: By mokasa we mean the jagirs given to
Jharokha facing the east direction. the officials during the Maratha rule.
 People using Persian language, in the 16th and  Deshmukh: Zamindars w ere known as
17th centuries, came from different parts of the Deshmukhs during Shivaji’s times.
sub-continent and they even spoke other Indian  Chauth: Chauth (one fourth) was tax imposed and
languages. That is why local idioms were absorbed collected by Shivaji from Mughal territories
and Persian too became Indianised. bordering his kingdom.

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 Paga: The regular army under Shivaji was called Paga. MUGHAL EMPERORS
IMPORTANT DATES 1. Babur (1526-1530)
 First Battle of Panipat 1526 A.D.  He was the founder of Mughal dynasty in India.
 Battle of Khanwah 1527 AD. He was a direct descendant of Timur, and believed
himself to be a descendant also of Chengiz khan
 Battle of Chanderi 1528 A.D. through his mother.
 Battle of Ghagra 1529 A.D.  He was invited to attack India by Daulat Khan Lodi
 Babar’s death 1530 A.D. (Subedar of Punjab), Ibrahim Lodi’s uncle Alam
Khan Lodi and Rana Sanga.
 Battle of Chausa between 1539 A.D.
 He was successful in his fifth expedition to India,
Humayun and Sher
when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle

er
Shah Suri of Panipat on April 21, 1526.
 Battle of Kannauj 1540 A.D.  He took keen interest in the development of
 Sher Shah’s death 1545 A.D. gardens.
 Humayun’s re-installation 1555 A.D.  He wrote Tuzuk-i-Baburi or Baburnama in Turkish.
to throne  He died in 1530 and was buried first at Arambagh
Humayun’s death 1556 A.D. in Agra. Roughly nine years later his body was

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
 Akbar’s coronation 14th February, taken to Kabul and buried there.
1556 A.D. Battles fought by Babur
 Second Battle of Panipat 19th November
1556 A.D. Battle Year Outcome
 Jahangir came into the throne 1605 A.D. First Battle of Panipat 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim
 Arrival of Hawkins in Mughal 1609 A.D. Lodi.
ra Court Battle of Khanwa 1527 Babur defeated Rana
 Arrival of Sir Thomas Roe in 1615 A.D. Sanga.
Jahangir’s court Battle of Chanderi 1528 Babur defeated Medini
Rai.
 Jahangir’s death 1627 A.D.
Battle of Ghaghra 1529 Babur defeated joint
 Aurangzeb passed away in 1707 A.D.
forces of Afghans and
Some Major Mughal Chronicles and Memiors the Sultan of Bengal.
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C. 1530 Manuscript of Babur’s Memo- 2. Humayun (1530-1540 and 1555-1556)
ries in Turkish—saved from a  Humayun succeeded his father Babur, but as per
storm—becomes part of the fam-
the Timurid tradition he was forced to share power
ily collection of the Timurids.
with his brothers. Thus Sulaiman was given
C. 1587 Gulbadan Begum begins to Badakhshan, Kamran inherited Kabul and Qandhar,
write the Humayunama. while Askari and Hindal received Sind. He built
1589 Babur’s memoirs translated Dinpanah at Delhi as his second capital. He faced a
into Persian as Baburnama. formidable opponent in the Afghan, Sher Shah Suri.
He was defeated in the Battle of Chausa by Sher
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1589-1602 Abul Fazl works on the Akbarnama. 

Shah Suri in 1539.
1605-22 Jahangir writes his memoirs,
the Jahangirnama.  He was again defeated in the Battle of Bilgram
(Kannauj) by Sher Shah Suri in 1540.
1639-47 Lahori composes the first two
daftars of the Badshahnama.  Defeat at Kanauj compelled Humayun to leave India.
He fled to the refuge of Safavid empire in Persia.
C. 1650 Muhammad Waris begins to
 After the death of Sher Shah Suri in 1545, Humayun
chronicle the third decade of
conquered Qandhar and re-established his control
Shah Jahan’s reign.
over Kabul with the help of Shah Tahmasp.
1668 Alamgirnama, a history of the
 He defeated the forces of Sikandar Suri and
first ten years of Aurangzeb’s reign
occupied Agra and Delhi in 1555.
compiled by Muhammad Kazim.

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 His sister, Gulbadan Begum wrote his biography, 1. Akbar’s Administration
Humayunama.  Akbar divided his entire empire into 12 subas in
 His wife Hamida Banu Begum built his tomb at 1580. These were Bengal, Bihar, Allahabad, Agra,
Delhi, which is known as Humayun’s tomb. Delhi, Lahore, Multan, Kabul, Ajmer, Malwa and
 He died in 1556, when he fell from the stairs of Gujarat. A Subahdar, Diwan, Bakshi, Sadr, Qazi
his library were appointed at each of these provinces.
 The provinces were further divided into Sarkars
3. Akbar (1556-1605) and Parganas.
 Akbar was 14 years old when he was crowned at  Chief officers of the Sarkar were Fauzdar and
Kalanaur in 1556. Amalguzar, the former being in charge of law and
 He defeated Hemu, wazir of Adil Shah Suri in order and the later responsible for the assessment
Second Battle of Panipat in 1556. and collection of the land revenue.

er
 Between 1556-1560, Akbar ruled under the  The entire land of empire was divided into Jagir,
regency of Bairam Khan. Khalisa and Inam lands.
 On advice of foster mother, Akbar took control of  Akbar reorganized the central machinery of the
the empire from Bairam Khan. administration on the basis of division of power
 Akbar married Hira Kunwari, who was a Kachwaha between the various departments.
princess. She took the name Jodha Bai and was

ck
the mother of Prince Salim, who later became the 2. Akbar’s Religious Policies
Mughal emperor Jahangir.  Akbar built an Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) at
 Akbar sent Raja Man Singh of Amber to confront Fatehpur Sikri in 1575 to discuss religious
Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar in the historic Battle matters of faith. He invited many distinguished
of Haldighati in 1576. In this battle Rana Pratap persons belonging to different religions.
Singh was defeated.  Akbar abolished the pilgrimage tax on Hindus in
 At the time of Akbar, there were five leading 1563. He abolished Jizya in 1579.
ra states of the Deccan viz. Khandesh, Ahmadnagar,  Akbar introduced a new Khutba, written by Faizi
Berar, Bijapur and Golconda. and proclaimed Mahzarnama in 1579, which made
 He built Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri in him the final interpreter of Islamic law presented
memory of victory over Gujarat. by the Ulemas (mujtahid Imam-i-Adil) in case of
 In 1579, he issued a decree called ‘Mahzarnama’ any controversies.
and took control of the law in his own hands.  His liberalism is reflected again in the
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 In 1585, he transferred his capital to Lahore in pronouncement of Tauhid-i-Illahi or Din-i-Ilahi,
order to effect a greater integration of the north which propounded sufi divine monotheism. Din-
west into the Mughal empire. i-Ilahi was viewed more as an order of people with
 His last campaign w as against Asirgarh a motto of peace with all (Sulhi-Kul) rather than
(Khandesh) in 1601. a chosen religion.
 Birbal, Abul Fazl and Faizi joined Din-i-Ilahi.
AKBAR’S CAMPAIGN
3. Akbar’s Court
Year Against  In Akbar’s court there were nine versatile
1561 Baz Bahadur of Malwa personalities which were eminent in various
M

1564 Rani Durgawati of Garh Katanga fields. They were called nine gems or Navratnas.
 The Navratnas included Todar Mal, Abul Fazl, Faizi,
1567 Chittor (Mewar)
Birbal, Tansen, Abdur Rahim Khan-i- Khana, Mullah-
1572 Gujarat do-Pyaza, Raja Man Singh and Fakir Aziao-Din.
1574 Bengal  Akbar established the painting karkhana, headed
1576 Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar by Abdus Samad.
1581 Kabul  Ralph Fitch was the first Englishman to visit
1586 Kashmir Akbar’s court in 1585.
 Abul Fazl wrote Akbarnama, the appendix of which
1593 Chandbibi of Ahmadnagar
was called Ain-i-Akbari. This section deals with the
1601 Khandesh (Asirgarh) laws and revenue system during the reign of Akbar.

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4. Jahangir (1605-1627)  After the sickness of Shahjahan in 1657 the war
 After the death of Akbar, his eldest and the only of succession for the Mughal crown began.
surviving son, Salim became king under the title  In 1657 Shahjahan’s eldest son Dara was with
of Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir. him at Agra, Suza was governor in Bengal,
 In 1611, Jahangir married Mehr-un-Nisa who was Aurangzeb was Viceroy in Deccan and the
youngest son Murad was governor in Gujarat.
later known as Nurjahan. She was the daughter
of Itmaduddaulah.  During the war of succession, Shahjahan’s two
daughters Jahanara and Roshanara supported his
 Nurjahan exercised tremendous influence over two sons, Dara and Aurangzeb, respectively.
state affairs. She was made the official Begum.
 Aurangzeb defeated the Mughal forces lead by Dara
 In 1612, Nurjahan arranged the marriage of in the Battle at Samugarh near Agra.
Jahangir’s second son Khurram (Shahjahan) to  Till 1661, Aurangzeb either killed or executed all
her brother Asif Khan’s daughter Arjumand Banu

er
his brothers.
(later known as Mumtaz Mahal).  Shahjahan passed the remaining years of his life
 Jahangir banned slaughter of animals on Sunday till 1666 in the capitivity of Aurangzeb.
and Thursday.  French traveller Bernier and Tavernier and the
 He established Zanjeer-e-adal at Agra Fort for the Italian traveller Manucci visited India during the
seekers of royal justice. reign of Shahjahan.

ck
 Khusrau (son of Jahangir), who received
6. Aurangzeb (1658-1707)
patronage of Guru Arjan Dev, revolted against
Jahangir. The fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev was later  Aurangzeb crowned himself as emperor of Delhi
sentenced to death for his blessings to the rebel in 1658 and took the title of Alamgir. But his
prince. second and formal coronation took place when he
 Khurram (Shahjahan) supported by his father-in- defeated Dara in 1659.
law, Asif Khan, also revolted against Jahangir but  He forbade inscription of Kalma on the coins.
the two soon reconciled.
ra Jahangir was well read and he wrote his memoirs
 He reimposed Jizya in 1679. He abolished the
 inland transit duties (rahdari) and the octroi
Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri in Persian. (pandari).
 John Hawkins resided at Agra for two years (1609-  He ended the celebration of Nauroj (New Year’s
11). He was given the mansab of 400. celebration) festival.
 Sir Thomas Roe (1615-18) who was ambassador of  He prohibited intoxicating drugs and destroyed the
James-I came to the court of Jahangir.
Vishwanath temple of Varanasi.
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 Jahangir died in 1627 in Kashmir and was buried
 He forbade music in the court.
at Lahore.
 He ended the ceremony of weighing the emperor on
5. Shahjahan (1627-1658) his birthdays and the practice of Jharokha darshan.
 Shahjahan took the charge of Mughal empire on  Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhs, was
the death of Jahangir in 1628. besieged and taken to Delhi where he was
 It is said that, the Kingdom founded by Babur, beheaded in 1679.
nurtured by Akbar, consolidated by Jahangir,  According to the Treaty of Purandar between
reached t o its zenith during the reign of Shivaji and Jai Singh (the viceroy of Agra) in 1666,
Shahjahan.
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Shivaji ceded some forts to Mughals and agreed to

 The first thing that Shahjahan had to face was pay a visit to the Mughal Court at Agra. But when
revolts in Bundelkhand (Jujhar Singh Bundela of Shivaji went to Agra he was dissatisfied with the
Orchcha) and the Deccan (Khan-i-Jahan Lodi, the reception and he secretly escaped from Agra.
governor of Deccan).  In 1689, Sambhaji, the eldest son of Shivaji, was
 In 1612 he married Arzumand Banu who became captured and beheaded by Aurangzeb.
famous as Mumtaz Mahal.
 Aurangzeb compiled Fatwa-i-Alamgiri.
 In 1632, he defeated Portuguese and annexed
 Aurangzeb destroyed several Hindu temples e.g.
Ahmadnagar in 1636.
the Keshav Rai temple built by Raja Bir Singh in
 Shahjahan built Moti Masjid (Agra); Red Fort
Mathura, the Vishwanath temple built by Raja
(Delhi); Jama Masjid (Delhi) and Taj Mahal (Agra).
Man Singh in Benaras.

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 Aurangzeb died in 1707 in Ahmadnagar and was  Apart from illustrating Persian books of fables
buried near Daulatabad near the grave of Sheikh (Razmnama) the painters illustrated Ramzanama
Jail-ul-Haq. (the Persian translation of Mahabharata) and
 During his reign, the Mughal empire reached to Akbarnama.
its territorial climax.  Mughal painting reached to its zenith during Jahangir’s
rule. Jahangir was a great patron of painting.
Mughal Architecture
Mughal Administration
 Mausoleum of Akbar’s father Humayun at Delhi
was most prominent construction in Delhi. It, like  Mughal empire was divided into Subas. Subas
the Dinpanah was in vicinity of Nizamuddin were further subdivided into Sarkar, Parganas and
Villages.
Chisti’s Dargah.
 However, it also had other territorial units such
 Akbar built Agra fort in 1571. According to Abul Fazl,
as Khalisa (royal land), Jagirs (autonomous rajas)

er
the Agra Fort contained more than 500 stone buildings.
and inams (gifted lands, mainly waste lands).
 In 1573, Akbar built Buland Darwaza to comme-
morate Gujarat victory which formed the main Mughal Economy
entrance to Fatehpur Sikri. It is built in the  Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar.
Iranian style of half dome portal.
 Jagirdari system was the assignment of land in
 Salim Chisti’s tomb (redone in marble by Jahangir proportion to a jagirdar’s salary. Hence, every

ck
is the first Mughal building in pure marble), Mansabdar was entitled to a jagir if he was not
palaces of Birbal, Anup Talao, Mariyam Mahal are paid in cash. A jagir could be transferred and the
also inside Fatehpur Sikri. jagirdar had no police powers over the land.
 Akbar also built the Jahangir Mahal in Agra fort  The revenue was collected by state machinery in
according to Hindu design based on Man Mandir. alliance with local zamindars who got their due share.
 Jahangir built a mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra,  Apart from land revenue (charged 1/3 to 1/2) the
near Agra which is having resemblance to Panch state being a military state, also depended upon
ra Mahal at Fatehpur Sikri. benefits of conquest. However, much of its revenue
 Nurjahan built a white marble mausoleum for her was wasted in ostentation and wars.
father Itmad-ud-daulah near Agra. It used semi  There were several methods of revenue collection
precious stones in marbles. This technique was in practice viz. Kankut (estimate), ‘Zabt’ (based
known as Pietra Dura. on the yields of crops).
 During Shahjahan’s reign, the Mughal  Zamindars were hereditary claimants in every
Architecture reached to its zenith. Shahjahan category of land revenue assignment. They
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built Jami Mosque at Ajmer, his father’s collected revenue on behalf of the state and
mausoleum at Lahore and Jama Masjid in Delhi. received assistance called nankar of Malikana.
 Shahjahan also built Shalimar Garden in Kashmir. Sur Dynasty
 Shahjahan also built Taj Mahal (in the memory of
(a) Sher Shah
his wife Mumtaz Mahal) at Agra and Red Fort at Delhi.
 Aurangzeb was not that good in the construction  Sher Shah founded the Sur Dynasty after
of monuments, however he built Moti Masjid at defeating Humayun in 1540 in the Battle of
Delhi and Bibi Ka Maqbara at Aurangabad. Bilgram. He had already defeated Humayun
in the Battle of Chausa in 1539.
Mughal Painting  His original name was Farid and his father
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 The Mughal school of painting began with was a small jagirdar at Jaunpur.
Humayun who became familiar with Persian art  The title of Sher Khan was given to him by
during his exile at Persia. his patron for killing a tiger (Sher).
 Humayun took renowned painters of Persia into  Ibrahim Lodi transferred his father’s Jagir to him.
service. Prominent of them were Sayyid Ali, Abdus  In 1527-28 he joined Babur’s service, and then
Samad, Dost Muhammad and Mir Musavvir. returned to Bihar as deputy governor and
 The Mughals introduced new themes depicting guardian of the minor king Jalal Khan Lohani.
the court, battle scenes and the chase and added In 1530, he usurped the throne as Hazrat-i-Ala.
new colours (peacock blue and Indian red).  He ruled for 5 years only. He died in 1545,
 Jaswant and Daswanth were two famous painters while he was conquering Kalinjar, due to a
of Akbar’s court. blast over there.

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(b) Islam Shah  He built a third road from Lahore to Multan.
 Sher Shah was succeeded by his second son  Some of the finest works in Hindi, such as the
Islam Shah, who ruled till 1553. Padmavat of Malik Muhammad Jayasi, were
 Islam Shah was a capable ruler and general, completed during Sher Shah’s reign.
but most of his energies were occupied with  Sher Shah was not a bigot in the religious sphere,
the rebellions raised by his brothers, and with as is evident from his social and economic policy.
tribal feuds among the Afghans. Neither Islam Shah nor he depended on the
 Islam Shah’s death at a young age led to a Ulema, though they respected them with a great deal.
civil war among the successors.
LATER MUGHALS
 Thus, Humayun got the opportunity, he had been
seeking for recovering his empire in India.
Bahadur Shah I (1707-1712)
 In hotly contested battles in 1555, he defeated

er
the Afghans and recovered Delhi and Agra.  Aurangzeb died in 1707. A war of succession started
amongst his three surviving sons viz. Muzzam the
Sur Administration governor of Kabul, Azam the governor of Gujarat
 Sur Empire was divided into 47 units or sarkars. and Kam Baksh the governor of Bijapur. Muzzam
Sarkars were further subdivided into parganas. defeated Azam and Kam Baksh and ascended the
 In every pargana, there was one amin, one Mughal throne with the title of Bahadur Shah.

ck
shiqdar, one cashier, one writer in Hindi and one  Muzzam pursued pacifist policy and was therefore
in the Persian. also called Shah Bekhaber.
 Shiqdar-i-Shiqdaran was the chief officer of every sarkar.  He also assumed the title of Shah Alam I.
 Every pargana was divided into a number of  He made peace with Guru Gobind Singh and
villages. The important officers of the villages were
Chatrasal. He granted Sardeshmukhi to Marathas
muqaddam, chowdhary and patwari.
and also released Shahu.
 He continued the centr al machinery of
 He forced Ajit Singh to submit but later in 1709,
administration which had developed during the
ra Sultanate period. recognised him as the Rana of Marwar.
 He organised high class espionage system.  He defeated Banda Bahadur at Longarh and
reoccupied Sirhird in 1711.
 The diwani cases were heard by the amins and the
criminal cases were heard by the qazi or Mir-i-Adal. Jahandar Shah (1712-13)
Munshif-i-Munshifan was the Diwani Court.
 Ascended the throne with the aid of Zulfikhar
 All internal customs and duties were abolished.
Khan. His nephew, Farrukh Siyar defeated him.
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Only two duties were levied.
He abolished Jizya.
 Land was measured using the Sikandari-gaz (a
unit of measure introduced by Sikandar Lodi) and Farrukh Siyar (1713-1719)
one third of the average was fixed as tax.
 Ascended the throne with the help of Sayyid
 The peasant was given a patta (title deed) and a
brothers, Abdullah Khan and Hussain Khan who
qabuliyat (deed of agreement) and the taxes were
were Wazir and Mir Bakshi respectively. Farrukh
directly collected.
Siyar was killed by the Sayyid brothers in 1719.
 He planted trees on both sides of the roads and he Banda Bahadur was captured at Gurudaspur and
built Sarais and Guest Houses for the stay of the
executed.
people.These sarais were also functioned as the
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post offices. Mohammad Shah (1719-48)

 He introduced a good system of the post offices.
 During his reign Nadir Shah raided India and took
 He built the fort of Rohtasgarh and the old Delhi fort. away the peacock throne and the Kohinoor
 He also constructed his tomb at Sasaram. diamond.
 Sher Shah Sur took keen interest in the  He was a pleasure loving king and was nick
development of roads. He restored the old imperial named Rangeela.
road called the Grand Trunk Road from the river
 Nizam-ul-mulk was appointed Wazir in 1722 but
Indus in the west to Sonargaon in Bengal.
he relinquished the post and marched to the
 He also built a road from Agra to Jodhpur and Deccan to find the state of Hyderabad.
Chittor evidently linking up with the road to the
 Bengal acquired virtual independence during the
Gujarat seaports.
governorship of Murshid Quli Khan.

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 Saadat Khan Burhan ul-Mulk who was appointed THE MARATHAS
governor of Awadh by him laid down the foundation
of the autonomous state. 1. Shivaji (1627-1680)
Ahmed Shah (1748-1754)  Shivaji was born at Shivner fort to Shahji Bhonste
and Jija Bai.
 During his reign, Ahmed Shah Abdali (one of the  Probably in 1637 or 1638, Shivaji inherited the
ablest generals of Nadir Shah) marched towards paternal jagir of Poona from his father under the
Delhi and the Mughals ceded Punjab and Multan. guardianship of Dadaji Kondadev.
 From 1748 to 1761 Ahmed Shah Abdali attacked  After the death of his guardian Dadaji Kondadev
many times and looted Mathura and Delhi. in 1647, he assumed full charge of his jagir.
 At the age of 18, he conquered Torna fort and built
Alamgir (1754-59) a fort at Raigarh.

er
 During his reign Ahmed Shah Abdali occupied Delhi.  Shivaji initially targetted his campaign against
Later, Delhi was also plundered by the Marathas. the Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur. Then Adil Shah
deputed Afzal Khan to punish Shivaji, but Afzal
Shah Alam II (1759-60) Khan was murdered by Shivaji in 1659.
 Later Shaista Khan, governor of Deccan and
 During his reign Najib Khan Rohhilla became very maternal uncle of Aurangzeb was appointed by
powerful in Delhi so much that Shah Alam II could Aurangzeb to put down the rising power of Shivaji in

ck
not enter Delhi. The Battle of Buxar (1764) was 1660. Shivaji lost Poona and suffered several defeats
fought during his reign. till he made a bold attack on Shaista’s military camp
and plundered Surat (1664) and later Ahmadnagar.
Akbar Shah II (1806-37)  Then Aurangzeb appointed Mirza Raja Jai Sing of
 During his reign Lord Hastings ceased to accept the Amber to put down Shivaji in 1665 and Jai Singh
sovereignty of Mughals and claimed an equal status. succeeded in besieging Shivaji in the fort of Purandar.
Consequently the Treaty of Purandar was signed.
Bahadur Shah II (1837-62)
ra  In 1674, Shivaji was coronated at Raigarh and he
 The last Mughal king, who was confined by the assumed the title of Hindava Dharmodharak (Protector
British to the Red Fort. During the revolt of 1857, of Hinduism) and Chhatrapati. He was blessed by
he was proclaimed the Emperor by the rebellions. Samartha Guru Ramdasa on this occassion.
He was deported to Rangoon following the 1857  Shivaji died in 1680.
rebellion.
Shivaji’s Administration
FOREIGN TRAVELLERS DURING THE MUGHAL
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PERIOD  Shivaji divided his empire into two parts:
(i) Swaraj (own kingdom) or Mulk-e-Qadim (old territory).
Father Anthony Monserate
(ii) Land which was legally a part of Mughal
 He came to the court of Akbar in 1578 and he has empire but paid Chauth to Shivaji.
described the court of Akbar and his character.
 Shivaji divided his territory under his rule (swaraj)
Ralph Fitch into three provinces. Each of the province was
under a Viceroy. The provinces were divided into
 The first British traveller (1588-1591) who gave prants which were subdivided into parganas or
an account of the people of India, their culture tarafs. The lowest unit was village which was
and customs. headed by Headman or Patel.
M

William Hawkins (1608-1613)  Shivaji was helped by the ashtapradhans (eight

ministers) which was unlike a council of ministers,
 He came to the court of Jahangir.
for there was no collective responsibility; each minister
William Finch (1608) was directly responsible to Shivaji.
 He has given an account of Agra, Fatehpur Sikri Shivaji’s Revenue System
and flora and fauna of India.
 It was mostly based on the Malik Amber’s
Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1619) (Ahmadnagar) revenue system.
 He came to the court of Jahangir in 1616 and,  Assessment of land revenue was based on
secured a farman from him. measurement. The kathi was adopted as the unit
of measurement.

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 Chauth was one-fourth of the land revenue paid Madhav Rao 1761-72
to the Marathas so as not to be subjected to Narayan Rao 1772-73
Maratha raids.
Madhav Rao 1773-96
 Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of 10 per
cent on those lands of Maharashtra over which Baji Rao II 1796-1818
the Marathas claimed hereditary rights, but which
formed part of the Mughal empire. THE SIKHS

Peshwas (AD 1719-1818) Ten Sikh Gurus

 Founded by Balaji Vishwanath, who concluded  Nanak (1469-1539) founded Sikh religion.
an agreement with the Sayyid Brothers (the  Angad (1538-1552) invented Gurmukhi.
king makers in history) by which Mughal
 Amardas (1552-1574) struggled against sati
emperor Farukh Siyyar recognized Shahu as the

er
king of Swarajya. system and purdah system and established 22
Gadiyans to propagate religion.
 Baji Rao considered as the “greatest exponent of
guerilla tactics after Shivaji’’; Maratha power  Ramdas (1574-1581) founded Amritsar in 1577.
reached its zenith and system of confederacy Akbar granted the land.
begun; defeated Siddis of Janjira; conquest of  Arjan Dev (1581-1606) founded Swaran Mandir

ck
Bassein and Salsette from Portuguese. (Golden Temple) and composed Adi Granth.
 Balaji Baji Rao known as Nana Sahib; Third Battle  Hargobind Singh (1606-1645) established Akal
of Panipat (AD 1761) between Marathas and Ahmad Takht and fortified Amritsar.
Shah Abdali gave a big jolt to Maratha empire.  Har Rai (1645-1666)
Peshwa Duration  Harkishan (1661 -1664)
Balaji Vishwanath 1719-20  Tegh Bahadur (1664-75)
Balaji Baji Rao I 1720-40 Gobind Singh (1675-1708) was the last Guru who
ra 
founded the Khalsa. After him Sikh guruship ended.
Balaji Baji Rao 1740-61

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ)

PART-I 5. The Dilwara Temple is located (a) Shankaracharya

rC
at– (b) Ramanujacharya
1. Who built the Khajur aho
temples ? (a) Bhubaneswar (c) Bhaskaracharya
(a) Holkars (b) Scindias (b) Aurangabad (d) Madhvacharya
(c) Bundela (d) Chandela (c) Khajuraho (d) Mount Abu 9. The Lingaraja Temple built dur-
2. Arabs were defeated in 738 AD by— 6. Alberuni lived during the period ing the medieval period is at—
of which one of the following?
(a) Pratiharas (b) Rashtrakutas (a) Bhubaneswar
(a) Mahmud Ghaznavi
(c) Palas (d) Chalukyas (b) Khajuraho
(b) Mohammad Ghori
3. Who among the following Rajputa (c) Madurai (d) Mount Abu
M

kings defeated Muhammad Ghori (c) Alauddin Khalji

10. Who fought the battle of
for the first time ? (d) Firuzshah Tughlaq
Waihind (1009 AD) ?
(a) Prithviraj III (b) Baghel Bhim 7. Jaideva, the famous author of 'Gita
Gobinda', was the court poet of– (a) Anandpala and Mahmud
(c) Jaichanda (d) Kumarpal Ghaznavi
4. Who constructed the world famous (a) Harsha
(b) Jayapala and Muhammad
Jagannath Temple at Puri ? (b) Prithviraj Chauhan
Ghori
(a) Krishnavarman (c) Lakshmanasena
(c) Prithviraj Chauhan and
(b) Anantavarman (d) None of these
Muhammad Ghori
(c) Devavarman 8. Who founded four mathas in the
four corners of India ? (d) Jaichanda and Bakhtiyar
(d) None of these Khalji

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11. The temple of Somnath which 20. ________ was one of the famous 29. The Chola period is best known
was destroyed by Mahmud of philosophers and scholars of for which of the following?
Ghazni (Mahmud Ghaznavi) the Pala period. (a) Gram Sabhas (Village As-
was dedicated to Lord— semblies)
(a) Atish Dipankar
(a) Shiva (b) Vishnu (b) War with the Rashtrakutas
(b) Dibyok
(c) Surya (d) Ganapati (c) Ravikirti (d) Aryabhatta (c) Trade with Ceylon
12. In India, the first to put forward (d) Growth of Tamil culture
21. Who wrote 'Ramcharita' ?
the theory that the earth re- 30. Mahabalipuram was estab-
volves round the sun was— (a) Banabhatta (b) Kalidas
lished by the—
(a) Aryabhatta (b) Brahmagupta (c) Sandhyakar Nandi
(a) Pallavas (b) Pandyas
(c) Bana (d) Kalhana (d) Tulsidas
(c) Cholas (d) Chalukyas
13. The Sun Temple of Konark was 22. The Vikramsila Vihara was
31. The famous Idol of Gomteshwar

er
built by Narasimhadeva I. To founded by— and famous Jain temple is situ-
which dynasty he belong to? (a) Mahipala (b) Devapala ated at—
(a) Somvansi dynasty (c) Dharmapala (d) Surapala (a) Hampi
(b) Gang dynasty 23. Who among the following was not (b) Srirangapattam
a part of tripartite struggle ?
(c) Suryavansi dynasty (c) Sravanabelagola
(a) Palas (b) Pratiharas

ck
(d) Bhoj dynasty (d) Mysore
(c) Rashtrakutas
14. Which one of the following is 32. 'Ramayan' the Tamil version of
(d) Cholas the great epic Ramayana was
NOT a feature of North Indian
temple architecture ? 24. Who was the founder of Pala Dy- made by—
nasty ? (a) Kamban (b) Awaiyar
(a) Shikhara (b) Garbha Griha
(c) Gopuram (a) Dharmapala (c) Ilango Adigal (d) None of these
(d) Pradakshina-path (b) Deopala 33. The two kingdoms established
ra
15. Who among the following is well (c) Gopala (d) Rampala by the Indians in Indo- China
included—
known for his contribution in 25. Which of the following was NOT
one of the titles assumed by the (a) Champa and Kamboja
the field of Algebra ?
Chola king Rajendra ? (b) Champa and Srivijaya
(a) Aryabhatta (b) Brahmagupta
(a) Tyagasamudra (c) Srivijaya and Kamboja
(c) Bhaskara (d) Lalla
(b) Gangaikonda (d) Svarnbhumi and Champa
16. The presiding deity of Bhojshala
rC
(c) Mudikonda 34. The famous Kailasha Nath
Temple is—
Temple, cut out of solid rock at
(a) Goddess Durga (d) Pandita Chola Ellora, was built under the pa-
(b) Goddess Laxmi 26. Rath temples at Mahabalipuram tronage of the—
(c) Goddess Saraswati were built in the reign of which (a) Cholas (b) Kadambas
Pallava ruler ? (c) Pallavas (d) Rashtrakutas
(d) Goddess Parvati
(a) Mahendravarman 35. Who destroyed the Empire of
17. Vikramsila Mahavihara was
established by the ruler of- (b) Narasinghvarman I Chalukyas of Badami?
(a) Pushyabhuti Dynasty (c) Parameshwarvarman (a) Cholas (b) Pallavas
(b) Barman Dynasty (d) Nandivarman I (c) Pandyas (d) Rashtrakutas
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(c) Sen Dynasty 36. Which one among the following

27. Which one of the following religions was patronised by
(d) Pal Dynasty Chola kings conquered Ceylon Rashtrakutas ?
18. ‘Daskumar Charitam’ was com- (Sinhal) first ? (a) Jainism (b) Buddhism
posed by— (a) Aditya I (b) Rajaraja I (c) Saivism (d) Vaishnavism
(a) Surdas (b) Dandin (c) Rajendra (d) Vijayalaya 37. The famous battle of Takkolam of
(c) Tulsidas (d) Kalidas South India was fought between—
28. The seven pagodas of
19. The Laxman Era was started (in Mahabalipuram are a witness (a) Cholas and North Chalukyas
1119 AD) by which of the follow- to the art patronised by the— (b) Cholas and Rashtrakutas
ing dynasty ?
(a) Pallavas (b) Pandyas (c) Cholas and Hoyasals
(a) Pratiharas (b) Palas
(c) Chauhans (d) Sens (c) Cholas (d) Cheras (d) Cholas and Pandyas

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38. The South Indian state which was PART-II 10. Mohammad - bin - Tughlaq
famous for its naval power was— changed his capital from Delhi to
1. Where did the traveller Ibn
Deogiri because he wanted to—
(a) Chalukyas (b) Cholas Batuta come from?
(a) improve trade in the Deccan
(c) Hoyasalas (d) Pandyas (a) Morocco (b) Persia
(b) spread Islam in the Deccan
(c) Turkey (d) Central Asia
39. Adi Shankaracharya estab- (c) punish the people of Delhi
2. Mohammad -bin -Tughlaq was
lished four mathas. These (d) escape from the Mongol inva-
proficient in—
mathas are situated at— sion
(a) Art (b) Music
11. The contemporary chronicle of
(a) Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, (c) Calligraphy (d) Philosophy Sayyid period is—
Sringeri 3. The Khalji Sultans of Delhi were— (a) Tarikh-i-Mubaraqshahi
(b) Sringeri, Dwarka, Badrinath, (a) Mongols (b) Afghans (b) Waqiat-i-Mushtaqi

er
Prayag (c) Turks (d) A Jat tribe (c) Futuh-us-Salatin
4. The Sultan who described him- (d) Masalik-ul-Absar
(c) Dwarka, Badrinath, Prayag, self as Sikandar-i-Sani (The
Sringeri 12. Amir Khusrau was a famous
Second Alexander) was—
court poet of—
(d) Puri, Sringeri, Dwarka, Varanasi (a) Balban
(a) Akbar
40. Who among the following Chola (b) Alauddin Khalji
(b) Alauddin Khalji

ck
(c) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
rulers converted the Bay of (c) Mahmud Ghazanvi
(d) Sikandar Lodi
Bengal into a 'Chola lake' ? (d) None of these
5. Ibn Batuta visited India during
(a) Rajraja I (b) Rajendra I the reign of— 13. Alauddin Khalji captured the
Delhi throne after securing
(c) Adhiraj (d) Kulottung (a) lltutmish (b) Alauddin Khalji
fabulous wealth from—
41. Who was the Chola King to have (c) Balban
(a) Chanderi (b) Gujarat
conquered Bengal? (d) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
(c) Deogiri (d) Madurai
ra (a) Rajraja (b) Rajendra I
6. The Qutub Minar was com-
14. Who of the following was a con-
pleted by the famous ruler—
(c) Rajendra II (d) Rajadhiraj (a) Qutubuddin Aibak temporary of Chingiz Khan?
(b) lltutmish (a) Mahmud Ghazanvi
42. Which one of the Chola Kings
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq (b) Iltutmish
conquered Ceylon ?
(d) Alauddin Khalji , (c) Alauddin Khalji
(a) Aditya I (b) Rajadhiraj
7. Which of the following are cor- (d) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
rC
(c) Rajendra I (d) Vijayalaya rectly matched ? 15. Who among the following laid the
Persons Events foundation of Rashtrakuta Empire?
1. Sultan Mahmud Sack of Somnath (a) Dantidurga
Answer Key 2. Mohammad Ghori Conquest of (b) Amoghvarsha I
1. (d) 15. (c) 29. (a) South Sindh
(c) Dhruva
3. Alauddin Khalji Revolt in Bengal
2. (a) 16. (c) 30. (c) (d) Krishna I
4. Mohammad-bin Chingiz Khan's
3. (a) 17. (d) 31. (c) 16. Who among the following Delhi
-Tughlaq invasion
4. (b) 18. (b) 32. (a) Sultans is known for introducing
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only
5. (d) 19. (d) 33. (a) market control mechanism ?
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(c) 1 only (d) 2 and 4

6. (a) 20. (a) 34. (d) (a) Iltutmish (b) Balban
8. The Lodi dynasty was founded
7. (c) 21. (c) 35. (d) by— (c) Alauddin Khalji
8. (a) 22. (d) 36. (a) (a) Ibrahim Lodi (d) Firozshah Tughlaq
9. (a) 23. (d) 37. (b) (b) Sikandar Lodi 17. Who was the Delhi Sultan
(c) Bahlol Lodi (d) Khizr Khan when the threat of invasion by
10. (a) 24. (c) 38. (b)
9. Yahya bin Ahmed Sirhindi, the au- Mongols under Chingiz Khan
11. (a) 25. (a) 39. (a) loomed over India?
thor of 'Tarikh - i - Mubaraqshahi'
12. (a) 26. (b) 40. (b) (a) Iltutmish (b) Balban
lived in the period of—
13. (b) 27. (b) 41. (b) (c) Jalaluddin Khalji
(a) Khalji (b) Tughlaq
14. (c) 28. (a) 42. (c) (c) Sayyid (d) Lodi (d) Alauddin Khalji

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18. During the reign of Alauddin (a) Firoz Tughlaq 32. Which one of the following dy-
Khalji, who were Amils? (b) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq nasties ruled over India after
(a) Government agents to col- the invasion of Timur ?
(c) Khizr Khan
lect land revenue
(d) Sikandar Lodi (a) Lodi dynasty
(b) Local landlords at village
level 25. Who among the following ap- (b) Sayyid dynasty
(c) Khurasani and Multani trad- pointed Ibn Batuta as the Chief (c) Tughlaq dynasty
ers of food-grains Qazi of Delhi ?
(d) Khalji dynasty
(d) Banjaras who carried the food- (a) Ghiyasuddin Balban
33. Which of the following Sultans
grains from village to towns (b) Alauddin Khalji had greatest number of slaves
19. Who among the following was (c) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in his court ?
the author of ‘Tarikh-i-Alai’, (d) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq (a) Balban (b) Alauddin Khalji
which contains the details of

er
26. Who among the following was (c) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
first few years of Sultan
NOT a noble under Alauddin (d) Firoz Tughlaq
Alauddin Khalji ?
Khalji ?
(a) Ziauddin Barani 34. Which of the following Sultans pro-
(a) Amirmulk Multani
(b) Shams Siraj Afif vided employment to unemployed?
(c) Amir Khusrau (b) Zafar Khan
(a) Alauddin Khalji
(c) Nusrat Khan

ck
(d) Yahiya - bin - Ahmed (b) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
20. Who among the following was (d) Munim Khan
(c) Firoz Tughlaq
the first Muslim Military Com- 27. Malik Kafur was whose General ?
mander who annexed Bihar and (d) Sher Shah Suri
(a) Balban (b) Alauddin Khalji
Bengal by overthrowing the 35. ‘When he attained kingship, he
(c) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
Sena dynasty ? was quite independent of rules and
(a) Mahmud Gawan (d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
orders of Shanat’. For which Sul-
(b) Bakhtiyar Khalji 28. In medieval India, what did the tan Barani made this statement?
ra(c) Adil Shah (d) Shamsuddin term Jital refer to?
(a) Iltutmish (b) Balban
21. Who among the following sul- (a) Weight (b) Diet
(c) Alauddin Khalji
tans was advised by Qazi (c) Coin (d) Game
Mughisuddin to act according to (d) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
29. With reference to Delhi Sultan-
the laws of Shariat, but the ate, who was the founder of 36. In the Sultanate period, the
Sultan rejected his advice ? Sayyid Dynasty? highest rural authority for land
(a) Alauddin Khalji revenue was—
(a) Khizr Khan
rC
(b) Jalaluddin Khalji (a) Chowdhary (b) Rawat
(b) Mubarak Shah
(c) Mohammad - bin - Tughlaq (c) Malik (d) Patwari
(c) Muhammad Shah
(d) Firoz Tughlaq 37. Who was the first ruler of the
(d) Alauddin Alam Shah Slave dynasty?
22. The medieval ruler who was
30. Which of the following Sultans (a) Qutubuddin Aibak
the first to establish a minis-
founded a town where now (b) Iltutmish
try of agriculture (Diwan -i-
Kohi) was— stands Agra ?
(c) Razia (d) Balban
(a) Alauddin Khalji (a) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
38. Who was the ruler of Deogiri at
(b) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq (b) Firoz Tughlaq the time of Alauddin Khalji’s
M

(c) Bahlol Lodi invasion ?

(c) Sher Shah (d) Akbar
(d) Sikandar Lodi (a) Ramchandra Dev
23. In the Delhi Sultanate, an ad-
ministrative unit called (b) Prataprudra Dev
31. Which one of the following Sul-
Paragana was headed by an of- tans of Delhi introduced mea- (c) Malik Kafur
ficial known as— sures for improving the quality (d) Rana Ratan Singh
(a) Shiqdar (b) Barid of fruits? 39. Which of the following Sultans
of Delhi was known as Lakh
(c) Ariz (d) Amil (a) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq Bakhsh (giver of Lakhs) ?
24. Who among the following Sultans (b) Firoz Tughlaq (a) Iltutmish (b) Balban
of Delhi had accepted the suzerainty (c) Sikandar Lodi (c) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
of the Timurid ruler Mirza Shah
Rukh ? (d) Sher Shah Suri (d) Qutubuddin Aibak

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40. M o h a m m a d - b i n - T u g h l a q (a) lltutmish (b) Balban 5. The Bahmanis of the Deccan
shifted his capital from Delhi (c) Alauddin Khalji rose to prominence in which of
to— (d) Firoz Tughlaq the following centuries ?
(a) Daulatabad (b) Kalinjar (a) 13th century (b) 14th century
(c) Kannauj (d) Lahore Answer Key (c) 15th century (d) 16th century
41. Timur, the Lame invaded India 1. (a) 17. (a) 33. (d) 6. The most important cause of
during the reign of— 2. (c) 18. (a) 34. (c) the downfall of the Vijayanagar
(a) Alauddin Khalji empire was—
3. (c) 19. (c) 35. (c)
(b) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq (a) Rivalries within the empire
4. (b) 20. (b) 35. (a)
(c) Firoz Tughlaq (b) Unity among the Muslim
5. (d) 21. (a) 37. (a) rulers of Bijapur, Golconda
(d) Muhammad Shah Tughlaq
6. (b) 22. (b) 38. (a) and Ahmednagar
42. Who was the first Muslim ruler

er
of Delhi ? 7. (a) 23. (d) 39. (d) (c) Rebellion of t he Hindu
8. (c) 24. (c) 40. (a) feudatories
(a) Qutubuddin Aibak
(b) Iltutmish 9. (c) 25. (d) 41. (d) (d) Weak successors of Krishnadeva
Raya
(c) Razia (d) Balban 10. (d) 26. (d) 42. (a)
7. 'Taraf' in the Bahmani King-
43. Who amongst the following Sul- 11. (a) 27. (b) 43. (c)
dom signfied—
tans built the fifth storeys of

ck
12. (b) 28. (c) 44. (c)
Qutub Minar ? (a) Province (b) Land grant
13. (c) 29. (a) 45. (a)
(a) Qutubuddin Aibak (c) Transit tax (d) Gold coin
14. (b) 30. (d) 46. (a)
(b) Iltutmish 8. When Babur invaded India who
15. (a) 31. (b) 47. (a)
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq was the ruler of Vijayanagara
16. (c) 32. (b) 48. (d) empire in south India ?
(d) Sikandar Lodi
44. Which one of the following rul- (a) Saluva Narasimha
PART-III
ra ers from Central Asia con-
1. Who got the monumental
(b) Devaraya II
quered North India in 1192 ? (c) Krishnadeva Raya
Rayagopurams in front of the
(a) Jalaluddin Mangbami temples at Hampi, Tiruvannamalai, (d) Sadashiva Raya
(b) Mahmud Ghazanvi Chidambaram, Sri Rangam, 9. Which one of the following re-
(c) Shihabuddin Muhammad Tirupati etc constructed? gions was NOT the bone of con-
Gori (a) Vidyaranya tent ion between the
(b) Krishnadeva Raya
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(d) Chingiz Khan Vijayanagar rulers and the
45. Who of the following was the (c) Harihara (d) Rajaraja Bahmani sultans ?
first woman ruler of medieval 2. The rulers of Vijayanagar pro- (a) Krishna-Godavari delta
India ? moted—
(b) Marathwada country
(a) Razia Sultan (a) Hindi, Marathi and Sanskrit
(c) Tungbhadra country
(b) Chand Bibi (b) Malayalam, Tamil and Sanskrit
(c) Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit (d) Warangal
(c) Durgavati (d) Noorjahan
(d) Telugu, Urdu and Sanskrit 10. The Nayakas in the
46. Who among the following wit-
nessed the reign of seven Sul- 3. Who among the follow ing Vijayanagar empire were—
Bahmani rulers built the fa- (a) Central ministers
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tans of Delhi ?
mous Gol Gumbaj at Bijapur ? (b) Military chiefs controlling
(a) Amir Khusrau
(a) Muhammd Adil Shah particular territories
(b) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
(b) Mahmud Gawan
(c) Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti (c) Cavalry soldiers
(c) Yusuf Adil Shah
(d) None of these (d) Priests of large and power-
(d) Ismail Adil Shah
47. Amir Khusrau, the 'Parrot of ful temples
4. Bijapur is known for its—
India', was born at— 11. When Harihara and Bukka set
(a) Heavy rainfall
(a) Patiali (b) Patti up a principality in the South
(c) Patli (d) Patiala (b) Rock temple
India, which lat er became
48. Delhi Sultan who wrote his (c) Gol Gumbaj Vijayanagar Empire, who was
memoir was— (d) Statue of Gomateshwara the Delhi Sultan ?

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(a) Jalaluddin Khalji List-I List-II 27. The founder of the Bahmani
(b) Alauddin Khalji A. Adil Shahi 1. Ahmednagar Kingdom was—
(c) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq B. Qutub Shahi 2. Bijapur (a) Alauddin Mujahid Shah
(d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq C. Nizam Shahi 3. Golconda (b) Ahmed Shah
12. The first dynasty of the D. Imad Shahi 4. Berar (c) Alauddin Bahaman Shah
Vijayanagar kingdom was— Codes: A B C D (d) Tajuddin Firoz Shah
(a) Sangama (b) Tuluva (a) 1 2 3 4 28. Name the Bengali poet who was
(c) Saluva (d) Hoyasala (b) 2 3 4 1 conferred with the title Gunraj
13. Which one of the following pairs (c) 3 4 1 2 Khan in the Sultanate period ?
is NOT correctly matched? (d) 2 3 1 4 (a) Jnaandas (b) Gobindadasa
(a) Hoysalas Dwarasamudra

er
20. The city of Jaunpur was founded (c) Maladhar Basu
(b) Pallavas Vatapi in the memory of— (d) Chandi Das
(c) Pandyas Madurai (a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq 29. Which one of the following Mus-
(d) Yadavas Devagiri (b) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq lim rulers was hailed as the
14. Which region of India was ruled (c) Firoz Tughlaq Jagadguru by his Muslim sub-
by Sultan Zainul Abidin ? jects because of his belief in
(d) Akbar

ck
(a) Assam (b) Delhi secularism ?
21. The Bahmani Kingdom was
(c) Kashmir (d) Orissa founded in the year— (a) Husain Shah
15. Which one of the following was (a) 1336 (b) 1338 (b) Zainul Abidin
the capital of Hoyasalas? (c) Ibrahim Adil Shah II
(c) 1347 (d) 1361
(a) Malkhed (d) Mahmud II
22. The kingdom of Vijayanagar
(b) Dwarasamudra was founded by— 30. Hoysala monuments are found
ra(c) Somnathpur (a) Vijaya Raja in—
(d) Badami (b) Harihara II (a) Hampi and Hospet
16. 'A Forgotten Empire', written by (c) Harihara and Bukka (b) Halebid and Belur
the renowned historian Robert (c) Mysore and Bangalore
(d) Bukka II
Swell is about which one of the (d) Sringeri and Dharwar
23. Sufi Kalam, a type of devotional
following empires ?
music, is the characteristic of— 31. When Raja Wodeyar founded the
rC
(a) Mauryan Empire kingdom of Mysore, who was the
(a) Gujarat (b) Rajasthan
(b) Kushan Empire ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire?
(c) Kashmir (d) None of these
(c) Vijayanagar Empire (a) Sadasiva (b) Tirumala
24. Which ruler of Vijayanagar had
(d) Mughal Empire (c) Ranga II (d) Venkata II
sent his embassy to the em-
17. What is the meaning of ‘Athavana’ ? peror of China ? 32. Where is the famous Vijaya
(a) Revenue department (a) Harihara I (b) Bukka I Vithala Temple, having its 56
(b) Revenue (c) Krishnadeva Raya carved pillars emitting musical
(c) Import tax (d) Trade tax notes located?
(d) Suluva Narsimha
(a) Belur
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18. Who were the ashta-diggajas in 25. Who was given the title of
the court of Krishnadeva Raya ? Andhra-Kavita-Pitamaha? (b) Bhadrachalam
(a) Eight ministers (a) Sayan (b) Madhav (c) Hampi
(b) Eight Telugu poets (c) Srinath (d) Peddana (d) Srirangam
(c) Eight great generals 26. Who was called the Akbar of 33. Where is the famous
(d) Eight advisors Kashmir ? Virupaksha Temple located ?
19. Match List-I (Dynasty) with List- (a) Zainul Abidin (a) Bhadrachalam
II (Capital) and select the cor- (b) Hussain Shah (b) Chidambaram
rect answer from the codes
(c) Balban (c) Hampi
given below:
(d) Sujauddaulla (d) Srikalahasti

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Answer Key 6. Which one is NOT situated at 14. Who among the following was an
Fatehpur Sikri ? illiterate ?
1. (b) 12. (a) 23. (c)
(a) The Panch Mahal (a) Jahangir (b) Shahjahan
2. (c) 13. (b) 24. (b)
(b) Moti Masjid (c) Akbar (d) Aurangzeb
3. (a) 14. (c) 25. (d) (c) Tomb of Salim Chisti 15. The first Indian Hindi scholar
4. (c) 15. (b) 26. (a) (d) The Mariam Palace of the Mughal period was—
5. (b) 16. (c) 27. (c) 7. The original name of Tansen, (a) Malik Muhammad Jayasi
6. (b) 17. (a) 28. (c) the most famous musician at (b) Abdur Rahim
7. (a) 18. (b) 29. (c) the court of Akbar was—
(c) Mulla Wajhi
8. (c) 19. (d) 30. (b) (a) Lal Kalawant (d) Chandbardai
9. (d) 20. (b) 31. (d) (b) Banda Bahadur 16. Which one of the following

er
10. (b) 21. (c) 32. (c) (c) Ramtanu Pande terms is NOT associated with
11. (c) 22. (c) 33. (c) (d) Markandey Pande the Mughals ?
8. Where did Babur die ? (a) Dam (b) Jagir
PART-IV (a) Agra (b) Kabul (c) Jital (d) Mansab
1. Who is believed to have created (c) Lahore (d) Delhi 17. Who among the following was
the raga Miyan Ki Malhar? 9. Which of the undermentioned facts defeated by Babur in the first

ck
(a) Tansen about Taj Mahal is NOT correct ? Battle of Panipat ?
(b) Baiju Bawara (a) It is a magnificent mausoleum (a) Bahlol Lodi
(c) Amir Khusrau (b) It was built by Shahjahan (b) Daulat Khan Lodi
(d) Swami Haridasa (c) It is situated outside Agra Fort (c) Ibrahim Lodi
(d) The names of artisans who (d) Sikandar Lodi
2. Mughal presence in the Red
built it are engraved on it 18. Mughal painting flourished dur-
Fort ceased with the fall of—
10. Between which two rulers was the ing the reign of—
ra (a) Aurangzeb
First Battle of Panipat fought ? (a) Akbar (b) Jahangir
(b) Muhammad Shah (a) Akbar and Bahlol Lodi (c) Shahjahan (d) Aurangzeb
(c) Shah Alam (b) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi 19. Revenue system during
(d) Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' (c) Bairam Khan and Sikandar Lodi Akbar's reign was in the hands
3. The world famous Takht-i - (d) Shahjahan and Daulat of—
Taus (the Peacock Throne) was Khan Lodi (a) Bairam Khan (b) Man Singh
rC
kept in which of the following 11. Who is the author of 'Ain -i - Akbari' ? (c) Birbal (d) Todarmal
Mughal buildings ? (a) Abul Fazl 20. Which of the following Mughal
(a) The Diwan - i - Khas at (b) Abdus Samad painters according to Abul Fazl was
Fatehpur Sikri
(c) Bairam Khan excellent in drawing of features ?
(b) Agra Fort (d) Raja Todarmal (a) Abdus Samad
(c) The Rang Mahal at the Red 12. Din-e-llahi of Akbar was not a (b) Behjad
Fort at Delhi success because— (c) Mir Saiyad Ali
(d) The Diwan - i - Am at the (a) After Akbar, it was not pa- (d) Basawan
Red Fort at Delhi tronized
21. Dara Shikoh finally lost the war
4. The famous Kohinoor diamond
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(b) The Muslims did not accept of succession to Aurangzeb in

was produced from one of the other religious practices the battle of—
mines in— (c) It was not suitably projected (a) Dharmat (b) Samugarh
(a) Orissa (b) Chhotanagpur to the masses
(c) Deorai (d) Khanua
(c) Bijapur (d) Golconda (d) All the above
22. Who among the following Indian
5. A renowned Jain scholar who 13. Bahadur Shah was— rulers was a contemporary of Akbar?
was greatly honoured by Akbar (a) last ruler of the Lodis
was— (a) Rani Durgawati
(b) last Mughal ruler
(a) Hemchandra (b) Ahilya Bai
(c) successor of Shershah
(b) Harivijaya (d) successor of the Maratha (c) Martanda Varma
(c) Vastupala (d) Bhadrabahu ruler Shivaji (d) Sawai Jai Singh

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23. During the reign of Akbar, the Codes: A B C D 35. The Mughal Empire extended
role of an official called (a) 4 1 3 2 upto Tamil territory in the
Amalguzar was— south under the reign of—
(b) 1 4 2 3
(a) To be in-charge of law and (a) Akbar (b) Aurangzeb
(c) 1 4 3 2
order (c) Jahangir (d) Shahjahan
(d) 4 1 2 3
(b) To make an assessment
29. Tulsidas composed his 'Ramcharita-
and collection of land revenue Answer Key
manasa' in the reign of-
(c) To be in-charge of imperial 1. (a) 13. (b) 25. (c)
household (a) Babur (b) Akbar
2. (d) 14. (c) 26. (d)
(d) To maintain the royal trea- (c) Aurangzeb
3. (d) 15. (b) 27. (b)

er
sury (d) Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' 4. (d) 16. (c) 28. (d)
24. The Moti Masjid in Agra was built 30. At the time when Nadir Shah 5. (b) 17. (c) 29. (b)
during the reign of— attacked Delhi, the Mughal 6. (b) 18. (b) 30. (c)
(a) Humayun (b) Shahjahan emperor was— 7. (c) 19. (d) 31. (c)
(c) Aurangzeb (d) Shah Alam II (a) Ahmad Shah 8. (a) 20. (d) 32. (a)

ck
25. Which one of the following ter- (b) Bahadur Shah 9. (d) 21. (b) 33. (c)
ritories was outside the bound- (c) Muhammad Shah 10. (b) 22. (a) 34. (d)
aries of the Mughal Empire dur- (d) Shah Alam II 11. (a) 23. (b) 35. (b)
ing the reign of Akbar ? 31. Mughal dynasty was to Bahadur 12. (d) 24. (b)
(a) Khandesh (b) Kabul Shah 'Zafar' as Lodi dynasty was
(c) Bijapur (d) Kashmir to— PART-V
(a) Bahlol Lodi 1. In Shivaji's council of minis-
ra
26. Which of the following Mughal
ters the Prime Minister was
emperors spent a greater part (b) Daulat Khan Lodi
called—
of his reign to overthrow the (c) Ibrahim Lodi (a) Peshwa (b) Sachiv
Deccan Kingdoms ? (d) Sikandar Lodi (c) Mantri (d) Sumanta
(a) Akbar (b) Jahangir 32. The Battle of Khanwa in 1527 was 2. Match List-I with List-II and se-
(c) Shahjahan (d) Aurangzeb fought between— lect the correct answer by using
rC
27. Between whom was the battle the codes given below the Lists—
(a) Babur and Rana Sanga
of Chausa fought ? List-I List-II
(b) Ibrahim Lodi and Rana Sanga
(Kingdom) (Territory)
(a) Bahadur Shah of Gujarat (c) Humayun and Sher Shah
and Humayun A. Peshwas 1. Nagpur
(d) Humayun and Nusrat Shah B. Gaekwads 2. Pune
(b) Humayun and Sher Khan
(c) Akbar and Rana Pratap 33. Which one of the following struc- C. Bhonsles 3. Indore
(d) Jahangir and Rana Amar tures was constructed by Emperor D. Holkars 4. Baroda
Singh Akbar in Fatehpur Sikri ? Codes: A B C D
28. Match List-I with List-II and se- (a) Moti Mahal (b) Rang Mahal (a) 2 4 1 3
M

lect the correct answer using the (b) 1 3 2 4

(c) Panch Mahal
codes given below the Lists :
(c) 2 4 3 1
List-I (Name) List-II (Work) (d) Hira Mahal
(d) 4 3 2 1
A. Abdul Hamid 1. Akbarnama 34. Who among the following Later
3. Shivaji was crowned in the
Lahori Mughal Emperors had the long- year—
B. Abul Fazl 2. Muntakhab-ut- est regin? (a) 1664 (b) 1666
Tawarikh (a) Bahadur Shah (c) 1670 (d) 1674
C. Badauni 3. Tabqat-i-Akbari (b) Jahandar Shah 4. Shivaji died in the year—
D. Nizamuddin 4. Badshahnama (c) Farrukhsiyar (a) 1676 (b) 1677
Ahmed (c) 1678 (d) 1680
(d) Muhammad Shah

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5. Aurangzeb failed to defeat 11. Who among the following finally (a) Raja Ram
Shivaji because the— removed the Maratha Peshwa (b) Balaji Vishwanath
(a) Mughal army grew unman- from his position, captured his (c) Ganga Bai
territories and sent him off to (d) Nanaji Deshmukh
ageable
a distant place ?
(b) Marathas were expert in 19. What was the immediate cause
(a) Wellesley (b) Cornwallis for Ahmed Shah Abdali to invade
Guerilla warfare (c) Dalhousie (d) Hastings and fight the Third Battle of
(c) Mughals had no navy 12. The third Battle of Panipat was Panipat?
(d) Mughal generals were fought between— (a) He wanted to avenge the expul-
treacherous (a) Hemu and Akbar sion by Marathas of his viceroy
Timur Shah from Lahore
6. Who among the follow ing (b) Humayun and Shershah
(b) The frustrated governor of
Peshwas was popularly known (c) Maratha and Ahmed Shah Jullundhar Adina Beg Khan

er
as Nana Saheb ? Abdali invited him to invade Punjab.
(a) Balaji Vishwanath (d) Nadir Shah and Mughals (c) He wanted to punish Mughal
(b) Baji Rao 13. Arrange the following in the correct administration for non-payment
chronological order— of the revenues of the Chahar
(c) Balaji Baji Rao Mahal (Gujarat, Aurangabad,
1. Chhatrapati Sahuji
(d) Madhav Rao I Sialkot and Pasrur).
2. Rajaram

ck
7. Ashtapradhana was the official (d) He wanted to annex all the
3. Shambhaji
council of— fertile plains of Punjab upto
4. Shivaji II
(a) Harihara I the borders of Delhi to his
Select the correct answer from the
(b) Krishnadeva Raya codes given below: kingdom
(c) Shivaji Codes: 20. Ghazni was a small principal-
(a) 3-2-1-4 (b) 3-2-4-1 ity in
(d) Balaji Baji Rao
(c) 2-3-1-4 (d) 1-3-2-4 (a) Mongolia (b) Turkey
8.
ra In medieval India, during the
14. Shivaji defeated the Mughals (c) Persia (d) Afghanistan
reign of Shivaji, the role of the
official called Chitnis was to— in the battle of— 21. Who was the author of Kitab-ul-
(a) Purandhar (b) Raigarh Hind?
(a) be the in - charge of King's
(c) Salhar (d) Shivner (a) Abu Said (b) Abul Fazl
personal security guard
15. Who among the following Maratha
(b) be the in - charge of intelli- (c) Firdausi (d) Al-Beruni
women led struggles against the
rC
gence/espionage activity Mughal Empire from 1700 AD on- 22. Who is known as the "slave of a
(c) be the matter of ceremonies wards? slave”?
in the royal court (a) Ahalya Bai (b) Mukta Bai (a) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
(d) be assisting the king with (c) Tara Bai (d) Rukmini Bai (b) Mahmud of Ghazni
his correspondence 16. Who was called ’Chanakya of
(c) Iltutmish
9. The treaty of Bassein (1802) was Maratha Politics' ?
(a) Baji Rao II (d) Qutbuddin Aibak
signed with the British by
(b) Balaji Vishwanath 23. Who was the first Sultan of Delhi to
Peshwa—
(c) Nana Pharnabis issue regular currency and to
(a) Madhav Rao
declare Delhi as the capital of his
M

(d) Mahadji Scindia

(b) Balaji Baji Rao empire?
17. Who among t he Mar atha
(c) Baji Rao I (d) Baji Rao II Peshwa followed the ideal of (a) Balban (b) Aram Shah
10. Between whom was the treaty Hindu Pada - Padshahi ? (c) Nasiruddin Mahmud
of Purandhar in 1776 made? (a) Baji Rao
(d) Iltutmish
(a) English and Nizam of (b) Balaji Vishwanath
Hyderabad 24. Who among the following came
(c) Narayana Rao
to India at the instance of Sul-
(b) Marathas and Portuguese (d) Madhav Rao
tan Mahmud of Ghazni?
(c) Marathas and English 18. Who among the following
streamlined the Maratha ad- (a) Al-Masudi (b) Al-Beruni
(d) English and Sultan of
ministration after Shambhaji ? (c) Sulaiman (d) Abdul Haq
Mysore

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25. Which Sultan of Delhi died while 31. What is meant by “The Forty”? 36. Which one of the following state-
playing the chaugan (polo)? (a) The cream of Afghan nobles ments is not correct?
(a) Qutbuddin Aibak (b) The pick of the intellectu- (a) Krishnadeva Raya wrote
als among the Khaljis Amuktamalyada.
(b) Ghiyasuddin Balban
(c) The select body of the Turk- (b) He was the founder of the
(c) Shamsuddin Iltutmish
Tuluva dynasty.
(d) Nasiruddin Mahmud ish aristocracy
(c) His court was adorned by the
(d) The Ulema or the Muslim
26. The most learned medieval Ashtadiggajas.
divines
Muslim ruler who was well (d) He maintained friendly rela-
versed in various branches of 32. What was the most important tions with the Portuguese.
learning including astronomy, cause of the invasion of 37. Match List-I (Names of rulers)
mathematics and medicine was Mahmud of Ghazni? with List-II (Dynasties to which

er
(a) To destroy idolatry they belonged) and select the
(a) Sikandar Lodi correct answer from the codes
(b) Iltutmish (b) To gain possession of the given below the lists:
wealth of India
(c) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq List-I List-II
(c) To spread Islam into India A. Kaikubad 1. Slave dynasty
(d) Alauddin Khalji
(d) To establish a Muslim State B. Qutbuddin 2. Khalji
27. The largest standing army of the

ck
in India Mubarak
Delhi Sultanate directly paid by
the State was created by– 33. Match List-I (Books) with List- C. Ibrahim 3. Lodi
II (Authors) and select the cor- D. Muizuddin 4. Sayyid
(a) Balban (b) Iltutmish
rect answer from the codes Mubarak
(c) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
given below the lists:
(d) Alauddin Khalji Codes: A B C D
List-I List-II (a) 2 3 4 1
28. Which one of the following is
A. Kitab-ul-Hind 1. Vijanesvara (b) 1 2 3 4
not correctly matched?.
ra(a) Qutbuddin _______ Adhai din B. Amuktamalyada 2. Ziauddin (c) 3 4 1 2
ka Jhompra Barani (d) 4 1 2 3
(b) Iltutmish _______ Qutab Minar C. Tarikh-i-Firuz 3. Krishnadeva 38. What was the unique system
(c) Alauddin _______ Hauz-i-Khas Shahi Raya developed by the Mughals?
(d) Firoz Tughlaq _______ Tughlaq- D. Mitakshara 4. Al-Beruni (a) Centralised autocracy
abad Codes: A B C D (b) Ryotwari settlement
rC
29. What is the correct chronological (a) 3 4 2 1 (c) Mansabdari system
sequence of the following rulers? (b) 2 3 4 1 (d) Local responsibilities for
1. Muizuddin Bahram Shah (c) 4 3 2 1 crime detection
2. Iltutmish (d) 1 2 3 4 39. The Buland Darwaza was built
3. Raziya to mark Akbar’s conquest of–
34. Which is the correct chrono-
4. Rukhnuddin Firoz (a) Awadh (b) Malwa
logical sequence of the follow-
Select the correct answer using ing Sayyid rulers of Delhi? (c) Gujarat (d) Chittor
the codes given below:– 1. Muhammad Shah 40. Match List-I with List-II and
select the correct answer from
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (b) 2, 4, 3, 1 2. Alauddin Alam Shah the codes given below the lists:
M

(c) 3, 2, 4, 1 (d) 4, 3, 1, 2 3. Mubarak Shah List-I List-II

30. Among the following was the 4. Khizr Khan A. Ulema 1. Gentlemen-
most appropriate cause for the Select the correct answer us- troopers
failure of Raziya– ing the codes given below: B. Mir Bakshi 2. Muslim theo-
(a) Her sex (a) 1,2, 3, 4 (b) 4, 3, 1,2 logians
(b) Her intention to be the ruler (c) 4, 1,2, 3 (d) 4, 2, 3, 1 C. Ahadis 3. A system of
35. Who is the author of “Shahnama”? revenue as-
not only in name but also in fact
sessment
(c) Her unpopularity with the (a) Utbi (b) Firdausi
D. Kankut 4. Head of the
people of Delhi (c) Hasan Nizami military de-
(d) Her incompetence (d) Al-Beruni partment

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Codes: A B C D (b) Alauddin Khalji (a) Jahandar Shah
(a) 2 4 1 3 (c) Akbar (b) Muhammad Shah
(b) 2 1 4 3 (d) Krishnadeva Raya (c) Shah Alam-I
(c) 1 3 4 2 50. Which of the following revolts (d) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(d) 2 1 3 4 during Aurangzeb’s period had 55. Abdul Hamid Lahori is the au-
a peasant agrar ian back- thor of–
41. Purana Quila at Delhi was built ground? The revolt of the–
by– (a) Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh
(a) Rajputs (b) Padshah Nama
(a) Akbar (b) Sher Shah
(b) Jats and Satnamis
(c) Humayun (d) Shah Jahan (c) Alamgir Nama
(c) Marathas (d) Sikhs
42. What is meant by Mughalai? (d) Muntakhab-ul-Lubab
51. Match List-I (Tombs) with List-

er
(a) Infantry of the Mughals II (Places) and select the cor- 56. Which one of the following was
(b) Very rich food rect answer from the codes NOT introduced by Shivaji?
(c) Royal household given below the lists: (a) Land tax (b) Chauth
(d) Mughal territories from which List-I List-II (c) Sardeshmukhi
Chauth was claimed A. Babar’s 1. Kabul (d) Pilgrim tax
43. Who among the following was

ck
mausoleum
Akbar's teacher? Answer Key
B. Humayun’s tomb 2. Delhi
(a) Kabir (b) Bairam Khan 1. (a) 20. (d) 39. (c)
C. Jahangir’s tomb 3. Shahdara
(c) Abul Fazl (d) Abdul Latif 2. (a) 21. (d) 40. (a)
D. Shahjahan's tomb 4. Agra
44. After his coronation Shivaji as- 3. (d) 22. (c) 41. (b)
sumed the title of– Codes: A B C D
4. (d) 23. (d) 42. (d)
(a) Maharaja (b) Peshwa (a) 2 3 4 1
5. (b) 24. (b) 43. (d)
ra(c) Chhatrapati (d) Samrat (b) 3 4 1 2
6. (c) 25. (a) 44. (c)
45. Akbar’s mausoleum is situated at (c) 1 2 3 4
7. (c) 26. (c) 45. (b)
(a) Sasaram (b) Sikandra (d) 4 1 2 3 8. (d) 27. (d) 46. (b)
(c) Agra (d) Delhi 52. Who among the following took 9. (d) 28. (d) 47. (d)
greater interest in laying out
46. The Upanishads were trans- 10. (c) 29. (b) 48. (c)
gardens than others?
lated into Persian by– 11. (d) 30. (b) 50. (b)
rC
(a) Humayun (b) Babur
(a) Akbar (b) Dara Shikoh 12. (c) 31. (c) 51. (c)
(c) Jahangir (d) Akbar
(c) Shah Jahan(d) Jahangir 13. (d) 32. (b) 52. (b)
53. Who was the last Mughal emperor?
47. Akbar est ablished Ibadat 14. (c) 33. (c) 53. (c)
(a) Shah Alam-II
Khana at 15. (c) 34. (b) 54. (b)
(b) Akbar-II
(a) Lahore (b) Delhi 16. (c) 35. (b) 55. (b)
(c) Bahadur Shah-II
(c) Agra (d) Fatehpur Sikri 17. (a) 36. (b) 56. (d)
(d) Ahmad Shah
48. Tulsi Das composed his Ramachari- 18. (a) 37. (b)
tamanas during the reign of 54. Who was the last Mughal emperor
19. (a) 38. (c)
to sit on the peacock throne?
M

(a) Harsha

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