Medieval History -1 - SSC CGL Free MCQ Test with solutions

The Sisodia dynasty of Mewar, under leaders like Rana Kumbha and Rana Sanga, fiercely resisted the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughals. The Chauhans were prominent earlier, the Pratiharas declined by the 10th century, and the Solankis ruled in Gujarat.

Rajaraja I (985–1014 CE) constructed the Brihadeshwara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a symbol of Chola architectural grandeur. Rajendra I expanded the empire, Kulottunga I ruled later, and Vijayalaya founded the dynasty.

Muhammad bin Qasim, sent by Al-Hajjaj, conquered Sindh in 712 CE, marking the first major Arab incursion into India. Tariq ibn Ziyad invaded Spain, and Mahmud of Ghazni raided India later.

The Bhakti movement focused on personal devotion to gods like Vishnu or Shiva, often bypassing rigid rituals. It did not reject temple worship, spread across India, and was distinct from Sufism.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori, founded the Slave Dynasty in 1206 CE. Iltutmish consolidated it, Razia was his daughter, and Balban ruled later.

Alauddin Khilji introduced market reforms to regulate prices of essentials, ensuring affordability for his army. These reforms involved state control, not free trade, and did not focus on foreign merchants or tax reduction.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325–1351 CE) shifted the capital to Daulatabad to centralize control, but the move was poorly executed, causing hardship. Ghiyasuddin founded the dynasty, and Firoz Shah focused on reforms.

The Iqta system involved granting land (Iqta) to nobles in lieu of salary for military services, functioning as a land revenue system. It was not a conscription policy, governance model, or tax.

The Qutub Minar, built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, is a minaret-style tower, a hallmark of early Indo-Islamic architecture. Pietra dura and true domes appeared later, and corbelled arches are pre-Islamic.

Nizamuddin Auliya (1238–1325 CE) was a prominent Chishti saint who spread Sufism in Delhi. Others belonged to different orders or lived later.

Krishnadevaraya (1509–1529 CE) was the greatest Vijayanagara ruler, known for victories like the Battle of Raichur and literary patronage. Harihara and Bukka founded the empire, and Devaraya II ruled earlier.

Mahmud Gawan’s execution in 1481 weakened the Bahmani Kingdom, leading to its fragmentation into five sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bidar). Others ruled earlier.

Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in 1526, establishing Mughal rule. Rana Sanga fought Babur later, Sher Shah opposed Humayun, and Hemu faced Akbar.

Sher Shah Suri built the Grand Trunk Road and reformed land revenue, but the Zabt system and Mansabdari were Akbar’s innovations, and Din-i-Ilahi was Akbar’s philosophy.

Akbar forged alliances with Rajputs through marriages and diplomacy, ensuring loyalty. His policy was not about conversion, conquest, or exploitation.

Shah Jahan (1628–1658 CE) built the Taj Mahal as a mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal. Akbar focused on forts, Jahangir on paintings, and Aurangzeb on austerity.

Ashtapradhan was Shivaji’s council of eight ministers, aiding administration. It was not a military, tax, or fort-related system.

The Marathas, under the Peshwas, were defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1761, weakening Maratha power. The Mughals were nominal, and the British were not involved.

Mughal miniatures, especially under Jahangir, depicted diverse themes (courtly, historical, and natural). They were influenced by Persian art, not just Chinese, and used paper, not stone.

Nadir Shah's invasion of India in 1739 significantly weakened the Mughal Empire by plundering Delhi and its treasury, demonstrating the empire's military vulnerability and internal strife. This invasion is widely considered a turning point in the Mughal decline.