Medieval History by DNYAN IAS
Medieval History by DNYAN IAS
Medieval History by DNYAN IAS
UPSC
PRELIMS 2023
MEDIEVAL HISTORY
NOTES
Year 2022
Answer: B
Nannuka
Jayashakti
Nagabhata II
Bhoja
Answer: A
Yogavasistha
Yoga Vasistha (also known as Vasistha's Yoga) is a Hindu spiritual text traditionally
attributed to Valmiki.
The contents of Vasistha's teaching to Rama is associated with Advaita Vedanta, the illusory
nature of the manifest world and the principle of non- duality.
Originally written in Sanskrit, the Yoga Vasistha has been translated into most Indian
languages, and the stories are told to children in various forms. The number of Muslim
scholars who collaborated with Hindu pandits in making Sanskrit works available was
considerable.
During the Moghul Dynasty the text was translated into Persian several times, as ordered
by Akbar, Jahangir and Darah Shikoh.
Hence option A is correct.
Answer: D
The Sayyids
The Sayyids were claimed to descent from the Prophet through his daughter Fatima. They
Commanded special respect in Muslim society.
Even the Timur protected the life of Sayyids during his invasion in India. Although his policy
was one of general slaughter.
The sayyids put on a pointed cap (kulah) and they were known as ‘Kulah Daran’ during Delhi
sultanate.
Hence option D is correct.
Source : History of Medieval India by V.D Mahajan
Answer: B
The Fanam
The Fanam coins were the regular unit of currency in medieval Travancore and appear to
have been extensively used for trading in the region of South India.
The words Fanam and Panam literally mean money and are still used as a synonym for
wealth in Kerala in the native language of Malayalam.
Answer: B
Statement 1 is Incorrect
The first Mongol invasion of India took place in the reign of Sultan Shams-ud-din lltutmish.
Statement 2 is correct
Alauddin established a huge permanent, standing army to satisfy his ambition of conquest
and to protect the country from Mongol invasion.
The Mongols attacked at the worst time possible for Alauddin Khilji – when he was busy
laying siege to Chittor.
This time the Mongols traveled light. An army of 12,000 under Targhi’s leadership moved to
Delhi in a swift attack; many governors could not send their troops to Delhi in time.
Alauddin Khilji was forced to retreat to Siri for about two months.
The Mongols attacked and pillaged not only the surrounding areas, but Delhi itself. Alauddin
Khilji continued to hold the fortress at Siri; Targhi withdrew the siege after a few months
and left the area.
Barani, a contemporary historian at that time, attributed this “marvel” to the prayers of the
Sufi mystic Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya.
Statement 3 is incorrect
The next major Mongol invasion took place after the Khiljis had been replaced by the
Tughlaq dynasty in the Sultanate.
In 1327 the Chagatai Mongols under Tarmashirin, who had sent envoys to Delhi to
negotiate peace the previous year, sacked the frontier towns of Lamghan and Multan and
besieged Delhi.
The Tughlaq ruler paid a large ransom to spare his Sultanate from further ravages.
Muhammad bin Tughluq asked the Ilkhan Abu Sa’id to form an alliance against Tarmashirin,
who had invaded Khorasan, but an attack didn’t materialize.
Tarmashirin was a Buddhist who later converted to Islam. Religious tensions in the Chagatai
Khanate were a divisive factor among the Mongols.
Year 2021
Answer: A
Answer: A
Statement 1 is correct
During the rule of Iltutmish, Chenghiz Khan defeated Jalal al-Din near the banks of Indus.
Muhammad Bin Tughluq was the sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351 AD. In 1398 AD, Timur
invaded India.
Statement 2 is incorrect
Statement 3 is incorrect
Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara empire ruled between 1422 and 1446 AD.
Vasco Da Gama reached the coast of Kerala in 1498.
Hence option A is correct.
Source: Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Chapter-10 page-140 , 145, 151 Chapter -12 page-
180, 181.
Year 2020
Answer: B
Aurang
A Persian term for a warehouse – a place where goods are collected before being sold; also
refers to a workshop. Hence pair 1 is incorrect.
Banian
Mirasidars
Under the ryotwari settlement system, the government recognized mirasidars as the sole
proprietors of land.
They acted as the Designated revenue payer to the State. Hence Pair 3 is Correct.
Hence option B is correct.
Source: NCERT Class 08, Our Past II
Year 2019
Answer: D
Statement 1 is incorrect
In Mughal India, Jagirdars under Mansabdari system were assigned land in lieu of assigned
duties towards the empire such as police,judicial,military; Zamindars too apart from
revenue collecting duties had to render military duties and perform Khidmat such as
rendering soldiers to fill the ranks of royal army at times of need and offer gifts at the royal
court.
Statement 2 is incorrect
Jagirdars were frequently transferred as promotion and demotion was a regular part of
empire as loyalties towards Emperor were largely dependent on the rank of jagir/mansab
held by a Noble; on the other hand, Zamindars had hereditary rights over revenue as their
sway over rural society was overarching in all aspects which rested on paternal and
patronage application of rituals.
Hence option D is correct.
Source: NCERT History Class 07, Chapter 04, page number 51-52 and NCERT class 12,
chapter 02, page number 211-213
Answer: A
Statement 1 is correct
In the Delhi Sultanate, the task of collecting revenue directly from peasant and
measurement of land rested on Amils.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
Statement 3 is incorrect
Mir Bhakshi was the head of militiary department in Mughal India whereas in Delhi
Sultanate, Ariz under Diwan-i-arz (set up by Balban) was improved by Alauddin Khalji as he
introduced Dagh system which was aimed to improve Horse quality as well as eliminate fake
numbering.
Hence option A is correct.
Source: Satish Chandra History of Medieval India (800-1700) pg 74, Medieval India old
Ncert pg 96, 201, 83
Answer: D
Nimbarka was a 13th century philosphical Saint whereas Akbar's time period was 1556-1605;Saint
Kabir was 15th century poet whereas Sirhindi was in 17th century.
Answer: A
Mian Tansen
Tansen was the title given to him by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior. Akbar gave the title of
Kanthabharan Vanivilas to Tansen.
He was the court poet of Raja Ramchandra Singh of Rewa and also Akbar. He specialized in
the Dhrupad style of singing.
He invented the night raga Darbari Kanhra, morning raga Mian Ki Todi, mid-day raga, Mian ki
Sarang, seasonal raga Mian ki Malhar.
He composed many Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses like Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati
and Rama.
He also composed songs on his patrons.
Hence option A is correct.
Answer: C
Option C is correct
During Akbar's reign many manuscripts were illustrated, the prominent being Razmnamah,
the Persian translation of Mahabharata.
It was during Jahangir's reign that manuscripts became less important and individual
portraits became more prominent.
Akbar (1556-1605)
Emperor Akbar founded the city in the name of “ILLAHABAS” which later became
ALLAHABAD.
He introduced the new religion as Din Ilahi.
He introduced the Mansabdari system.
Akbar defeated Hemu in the second battle of Panipat.
He built Ibadat Khana in Fatehpur Sikri. He followed the policy of Sulh-i-kul.
Jahangir (1605-1627)
Jahangir was the eldest son of Akbar. Jahangir executed the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjun Dev.
Under Jahangir, Mughal paintings reached its zenith.
Year 2018
Answer: D
Buland Darwaza
Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri was built in 1602 A.D by the great Mughal emperor,
Akbar, to commemorate his victory over Gujarat.
It is made of red and buff sandstone and decorated by carving and inlaying of white and
black marble.
Mughals often use red sandstone in their construction. However, according to the official
UPSC answer key, this statement is WRONG.
Bara Imamabara
Rumi Darwaza
It was built in the year 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-daula and is located in Lucknow.
The material used for the darwaza is bricks and its then coated with lime.
Hence option D is correct.
Source: Tamil Nadu state board.
Answer: D
Bani Thani
Bani Thani refers to the Indian miniature painting painted by Nihal Chand from the Marwar
school of Kishangarh.
It portrays a woman who is elegant and graceful. The painting's subject, Bani Thani, was a
singer and poet in Kishangarh in the time of King Sawant Singh.
Inspired by Radha, Bani Thani is characterized by idealized distinct features such as arched
eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes, and pointed chin.
The ‘Rajasthani Schools of Painting’ mainly signifies all the schools of painting that were a
part of princely kingdoms.
They were also part of some thikanas of Mewar, Bundi, Kota, Jaipur, Bikaner, Kishangarh,
Jodhpur (Marwar), Malwa, and Sirohi principalities.
Krishna and Ram were the themes of paintings.
The influence of Vaishnavism was the main reason for adopting this theme. They were
followed in many parts of western, northern, and central India.
Kangra School
Kangra painting is the pictorial art of Kangra, named after Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, a
former princely state, which patronized the art.
It became prevalent with the fading of Basohli school of painting in mid-18th century,and
soon produced such a magnitude in paintings both in content as well as volume, that the
Pahari painting school, came to be known as Kangra paintings.
Year 2016
Answer: D
The Banjaras
Answer: B
Option B is correct
James Prinsep who held a high rank in the service of the British Eash India Company in
Bengal, was the first to decipher edicts of Ashoka.
He deciphered Brahmi script in 1838. Prinsep found that on most of the earliest inscriptions
and coins, there is a mention of a king referred to as 'Piyadasa' meaning 'pleasant to
behold'. On some inscriptions, the king is named as Ashoka.
The deciphering to the Brahmi script by Prinsep provided a new direction to investigations
into early Indian political history.
Source: NCERT Class 12, Themes in India History, Part I, page number 28-29.
Answer: B
Option B is correct
The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. Hence statement
1 is incorrect.
A Bodhisattva is the one who seeks the path of Enlightenment and carries out altruistic
practices. Mahayana Buddhist tradition as the individual who seeks Enlightenment both for
him or herself and for others.
Compassion, an empathetic sharing of the sufferings of others, is the bodhisattva’s greatest
characteristic. Hence statement 2 is correct.
It is held that the Bodhisattva makes four vows expressing a determination to work for the
happiness of others; "However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them;
However inexhaustible the passions are, I vow to master them; however limitless the
teachings are, I vow to study them; however infinite the Buddha-truth is, I vow to attain it."
Hence statement 3 is correct.
Source: NCERT class 12, Themes in Indian History Part I, page number 103
Answer: B
Option B is correct.
The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave
monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.
Although there is some evidence of architectural activity going back to the period of
Mahendravarman-I (AD 600-30), the father of Mamalla, most of the monuments are
attributed to the period of Narasimhavarman-I, Mamalla (AD 630-68) – the Pallava ruler.
Ajanta caves were excavated in different periods. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
Ajanta belonged to Buddhist religious denomination.
While Mahabalipuram scenes like Arjuna’s penance , the Jala-Sayana Perumal temple etc. It
is mostly related to the Vaishnavites. Hence statement 2 is also incorrect.
Both are rock-cut monuments because cave cut Chaityas, Viharas and Stupas are found in
Ajanta. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Source: NCERT class 11, page number 83.
Answer: C
Arghatta
Answer: D
Magadha
During Gupta period, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories or epic tales was the
work of a different group of people, the sutas and magadhas. who were the descendants of
priestly families of the Vedic period.
Agraharika means one who probably looked after the lands given in charity.
Parivraajaka literally means ‘one who roams about all round the place.’
Shramana means seeker, one who performs acts of austerity, ascetic
Hence option D is correct.
Source: Romila Thapar Ancient Indian Social History Book.
Answer: C
Option C is correct
(New) NCERT Class 11 Page 28: Bodhgaya is in Bihar. Hence A and D eliminated.
NIOS Culture PDF, Page 194: Chandella Kings built Khajuraho in Bundelkhand region of
Madhya Pradesh. Hence #2 is right. But it doesn’t help in elimination, we are still left with B
or C.
It’s common knowledge that Nashik is located in Maharashtra. Now observe the map given
on (new) NCERT class 9 ch.2- Nashik ought to be in somewhere in or around Deccan plateau,
rather than Malwa plateau. Hence #4 is wrong. By elimination, now we are left with only C)
2 and 5.
Answer: C
Lingayats
They worship Shiva in his manifestation as a linga, and men usually wear a small linga in a
silver case on a loop strung over the left shoulder.
Those who are revered include the jangama or wandering monks.
Lingayats believe that on death the devotee will be united with Shiva and will not return to
this world.
Therefore they do not practise funerary rites such as cremation, prescribed in the
Dharmashastras.
Instead, they ceremonially bury their dead.
The Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and the “pollution” attributed to certain groups
by Brahmanas. They also questioned the theory of rebirth.
At the same time other religious leaders, who did not
function within the orthodox Brahmanical framework, were gaining ground. These included
the Naths, Jogis and Siddhas
Hence option C is correct.
Source: (New) NCERT Std 12th Themes in India History, Part-II Page 147 and 148.
Answer: C
Vijayanagara rulers followed an oppressive taxation policy. The prosperity of the empire can
be explained through their taxation principles.
The land tax was the major source of revenue during the period of the Vijayanagar kingdom.
During the reign of Krishna Devaraya the rate was fixed between one third and one-sixth
depending on the quality of the land. Hence statement 1 is correct.
Besides land tax, there were also taxes imposed on shopkeepers, farm servants, workmen,
posters, shoemakers, musicians etc. Grazing and house taxes were also imposed.
Commercial taxes consisting of levies, duties and customs on manufactured articles of trade
were also levied. Private owners of workshops also paid an industry tax. Hence statement 2
is correct.
Hence option C is correct.
Note: Difficult to find source material that specifically pinpoints Krishna Deva’s Fiscal
policy. But from Indian History by Krishna Reddy, we find that in Vijaya Nagar empire.
Year 2015
Answer: B
Correct option is B
The ninth century saw the rise of a number of hill states in the Himalayas, some of which
maintained their identity until recent years, despite their wars with each other and the
frequent raids from the men of the plains.
States such as Champaka (Chamba – Himachal Pradesh), Durgara (Jammu), Trigarta
(jalandhar), Kuluta (Kulu – Himachal pradesh), Kumaon and Garhwal managed to remain
outside the main areas of conflict in the northern plains.
Answer: C
Vijayanagar
Vijayanagara or City of Victory was the name of both a city and an empire.
The empire was founded in the fourteenth century.
In its heyday it is stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of
peninsula (Krishna Tungabhadra doab).
It was founded by Harihara I and Bukka in 1336.
Hence option C is correct.
Source: NCERT History class 12, page number 2
Answer: B
Explanation
Year 2014
Answer: C
Ibadat khana
While Akbar was at Fatehpur Sikri during the 1570s he started discussions on religion with
the ulama, Brahmanas, Jesuit priests who were Roman Catholics, and Zoroastrians.
These discussions took place in the ibadat khana.
He was interested in the religion and social customs of different people.
Akbar’s interaction with people of different faiths made him realise that religious scholars
who emphasised ritual and dogma were often bigots.
Their teachings created divisions and disharmony amongst his subjects.
This eventually led Akbar to the idea of sulh-i kul or “universal peace”.
This idea of tolerance did not discriminate between people of different religions in his realm.
Hence option C is correct.
Source: NCERT Class 07, page number 54-55.
Answer: B
Village headmen
In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for village
headmen.
Village headmen are the leader of the community in that village, who owned most of the
lands.
Mansab means a military rank conferred by the Mughal emperor.
Chief craftsman were called as Prathama-kulika.
Year 2013
Answer: B
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was/was preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over. Guru Nanak
was the bhakti saint who witnessed the fall of the Lodi dynasty.
He was born on 29th November 1469 and died on 22nd September 1539. He was raised in a
Hindu family and belonged to the Bhakti Sant tradition.
He was the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
Founder of Sikhism religion Opposes idol worship and caste system, and taught the worship
of one God through prayer and meditation.
Dadu Dayal
Tulsidas