Medieval History of India

121. Consider the following statements : 1. Akbar Nama and Badshah Nama

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. Akbar Nama and Badshah Nama are important illustrated Mughal histories.
  • 2. While Akbar Nama was written by Abdul Hamid Lahori, Badshah Nama was authored by Abu’l Fazl.
  • 3. The Akbar Nama is divided into three books, of which the third book is the Ain-i-Akbari.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 3 only” option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option2″]

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Statement 1 is correct: Akbar Nama and Badshah Nama are indeed important illustrated Mughal court chronicles.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Akbar Nama was written by Abu’l Fazl, while Badshah Nama was primarily authored by Abdul Hamid Lahori (among others) as the official history of Shah Jahan’s reign.
Statement 3 is correct: Akbar Nama is structured into three volumes. The first volume deals with Akbar’s ancestors, the second with events of Akbar’s reign up to the 46th regnal year, and the third volume is the Ain-i-Akbari, which details the administration, geography, society, and economy of the Mughal empire under Akbar.
Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Mughal chronicles like Akbar Nama and Badshah Nama are valuable sources for understanding the political history, administrative structure, court life, and social conditions of the Mughal Empire. They were often lavishly illustrated, providing visual insights into the period.
Abu’l Fazl was one of Akbar’s most important courtiers and official historian. Badshah Nama, commissioned by Shah Jahan, follows the style of Akbar Nama. Other authors contributed to Badshah Nama besides Abdul Hamid Lahori, such as Muhammad Waris.

122. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :

List-I (Classification of land under Akbar)List-II (Explanation)
A. Polaj1. Uncultivated for five years and more
B. Parauti2. Lain fallow for three or four years
C. Chachar3. Left out of cultivation for a time that it may recover its strength
D. Banjar4. Annually cultivated for each crop in succession and never allowed to lie fallow

[amp_mcq option1=”A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4″ option2=”A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1″ option3=”A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4″ option4=”A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1″ correct=”option2″]

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The classification of land under Akbar’s revenue system (specifically, the reforms associated with Todar Mal) was based on the frequency of cultivation to determine the productivity and thus the revenue rate. The correct matching is:
A. Polaj: Land annually cultivated for each crop in succession and never allowed to lie fallow (4).
B. Parauti: Land left out of cultivation for a time (a year or two) that it may recover its strength (3).
C. Chachar: Land left fallow for three or four years (2).
D. Banjar: Land uncultivated for five years and more (1).
This matches option B: A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1.
This classification was crucial for determining the average produce and setting a fixed revenue rate for each category of land over a period (usually ten years under the Dahsala system), ensuring fairness based on the land’s capacity.
The revenue rates varied according to the land classification. Polaj and Parauti lands paid revenue every year, while Chachar and Banjar lands paid progressively lower rates until they were brought back into full cultivation. The revenue was often collected in cash, based on the average yield and prices over the preceding years.

123. Consider the following statements about Indian trade and commerce in t

Consider the following statements about Indian trade and commerce in the medieval period :

  • India exported cotton piece goods to the wider world in the medieval period.
  • India received gold and silver from the wider world in lieu of her cotton goods.
  • India also supplied raw materials to the European industries in the medieval period.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”1 only” option3=”2 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option1″]

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Statement 1 is correct. India was a major global exporter of cotton textiles, spices, indigo, and other goods throughout the medieval period, traded via overland and maritime routes. Statement 2 is correct. India generally maintained a favourable balance of trade in the medieval period, leading to an inflow of precious metals, particularly gold and silver, in exchange for its high-value exports. Statement 3 is incorrect. While India produced raw materials, its primary role in international trade during the medieval period was as a major exporter of *finished goods*, especially textiles. The pattern of being a supplier of raw materials to European industries and an importer of their manufactured goods became dominant during the *colonial* period, not the medieval period.
– Medieval India was a significant player in global trade, exporting finished products.
– The balance of trade was generally in India’s favour, leading to bullion imports.
– India became a major source of raw materials for European industries primarily during the colonial era, not the medieval period.
The shift from being an exporter of finished goods to an exporter of raw materials and an importer of finished goods is a defining characteristic of the economic impact of colonialism on India.

124. Consider the following observations relating to the reign of the Mugha

Consider the following observations relating to the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar :

  • 1. Akbar strengthened his control on the nobility and the army by introducing the mansabdari system.
  • 2. Under the mansabdari system, every officer was assigned a rank (mansab).
  • 3. The ranks were divided into three : zat, sawar and chehra.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 2″ option4=”1 and 3″ correct=”option3″]

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Statement 1 is correct. Akbar introduced the mansabdari system to organize and streamline the administration, nobility, and military, thereby strengthening his control and central authority. Statement 2 is correct. Under the mansabdari system, every civil and military officer was assigned a *mansab* or rank. Statement 3 is incorrect. The mansabdari rank was primarily divided into two components: *zat* and *sawar*. *Zat* determined the officer’s personal rank and salary, while *sawar* indicated the number of cavalrymen (and horses) the officer was required to maintain. *Chehra* was a practice introduced by Akbar for branding horses to prevent deception and ensure the quality and number of horses maintained by mansabdars, not a third division of the mansab rank itself.
– The mansabdari system was a unique administrative and military system of the Mughal Empire introduced by Akbar.
– It assigned ranks (mansabs) that determined status, salary, and military obligations.
– The rank consisted of two numbers: Zat and Sawar.
The mansabdari system helped Akbar create a centralized administration and a strong army loyal to the emperor. The dual rank (zat and sawar) distinguished between personal status/salary and military responsibility.

125. Consider the following statements relating to the Bhakti Movement :

Consider the following statements relating to the Bhakti Movement :

  • 1. The Bhakti and Sufi Saints gradually brought about a better understanding of the fundamental tenets of Hinduism and Islam, underlining the fact that they had a great deal of similarity.
  • 2. The Bhakti and Sufi Saints also brought about important changes in the approach to religion, laying greater emphasis on formal observances and rituals.
  • 3. They also contributed to the growth of regional languages and literature.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”2 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option2″]

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The question asks for the *not correct* statement(s). Statement 1 is correct; Bhakti and Sufi saints fostered syncretism, emphasizing universal love and devotion, thus promoting better understanding and highlighting similarities between Hinduism and Islam. Statement 3 is correct; these saints used and promoted regional languages like Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, etc., to spread their message among the masses, significantly contributing to the development of regional literature. Statement 2 is incorrect; both Bhakti and Sufi movements generally emphasized personal devotion, emotional connection with the divine, and often criticized formal rituals, caste distinctions, and elaborate ceremonies, prioritizing inner spiritual experience over outward observances.
– Bhakti and Sufi movements promoted religious harmony and mutual understanding.
– They emphasized personal devotion and criticized empty rituals and social hierarchies.
– They played a crucial role in the growth and popularization of regional languages.
Key figures of the Bhakti movement include Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, Surdas, Mirabai, Tukaram, etc. Prominent Sufi saints include Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya, etc. Their teachings had a profound impact on the social and cultural landscape of medieval India.

126. Domingo Paes describes a king in these words: ‘Of medium height, and o

Domingo Paes describes a king in these words: ‘Of medium height, and of fair complexion and good figure, rather fat than thin; he has on his face signs of smallpox’. Identify the king from the options given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”Krishnadeva Raya” option2=”Ram Raya” option3=”Devaraya II” option4=”Devaraya I” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is Krishnadeva Raya.
The description provided is from the account of Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya (1509-1529). Paes provided vivid descriptions of the king’s appearance, court, and the empire’s prosperity.
Krishnadeva Raya was the most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty of Vijayanagara. His reign is considered the zenith of the empire. Domingo Paes and another Portuguese traveler, Duarte Barbosa, provide valuable historical accounts of this period, describing the grandeur of the city and the efficiency of the administration.

127. Vijayanagara rulers claimed that they were ruling on behalf of

Vijayanagara rulers claimed that they were ruling on behalf of

[amp_mcq option1=”Lord Murugan” option2=”Lord Venkateshwara” option3=”Shri Virupaksha” option4=”Shri Vallabha” correct=”option3″]

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The correct answer is Shri Virupaksha.
Vijayanagara rulers claimed to rule on behalf of the deity Shri Virupaksha. The Virupaksha Temple in Hampi was central to the empire’s identity, and the rulers performed worship and ceremonies associating themselves with the divine authority vested in Virupaksha.
The Vijayanagara Empire (14th-17th centuries) was a major power in South India. Its rulers fostered a close relationship with religious institutions, particularly the Virupaksha temple, which was the patron deity of the capital city, Vijayanagara (modern Hampi). This practice of ruling on behalf of a deity was common in South Indian kingdoms, lending legitimacy and religious sanction to the rulers’ authority.

128. ‘Sengol’, installed in the new Parliament building of India, was seen

‘Sengol’, installed in the new Parliament building of India, was seen as a symbol of the path of service, duty and nation in which Empire of the past?

[amp_mcq option1=”Gupta Empire” option2=”Shunga Empire” option3=”Pandyan Empire” option4=”Chola Empire” correct=”option4″]

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The ‘Sengol’, installed in the new Parliament building, is historically associated with the transfer of power in the Chola Empire.
In the Chola tradition, the handing over of the Sengol symbolized the transfer of power from one king to another, representing justice and righteous governance.
A Sengol was presented to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the eve of India’s independence in 1947 by representatives from Tamil Nadu, signifying the transfer of power from the British to India.

129. Consider the following statements regarding the royal center in Vijaya

Consider the following statements regarding the royal center in Vijaya- nagara Empire :

  • 1. The royal center was located in the south-western part of the settlement
  • 2. It included over 60 temples
  • 3. About 30 building complexes at the site have been identified as palaces

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”1, 2 and 3″ option4=”1 and 2 only” correct=”option3″]

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Statement 1: Archaeological studies of Vijayanagara (Hampi) confirm that the Royal Centre was indeed located in the south-western part of the urban core of the city. This area contained important ceremonial structures, palaces, and temples associated with the rulers. So, statement 1 is correct.
Statement 2: The Royal Centre area contains numerous structures, including temples. While pinpointing an exact number can be complex depending on the definition of the area, archaeological surveys indicate a significant concentration of temples, and ‘over 60 temples’ within or closely associated with the royal centre is consistent with archaeological findings. So, statement 2 is correct.
Statement 3: Archaeological excavations and surveys have identified various building complexes within the Royal Centre as residential or palatial structures. Sources and site maps often list approximately 30 or more such complexes identified as palaces, audience halls, or residential buildings of importance. So, statement 3 is correct.
Since all three statements align with archaeological descriptions of the Vijayanagara Royal Centre, all are correct.
The Vijayanagara Royal Centre was located in the south-western part of the city and contained a large number of temples and building complexes identified as palaces.
The Royal Centre was the political and ceremonial heart of the Vijayanagara capital, contrasting with the Sacred Centre located towards the north, which housed the Virupaksha Temple and other major religious structures.

130. Chandimangala, a sixteenth century text, was composed by

Chandimangala, a sixteenth century text, was composed by

[amp_mcq option1=”Hema Saraswati” option2=”Madhav Kandali” option3=”Tukaram” option4=”Mukundaram Chakrabarti” correct=”option4″]

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Chandimangala is a significant work in medieval Bengali literature, belonging to the Mangal-Kavya tradition. Mukundaram Chakrabarti, also known as Kavikankan, composed a famous version of Chandimangala in the late 16th century. His work is considered one of the most important and popular versions of the text.
Mukundaram Chakrabarti is a renowned composer of the Bengali text Chandimangala.
Mangal-Kavyas are religious narrative poems composed in medieval Bengal, praising native deities like Chandi, Manasa, and Dharma Thakur.
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