Medieval History of India

201. Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not co

Which one of the following pairs of terms and their meanings is not correctly matched ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Nagarakkani : Land owned by the nagaram” option2=”Nattar : Male serpent deity” option3=”Yupa : Sacrificial post” option4=”Viragal : ‘Hero stone’ in the Tamil Nadu area” correct=”option2″]

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The pair “Nattar : Male serpent deity” is not correctly matched.
‘Nattar’ in South Indian historical context, particularly in the Chola period and earlier, refers to the assembly or leaders of a ‘Nadu’, which was a rural administrative unit. They were involved in local administration, land management, and social affairs. A male serpent deity is typically referred to as Naga devata or similar terms related to serpents (Naga).
Nagarakkani likely refers to land belonging to a ‘nagaram’ (a guild or town of merchants). Yupa is indeed a sacrificial post used in Vedic rituals. Viragal or Veerakkal are memorial stones (hero stones) erected in memory of fallen warriors or heroes, commonly found in Tamil Nadu and other parts of South India.

202. Who among the following is not a woman Nayanar saint ?

Who among the following is not a woman Nayanar saint ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Karaikkal Ammaiyar” option2=”Mangayarkkarasiyar” option3=”Andal” option4=”Isaignaniyar” correct=”option3″]

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Andal is not a woman Nayanar saint; she is a famous woman saint among the Alwars.
Nayanars were Tamil Shaivite poet-saints who lived between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. There are 63 Nayanars, including several women like Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Mangayarkkarasiyar, and Isaignaniyar. Alwars were Tamil Vaishnavite poet-saints who also composed devotional hymns. Andal is the only female Alwar and is highly revered in Vaishnavism.
Karaikkal Ammaiyar is one of the earliest Nayanars, known for her fervent devotion and ascetic life. Mangayarkkarasiyar was the queen of the Pandya king Nedumaran and a devout Shaivite. Isaignaniyar was the mother of Sundarar, one of the three principal Nayanars (Thevaram trio).

203. Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological

Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological order :

  • 1. Attack on Afzal Khan
  • 2. Capture of Torna
  • 3. Attack on Shaista Khan
  • 4. Annexation of Javli

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”2, 4, 1, 3″ option2=”4, 2, 1, 3″ option3=”1, 2, 3, 4″ option4=”3, 1, 2, 4″ correct=”option1″]

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The correct chronological order of the given events associated with Shivaji is Capture of Torna, Annexation of Javli, Attack on Afzal Khan, and Attack on Shaista Khan.
The events occurred in the following approximate order:
1. Capture of Torna: 1646 (Considered Shivaji’s first fort capture).
2. Annexation of Javli: 1656 (Defeat of the Morey of Javli).
3. Attack on Afzal Khan: 1659 (Meeting and killing of Bijapuri general Afzal Khan).
4. Attack on Shaista Khan: 1663 (Raid on Mughal governor Shaista Khan in Pune).
These events mark crucial steps in Shivaji’s rise to power and consolidation of his kingdom, establishing him as a formidable challenge to both the Bijapur Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.

204. Which one of the following is the language of the famous political tre

Which one of the following is the language of the famous political treatise Amuktmalyada?

[amp_mcq option1=”Sanskrit” option2=”Tamil” option3=”Kannada” option4=”Telugu” correct=”option4″]

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Amuktamalyada is a celebrated epic poem attributed to Krishnadevaraya, the famous ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. Krishnadevaraya was not only a great warrior and administrator but also a noted scholar and patron of arts and literature. He composed Amuktamalyada in the Telugu language.
Amuktamalyada is considered one of the masterworks of Telugu literature and is recognized as one of the Pancha Kavyas (five great epics) of Telugu literature. Krishnadevaraya himself is known as Andhra Bhoja for his patronage of Telugu literature.
While Krishnadevaraya was multilingual and wrote in Sanskrit as well, Amuktamalyada is his famous work in Telugu. The Vijayanagara Empire encompassed areas where Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil were spoken, but Krishnadevaraya’s literary patronage significantly boosted Telugu literature during his reign.

205. Consider the following statements about cavalry warfare in India : 1

Consider the following statements about cavalry warfare in India :

  • 1. The iron stirrup made it possible for the armoured warrior to sit firmly on a horse without falling off.
  • 2. The iron stirrup also allowed a cavalry charge with lances held tightly to the body, without the rider being thrown off by the shock of impact.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option3″]

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Both statements are correct regarding the impact of the iron stirrup on cavalry warfare. The introduction of the iron stirrup provided unprecedented stability to the rider, allowing them to sit firmly on the horse even during rapid movements or impacts. It enabled riders to use weapons like lances much more effectively, transferring the force of the blow through the rider’s legs braced in the stirrups, thus delivering a powerful impact without being dislodged.
– The stirrup fundamentally changed cavalry tactics, allowing for shock combat by enabling riders to withstand the impact of charges.
– Before the stirrup, cavalry primarily relied on javelins, bows, or swords used in skirmishing or slashing attacks, as delivering a powerful thrust with a lance was difficult without being unseated.
The development and spread of the stirrup is considered one of the most significant technological advancements in the history of warfare, particularly influencing the rise of heavy cavalry and feudal societies in medieval Europe and contributing to the success of various steppe empires. The exact origin of the stirrup is debated, but it is believed to have originated in Asia.

206. During the 8th – 14th centuries, in the Sanskrit texts and inscription

During the 8th – 14th centuries, in the Sanskrit texts and inscriptions, which of the following terms were used to denote Muslims ?

  • 1. Turushka
  • 2. Tajika
  • 3. Parashika
  • 4. Kardamaka

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3″ option2=”1, 2 and 4″ option3=”2 and 3 only” option4=”1, 3 and 4″ correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) 1, 2 and 3.
During the period between the 8th and 14th centuries, when Islamic rule and influence spread in various parts of India, Sanskrit texts and inscriptions frequently used terms like ‘Turushka’ (referring to Turks, especially Ghaznavids, Ghurids, and Delhi Sultans of Turkish origin), ‘Tajika’ (often referring to Arabs or people from Persian lands, including early Muslim rulers like the Rais of Sind or later groups), and ‘Parashika’ (specifically referring to Persians). These terms were used by Indian writers to identify and describe people of Muslim faith, often based on their ethnic or geographic origins.
‘Kardamaka’ is a term historically associated with a dynasty of Western Satraps (Indo-Scythians) who ruled parts of western India around the early centuries CE, long before the period specified in the question (8th-14th centuries). It is not a term used to denote Muslims in this later medieval period. Therefore, only Turushka, Tajika, and Parashika are relevant terms used to refer to Muslims during 8th-14th centuries in Sanskrit texts and inscriptions.

207. What was a munjanig in medieval period ?

What was a munjanig in medieval period ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Cannon” option2=”Catapult” option3=”Gun carriage” option4=”Portable armoury” correct=”option2″]

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In the medieval period, a munjanig (or Manjaniq) was a type of siege engine, specifically a Catapult or a trebuchet.
– Munjanigs were gravity-powered siege weapons used to hurl heavy projectiles at fortifications.
– They were used extensively in warfare in the Middle East, Mediterranean, and later adopted in India during the medieval era.
– The term is derived from Arabic and Persian, related to projectile-throwing machines.
While both Mangonel and Trebuchet types of catapults existed, the term ‘Manjaniq’ generally refers to the larger, more powerful counterweight trebuchet which became prevalent from the 12th century onwards, although it could also refer to earlier traction trebuchets or mangonels.

208. What were Manigramam and Nanadesi in early medieval India ?

What were Manigramam and Nanadesi in early medieval India ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Cluster of non-revenue paying villages” option2=”Village-level community groups” option3=”Guilds of Indian merchants” option4=”Literary societies in the capital towns” correct=”option3″]

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Manigramam and Nanadesi were prominent and powerful merchant guilds (or associations of traders) in South India during the early medieval period (roughly 9th to 13th centuries). They played a crucial role in the long-distance trade, both within India and overseas.
– These guilds were highly organized, often having their own militia to protect trade routes and goods.
– They facilitated trade by pooling resources, managing risks, and establishing widespread trading networks.
These guilds are well-documented in inscriptions found across South India and even Southeast Asia, indicating the extensive reach of their trade activities. They were not restricted to local village activities or literary pursuits.

209. Domingo Paes, the medieval traveller, has described the city of

Domingo Paes, the medieval traveller, has described the city of

[amp_mcq option1=”Madurai” option2=”Vijayanagara” option3=”Arikamedu” option4=”Gingee” correct=”option2″]

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The correct option is B) Vijayanagara.
Domingo Paes was a Portuguese traveller who visited the Vijayanagara Empire in the early 16th century, specifically around 1520-1522, during the reign of its most famous ruler, Krishnadevaraya. His detailed account, known as the ‘Chronica dos Reis de Bisnaga’ (Chronicle of the Kings of Vijayanagara), provides valuable insights into the city of Vijayanagara (Hampi), its administration, military strength, economy, and social life.
Domingo Paes’s account, along with that of another Portuguese traveller Fernão Nunes, are considered crucial primary sources for understanding the grandeur and prosperity of the Vijayanagara Empire and its capital city, Hampi.

210. Akbar issued a Farman in 1598 permitting in the city of Cambay (Khamba

Akbar issued a Farman in 1598 permitting in the city of Cambay (Khambat), Gujarat, the construction of a

[amp_mcq option1=”Temple” option2=”Church” option3=”Synagogue” option4=”Jain Upashraya” correct=”option4″]

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The correct option is D) Jain Upashraya.
Historical records indicate that the Mughal Emperor Akbar, known for his policy of Sulh-i-kul (peace with all), showed respect towards various religions, including Jainism. In 1598, during his visit to Cambay (Khambat) in Gujarat, he issued a Farman (royal decree) permitting the Jains to construct a Jain Upashraya, which is a rest house or monastery for Jain monks and ascetics.
Akbar had interactions with Jain scholars like Hiravijaya Suri and Jinchandra Suri. Granting permission for the construction of a Jain Upashraya was an example of his religious tolerance and patronage towards different religious communities. Cambay was an important port city at the time, with a significant Jain merchant community.
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