The Delhi Sultanate 7th Social Science Lesson 2 Questions in English

7th Social Science Lesson 2 Questions in English

2. The Delhi Sultanate

1. During the 11th century which country horse men pillaged northern India?

a) Australian

b) American

c) Turkish

d) Slovakian

Explanation

During the eleventh century, the Turkish horsemen pillaged northern India and due to their persistent campaigns, they succeeded in seizing political control of the Gangetic plain by the next century.

2. What is the reason behind the victory of Turkish invaders into India?

a) Indians were weak

b) They fought bravely

c) Lack of coordination

d) None of the above

Explanation

Though the success of their conquests could be attributed to their audacity and ferocity, their success is really due to the failure of Indians to defend themselves and their territories. Indians viewed each other with distrust, failing to take note of the success of Islam in early years of its spread.

3.The slave dynasty lasted from and to

a) 1206-1390

b) 1206-1230

c) 1206-1290

d) 1206-1292

Explanation

Slave Dynasty (1206 – 1290) Muslim rule in India was established by Muhammad Ghori in 12th century A.D. (CE).

4. The meaning of the term, ‘Bandagan’ is

a) God

b) Wife

c) Slave

d) None of the above

Explanation

Muslim rule in India was established by Muhammad Ghori in 12th century A.D. (CE). As he had no sons, he nurtured special slaves called Bandagan (a Persian term used for slaves purchased for military service). These slaves were posted as governors and they were later raised to the status of Sultans.

5. Who himself proclaimed as ruler of Turkish territories in India after the death of Ghori?

a) Ghazni

b) Malmuk

c) Qutub-ud-din-Aibak

d) None of the above

Explanation

After Ghori’s death in 1206, one of his slaves Qutb-ud-din-Aibak who had been left behind by Muhammad Ghori to govern the territories he had conquered, proclaimed himself ruler of the Turkish territories in India. He laid the foundation of the Slave Dynasty. This dynasty is also known as Mamluk dynasty.

6. The Arabic word for Slave is

a) Bandagan

b) Mamluk

c) Aibak

d) None of the above

Explanation

Mamluk is an Arabic word meaning ‘‘slave’’. Qutb-ud-din-Aibak, Shams- ud-din-Iltutmish and Ghiyas-ud-din-Balban were the three great Sultans of this dynasty. The Slave Dynasty ruled over the sub-continent for about 84 years.

7. The capital of Qutub-ud-din-Aibak’s territory was

a) Punjab

b) Afghani

c) Lahore

d) Delhi

Explanation

Qutb-ud-din-Aibak began his rule by establishing Lahore as the capital of his kingdom. Later he shifted his capital to Delhi. He was active all through his rule in Delhi conquering new territories and suppressing rebellions.

8. Qutb-ud-din-Aibak left the conquest of the eastern Gangetic Plain (Bihar, Bengal) to

a) Bakhtiar Khalji

b) Giyasuddin Khalji

c) Bakhtiar huvar

d) None of the above

Explanation

Qutb-ud-din-Aibak (1206 – 1210) personally led military campaigns to the central and western Indo-Gangetic plain (north India) and left the conquest of the eastern Gangetic Plain (Bihar, Bengal) to the care of Bakhtiar Khalji.

9. Quwwat-ul- Islam Masjid (mosque) was constructed in

a) Calcutta

b) Delhi

c) Lahore

d) Faisalabad

Explanation

Aibak built the Quwwat-ul- Islam Masjid (mosque) in Delhi. This mosque is considered to be the oldest in India.

10. Who completed the construction of Qutub Minar?

a) Aibak

b) Raziya sultan

c) Ilthumish

d) None of the above

Explanation

Qutb-ud-din-Aibak also laid the foundation of the Qutb-Minar, but he was unable to complete it. It was later finished by his son-in-law and his successor Iltutmish.

11. How was Qutb-ud-din-Aibak died ?

a) In a war

b) While sleeping

c) While playing polo

d) Heart attack

Explanation

Aibak died of injuries received during an accidental fall from a horse, while playing polo in 1210.

12. Who was the son of Qutub-ud-din-Aibak?

a) Ilthumish

b) Raziya

c) Aram Shah

d) None of the above

Explanation

Aibak’s son Aram Shah proved incompetent and so the Turkish nobles chose Iltutmish, the son-in-law of Aibak as the Sultan, who served as a military commander of Aibak.

13. During whose reign did Chengiz khan attacked the northern frontiers of India?

a) Aibak

b) Aram shah

c) Ilthumish

d) None of the above

Explanation

It was during his Ilthumish reign that the threat of Mongols under Chengiz Khan loomed large over the frontiers of India. He averted the impending danger by refusing to provide shelter to the Kwarezm Shah Jalal- ud-din, who had been driven out by Chengiz Khan.

14. The group of 40 nobles is known as

a) The forty

b) Chahalgani

c) The nobles

d) Both a and b

Explanation

In order to counter the possible attack of the Mongols, Iltutmish organised Turkish nobility into a select group of 40 nobles known as chahalgani or The Forty.

15. Iqta in Delhi sultanate means

a) Land grant

b) Tax exclusion

c) Both a and b

d) None of the above

Explanation

Iltutmish granted iqtas (land) to members of his army. Iqta is the land granted to army officials in lieu of a regular wage. The iqta holder is called the iqtadar or muqti who had to provide the Sultan with military assistance in times of war.

16. Iltutmish ruled for about

a) 22 years

b) 10 years

c) 26 years

d) 30 years

Explanation

Iltutmish completed the construction of the Qutub-Minar, which had been started by Aibak. Iltutmish died in April 1236 after ruling for 26 years.

17. Who faced the situation of the ferocious Mongols raiding Punjab?

a) Iltutmish

b) Aram shah

c) Raziya

d) None of the above

Explanation

Iltutmish nominated his daughter Razia Sultana as his successor to the throne of Delhi. Razia was an able and brave fighter. But she had a tough time with Turkish nobles as she favored non-Turkish nobles. She also faced the situation of the ferocious Mongols raiding Punjab during her reign.

18. The name of Ethiopian slave who was the personal attendant of Raziya was

a) Jalal-ud-din Badshah

b) Jalal-ud-din Yakut

c) Giyasuddin Yakut

d) None of the above

Explanation

Razia made an Ethiopian slave named Jalal-ud-din Yakut as her personal attendant and started trusting him completely.

19. Raziya sultan was murdered by the nobles in

a) 1240

b) 1222

c) 1234

d) 1233

Explanation

Razia made an Ethiopian slave named Jalal-ud-din Yakut as her personal attendant and started trusting him completely. This led to a revolt of the Turkish nobles who conspired against her and got her murdered in 1240.

20. Which of the following abolished the forty nobles?

a) Raziya sultan

b) Ghiyas-ud-din Balban

c) Jalal-ud-din Yakut

d) All the above

Explanation

After Razia, three weak rulers in succession ascended the throne. After them came Ghiyas- ud-din Balban. Balban abolished The Forty as it was hostile to him. He established a department of spies to gather intelligence about the conspirators and the trouble makers against his rule.

21. Who raised a banner of revolt against Balban?

a) Tughlaq

b) Tughril Khan

c) Tijjabuddin shawl

d) Both b and c

Explanation

Tughril Khan, a provincial governor in Bengal, who raised a banner of revolt against Balban, was captured and beheaded. He was ruthless in dealing with enemies like Meos of Mewat (a Muslim Rajput community from north-western India).

22. What was the name of grand son of Chengiz khan?

a) Balban

b) Tughril khan

c) Hulaga khan

d) None of the above

Explanation

Balban obtained from Hulagu Khan, a grandson of Chengiz Khan and the Mongol viceroy in Iran, the assurance that Mongols would not advance beyond Sutlej.

23. The famous Persian poet present in court of Balban is

a) Kabir

b) Amir khusru

c) Both a and b

d) None of the above

Explanation

Balban built forts to guard his empire against the Mongol attacks. He patronised the famous Persian poet Amir Khusru. Balban died in 1287.

24. Who ruled the sultanate in the name of Kaiqubad?

a) Ala-ud- din

b) Malik Jalal-ud-din Khalji

c) Malik kafur

d) Both a and b

Explanation

Balban’s son Kaiqubad turned out to be weak. In 1290 Malik Jalal-ud-din Khalji, the commander of the army, assumed the office of Naib (a deputy to the Sultan) and ruled the kingdom in the name of Kaiqubad. Then one day, Jalal-ud-din sent one of his officers and had Kaiqubad murdered.

25. Who began the khalji dynasty?

a) Alauddin khalji

b) Jalaluddin khalji

c) Malik kafur khalji

d) None of the above

Explanation

Jalal-ud-din formally ascended the throne. With him began the rule of Khalji dynasty. There were many military campaigns during the reign of Jalal-ud-din.

26. During the khalji dynasty who was the governor of Kara?

a) Jalaluddin

b) Alauddin

c) Malik kafur

d) None of the above

Explanation

There were many military campaigns during the reign of Jalal-ud-din. But they were mostly organised and led by his nephew, Ala-ud- din, the governor of Kara. One significant military expedition was against the Deccan kingdom Devagiri. Ala-ud-din, after defeating the Yadava king Ramachandra, plundered the city and returned with huge wealth.

27. How did Alauddin become the sultan?

a) By ascendency

b) Nominated by nobles

c) Treacherously killing Jalaluddin

d) None of the above

Explanation

Ala-ud-din treacherously killed Jalal-ud-din after buying off the prominent nobles and important commanders with the wealth he had brought from the Deccan and declared himself as the Sultan of Delhi in 1296.

28. Alauddin sent who among the following to southern parts of India?

a) Amir khusru

b) Malik kafur

c) Kabir vasu

d) Both a and b

Explanation

Ala-ud-din Khalji consolidated the Delhi Sultanate. The range of his conquests is impressive: in the Punjab (against the Mongols), in Rajasthan and in Gujarat. With his northern frontiers secure, he sent his chief lieutenant Malik Kafur into the southern parts who took even the distant Madurai in 1310. The Yadavas of Devagiri, the Kakatias of Warangal, the Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra and the Pandyas of Madurai accepted Ala-ud-din’s suzerainty.

29. When was the Chittor fort sacked?

a) 1300

b) 1303

c) 1340

d) 1299

Explanation

Sack of Chittor (1303): When Ala-ud-din’s army overwhelmed the Rajput army in Chittor.

30. Where did the Rajput’s women perform rite of Jauhar, fearing defeat from Alauddin?

a) Vellore fort

b) Padma fort

c) Nanguneri fort

d) Chittor fort

Explanation

Sack of Chittor (1303): When Ala-ud-din’s army overwhelmed the Rajput army in Chittor and in the context of threat of defeat, the men and women of the fortress, in accordance with their old custom, performed the rite of jauhar. According to this custom, left with no other way to survive, the men would go out and die in the field of battle and women would burn themselves on a pyre.

31.Who undertook a survey of the agrarian resources around his capital and fixed a standard revenue demand?

a) Jalaluddin khalji

b) Alauddin khalji

c) Aibak

d) Both a and b

Explanation

Ala-ud-din’s political and administrative reforms were as impressive as his military conquests. Ala-ud-din undertook a survey of the agrarian resources around his capital and fixed a standard revenue demand. He entrusted the task of collecting the revenue to the military officers.

32. When did Alauddin khalji die?

a) 1300

b) 1316

c) 1354

d) 1233

Explanation

Ala-ud-din established a system of forced procurement of food grains for Delhi and other garrison centres. The procurement prices were fixed and grain collected as tax was stored in state granaries. In order to ensure the enforcement of his new regulations, he employed spies who were responsible to report to him directly. Ala-ud-din died in 1316. The failure of his successors to retain power led to the seizure of power by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, who founded the Tughluq dynasty.

33. What was the name of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq’s son who was sent to fight against Warangal?

a) Jahuna tughluq

b) Jauna khan

c) Mafuz tughluq

d) None of the above

Explanation

One of the major tasks of Ghiyas-ud-din as the Sultan was to recover the territories that the Sultanate had lost during the turmoil following the death of Ala-ud-din. Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq sent his son Jauna Khan to fight against Warangal.

34. Who was the ruler of Warangal, whom was defeated by Jauna khan?

a) Rudraveeran

b) Kalabairan

c) Pratabarudra

d) Both a and b

Explanation

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq sent his son Jauna Khan to fight against Warangal. Jauna Khan defeated Pratabarudra of Warangal and returned with a rich booty.

35. The new city Tughluqabad was constructed by

a) Jauna khan

b) Mohammed bin tughluq

c) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq

d) None of the above

Explanation

With this looted wealth, Ghiyas-ud-din is said to have laid the foundation of the city Tughluqabad near Delhi. However, as Ala-ud-din treacherously killed his uncle, Jauna Khan was said to have killed his father and ascended the throne with title Muhammad-bin-Tughluq in 1325.

36. Who among the following was learned man in Tughluq dynasty?

a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq

b) Jauna khan

c) Mohammed bin Tughluq

d) Both b and c are same

Explanation

Muhammad-bin-Tughluq was a learned man. Yet he was a person of cruelty. Ala-ud- din had conquered, looted and left the old ruling families as his dependents. In contrast, Muhammad Tughluq dreamt of making the whole of the subcontinent his domain.

37. The name of newly shifted capital city is called

a) Daulatabad

b) Tughluq Abad

c) Devagiri

d) Both a and c

Explanation

With the view to facilitating extended sovereignty, he shifted his capital from Delhi to the centre of the kingdom, namely Devagiri. He also changed its name to Daulatabad. When Muhammad himself decided that the move was a mistake, he ordered a return to Delhi as the capital again.

38. Who was the Moroccan traveler with Jauna khan?

a) Fahein

b) Hieun tsang

c) Ibn Battuta

d) None of the above

Explanation

When Ibn Battuta, the Morocco traveler who was with the Sultan, returned to Delhi, he found Delhi ‘empty, abandoned and had but a small population’.

39. How many days long was the march from Delhi to Daulatabad took?

a) 20

b) 40

c) 30

d) 100

Explanation

It was a 40-days march to Daulatabad from Delhi. Many people left. Some hid themselves. When they were found, they were punished cruelly, even though one was a blind man and another a paralytic. Describing the city as spreading over eight or ten miles, a historian observed: ‘All was destroyed. So complete was the ruin that not a cat or a dog was left among the buildings of the city in its palaces or in its suburbs.’

40. Whose system of revenue collection was changed by Mohammed bin Tughluq?

a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq

b) Raziya Sultan

c) Alauddin khalji

d) None of the above

Explanation

Tughluq changed the Ala-ud-din’s system of revenue collections in grain and ordered that land revenue, which was increased, should henceforward be collected in money. This proved disastrous during famines.

41. Which of the following was the coin released by Mohammed bin Tughluq?

a) Gold

b) Silver

c) Copper

d) All the above

Explanation

When Mohammed bin Tughluq discovered that the stock of coins and silver was inadequate for minting, he issued a token currency in copper. Counterfeiting soon became order of the day and, as a result, the entire revenue system collapsed. Trade suffered as foreign merchants stopped business. This forced Sultan to withdraw the token currency and pay gold and silver coins in exchange. This move led the state to become bankrupt.

42. Which of the following governors revolted against Mohammed Bin Tughlaq?

a) Awadh

b) Multan

c) Sind

d) All the above

Explanation

Tughluq ruled as Sultan for 25 years. During his long reign, he had to face many revolts of the provincial governors. The Governors of Awadh, Multan and Sind revolted and declared themselves independent. In South India, several states arose.

43. Which of the following empire developed from Daulatabad?

a) Marathas

b) Mauryan

c) Guptas

d) Bahmani

Explanation

The new Daulatabad and the conquered territories around them were declared independent sultanate called Bahmani. Its founder after whom it was named, was a soldier formerly in Tughluq service. Madurai was proclaimed a separate sultanate in 1334. Bengal became independent in 1346. Tughluq died on 23 March 1351.

44. Who was Firoz Tughlaq?

a) Son of Ghiyas-ud-din

b) Younger brother of Ghiyas-ud-din

c) Son of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

d) None of the above

Explanation

Firoz, the son of Ghiyas-ud-din’s younger brother, succeeded Muhammad-bin-Tughluq. Firoz could neither suppress revolts nor win back the provinces that had broken away. He also showed no interest in re-conquering the southern provinces.

45. Who was better leader in Tughluq dynasty?

a) Ghiyas-ud-din

b) Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

c) Firoz Shah Tughluq

d) All the above

Explanation

Firoz rewarded Sufis and other religious leaders generously and listened to their advice. He also created charities to aid poor Muslims, built colleges, mosques, and hospitals. He adopted many humanitarian measures. He banned inhuman punishments and abolished taxes not recognised by Muslim law. He promoted agriculture by waiving off the debts of the agriculturalists and constructing many canals for irrigation.

46. How many gardens were laid out by Firoz Shah Tughluq?

a) 1300

b) 1000

c) 200

d) 1200

Explanation

Firoz Shah Tughluq promoted agriculture by waiving off the debts of the agriculturalists and constructing many canals for irrigation. He laid out 1200 new gardens and restored 30 old gardens of Ala- ud-din-Khalji. He had built new towns such as Firozabad, Jaunpur, Hissar and Firozpur.

47. Who revolted against Firoz Shah Tughluq?

a) Jauna khan

b) Muhammed shah

c) Muhammed khan

d) Both b and c

Explanation

Despite adopting a peaceful approach and taking efforts to organize the Sultanate well, he had to spend his last days in unhappiness. His own son Muhammad Khan revolted against him and Firoz Shah died in September 1388, at the age of 83.

48. Who entered India in December 1398 and plundered Delhi?

a) Tamerlane

b) Timur

c) Jauna khan

d) Both a and b

Explanation

The sacking and massacre by Tamerlane or Timur of Delhi came a decade after Firuz Shah Tughluq died. As a ruler of the region around Samarkand in Central Asia, Timur had occupied some parts in the north-west of India. Taking advantage of India’s weakness, he entered India in December 1398 and plundered Delhi. Punjab, besides the Delhi city, was the province that suffered most by Timur’s raid. Timur, apart from carrying huge wealth in the form of gold, silver, jewels, also took along Indian artisans like carpenters and masons to work on monuments in Samarkand.

49. Who was the founder of Sayyid dynasty?

a) Bahlul khan sayyid

b) Khizr Khan

c) Mohammed sayyid

d) None of the above

Explanation

Before leaving Delhi, Timur had left behind his representative Khizr Khan as the governor of the territories he had conquered (Delhi, Meerut and Punjab). He founded the Sayyid Dynasty in 1414, which lasted till 1451. The last ruler of this dynasty, Ala-ud-din Alam Shah, abdicated the throne in 1451.

50. Who was the founder of Agra city?

a) Khizr Khan

b) Ala-ud-din Alam Shah

c) Bahlol Lodi

d) Sikandar Lodi

Explanation

In 1489, Bahlol Lodi was succeeded by his son Sikandar Lodi. Sikandar was a patron of arts and learning. He founded the city of Agra and made it his capital.

51. Which ruler was defeated by Babur?

a) Ala-ud-din Alam Shah

b) Bahlol Lodi

c) Sikandar Lodi

d) Ibrahim lodi

Explanation

Sikandar was a patron of arts and learning. He founded the city of Agra and made it his capital. He died in 1517 and was succeeded by his son, Ibrahim Lodi, who was defeated by Babur in 1526 in the Panipat battle. Thus the Lodi dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate were ended by Babur who went on to establish the Mughal Empire in India.

52. How was Islamic art and architecture called

a) Indogenic

b) Sarcenic

c) Indo-Saracenic

d) Indo greekan

Explanation

The shape of all these buildings was Persian, while the decoration was Indian. So, it is called Indo-Saracenic architecture. Qutub Minar, Alai-Darwaza, Quwwat-ul Islam Masjid, Moth-ki-Masjid, the tombs of Iltutmish, Balban and the forts of Daulatabad and Firozabad were all constructed in this style.