1.How many types of taxes were in the reign of the ruler Alauddin Khalji?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 6
D. 2
Solution
The correct answer is 3.
Key Points
- Alauddin Khilji
- Alauddin Khilji levied numerous taxes during his reign, including the Jaziya tax, Gharai tax, and Zakat.
- These taxes brought in a lot of money.
- He levied extra taxes on Hindus in addition to Jiziya and significantly raised their rates.
- So, they had to pay 50% of the product’s price in land revenue.
- The Hindus additionally levied a housing tax.
- Ghari was a tax on houses.
- They were compelled to give the merchants most of the corn.
- The “Biswas” was established as the standard unit of measurement after Alauddin commanded that the entire land be measured using standard yields.
- Jizya is typically imposed as a tax on non-Muslim subjects of an Islamic state known as dhimmis as a means of revenue.
- Jizya is referred to in the Quran and hadiths without showing its rate or total, and its application has changed throughout Islamic history.
- Zakat was only imposed on Muslims.
- Zakat is generally described as a 2.5% tax on savings to be donated to the Muslim poor and needy.
Additional Information
- Khalji dynasty
- One of the Khalji dynasty’s most formidable kings was Alauddin Khalji (1296–1316).
- He succeeded as Delhi’s Sultan.
- He killed his father-in-law to increase his influence in Delhi.
- Alauddin protected his country from Mongol incursions during his rule at Jaran-Manjur, Sivistan, Kili, Delhi, and Amroha.
- In the future, he also invaded and seized control of Hindu kingdoms including Gujarat, Ranthambore, Chittor, Malwa, Siwana, and Jalore.
2. Who among the following ruled in India between 1266 and 1287?
A. Qutub-ud-din-Aybak
B. Aram Shah
C. Shams-ud-din-Iltutmish
D. Ghiyasuddin Balban
Solution
The correct answer is Ghiyasuddin Balban.
Key Points
- Ghiyasuddin Balban:
- He ruled from 1266 AD-1287 AD.
- He was a member of Chahalgani Chalisa.
- He broke the power of Chahalgani and restored the prestige of the crown.
- He created a strong centralised army and established the military department Diwan-i-Arz.
- He took up the title of Zil-i-Ilahi (a shadow of God) and impressed upon the people that the king was the deputy of God (Niyabat-i-Khudai).
- He insisted on the Iranian ceremonies of Sijda and Paibos.
- Balban started the festival of Navroz.
- He adopted a policy of blood and iron.
- He was a patron of Persian literature and showed special favour to Amir Khusro.
Additional Information
- The list of Sultans belonging to the Slave Dynasty
- Qutb ud-Din Aibak (1206-1210 AD)
- Aram Shah (1210-1211 AD)
- Iltutmish (1211-1236 AD)
- Rukn-ud-din Feroze (1236 AD)
- Razia al-Din (1236-1240 AD)
- Muiz-ud-din Bahram Shah (1240-1242 AD)
- Ala-ud-din Masud Shah (1242-1246 AD)
- Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (1246-1266 AD)
- Ghiyas-ud-din Balban (1266-1286 AD)
- Muiz-ud-din Muhammad Qaiqabad (1286-1290 AD)
3. The ______ was a territorial assignment given to administrative officers and nobles in lieu of the services they performed for the state during Delhi sultanate.
A. Usharaf
B. Iqta
C. Muahatsib
D. Nazir
Solution
The correct answer is Iqta.
Key Points
- Iqta system
- The Iqta system was a unique type of land distribution and administrative system introduced during the reign of Iltutmish.
- In the Iqta system the lands of the Delhi Sultanate were divided into several large and small tracts called Iqta and assigned these Iqtas to the Sultan’s soldiers, officers and nobles.
- 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.
- The iqtadar collected revenue from his iqta to meet the cost of maintaining his troops and horses.
4. Ziyauddin Barani wrote his chronicle first in 1356 and another version _____ years later.
A. three
B. eight
C. two15% answered correctly
D. five
Solution
The correct answer is two.
Key Points
- Ziyauddin Barani wrote the first version of his chronicle in the year 1356.
- He then rewrote the work two years later.
- The second version was found in the 1960s.
- Ziauddin Barani was a political thinker during the period of Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Firuz Shah of the Delhi Sultanate.
- The two most well-known works of Barani are Tarikh-i-Firozshahi and Fatwa-i-Jahandari.
- The Tarikh-i-Firozshahi was an interpretation of the history of the Delhi Sultanate up to the present Firuz-Shah-Tughlaq.
- The Fatwa-i-Jahandari is a work containing the political ideals to be pursued by a Muslim ruler.
Additional Information
- Muhammad Bin Tughlaq wants to shift his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad keeping in view the security from the Mongol attack.
- Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was the son of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
- His real name was Ulugh Khan or Fakhruddin Jauna.
- He ruled over the Delhi Sultanate from 1325 to 1351.
- Muhammad Bin Tughlaq introduced the copper currency system in India.
- Ibn Battuta was a famous Moroccan Muslim scholar and traveller who came to India during his regime.
Important Points
- Tughlaq Dynasty
- The Tughluq dynasty began during the period of medieval India and was of Turk-Indian Origin.
- The dynasty majorly governed the Sultanate of Delhi.
- The Tugluq dynasty began in 1320 and ended in 1413 and was ruled by many rulers like Ghazi Malik, Muhammad-bin-Tughluq, etc.
- India witnessed significant changes in domestic and foreign policies during the reign of the Tughluq dynasty.
- Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq or Ghazi Malik was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty.
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5. Who among the following was the court poet of Alauddin Khilji who wrote the famous poem ‘Hasht Bihisht’?
A. Amir Khusrau
B. Chand Bardai
C. Agha Hasan Amanat
D. Harisena
Solution
The correct answer is Amir Khusrau.
Key Points
- Amir Khusrau
- Amir Khusro was a Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.
- He was also a composer along with a poet.
- He is considered as “father of qawwali”.
- Amir Khusrau wrote the famous poem Hasht Bihisht.
- He was the originator of the khayal and Tarana styles of music.
- He lived for 72 years, out of which 60 years he lived in several courts as ten separate rulers of Delhi Sultanate.
- His primary language to write poems was Persian, but he composed about half a million verses in Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Braj Bhasha, Hindavi as well as Khadi Boli.
6. Which of the following combinations of ‘Ruler – Predecessor’ is correct with respect to the Delhi Sultanate?
A. Alaudddin Khalji – Jalaluddin Khalji
B. Iltutumish – Balban
C. Muhammad Tughluq – Firuz Shah Tughluq
D. Ghiyasuddin Tughluq – Muhammad Tughluq
Solution
The correct answer is Alaudddin Khalji – Jalaluddin Khalji
Key Points
- Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
- Jalaluddin Khilji (1290-96)
- He was the founder of the Khilji Dynasty
- Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316)
- He was a nephew and son-in-law of Jalaluddin Khilji.
- Alauddin Khilji killed him and succeeded the throne in 1296.
- Jalaluddin Khilji (1290-96)
- Tughlak Dynasty (1320-1414)
- Ghiyasuddin Tughlak (1320-25)
- He was the founder of the Tughlak Dynasty.
- He was succeeded by Mohammad bin Tughlak.
- Mohammad bin Tughlak (1325-51)
- His name was Ulugh Khan and after succeeding Ghiyasuddin Tughlak he was named under the title of Mohammad bin Tughlak.
- Firoz Shah Tughlak(1351-88)
- He was the cousin of Mohammad bin Tughlak.
- Ghiyasuddin Tughlak (1320-25)
Additional Information
- Slave Dynasty (1206-90)
- Founded by Qutubuddin Aibak.
- Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
- Founded by Jalaluddin Khilji
- Tughlak Dynasty (1320-1414)
- Founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlak
- Sayyid Dynasty ( 1414-50)
- Founded by Khizr Khan.
- Lodhi Dynasty (1451-1526)
- Founded by Behlol Lodhi
7. Who among the following was the commander of Muhammad Ghori, and also founded the slave dynasty in India?
A. Iltutmish
B. Ghiyasud din Balban
C. Aram Shah II
D. Qutub-Din Aibak
Solution
The correct answer is Qutub-Din Aibak.
Key Points
- Qutb ud-din is another name for Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
- He was the founder of the Slave dynasty.
- He was also known as Lakh Baksh because of his generosity.
- He served as a commander in Muhammad Ghori’s army.
- He died in the year 1210 AD while playing Chaugan or Polo.
- He served as the Slave dynasty’s first emperor.
- Another name for the Slave dynasty is the Mamluk dynasty.
- Dynasty was succeeded by the Khilji (or Khalji) dynasty.
Additional Information
- Iltutmish (Reign: 1211 – 1236):
- Aram Shah was a weak ruler. He was conspired against by a group of nobles who invited Shamsuddin Iltutmish to be the ruler.
- Iltutmish was a son-in-law of Aibak.
- He ruled the Ghurid regions of northern India.
- He was a Turkic slave born in Central Asia.
- Iltutmish was the greatest of the slave rulers of Delhi.
- He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi.
- He died in 1236 and was succeeded by his daughter Razia Sultana as he did not consider his sons equal to the task.
- Balban:
- He ruled from 1266 AD-1287 AD.
- He was a member of Chahalgani Chalisa.
- He broke the power of Chahalgani and restored the prestige of the crown.
- He created a strong centralized army and established the military department Diwan-i-Arz.
- He took up the title of Zil-i-Ilahi (a shadow of God) and impressed upon the people that the king was the deputy of God (Niyabat-i-Khudai).
- He insisted on the Iranian ceremonies of sijda and paibos.
8. Muhammad Tughluq used ‘token’ currency to pay his soldiers, which was made out of:
A. silver
B. precious gold
C. bronze
D. cheap metals
Solution
The correct answer is Cheap Metals.
Key Points
- Muhammad Bin Tuglaq maintained a large standing army.
- He used ‘token currency’ made out of cheap metals to pay his soldiers and not made out of gold or other precious metals.
Important Points
- He also paid his soldiers cash salaries.
- Due to famine, there was an increase in the price of commodities.
- Hence, rather than controlling the prices, he resorted to ‘token’ currency made out of cheap metals to pay his soldiers.
- Also, the agricultural produce from areas where his soldiers were stationed was collected as a tax to feed the army.
- People in the 14th century did not trust these cheap metal coins.
- People saved their gold and silver currency and paid their taxes with currency made out of cheap metals.
- Hence, this policy of ‘token currency’ was a failure.
9. In the Delhi Sultanate, which of the following were known as Bandagan?
A. Special person appointed for religious conversion
B. Special Officer for Land Revenue Recovery
C. Specialized artisans employed in the royal kharkhanas
D. Special slaves bought for military service
Solution
The correct answer is Special slaves bought for military service.
Key Points
- During the Sultanate period, special slaves purchased for military service were called Bandagan in Persian.
- A large empire like the Delhi Sultanate needed trustworthy governors and bureaucrats to consolidate. The early Delhi Sultans, especially Iltutmish, preferred their special slaves recruited for military duty, known as bandagan in Persian, rather than installing aristocrats and landed chieftains as administrators.
- To fill some of the most significant political positions in the kingdom, they underwent thorough training. The Sultan could count on them since they were fully reliant on his lord.
- The Khaljis and Tughluqs kept using bandagan and promoted people from lowly backgrounds, who were frequently their clients, to positions of prominence in politics.
- They were chosen to serve as governors and generals. But this also added a component of political unpredictability.
- Clients and slaves were devoted to their patrons and masters but not to their heirs. The New Sultans had their own slaves. As a result, when a new monarch came into power, the old and new nobility frequently clashed.
- Many elites were surprised by the Delhi Sultans’ indulgence of these lowly people, and the Persian Tawarikh authors criticized the Delhi Sultans for elevating the “poor and base-born” to positions of power.
10. Who among the following constructed the Jamat Khana Mosque in Delhi?
A. Quṭb al-Din Mubarak Shah
B. Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji
C. Ala-ud-din Khilji
D. Khizr Khan
Solution
The correct answer is Khizr Khan.
Key Points
- Jamat Khana Mosque
- The Jamat Khana Masjid or Khilji Mosque is the earliest mosque in Delhi.
- Built in 1315-1325 AD by Khizr Khan, son of Sultan Alauddin Khilji (Khilji dynasty).
- The mosque is the largest structure in the Nizamuddin Basti dargah enclosure (Nizam-ud-din Auliya shrine complex).
- Each of the three bays has a vaulted ceiling with the central one being the largest, as is customary.
- The central bay and entrance are decorated with exquisite geometric motifs and bands of Quranic inscriptions.
Additional Information
- Quṭb al-Din Mubarak Shah
- Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah Khilji was the son of Ala-ud-din Khilji.
- He is also known as Ikhtiyar al-Din
- Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji
- Jalal-ud-Din Khalji was the founder of the Khalji Dynasty. He came to power after the overthrow of the so-called Slave Dynasty.
- Ala-ud-din Khilji
- Alauddin Khalji was one of the most powerful rulers of the Khalji dynasty and became the Sultan of Delhi.
- Khizr Khan
- Khizr Khan is the former governor of Punjab who also ruled Delhi as a Sultanate and established the Sayyid dynasty as the fourth dynasty that ruled Delhi in 1414.
