Medieval Indian History & Dynasties

The correct sequence in ascending order of size for administrative divisions in medieval India is 1. Pargana 2. Sarkar 3. Suba Pargana: The smallest unit was the Pargana, which typically comprised a group of villages. It was the most basic level of administration. Sarkar: A group of Parganas formed a Sarkar, which can be understood as a district or province. Suba: The largest administrative division was the Suba, which encompassed several Sarkars. It was equivalent to a modern-day state or province.

Statement 1 is correct: In 1221, during the reign of Iltutmish, the Mongol leader Genghis Khan reached the banks of the Indus while pursuing Jalal-ad-Din Mangubarni, the crown prince of the Khwarazmian Empire. Iltutmish diplomatically refused to grant asylum to the prince, thereby saving the Delhi Sultanate from a direct Mongol invasion. Statement 2 is incorrect: Taimur (Timur) invaded India in 1398, which was during the reign of Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughlaq (the last ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty). Muhammad bin Tughluq had died much earlier, in 1351. Furthermore, while Taimur led the overall campaign, it was his grandson, Pir Muhammad, who occupied Multan before Taimur crossed the Indus to join the main force. Statement 3 is incorrect: Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Calicut (Kerala) in 1498. At this time, the Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by Immadi Narasimha Raya of the Saluva Dynasty. Deva Raya II, of the Sangama Dynasty, ruled earlier from 1422 to 1446 and had been dead for over 50 years by the time the Portuguese arrived.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Nizamat of Arcot was established by Aurangzeb and was the legal dependency of the Nizam of Hyderabad, it did not emerge from the Hyderabad state. Statement 2 is correct: The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire. After Vijayanagar fell in 1565, the ruling dynasty of Wodeyars of Mysore asserted their independence. Statement 3 is incorrect: The state of Rohilakhand was felled out of the Afghan migration into India which took place in the mid-18th century. Ali Muhammad Khan took advantage of the collapse of authority in north India following Nadir Shah's invasion, to set up a petty kingdom, Rohilakhand.

Pair 1 is correctly matched. Bhilsa, also known as Vidisha, is located in the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh. It was the capital of the Sunga dynasty. Pair 2 is incorrect. Dwarasamudra, also known as Halebidu, is located in the present-day state of Karnataka, not Maharashtra. The Hoysalas dynasty ruled from the Dwarasamudra. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Girinagar, also known as Junagadh, is located in the present-day state of Gujarat. Mauryan period rock inscription found here. Pair 4 is incorrect. Sthanesvara, also known as Sthaneshwar or Thanesar, is located in the present-day state of Haryana, not Uttar Pradesh. It was the initial capital of the Vardhan dynasty.

Pallavas: The Pallava dynasty flourished in South India from around 275 CE to 897 CE. Mahendravarman I ruled from 600 to 630 CE, placing them as the earliest power to rise among the options provided. Palas: The Pala dynasty ruled in eastern India from roughly 750 to 1161 CE. Gopala's reign is estimated to be between 750 and 770 CE, making them chronologically after the Pallavas. Pratiharas: The Pratihara dynasty emerged in North India during the 8th century CE. King Bhoja's reign lasted from 836 to 885 CE, placing them later than both the Pallavas and Palas. Cholas: The Chola dynasty rose to prominence in South India around the 9th century CE. Parantaka I ruled from 907 to 955 CE, making them the latest power to establish themselves among the given options. Therefore, the correct chronological order is 2-4-1-3.

The phrase that best defines the nature of the Hundi generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period is: A bill of exchange. Hundi as a Financial Instrument: Hundis were instruments used in trade and credit transactions during the medieval period in India. Functions of a Bill of Exchange: A bill of exchange is a written order issued by one person (drawer) to another (drawee) to pay a specified sum of money to a third party (payee) at a future date. This aligns with the functionality of a Hundi. Merchants used Hundis to facilitate trade by - Securing Payments: They could issue a Hundi to the seller upon receiving goods, instructing their bank or agent (drawee) at the seller's location to pay the specified amount. - Obtaining Credit: Merchants could also use Hundis to obtain credit. They could draw a Hundi against future earnings and have it discounted by a money lender for immediate cash.

* Jahangir (reigned 1605-1627) was known for his keen interest in art and culture. While his predecessors valued illustrated manuscripts, Jahangir favoured a more personal approach to artistic expression. * He patronized artists like Bichitr, Mansur, and Abu’l Hasan, who excelled in portraiture. * He actively commissioned individual portraits and compiled albums showcasing a variety of subjects, including people, animals, and flora and fauna. This shift reflected a growing interest in realism and individual character studies within Mughal art during his reign.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Saint Nimbarka lived in the 13th or 14th century, while Akbar's reign was from 1556 to 1605. Statement 2 is incorrect. Saint Kabir lived in the 15th century, predating Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi who belonged to the 16th-17th century.

* The Vijayanagara Empire, which existed in Southern India from the 14th to 17th century, was known for its significant contributions to temple architecture. * One notable feature of temple construction during this period was the inclusion of 'Kalyana Mandapams' or marriage halls within temple complexes. These halls were used for conducting religious ceremonies, including weddings of the deities, as well as for community gatherings and festivals. * Hence, the correct option is C, the Vijayanagara Empire. * The other notable features of the Vijaynagar temple architecture are rai gopurams, chariot streets and charging horses carved on the temple pillar.

Statement 1 is correct: The 'Amil' was indeed the officer in charge of revenue collection in the revenue administration of the Delhi Sultanate. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Iqta system was not an ancient indigenous institution of India but was rather an administrative system borrowed from the Persianate world. It was introduced by the Delhi Sultanate, primarily under the rule of the Ghurid dynasty, to organize and administer their territories. Statement 3 is incorrect: The office of 'Mir Bakshi' was not established during the reign of the Khalji Sultans. It was introduced later during the Mughal period, under the reign of Emperor Akbar, as a military office responsible for managing the imperial army and its finances. Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.