Delhi Sultanate MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Delhi Sultanate - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Department of Military.

Key Points

• DIwan-i-Ariz was related to the Department of Military.
• It was firstly introduced by Balban.
• It was headed by Ariz-i-Mumalik.

Additional Information

• Wazir or the Prime Minister had great authority, and all the officers were appointed by him. He was the advisor of the Sultan in the administrative affairs. He was the head of the finance department. His duties were regulating the revenue settlement, fixing the taxes, and controlling the expense of the empire. His office was known as the diwan-i-wazarat.
• Diwan-i-Insha was in charge of the royal correspondence.
• Diwan-i-Insha ranked third in the administrative structure. 
• Diwan-i-risalat was the minister of foreign affairs.
• Diwan-i-Qaza was the head of the judicial department.
• Sadr-us-Sudur was the minister of the department of religion.

Hint

• Alauddin Khalji introduced the system of Dagh (branding) and huliya (description) and cash payment to the soldiers in order to strengthen his control over the army.

The correct answer is Firoz Shah Tughlaq.Key Points

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq was a Delhi Sultan of Tughlaq dynasty who ruled from 1351 to 1388 AD.
• He patronized the famous scholar Zia-ud-din Barani.
• The autobiography of Firoz Shah is Futuhat-i-Firozshahi.
• He took Ashoka's pillar of Topra and Meerut situated in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh respectively to Delhi in 1356 AD.
• These pillars contain the messages and policies of the Mauryan king Ashoka and is spread throughout the Indian subcontinent.

Additional Information

• Alauddin Khilji
  • ​Alauddin Khilji was the strongest ruler of the Khilji dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.
  • He ruled from 1296 to 1316 AD.
  • He is famous for bringing market reform measures.
  • He also introduced the dagh and chehra system in the military.
  • He expanded the territories of the Delhi Sultanate till South of India.
• Muhammad Ghori
  • ​Muhammad Ghori was an Islamic invader who invaded the Indian subcontinent in the late 12th century AD.
  • He fought two famous battles at Tarain with the Chauhan ruler of Ajmer, Prithviraj Chauhan.
  • He was defeated in the first battle of Tarain in 1191 AD while he won the second battle of Tarain in 1192 AD.
  • Qutub-ud-din Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sulatnate was a slave of Muhammad Ghori.
• Sikandar Lodi
  • ​Sikandar Lodi was the son of Bahlol Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dynasty.
  • He was the second and the strongest ruler of the Lodi dynasty who ruled from 1489 to 1517 AD.
  • He built the city of Agra and shifted the capital of Delhi Sultanate there.

The correct answer is 1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b​.

Key Points

• ​In 1329-30 Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced a token currency.
• The introduction of paying salaries in cash to the soldiers by the ​Alauddin Khalji led to price regulations popularly called as Market Reforms.
• Balban believed in the divine right the theory of kingship (representative of God on earth).
• ​Aibak patronized the great scholar Hasan Nizami.

Additional Information 

• Mahmud-bin-Tughlaq
  • Token Currency experiment 
    • ​In 1329-30 Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced a token currency.
    • There was a shortage of silver throughout the world in the fourteenth century.
    • Kublai Khan issued paper money in China.
    • In the same manner, Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued copper coins at par with the value of the silver tanka coins.
    • But he was not able to prevent forging the new coins.
    • The goldsmiths began to forge the token coins on a large scale.
    • Soon the new coins were not accepted in the markets.
    • Finally, Muhammad bin Tughlaq stopped the circulation of token currency and promised to exchange silver coins for the copper coins.
    • Many people exchanged the new coins but the treasury became empty.
    • According to the Barani, the heap of copper coins remained lying on the roadside in Tughlaqabad means his token currency experiment was unsuccessful.
• Alauddin Khalji
  • ​Alauddin Khalji treacherously murdered his father-in-law Jalaluddin Khalji and usurped the throne of Delhi in 1296.
  • The introduction of paying salaries in cash to the soldiers led to price regulations popularly called as Market Reforms.
  • Market Reforms
    • AlauddinKhalji established four separate markets in Delhi:
      • One for grain;
      • Another for cloth, sugar, dried fruits, butter and oil;
      • Third for horses, slaves and cattle;
      • Fourth for miscellaneous commodities.
    • Each market was under the control of a high officer called Shahna-i- Mandi.
    • A separate department called Diwani Riyasat was created under an officer called Naib-i-Riyasat.
    • Every merchant was registered under the Market department.
    • There were secret agents called munhiyans who sent reports to the Sultan regarding the functioning of these markets.
• Balban 
  • ​Second Ilbari dynasty (1266-1290) founded by Balban.
  • Ghiyasuddin Balban, who was also known as Ulugh Khan.
  • He believed in the divine right the theory of kingship (representative of God on earth).
  • Balban was all-powerful in the administration but he had to face the intrigues of his rivals in the royal court.
  • He destroyed the "group of forty" or the Turkish nobles.
• Qutbuddin Aibak
  • Qutbi dynasty (1206-1211) founded by Qutbuddin Aibak.
  • Qutbuddin Aibak was a slave of Muhammad Ghori, who made him the Governor of his Indian possessions.
  • ​Aibak patronized the great scholar Hasan Nizami.

The correct answer is Mohammad bin tuglaq.

• Diwan-i-amir-kohi department related to Agriculture Department was established by Mohammad Bin Tuglaq.

Key Points

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

Muhammad bin Tughlaq:

• Muhammad bin Tughlalq was the most controversial personality in medieval Indian history.
• He was a learned, cultured and talented prince but gained a reputation for being merciless, cruel and unjust.
• He was very tolerant of religious matters.
• His innovative reforms brought him a bad name, as they were not executed properly.
• During the time of Muhammad bin Tughlaq Vijaynagar(1336) and Bahamani(1347) emerged.
• Ibn Batuta, a Moroccan traveller visited Tughlaq. He recorded his observation in his book Qitab-ul-Rihla. Later he was sent to china as an ambassador of Tughlaq.
• Muhammad Bin Tughluq issued coins in large quantities with a greater number of mints which reflects the extent of his conquests.
  • His coinage is divided into different classes. Coins which were struck in the memory of his father, coins with his own name; coins with his own name which were struck both by normal and token issues, and the coins struck in the names of ‘Abbasid Caliphs’.
  • Coins which he issued in the memory of his father were issued in gold, silver, and billon.
  • Gold tanka which he issued usually weighed around 11g. But apart from gold tankas, he had issued a gold coin which weighed around 16g, which corresponds to four pagodas.
  • This Gold Tanka was called Dinar by Ibn Battuta. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • He introduced a silver coin, the Adlis, which was discontinued after seven years due to a lack of popularity and acceptance among his subjects.
• Token currency:
  • ​He introduced token currency or copper coins.
  • His main aim was to save precious metals like gold and silver and introduce more money in circulation. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
  • For this reason, copper coins were issued which had the same value as silver tanka.
  • But, Minting the copper coin was not retained as the monopoly of the government.
  • The goldsmiths began to forge the token coins on a large scale. Soon the new coins were not accepted in the markets.
  • Finally, the sultan stopped the circulation of token currency and promised to exchange silver coins for copper coins. Many people exchanged new coins but the treasury became empty.

The correct answer is Iltutmish​.

Key Points

• Iltutmish (1211-1236):
  • He succeeded to the throne after Qutub-ud-din-Aibak.
  • He was the third ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, belonging to the Mamluk dynasty.
  • He constituted corp of forty loyal slave Amirs known as Turkan-i-Chihalgani also called Chalisa.
  • He introduced the silver coin (tanka) and cooper coin (jittal).
  • He made Delhi the capital in place of Lahore.​

Additional Information

• Firoz Shah Tughlaq:
  • He was the third ruler of Tughlaq dynasty that ruled over Delhi from 1351 to 1388 AD.
  • He established the Diwan-i-Khairat - office for charity
  • He established the Diwan-i-Bundagan -- department of slave
  • He is known to establish four new towns, Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur and Hissar.
  • He appointed Khan-i-Jahan Maqbal, a Telugu Brahmin convert as wazir (prime minister). 
    • The wazir helped the Sultan in his administration and maintained the prestige of the Sultanate during this period.
• Mohammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351):
  • He shifted his capital from Delhi to Deogir and renamed it as Daulatabad.
  • Daulatabad is situated in Maharashtra. 
  • He built a road from Delhi to Deogir and also set up rest houses for the people.
  • He introduced bronze coins of the same value as Silver coins.
  • He established a new department of agriculture known as “Diwan-i-Kohi".
  • He also provided agricultural loan “Takavi” to the farmers.
• Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah (1580-1612):
  • He was the fifth sultan of the Qutub Shahi dynasty of Golkonda
  • He founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India and built its architectural centrepiece, the Charminar. 
  • He founded the city of Hyderabad and named it as Bhagyanagar after his Hindu mistress Bhagamati.​

The correct answer is Khilji.

Important Points

•  Hence the Khilji Dynasty ruled for the shortest.

Additional Information

• Lodhi dynasty from 1451 to 1526 AD (75 Year).
• Longest duration-Tughlaq Dynasty.
• Shortest duration-Khilji Dynasty.

The correct answer is "Punjab"

Key Points  Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq: 

• He crushed the revolts in the unfriendly provinces with sturdy influence and resorted to harmony, law, and order
• He structured an improved postal system
• He encouraged agriculture in his Era.

Additional Information

Ala-ud-din Khilji:

• The system of administration as set up by him was thorough and efficient.
• Sultan Alauddin maintained peace and order throughout the vast empire.
• He employed a large number of spies and they kept him informed of the activities of the people and their reactions to the measures of the Government.
• He fixed the price of commodities at a low level and his regulation of the market is one of the marvels of medieval statesmanship.
• He was also a patron of architecture and arts. He caused a new town to be built near Delhi.
• He also constructed a fairly large number of schools, inns, and mosques in different parts of his Empire.
• Amir Khusrau, the famous poet, was one of the many literary artists who enjoyed his patronage.

Important Points   Chronology of the Delhi Sultanate

• Amir Khusrau was a prolific classical poet associated with the royal courts of emperors.
• He was a Sufi musician, poet and scholar from India around the 13th century.
• He is also called “father of qawwali” and is credited with the creation of qawwali form.
• He became a disciple of Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Auliya.
• He also brought into circulation the two specific musical genres of 'Tarana' and 'Kaul', which complemented the prevalent array of musical forms.
• Alaudin khilji appreciated poetry and invited many poets to his courts but khusro was honoured and respected in his court and given the title” Amir”.
• The famous poet Amir Khusrau composed poetry in Urdu.

The correct answer is Department of Military.

Key Points

• DIwan-i-Ariz was related to the Department of Military.
• It was firstly introduced by Balban.
• It was headed by Ariz-i-Mumalik.

Additional Information

• Wazir or the Prime Minister had great authority, and all the officers were appointed by him. He was the advisor of the Sultan in the administrative affairs. He was the head of the finance department. His duties were regulating the revenue settlement, fixing the taxes, and controlling the expense of the empire. His office was known as the diwan-i-wazarat.
• Diwan-i-Insha was in charge of the royal correspondence.
• Diwan-i-Insha ranked third in the administrative structure. 
• Diwan-i-risalat was the minister of foreign affairs.
• Diwan-i-Qaza was the head of the judicial department.
• Sadr-us-Sudur was the minister of the department of religion.

Hint

• Alauddin Khalji introduced the system of Dagh (branding) and huliya (description) and cash payment to the soldiers in order to strengthen his control over the army.

​The correct answer is Bahlul Lodi.

Key Points

• The Lodi dynasty was founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi.
  • The Lodi dynasty was an Afghan dynasty.
  • The Lodi dynasty was the last dynasty in Delhi Sultanate, ruled from 1451 to 1526.
  • Sikandar Lodi was the son of Bahlul founded Agra in 1504.
  • Ibrahim Lodi was the son of Sikandar Lodi and he was the last Lodi Sultan of Delhi.
• The Mughal emperor Babur defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi in the Battle of Panipat, in 1526.
• The death of Ibrahim Lodi ended the 320 years long Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire replaced it.

The correct answer is option 4 i.e., Qutub-ud-din Aibak

• Qutub-ud-din Aibak was the founder of the Slave dynasty in India, who ruled from 1206 to 1210.
• Qutub-ud-din Aibak was also known as Lakh Baksha Sultan because of his generosity.
• He laid the foundation of Qutub Minar which was later completed by Iltutmish.
• The Quwwat-al-Islam mosque was also commissioned by him.
• He built the famous 'Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra' mosque in the city of Ajmer, Rajasthan.
• In 1210, while playing Chaugan, he fell from the horse and died. His tomb is located in Anarkali Bazaar at Lahore.

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.
• 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.

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

The correct answer is Ibrahim.

Key Points

• In the Battle of Khatoli (1517) Rana Sanga of Mewar defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodhi and imprisoned him and then released him after collecting ransom.
• Ibrahim Lodhi (1517 AD-1526 AD):
  • He was the last king of the Lodhi dynasty and the last sultan of Delhi.
  • He was the son of Sikandar Lodhi.
  • Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of Punjab, invited Babur to overthrow Ibrahim.
  • He captured Gwalior and was defeated by Rana Sanga of Mewar.
  • He was defeated and killed at the hands of Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD.

Additional Information

• The Sisodiya ruler of Mewar (1433 AD-1468 AD):
  • Rana Kumbha was a famous ruler of Mewar. 
  • He defeated Mohammad Khilji and erected the Tower of Victory (Vijay-Stambha) in Chittor.
  • His successors Rana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) and Rana Pratap were also great kings of the Mewar state.

Important Points

• ​Sikandar Lodhi established Agra city in 1504.
• He shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1506.
• Slave Dynasty was established in Northern India by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, a Turkish Mamluk slave general from Central Asia.
• He became the ruler of an independent kingdom that evolved into the Delhi Sultanate ruled by the Mamluk dynasty.
• He constructed a Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi and Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer.
• He initiated the construction of Qutb Minar which was completed by Iltutmish.

The correct answer is The Tughlaq dynasty.

Key Points

• Tamerlane or Timur marched into India with his army and reached Delhi in the year 1398. 
• Attacking the Delhi Sultanate ruled by Sultan Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq.
• He started his journey from Samarkand. After crossing the Sindh river, he entered Punjab.
• He crossed Indus and captured Multan, and just walked over to Delhi without much resistance.
• Hence Tughlaq dynasty is the answer.

Additional Information

• Five dynasties ruled over the Delhi Sultanate sequentially:
  • Mamluk dynasty (1206–1290)
  • Khalji dynasty (1290–1320)
  • Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414)
  • Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451)
  • Lodi dynasty (1451–1526)