MEDIEVAL INDIA PREVIOUS YEAR www.laex.in 9141 21 29 29 / 9121 44 29 29 (Bangalore) Civilsprep.com 9052 29 29 29 / 9052 49 29 29 (Hyderabad) Medieval History Upsc Previous Year Questions www.laexias.com https://elearn.laex.in m Medieval History Upsc Previous Year Questions 1. Feudalism 01 - 01 2. Early medieval period 750 to 1200 AD(tripartite struggle) 01 - 02 3. Early medieval period 750 to 1200 AD(ruler of South India) 02 - 04 4. Delhi Sultanate 04 - 08 5. Regional Kingdom 08 - 10 6. Vijayanagar Kingdom 10- 13 7. Bahmani Kingdom 13 - 14 8. Bhakti and Sufi movement 14 - 19 9. Mughal Empire 21 - 27 10. Maratha Empire 27 - 28 11. Miscellaneous topics 28 - 31 www.laexias.com https://elearn.laex.in m Medieval History Upsc Previous Year Questions Medieval History Previous Year Questions 1. Feudalism 5) The fragmentation of political authority. 1. With reference to Indian history, Educational objective: to know about which of the following are the impact feudalism. essential clement/elements of the feudal system? 2. Early medieval period 750 to 1200 1) A very strong centralized political AD (tripartite struggle) authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority 1. Who among the following laid 2) Emergence of administrative foundation of Rashtrakuta structure based on control and Empire? possession of land a) Amoghavarsha I 3) Creation of lord-vassal relationship b) Dantidurga between the feudal lord and his c) Dhruva overlord d) Krishna I Select the correct answer using the code given below. 2. Consider the following statements: a) l and 2 only 1) The Ikshvaku rulers of Southern b) 2 and 3 only India were antagonistic towards c) 3 only Buddhism. d) 1, 2 and 3 2) The Pala rulers of Eastern India were patrons of Buddhism. 1. Feudalism Which of the statements given above Key & Explanation is/are correct? a) 1 only 1. Key: B b) 2 only Explanation: c) Both 1 and 2 The classic study of feudalism have d) Neither 1 nor 2 highlight its five basic characteristics: 1) A peasantry subjected to the control of 2. Early medieval period 750 to a landlord class; 1200 AD (tripartite struggle) 2) The fief rather than a salary as a Key & Explanation mode of payment of landlords’ Officials; 1 Key: B 3) The political supremacy of a class of Explanation: specialized warriors with land The Rashtrakutas considered Lordship and military leadership themselves descendants of Satyaki. fused; Historians differ on the question of 4) Vassalage or the close personal ties their origins. between a vassal and his Overlord It is evident from a few Chalukya signified by the vassal’s swearing of kings’ inscriptions that they were vassals of the Chalukyas. an oath of fealty; 1 www.laexias.com https://elearn.laex.in m Medieval History Upsc Previous Year Questions Rashtrakutas were of Kannada origin including the Somapura Mahavihara, and their mother tongue was and patronised the great universities Kannada. of Nalanda and Vikramashila. Dantivarman or Dantidurga (735 – Educational Objective: To learn about 756) was the founder of the Ikshavaku and Pala rulers Rashtrakutas dynasty. Dantidurga occupied all territories 3. Early medieval period 750 to 1200 between the Godavari and Vima. He is said to have conquered Kalinga, AD (the ruler of South India) Kosala, Kanchi, Srisril, Malava, Lata etc. and occupied Maharashtra by 1. Consider the following statements: defeating Chalukya King Kirtivarma. 1) The Cholas defeated Pandya and Educational Objective: Rashtrakuta Chera rulers and established their Empire domination over peninsular India in the early medieval times. 2. Key: B 2) The Cholas sent an expedition against Explanation: Shailendra Empire of South East Asia The Ikshvaku dynasty ruled in the and conqured some of the areas. eastern Krishna River valley of India, Which of these statements is/are from their capital at Vijayapuri (modern correct Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh) a) Only 1 during approximately 3rd and 4th b) 2 only centuries CE. The Ikshvakus are also c) Both 1 and2 known as the Andhra d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ikshvakus or Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri to distinguish them from their legendary namesakes. 2. Which one of the Chola kings The Ikshvaku kings conquered Ceylon? were Shaivites and a) Aditya I performed Vedic rites, b) Rajaraja I but Buddhism also flourished during c) Rajendra their reign. Several Ikshvaku queens d) Vijayalaya and princes contributed to the construction of the Buddhist monuments at present- 3. The initial design and day Nagarjunakonda. construction of which massive The Pala Empire was an imperial temple took place during the power during the Late Classical reign of Suryavarman II period on the Indian subcontinent, a) Sri Mariamman Temple which originated in the region b) Angkor Vat of Bengal. It is named after its ruling c) Batu Caves Temple dynasty, whose rulers bore names ending with the suffix d) Kamakhya Temple of Pala ("protector" in Sanskrit). They were followers of 4. Which one of the following was a the Mahayana and Tantric schools very important sea port in the of Buddhism. The empire was founded Kakatiya kingdom ? with the election of Gopala as the a) Kakinada emperor of Gauda in 750 CE.They b) Motupalli built grand temples and monasteries, c) Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam) 2 www.laexias.com https://elearn.laex.in m Medieval History Upsc Previous Year Questions d) Nelluru Kalinga, and defeating the Western Chalukyas in particular. 5. India maintained its early His empire extended from Kalinga in the cultural contacts and trade links northeast to Sri Lanka in the south. with Southeast Asia across the He was succeeded by his son, Rajendra I, Bay of Bengal. For this pre- who further glorified the Chola Empire, by eminence of early maritime invading Maldives, Malabar Coast, and the history of Bay of Bengal, which of remaining regions of Sri Lanka. Rajendra’s the following could be the most territories extended to coastal Burma, the convincing explanation/ Andaman and Nicobar Islands, explanations? Lakshadweep, Maldives, conquering the a) As compared to other countries, India kings of Srivijaya and the Pegu islands had a better ship-building technology with his fleet of ships. in ancient and medieval times The Cholas sent an expedition against b) The rulers of southern India always Shailendra Empire of South East Asia and patronized traders, brahmin priests conquered some of the areas. and buddhist monks in this context Educational Objective: Chola and their c) Monsoon winds across the Bay of expansion Bengal facilitated sea voyages d) Both (a) and (b) are convincing 2. Key: C explanations in this context Explanation: Raja Raja Chola I conquered the northern half of Sri Lanka during his reign. 3. Early medieval period 750 to 1200 Rajendra invaded Ceylon in 1017 CE and AD (the ruler of South India) annexed the entire island. As a result of the Key & Explanation campaign, Rajendra captured the regal jewels of the Pandyas, which Parantaka I 1. Key: C tried to capture and the crown of the Explanation: Sinhala king. Raja Raja Chola I was one of the greatest Educational Objective: Chola and their monarchs in Tamil history. He rose to expansion prominence by bringing glory to the Chola Empire and building it as a powerful and 3. Key: B strong kingdom. Explanation: Right after his accession, he began a series Suryavarman II was a Khmer king from of conquests in South India to conquer the 1113 AD to 1145-1150 AD and the builder kingdoms of the Pandyas and the Cheras. of Angkor Wat, the largest religious By proceeding further south, he invaded monument in the world which he dedicated Ceylon, with which began a century-long to the Hindu God Vishnu. His reign's control of the Chola Empire over the entire monumental architecture, numerous island. military campaigns and restoration of The southern military wars were followed strong government have led historians to by conquests in the north and northeast, rank Suryavarman as one of the empire's namely the capturing of Gangapadi, greatest kings. Nolambapadi, Tadigaipadi, Vengi, and 3 www.laexias.com https://elearn.laex.in m Medieval History Upsc Previous Year Questions Educational Objective: India’s early the Abbasid Kalifat at Baghdad were the cultural contacts and trade links with main trading partners. Southeast Asia Educational Objective: India’s early cultural contacts and trade links with 4. Key: B Southeast Asia Explanation: Motupalli was the famous trading sea port 4. Delhi Sultanate of the Kakatiyas. Marco Polo- the famous Venetian traveler 1. Consider the following statements: visited Kakatiya kingdom through this port 1) In the revenue administration of and wrote about the prosperity and power Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of in Andhra desha in his travelogue. revenue collection was known as Educational Objective: To know about 'Amil'. the Kakatiya kingdom 2) The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution. 5. Key: D 3) The office of Mir Bakshi came into existence during the reign of Khalji Explanation: Sultans of Delhi. As compared to other countries, India had a Which of the statements given above better ship-building technology in ancient is/are correct? and medieval times. The robust navy of a) 1 only Chola is the reflection of the same. b) 1 and 2 only The rulers of southern India always c) 3 only patronized traders, brahmin priests and d) 1,2 and 3 buddhist monks . For example, The Cholas excelled in foreign trade and maritime 2. The Mongols under Chengez Khan activity, extending their influence overseas invaded India duringthe reign of to China and Southeast Asia. Towards the a) Balban b) Feroze Tughlaq end of the 9th century, southern India had c) Iltutmish developed extensive maritime and d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq commercial activity.