Here are 100 most important questions on Medieval History of India with one or two-word answers, useful for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, and Railways.
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Early Medieval India (750–1206 AD)
1. Which dynasty ruled over Kannauj after Harsha? → Gurjara-Pratiharas
2. Who founded the Pala dynasty? → Gopala
3. Which dynasty ruled over South India before the Cholas? → Pallavas
4. Who was the greatest ruler of the Chola dynasty? → Raja Raja I
5. Which famous temple was built by Raja Raja Chola? → Brihadeshwara Temple
6. Who succeeded Raja Raja Chola I? → Rajendra Chola I
7. Which Chola ruler extended his empire to Sri Lanka? → Rajendra Chola I
8. Which Rashtrakuta king defeated the Pratiharas and Palas? → Dhruva
9. Who built the famous Kailasa Temple at Ellora? → Krishna I
10. What was the capital of the Chalukyas? → Badami
11. Who defeated Harsha in the Battle of Narmada? → Pulakesin II
12. Who revived the Chola dynasty in the 9th century? → Vijayalaya Chola
13. Who was the last ruler of the Pratihara dynasty? → Rajyapala
14. Who wrote Rajatarangini, the history of Kashmir? → Kalhana
15. Who was the founder of the Hoysala dynasty? → Sala
Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 AD)
16. Who was the first Sultan of Delhi? → Qutb-ud-din Aibak
17. Which dynasty founded the Delhi Sultanate? → Slave dynasty
18. Who built the Qutub Minar? → Qutb-ud-din Aibak
19. Which ruler completed the construction of Qutub Minar? → Iltutmish
20. Who introduced the Iqta system? → Iltutmish
21. Who was the first female ruler of India? → Razia Sultana
22. Who was the founder of the Khalji dynasty? → Jalal-ud-din Khalji
23. Who introduced the market control policy? → Alauddin Khalji
24. Which Mongol invader attacked India during Alauddin Khalji’s rule? → Duwa Khan
25. Who introduced the first standing army in India? → Alauddin Khalji
26. Who was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty? → Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
27. Who shifted the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad? → Muhammad bin Tughlaq
28. Who introduced token currency in India? → Muhammad bin Tughlaq
29. Who was the last ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty? → Nasir-ud-din Mahmud
30. Which dynasty ruled after the Tughlaqs? → Sayyid dynasty
31. Who was the founder of the Sayyid dynasty? → Khizr Khan
32. Who was the last ruler of the Sayyid dynasty? → Ala-ud-din Alam Shah
33. Which dynasty ruled Delhi before the Mughals? → Lodhi dynasty
34. Who was the founder of the Lodhi dynasty? → Bahlul Lodhi
35. Who was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate? → Ibrahim Lodhi
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Mughal Empire (1526–1857 AD)
36. Who founded the Mughal Empire? → Babur
37. In which battle did Babur defeat Ibrahim Lodhi? → First Battle of Panipat
38. Which battle marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate? → First Battle of Panipat
39. Who succeeded Babur? → Humayun
40. Who defeated Humayun at the Battle of Chausa? → Sher Shah Suri
41. Who built the Grand Trunk Road? → Sher Shah Suri
42. Which Mughal emperor re-established Mughal rule in India? → Akbar
43. Which battle was fought between Akbar and Hemu? → Second Battle of Panipat
44. What was Akbar’s religious policy called? → Din-i-Ilahi
45. Who built the Buland Darwaza? → Akbar
46. Where is Fatehpur Sikri located? → Uttar Pradesh
47. Who built the Ibadat Khana? → Akbar
48. Who was the first Mughal ruler to introduce Mansabdari system? → Akbar
49. Who was the famous court historian of Akbar’s time? → Abul Fazl
50. Who wrote Ain-i-Akbari? → Abul Fazl
51. Who built the Taj Mahal? → Shah Jahan
52. Which Mughal emperor built the Red Fort in Delhi? → Shah Jahan
53. Who was the last great Mughal ruler? → Aurangzeb
54. Which Mughal ruler banned music and dance? → Aurangzeb
55. Who was the last Mughal emperor? → Bahadur Shah II
56. Which battle led to the downfall of the Mughals? → Battle of Buxar
Regional Kingdoms & European Invasion
57. Who was the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire? → Harihara I & Bukka I
58. In which battle was the Vijayanagara Empire defeated? → Battle of Talikota
59. Who was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire? → Krishnadevaraya
60. Who wrote Amuktamalyada? → Krishnadevaraya
61. Which Bahmani ruler was known as the "Alexander of the Deccan"? → Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah
62. Who was the founder of the Maratha Empire? → Shivaji
63. Who introduced Guerrilla warfare in India? → Shivaji
64. Who was the last powerful ruler of the Marathas? → Baji Rao I
65. Where did Vasco da Gama land in India? → Calicut
66. In which year did Vasco da Gama arrive in India? → 1498
67. Which European power established the first factory in India? → Portuguese
68. Who was the first British Governor-General of India? → Warren Hastings
69. When was the Battle of Plassey fought? → 1757
70. Who won the Battle of Plassey? → British East India Company