Arab and Turkish Invasions MCQ: Mahmud Ghaznavi, Firdausi & Muhammad Ghori's Conquest

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.What was the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire?

   • A.Kabul
   • B.Lahore
   • C.Ghazni✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Baghdad

   Explanation: Alaptegin, the founder of the Ghaznavid Empire, had made Ghazni his capital.

2. Q2.Which title was given to Mahmud Ghaznavi by the Caliph of Baghdad?

   • A.Sultan-e-Azam
   • B.Yamin-ud-Daula✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Lakh Bakhsh
   • D.Sipahasalaar

   Explanation: Baghdad's Caliph Al Qadir-Billah titled Mahmud Ghaznavi as 'Yamin-ud-Daula' and 'Amin-al-Millah'.

3. Q3.The famous court poet who wrote 'Shahnama' and was known as 'Homer of the East' is:

   • A.Utbi
   • B.Alberuni
   • C.Firdausi✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Ferishta

   Explanation: Firdausi was a famous court poet of Mahmud Ghaznavi who wrote Shahnama and earned the title 'Homer of the East'.

4. Q4.Which ruler of Bengal fled without fighting when Bakhtiyar Khalji invaded?

   • A.Dharmapala
   • B.Devapala
   • C.Lakshmana Sena✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Ballal Sena

   Explanation: Lakshmana Sena, the ruler of Bengal, left without actually fighting when Bakhtiyar Khalji invaded from 1198 to 1203.

5. Q5.Who is the author of 'Kitab-ul-Yamini'?

   • A.Alberuni
   • B.Firdausi
   • C.Utbi✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Hasan Nizami

   Explanation: Utbi, the court historian of Mahmud Ghaznavi, wrote texts like 'Kitab-ul-Yamini' and 'Tarikh-i-Yamini'.

6. Q6.In which year did Prophet Hazrat Muhammad die?

   • A.570 A.D.
   • B.622 A.D.
   • C.632 A.D.✓ Correct Answer
   • D.712 A.D.

   Explanation: Prophet Hazrat Muhammad was born in 570 A.D. and died in 632 A.D. [cite: 4]

7. Q7.Who referred to India as 'Hindustan'?

   • A.Greeks
   • B.Iranians✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Arabs
   • D.Chinese

   Explanation: Iranians addressed this country as 'Hindustan' and Greeks called this as 'India'. [cite: 4]

8. Q8.Who led the first unsuccessful Arab expedition to India before Muhammad-Bin Qasim?

   • A.Budail
   • B.Ubaidullah✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Al-Hajjaj
   • D.Dahir

   Explanation: Before 712 AD, a campaign was undertaken to India under the leadership of Ubaidullah but he was defeated and killed. [cite: 4]

9. Q9.During whose reign did Mahmud Ghaznavi plunder the Somnath Temple?

   • A.Prithviraj Chauhan
   • B.Bhimdev I✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Mularaja II
   • D.Vidyadhar

   Explanation: Mahmud Ghaznavi plundered Somnath Temple during the reign of Bhimdev I (1022-63). [cite: 4]

10. Q10.Which scholar translated Alberuni's 'Kitab-ul-Hind' into English?

    • A.Raverty
    • B.Sachau✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Elliot
    • D.William Jones

    Explanation: Sachau translated the text 'Tahqiq-i-hind' (Kitab-ul-Hind) from Arabic into the English language. [cite: 4]

11. Q11.What was inscribed on the silver coins introduced by Mahmud Ghaznavi?

    • A.Kalma in Arabic only
    • B.Image of Goddess Lakshmi
    • C.Sanskrit legend in Devnagari script✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Portrait of the King

    Explanation: The coins had a Sanskrit legend in Devnagari script on one side: 'Avyaktmekam Muhammad Avatar Nurupati Mahmud'. [cite: 4]

12. Q12.When did Shihabuddin Muhammad Ghori first invade India?

    • A.1175 AD✓ Correct Answer
    • B.1178 AD
    • C.1191 AD
    • D.1192 AD

    Explanation: Shihabuddin Muhammad Ghori first invaded India in 1175 AD. [cite: 4]

13. Q13.Who led the army that defeated Muhammad Ghori near Mount Abu in 1178 AD?

    • A.Prithviraj Chauhan
    • B.Naayika Devi✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Vidyadhar
    • D.Jaichand

    Explanation: Mularaja-II or Bhima-II defeated Ghori under the leadership of his courageous widowed mother Naayika Devi. [cite: 4]

14. Q14.According to Hasan Nizami, what happened to Prithviraj Chauhan after the Second Battle of Tarain?

    • A.He was killed on the battlefield
    • B.He escaped to Nepal
    • C.He accepted Ghori's allegiance but was killed for conspiring✓ Correct Answer
    • D.He ruled independently in Ajmer

    Explanation: Hasan Nizami states that Prithviraj went to Ajmer, accepted Ghori's allegiance, but was awarded the death penalty for conspiring. [cite: 4]

15. Q15.Where is Chandawar, the site of the battle between Ghori and Jaychand, located?

    • A.Near Agra
    • B.Near Firuzabad✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Near Delhi
    • D.Near Kanpur

    Explanation: Chandawar is situated in the present Firuzabad district near the banks of Yamuna. [cite: 4]

16. Q16.Which administrative system was introduced in Northern India soon after Ghori's victories?

    • A.Mansabdari System
    • B.Iqta System✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Zamindari System
    • D.Dahsala System

    Explanation: Soon after the victories of Muhammad Ghori, the 'Iqta system' was introduced in Northern India. [cite: 4]

17. Q17.To which post was Qutbuddin Aibak promoted by Ghori before being made in-charge of Indian territories?

    • A.Amir-e-Shikar
    • B.Amir-e-Akhur✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Wazir
    • D.Sipahasalaar

    Explanation: Ghori promoted him to the post of Amir-e-Akhur (Master of Royal Stables). [cite: 6]

18. Q18.Which city did Bakhtiyar Khalji make his capital?

    • A.Nadia
    • B.Lakhnauti✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Munger
    • D.Patna

    Explanation: Bakhtiyar Khalji made Lakhnauti his capital after invading Bengal. [cite: 4]

19. Q19.According to Professor Habib, what revolution did the Turkish victory give birth to?

    • A.Agricultural Revolution
    • B.Industrial Revolution
    • C.Urban and Rural Revolution✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Cultural Revolution

    Explanation: According to Professor Habib, the victory of North-Western province by Turks gave birth to 'Urban Revolution' and 'Rural Revolution'. [cite: 4]

20. Q20.Which Sanskrit text did Alberuni translate into Arabic as 'Kitab Patanjal'?

    • A.Bhagavad Gita
    • B.Patanjali's Yoga-Sutra✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Manusmriti
    • D.Ramayana

    Explanation: Alberuni translated Patanjali's Yoga-Sutra into Arabic called Kitab Patanjal. [cite: 4]