Delhi Sultanate MCQ: Coinage, Vijayanagara Empire & the First Battle of Panipat

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

1. Q1.Who destroyed the Nalanda University?

   • A.Mahmud Ghazni
   • B.Muhammad Ghori
   • C.Bakhtiyar Khalji✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Qutbuddin Aibak

   Explanation: Bakhtiyar Khalji, a general of Muhammad Ghori, destroyed the ancient Nalanda University around 1200 AD.

2. Q2.Which Sultanate ruler introduced the silver coin 'Tanka' and copper coin 'Jital'?

   • A.Qutbuddin Aibak
   • B.Iltutmish✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Balban
   • D.Alauddin Khalji

   Explanation: Iltutmish introduced the silver 'Tanka' and copper 'Jital'. He is considered the father of the currency system of the Sultanate.

3. Q3.The first true arch in the Sultanate architecture appears in:

   • A.Tomb of Iltutmish
   • B.Tomb of Balban✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Alai Darwaza
   • D.Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque

   Explanation: The true arch first appeared in the Tomb of Balban in Delhi.

4. Q4.Who built the 'Hauz Khas' in Delhi?

   • A.Alauddin Khalji✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Iltutmish
   • C.Firoz Shah Tughluq
   • D.Sikandar Lodi

   Explanation: Alauddin Khalji constructed a large tank known as 'Hauz-i-Alai' or 'Hauz Khas' for supplying water to Siri Fort.

5. Q5.The 'Ashtadiggajas' were the eight celebrated poets in the court of:

   • A.Harihara I
   • B.Krishnadeva Raya✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Deva Raya II
   • D.Shivaji

   Explanation: Krishnadeva Raya's court was adorned by the 'Ashtadiggajas', the eight great Telugu poets.

6. Q6.Who wrote the famous Telugu work 'Amuktamalyada'?

   • A.Allasani Peddana
   • B.Tenali Rama
   • C.Krishnadeva Raya✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Nandi Thimmana

   Explanation: The Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadeva Raya wrote 'Amuktamalyada' in Telugu on statecraft.

7. Q7.Which foreign traveler visited Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Deva Raya I?

   • A.Nicolo Conti✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Abdur Razzaq
   • C.Domingo Paes
   • D.Nuniz

   Explanation: Nicolo Conti, an Italian traveler, visited the Vijayanagara Empire around 1420 AD during the reign of Deva Raya I.

8. Q8.The ruins of Hampi are located in which state?

   • A.Karnataka✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Andhra Pradesh
   • C.Tamil Nadu
   • D.Telangana

   Explanation: The ruins of Hampi, the ancient capital of Vijayanagara, are located in Karnataka on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.

9. Q9.The Battle of Talikota (1565 AD) led to the downfall of:

   • A.Bahmani Kingdom
   • B.Vijayanagara Empire✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Delhi Sultanate
   • D.Mughal Empire

   Explanation: The Battle of Talikota (Rakshasi-Tangadi) in 1565 AD led to the destruction and downfall of the Vijayanagara Empire.

10. Q10.Who was the most famous Wazir of the Bahmani Kingdom?

    • A.Mahmud Gawan✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Malik Amber
    • C.Chand Bibi
    • D.Mir Jumla

    Explanation: Mahmud Gawan was the famous Prime Minister (Wazir) of the Bahmani Kingdom under Muhammad Shah III. He built a Madrasa at Bidar.

11. Q11.Which ruler of Kashmir built the artificial island 'Zaina Lanka' in Wular Lake?

    • A.Zain-ul-Abidin✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Sikandar Shah
    • C.Ali Shah
    • D.Shahi Khan

    Explanation: Zain-ul-Abidin built the artificial island 'Zaina Lanka' in the Wular Lake.

12. Q12.The Sharqi dynasty ruled from which city?

    • A.Jaunpur✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Malwa
    • C.Gujarat
    • D.Bengal

    Explanation: The Sharqi dynasty ruled from Jaunpur. It was known as 'Shiraz-i-Hind' due to its cultural prominence.

13. Q13.Who introduced the coin named 'Sashgani'?

    • A.Alauddin Khalji
    • B.Firoz Shah Tughluq✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Bahlul Lodi
    • D.Sikandar Lodi

    Explanation: Firoz Shah Tughluq introduced a six-jital coin known as 'Sashgani'.

14. Q14.In the Sultanate period, 'Fawazil' meant:

    • A.Extra revenue sent to the centre✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Religious tax
    • C.Salary of soldiers
    • D.Bribe

    Explanation: 'Fawazil' was the surplus revenue remitted to the central treasury by the Iqta-holders after meeting their expenses.

15. Q15.Which Sufi Saint's dargah is at Ajmer?

    • A.Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Baba Farid
    • C.Nizamuddin Auliya
    • D.Salim Chishti

    Explanation: The Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is located at Ajmer. He established the Chishti order in India.

16. Q16.Who wrote 'Tabaqat-i-Nasiri'?

    • A.Minhaj-us-Siraj✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Hasan Nizami
    • C.Ziauddin Barani
    • D.Amir Khusrau

    Explanation: Minhaj-us-Siraj wrote 'Tabaqat-i-Nasiri'. It is an important source of history for the early Sultanate period.

17. Q17.Which Lodi ruler was defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat?

    • A.Bahlul Lodi
    • B.Sikandar Lodi
    • C.Ibrahim Lodi✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Daulat Khan Lodi

    Explanation: Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat on 21 April 1526, marking the end of the Delhi Sultanate.

18. Q18.Which system was introduced by Alauddin Khalji to maintain the quality of horses?

    • A.Dagh
    • B.Chehra
    • C.Both Dagh and Chehra✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Iqta

    Explanation: Alauddin Khalji introduced 'Dagh' (branding of horses) and 'Chehra' (descriptive roll of soldiers) to prevent corruption.

19. Q19.Who was the first Sultan to maintain a 'Standing Army' paid in cash?

    • A.Iltutmish
    • B.Balban
    • C.Alauddin Khalji✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Firoz Tughluq

    Explanation: Alauddin Khalji was the first Sultan of Delhi to maintain a large standing army paid directly in cash from the royal treasury.

20. Q20.Which of the following sequences of Delhi Sultanate dynasties is correct?

    • A.Slave-Khalji-Tughluq-Sayyid-Lodi✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Slave-Tughluq-Khalji-Lodi-Sayyid
    • C.Khalji-Slave-Tughluq-Sayyid-Lodi
    • D.Slave-Khalji-Tughluq-Lodi-Sayyid

    Explanation: The correct chronological order is: Slave (1206-1290), Khalji (1290-1320), Tughluq (1320-1414), Sayyid (1414-1451), Lodi (1451-1526).