Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
Who was the author of the 'Ain-i-Akbari'?
Answer
Abul Fazl.
Question
How many books is the 'Ain-i-Akbari' divided into?
Answer
Five.
Question
The first book of the 'Ain-i-Akbari' deals with the _____ and its maintenance.
Answer
Imperial household
Question
The second book of the 'Ain-i-Akbari' provides information on the servants of the emperor and the _____ services.
Answer
Military and civil
Question
What is the primary focus of the third book of the 'Ain-i-Akbari'?
Answer
Imperial administration and judicial/executive regulations.
Question
Which book of the 'Ain-i-Akbari' contains information about Hindu philosophy, science, and social customs?
Answer
The fourth book.
Question
The fifth book of the 'Ain-i-Akbari' contains the wise sayings of which emperor?
Answer
Akbar.
Question
Where is the Taj Mahal located?
Answer
Agra, on the banks of the River Yamuna.
Question
Who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal?
Answer
Shah Jahan.
Question
What is the name of the decorative method used in the Taj Mahal involving semi-precious stones inlaid in marble?
Answer
Pietra dura.
Question
The central dome of the Taj Mahal rises to a height of $56.1$m.
Answer
$56.1$m
Question
What is the shape of the interior chamber of the Taj Mahal?
Answer
Octagonal.
Question
Which building is considered the biggest mosque in India?
Answer
The Jama Masjid.
Question
How many steps lead to the northern gate of the Jama Masjid?
Answer
$39$ steps.
Question
Why did Shah Jahan build the Red Fort in Delhi?
Answer
He decided to shift his capital from Agra to Delhi.
Question
What are the primary construction materials used for the Red Fort?
Answer
Red sandstone and marble.
Question
What is the name of the western gateway of the Red Fort used for ceremonial purposes?
Answer
The Lahori Gate.
Question
In the Red Fort, which lavishly ornamented hall housed the Peacock Throne?
Answer
The Diwan-i-Khas.
Question
Who added the Moti Masjid to the Red Fort complex?
Answer
Aurangzeb.
Question
What was the full name of the first Mughal emperor, Babur?
Answer
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur.
Question
Babur was a descendant of which Mongol ruler?
Answer
Timur.
Question
Which Governor of Punjab invited Babur to India to oust Ibrahim Lodhi?
Answer
Daulat Khan Lodhi.
Question
In which $1526$ battle did Babur defeat Ibrahim Lodhi?
Answer
The First Battle of Panipat.
Question
The Battle of Khanwa ($1527$) was fought between Babur and which Rajput ruler?
Answer
Rana Sanga of Mewar.
Question
Against which combined forces did Babur fight at the Battle of Ghagra in $1529$?
Answer
The Afghans and Nusrat Shah of Bengal.
Question
How old was Akbar when he ascended the throne?
Answer
$13$ years old.
Question
Who was Akbar's tutor and guide during the early years of his reign?
Answer
Bairam Khan.
Question
Which Wazir of Adil Shah led the forces against the Mughals at the Second Battle of Panipat?
Answer
Hemu.
Question
In $1576$, the Battle of Haldighati was fought between the Mughal army and which ruler of Mewar?
Answer
Maharana Pratap.
Question
Who led the Mughal army at the Battle of Haldighati?
Answer
Raja Man Singh.
Question
What was the eastern-most extent of Akbar's authority at the time of his death in $1605$?
Answer
Assam.
Question
How did Akbar's Rajput policy affect the status of Rajput princes in the Mughal government?
Answer
They were made equal partners in the government.
Question
What was the 'jizyah' that Akbar abolished?
Answer
A poll tax that non-Muslims were required to pay.
Question
Akbar abolished the _____ tax on bathing at holy places such as Prayag and Benaras.
Answer
Pilgrim
Question
What was the purpose of the 'Ibadat Khana' built by Akbar in $1575$?
Answer
A hall for religious and spiritual discussions with theologians and intellectuals.
Question
What did the 'Declaration' or 'mahzar' issued by Akbar establish?
Answer
It made Akbar the supreme arbiter in religious matters.
Question
What was the name of the new faith promulgated by Akbar in an attempt to form universal harmony?
Answer
Din-i-Illahi.
Question
The basic principle of Akbar's public policies was 'Sulh-kul', which means _____.
Answer
Universal harmony
Question
Akbar set up a department for translating works from Sanskrit, Arabic, and Greek into which language?
Answer
Persian.
Question
How did Akbar address the practice of 'Sati'?
Answer
He issued orders to check the forcible practice of the custom.
Question
What reform did Akbar introduce regarding widowhood?
Answer
He legalised widow remarriage.
Question
What was the minimum age of marriage for girls set by Akbar?
Answer
$14$ years.
Question
What was the minimum age of marriage for boys set by Akbar?
Answer
$16$ years.
Question
Which secular subjects were emphasised in Akbar's revised educational syllabus?
Answer
Mathematics, agriculture, geometry, astronomy, logic, and history.
Question
In the Mughal period, the department responsible for building schools and colleges was the _____.
Answer
Shuhra-i-am
Question
What was the 'Mansabdari System' introduced by Akbar?
Answer
An administrative system where every officer was assigned a specific rank or 'mansab'.
Question
What were the lowest and highest ranks possible for a noble in the Mansabdari system?
Answer
The lowest was $10$ and the highest was $5000$.
Question
In the Mansabdari system, what did the 'zat' rank determine?
Answer
The noble's personal status and salary.
Question
In the Mansabdari system, what did the 'sawar' rank indicate?
Answer
The number of cavalrymen a mansabdar was required to maintain.
Question
For every ten cavalrymen, how many horses was a mansabdar required to maintain?
Answer
Twenty.
Question
What were the revenue assignments called that served as salaries for mansabdars?
Answer
Jagirs.
Question
Under Jahangir, the average rate of 'zat' salary was reduced from $240$ to _____ per annum.
Answer
$200$
Question
Who laid the foundation of the Maratha Empire in western India?
Answer
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Question
When and where was Shivaji born?
Answer
$19$ February $1630$, at the hill-fort of Shivneri.
Question
Who were the parents of Shivaji?
Answer
Shahaji Bhonsle and Jijabai.
Question
What was the name of the first fort captured by Shivaji at the age of $16$?
Answer
Torna.
Question
On what date was Shivaji's coronation as Chhatrapati held at Raigad fort?
Answer
$6$ June $1674$.
Question
Which British historian compared Raigad fort to the Rock of Gibraltar?
Answer
Grant Duff.
Question
In $1659$, Shivaji defeated an army of $20000$ under which Bijapur general?
Answer
Afzal Khan.
Question
In which year did Shivaji make a daring escape after being imprisoned by Aurangzeb in Agra?
Answer
$1666$.