During medieval times in India, many powerful dynasties ruled, new cultures developed, and many important books were written. Writers, poets, historians, and travelers from other countries wrote about the life, politics, and customs of that time. Their writings are very helpful in learning about that period. Books like Kitab-ul-Hind by Alberuni, Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazl, the poems of Amir Khusro, and the travel stories of Ibn Battuta give us important information. Below is a set of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on these famous books, authors, poets, and travelers of medieval India very useful for exams like SSC, UPSC, NET, and others.
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Q1. Alberuni, who came to India along with Mahmud of Ghazni, wrote a detailed account of Indian society, religion, philosophy, and sciences. What is the name of this book?
a) Tabqat-i-Nasiri
b) Kitab-ul-Hind
c) Ain-i-Akbari
d) Tuzuk-i-Baburi
Answer: b) Kitab-ul-Hind
Q2. The Persian scholar Alberuni has been called the “first anthropologist of India” because of his work describing the life and traditions of Indians. Which book contains his observations?
a) Rajatarangini
b) Kitab-ul-Hind
c) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi
d) Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh
Answer: b) Kitab-ul-Hind
Q3. Minhaj-us-Siraj, a Persian historian of the Delhi Sultanate period, compiled a detailed history of the rulers up to Nasiruddin Mahmud. Which text is this?
a) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi
b) Tabqat-i-Nasiri
c) Ain-i-Akbari
d) Shahjahannama
Answer: b) Tabqat-i-Nasiri
Q4. The famous Sufi poet Amir Khusro, who lived during the reign of Alauddin Khilji and others, wrote many works in Persian. Which one among the following was authored by him?
a) Ain-i-Akbari
b) Tughlaqnama
c) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
d) Shahjahannama
Answer: b) Tughlaqnama
Q5. Ziauddin Barani, an important historian of the Delhi Sultanate, wrote about the reigns of Balban, Alauddin Khilji, and Muhammad bin Tughlaq. His most famous book is—
a) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi
b) Tabqat-i-Nasiri
c) Tuzuk-i-Baburi
d) Iqbalnama-i-Jahangiri
Answer: a) Tarikh-i-Firozshahi
Q6. Who among the following chroniclers of the Delhi Sultanate compiled Tarikh-i-Firozshahi, which is considered an important source for studying Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s rule?
a) Amir Khusro
b) Ziauddin Barani
c) Ibn Battuta
d) Alberuni
Answer: b) Ziauddin Barani
Q7. The historian Abdul Qadir Badauni was a critic of Akbar’s religious policies. He compiled a book narrating the events of Akbar’s reign. Name the book.
a) Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri
b) Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh
c) Ain-i-Akbari
d) Shahjahannama
Answer: b) Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh
Q8. Which of the following writers gave detailed information about the Qutub Shahi kings of Golconda?
a) Domingo Paes
b) Firishta
c) Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
d) Pietro Della Valle
Answer: d) Pietro Della Valle
Q9. Akbarnama and its third volume, Ain-i-Akbari, together give a detailed history of Akbar’s reign. Who was the court historian and close friend of Akbar who wrote them?
a) Abul Fazl
b) Abdul Qadir Badauni
c) Faizi
d) Nizamuddin Ahmad
Answer: a) Abul Fazl
Q10. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, a French traveler and jeweler, visited India multiple times in the 17th century. Which Mughal emperor’s court did he describe in detail?
a) Akbar
b) Jahangir
c) Shah Jahan
d) Babur
Answer: c) Shah Jahan
Q11. Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveler, visited India during the reign of which ruler?
a) Alauddin Khilji
b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
d) Sher Shah Suri
Answer: b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Q12. Who wrote the autobiography Tuzuk-i-Baburi, also known as Baburnama?
a) Babur
b) Humayun
c) Akbar
d) Jahangir
Answer: a) Babur
Q13. Which Kashmiri historian wrote Rajatarangini, a detailed history of Kashmir?
a) Alberuni
b) Kalhana
c) Firishta
d) Barani
Answer: b) Kalhana
Q14. Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri is the autobiography of which Mughal emperor?
a) Akbar
b) Jahangir
c) Aurangzeb
d) Shah Jahan
Answer: b) Jahangir
Q15. Who among the following wrote Shahjahannama?
a) Inayat Khan
b) Abul Fazl
c) Badauni
d) Faizi
Answer: a) Inayat Khan
Q16. Who was the Portuguese traveler who visited the Vijayanagara Empire and left valuable accounts?
a) Duarte Barbosa
b) Niccolò de Conti
c) Domingo Paes
d) Pietro Della Valle
Answer: c) Domingo Paes
Q17. Who authored the historical work Gulbadan Begum’s Humayun-nama?
a) Gulbadan Begum
b) Jahanara Begum
c) Nur Jahan
d) Zebunnisa
Answer: a) Gulbadan Begum
Q18. Who wrote the history book Tarikh-i-Firishta, which provides information about the Deccan kingdoms?
a) Barani
b) Firishta
c) Nizamuddin Ahmad
d) Amir Khusro
Answer: b) Firishta
Q19. Who was the French physician in the court of Aurangzeb who wrote “Travels in the Mughal Empire”?
a) Tavernier
b) Bernier
c) Manucci
d) Barbosa
Answer: b) Bernier
Q20. Which Italian traveler wrote “Storia do Mogor” describing Mughal India?
a) Manucci
b) Pietro Della Valle
c) Niccolò de Conti
d) Duarte Barbosa
Answer: a) Manucci
Q21. Who was the Mughal court poet and brother of Abul Fazl, known for his Persian poetry?
a) Badauni
b) Faizi
c) Nizamuddin Ahmad
d) Inayat Khan
Answer: b) Faizi
Q22. Who authored the famous work Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh besides being a critic of Akbar?
a) Abul Fazl
b) Badauni
c) Barani
d) Firishta
Answer: b) Badauni
Q23. Who wrote “Ain-i-Akbari,” which includes details of administration, revenue, and culture of Akbar’s empire?
a) Faizi
b) Abul Fazl
c) Nizamuddin Ahmad
d) Barani
Answer: b) Abul Fazl
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