Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)

Explanation

The term Ahadis was used in the context of Mughal military service, specifically during the reigns of emperors like Akbar and his successors. Ahadis were soldiers who served in the imperial army.

Statement (1) is correct: Ahadis offered their services individually and were not part of a larger contingent. They were distinct in their roles and reporting structure.

Statement (2) is correct: They did not align themselves with any noble or chief but served independently.

Statement (3) is correct: Ahadis reported directly to the emperor and were considered elite troopers. Their services were provided to the central authority, bypassing local chiefs.

Statement (4) is incorrect: They did not attach themselves to Mirzas (a title for nobles or princes).

Explanation

The construction sequence is Qutub Minar (1193) > Tughlaqabad Fort (1321)>Lodi Garden (1451-1526)> Fatehpur Sikri (1571). Qutub Minar (1193-1220) construction was initiated by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed by Iltutmish during the early Delhi Sultanate era. Tughlaqabad Fort was built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq as a fortified city during the Tughlaq dynasty. It was designed with robust defense mechanisms, including thick walls, towers, and a deep moat. Lodi Garden was made during the Lodi dynasty. The park is home to several notable tombs from the Lodi dynasty, including the tomb of Sikandar Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dynasty, and the tomb of Muhammad Shah Lodi, the last Sultan of the Lodi dynasty. Fatehpur Sikri was constructed by Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. It served as the capital of the Mughal Empire for a brief period before it was abandoned.

Explanation

Akbar ascended to the throne of the Mughal Empire in February 1556, at the age of 13 years and four months. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, after Humayun died while Akbar was fighting a war to reclaim the Mughal throne. The Battle of Haldighati was a military conflict that took place in June 1576, between the forces of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar and Akbar. Queen Elizabeth I granted the East India Company a charter on December 31, 1600, that gave the company the exclusive right to trade with the East. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj died on April 3, 1680, at Raigad after suffering for three weeks from fever and dysentery. Nadir Shah of Iran captured Delhi in 1739 after defeating the Mughal Empire in the Battle of Karnal. The battle was a turning point in the region’s history and marked the effective end of the Mughal Empire.