UPSC 2023 Medieval History Questions with Answers

Explanation

Qutb-ud-Din Bahadur Shah, originally named Bahadur Khan, was a ruler of the Muzaffarid dynasty who governed the Gujarat Sultanate from 1526 to 1535 and again from 1536 to 1537. In 1532, the Mughal Emperor Humayun invaded Gujarat, leading to its temporary fall. Bahadur Shah managed to regain control in 1536, but he was later killed by the Portuguese aboard a ship while negotiating with them. Conclusively, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was the ruler who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese.

Option (a) is incorrect: Ahmad Shah Bahadur, also known as Mirza Ahmad Shah or Mujahid-ud-Din Ahmad Shah Ghazi (1725-1775), was the fourteenth Mughal emperor and the son of Emperor Muhammad Shah.

Option (b) is incorrect: Mahmud Begada (Mahmud Shah I) (1459-1511 CE) was a Sultan of Gujarat known for capturing Pavagadh and Junagadh forts, earning him the title "Begada." He later established Champaner as the capital.

Option (d) is incorrect: Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muhammad Shah was the thirteenth Mughal emperor (1719-1748). He was a patron of arts, culture, and administration, often referred to as Muhammad Shah Rangila for his artistic inclinations.

Explanation

Hoysala Dynasty: Originating from the Indian subcontinent, the Hoysala Empire held sway over a significant portion of present-day Karnataka from the 11th to the 14th centuries. While the Hoysalas initially established their capital at Belur, it was later relocated to Halebidu. Gahadavala Dynasty: Following the dissolution of the Pratihara empire, several Rajput states emerged in northern India. Among these, the Gahadavalas of Kanauj (12th to 13th century), the Paramaras of Malwa, and the Chauhans of Ajmer were the most prominent. Kakatiya Dynasty: The Kakatiya dynasty ruled the region comprising present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the 12th and 14th centuries. Their capital was Warangal in Telangana. The distinct style of Kakatiya-era architecture is seen in the Thousand Pillar Temple and Ramappa Temple near Warangal. Yadava Dynasty: The Yadava dynasty ruled in the 12th-14th-century and comprised the Hindu kingdom of central India in what is now the Indian state of Maharashtra. Originally a feudatory of the Eastern Chalukyas of Kalyani, the dynasty became paramount in the Deccan under Bhillama (c. 1187-91), who founded Devagiri (later Daulatabad) as his capital.

Explanation

Vijayanagar was founded in 1336 by Harihara and Bukka of the Sangama dynasty. Four dynasties - Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu - ruled Vijayanagar from A.D. 1336 to 1672. Deva Raya I (c.1406-1422 CE) of the Sangama dynasty was a very capable ruler noted for his military exploits and his support to irrigation works in his kingdom. He constructed a dam across the river Tungabhadra to bring canals into the city to relieve the shortage of water. He also built a dam on the river Haridra for irrigation purposes. Many foreign travelers also visited the Vijayanagar Empire and their accounts are also valuable. Portuguese writer Duarte Barbosa - Krishna Deva Raya. Venetian traveller Nicolo de Conti - Dev Raya II. Persian traveller Abdur Razzak - Dev Raya II. Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes - Krishna Dev Raya.