Mughal empire MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Mughal empire - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Prince Salim.

Key Points

•  Abul Fazl was murdered on the orders of Prince Salim in 1602 because Prince Salim considered him an obstruction in his path of becoming the emperor.
• Vir Singh Bundela was hired by Prince Salim to accomplish this task. He later became the ruler of Orchha.
• Abul Fazal
  • He was the younger brother of Faizi and one of the Navratnas in the court of Akbar.
  • He was the author of Akbarnama, in which he has given the history from Akbar's forefather Timur to Akbar's reign till 1602.

Additional Information

• Prince Salim
  • He was the eldest surviving son of the emperor Akbar and his imperial name was Jahangir.
  • He succeeded Akbar and was the fourth ruler of the Mughal Dynasty who ruled from 1605-1627.
•  Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan
  • He was the son of Bairam Khan (Akbar's trusted mentor and guardian) and a poet during the rule of Emperor Akbar.
  • He was a Dewan in the Akbar's court and also one of the Navratnas.
  • He was simply called Rahim and is known for his Hindi dohe.
•  Prince Murad
  • He was the second surviving son of the emperor Akbar after Prince Salim.
  • He was the first Mughal to acquire education from western Jesuit priests after acquiring education from Abul Fazl.
• Prince Daniyal
  • He was the third son of the emperor Akbar and brother of Prince Salim and Prince Murad.
  • He was given the charge of Deccan.
  • He was an accomplished poet and used to write in Hindi and Persian.
  • He died at the young age of 32 years due to problems relating to alcoholism.

The correct answer is Akbar.

Key Points

• Akbar
  • He was born on 15 October 1542, in Amarkot.
  • He ruled from 1556 to 1605 and extended Mughal power over most of the Indian subcontinent.
  • In order to maintain his empire, Akbar adopted programming that countered the loyalty of the non-Muslim population of his realm.
  • He reformed and strengthened his central administration and also centralized his financial system and home tax collection procedures.
  • Though he never renounced Islam, he took an active interest in other religions, motivating Hindus,
  • Zoroastrians and Christians as well as Muslims engaged in religious discussions before him.
  • Illiterate himself, he encouraged scholars, poets, painters, and musicians, making his court the centre of culture. 

Additional Information

• Humayun (1530 to 1540 and again from 1555 to 1556)
  • Babur's son Humayun ascended the throne of India three days after Babur's death in 1530.
  • Six months after his accession, Humayun besieged the fortress of Kalinjar in Bundelkhand.
  • He gained a decisive victory over Afghans at Douhrua and drove out Mahmood Lodi and even defeated Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
  • Humayun forces were defeated by Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri at Chausa near Buxar in June 1539.
  • On May 17, 1540, the Mughals and the Afghans met again opposite Kannauj.
  • His hopelessly demoralized army was defeated at the battle commonly known as the Battle of Kannauj.
  • In February 1555, he captured Lahore, and after a few months captured also.
  • Humayun’s Tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun situated in Delhi, which was commissioned by his first wife Bega Begum in the year 1569-1570.
  • The architect of the tomb was Mirak Mirza Ghiyath. He along with his son, Sayyid Muhammad designed it
• Jahangir
  • was born to Maryam-uz-Zamani and Akbar on August 30, 1569.
  • He was named Sultan Muhammad Salim after Shaikh Salim Chishti of Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Akbar called him Sheik Babu.
  • After his coronation, he assumed the title of Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir Badshah Ghazi.
  • Jahangir was the only surviving son of Akbar who after his father’s death ascended the throne in 1604, at the age of 34 years
• Shah Jahan
  • Shah Jahan's full name is Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram.
  • Shah Jahan was the 5th Mughal Emperor of the Mughal dynasty.
  • In 1632, he defeated the Portuguese.
  • He was succeeded by Aurangzeb.
  • The Mahi Maratib was the highest honour in the Mughal Empire.
  • It symbolized honour, bravery, and strength and the Mughal emperors only conferred it upon their highest dignitaries.
  • This honour of the Mahi Maratib was instituted by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan sometime around 1632. 
  • It was conferred to Sultans of Delhi Indian rulers.  

The correct answer is Mehr-un-Nissa.Key Points

•  The original name of Nur Jahan is Mehr-un-Nissa.
• Jahangir was married to Mehr-un-Nissa.
• Jahangir’s real name was Mirza Nur-ud-din Beig Mohammad Khan Salim.
• He got married to Nur Jahan (real name- Mehr-un-Nissa) in 1611.

Additional Information

• Jhangir is the son of Akbar and he built Shalimar Bagh for his wife Noor Jahan in 1619.
• The origin of the Mughal style was a result of the synthesis of the original Indian Style of painting and the Safavid school of Persian painting.
• Mughal paintings were a unique blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles.
• Jahangir's wife 'Nur Jahan' was related to Chikankari.
• Chikankari art is the traditional process of hand embroidery 
• Abul Hassan, Mansur, Bishan Das, Goverdhan, Daulat, Bhim, and others were famous painters in the court of Jahangir. 

The correct answer is Akbar.

Key Points

Mansabdari System:

• Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system in his administration.
• The mansab rank was not hereditary.
• All appointments and promotions, as well as dismissals, were directly made by the emperor.
• Mansabdars were paid either in cash or in the form of assignments of areas of land 
• Who received pay in cash were known as naqdi
• Those paid through assignments of jagirs were called jagirdars
• The lowest rank was 10 and the highest was 5000 for the nobles

The ranks were divided into two:

• Zat - Zatmeans personal and it fixed the personal status of a person.
• Sawar- Sawar rank indicated the number of cavalrymen of a person

The correct answer is Akbar.

Key Points

• Fatehpur Sikri town was built by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar.
• He had planned this city as his capital but the shortage of water compelled him to abandon the city.
• After this within 20 years, the capital of Mughals was shifted to Lahore.
• Fatehpur Sikri was built between 1571 and 1585. 

Additional Information

• The Mughal Dynasty was founded by Babur in 1526.
• The First Battle of Panipat was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526.
• Battle of Khanwa between Babur and Rana Sanga in 1527.
• Battle of Chanderi between Babur and Medni Rai in 1528.
• Battle of Ghaggara between Babur and Mehmood Lodhi in 1529.

The correct answer is Rupiya.

Important Points

• Sher Shah Suri was the founder of the Suri dynasty.
• The silver coin introduced by Sher Shah Suri was called Rupiya.
• Sher Shah Suri issued the Rupiya coin and fixed standard weights and measures all over the empire.
• This coin introduced by Sher Shah Suri weighed 178 grains and was the precursor of the modern rupee.
• Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa and assumed the title of Farid al-Din Sher Shah as emperor in 1539.
• He again defeated the Humayun in the battle of Kannauj and annexed Kannauj in 1540.
• The grand trunk road that turns from Calcutta to Peshawar was built by Sher Shah Suri.

Additional Information

• The silver Tankah coin was introduced by Iltutmish.
• The mohur coin was introduced by Sher Shah Suri.
• Gold coins called Dinar was introduced by Muhammad bin Tughluq.

The correct answer is Babur.

• The First Battle of Panipat was fought in the year 1526 between the forces of Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi in which Lodhi was defeated and Mughal rule was established in India.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Humayun.

About Humayun:

• There is a Small Mosque built by him known as the Humayun mosque in the city of Fatehabad. The reason behind the Mosque was built by the 2nd Mughal Emperor Humayun, who in his fight after his defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri happened to pass through the city of Fatehabad.
• Humayun was born on 6th March 1508 in Kabul (Afghanistan). His real name was Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad popularly known as Humayun.
• He was the second (2) Emperor of the Mughal Empire, who ruled over territory in what is now Pakistan, Northern India, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh from 1530–1540, and again he ruled in the 2nd term from 1555–1556.
• In the year 1530, He succeeded his father Babur founder of the Mughal Empire to the throne of Delhi as second (2nd) ruler of the Mughal territories in the Indian subcontinent.
• Humayun lost the Mughal territories to Sher Shah Suri but regained them after 15 years 1555-56 with the help of the Safavid dynasty of Persia.
• On 24 January 1556, Humayun, who died in the Library with his arms full of books, was descending the staircase from his library and he lost the balance fallen down from the staircase, and died.
• In his memoir, his (sister Gulbadan begum) wrote his autobiography named "Humayunama" which was written in the Persian language.

Notes:

• The founder of the Mughal Empire was Babur, who defeated the Lodhi dynasty's last ruler Ibrahim Lodhi at the Batlle of Panipat in 1526 to establish the Mughal rule.

​

Mughals:

• The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers.
• From their mother’s side, they were descendants of Genghis Khan (died 1227), the Mongol ruler who ruled over parts of China and Central Asia.
• From their father’s side, they were the successors of Timur (died 1404), the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey.
• However, the Mughals did not like to be called Mughal or Mongol. This was because Genghis Khan’s memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people.
• It was also linked with the Uzbeks, their Mongol competitors.
• On the other hand, the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry, not least of all because their great ancestor had captured Delhi in 1398. 

The correct answer is 1526.

Key Points

• Babur(1526-1530):
  • He declared himself as Badshah.
  • He was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India in 1526.
  • He defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in 1526 at the first battle of Panipat, and thereby established the Mughal empire.
  • Baburnama, also known as Tuzk-e Babri is the autobiography of Babur.
  • Babur assumed the title of Ghazi after the victory in the battle of Khanwa.

Additional Information

• Babur was the first mughal emeror in India.
• Babur was born in 1483 in Fargana (Uzbekistan).
• The first battle of Panipat was fought between the forces of Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi.
• The Battle was fought on April 21, 1526.
• He wrote Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Autobiography of Babur) in the Turkish language.
• According to Tuzuki-i-Baburi, Babur Died in 1530 and was buried at Aram Bagh (Agra). Later his body was taken to Afghanistan (Kabul). 

The correct answer is Shah Jahan.

Important Points

• The Moti Masjid in Agra was built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan.
  • It is located in Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Shah Jahan constructed the Moti Masjid for his members of the royal court.
• Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor who reigned the dynasty from 1628 to 1658.
  • The historical structures built during the reign of Shah Jahan are:
    • Taj Mahal.
    • Red Fort.
    • Jama Masjid.
    • Shalimar Garden in Lahore.
  • French traveller Bernier and Tavernier visited India during the reign of Shah Jahan.
  • The Afghan noble Khan Jahan Lodi rebelled and was defeated by Shah Jahan.
  • Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in 1658 in Agra.

Mistake Points

• The Moti Masjid inside the Red Fort complex in Delhi was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
• The Moti Masjid in Lahore Fort was built by Mughal emperor Jahangir.

Additional Information

• The historical structures built during the reign of Akbar are:
  • Agra Fort.
  • Lahore Fort.
  • Fathepur Sikri.
  • Allahabad Fort.
  • Buland Darwaza.
• Humayun fought two battles against Sher Shah at Chausa(1539) and Kannauj(1540).

Important Points

Mughals:

• The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers.
• From their mother’s side, they were descendants of Genghis Khan (died 1227), the Mongol ruler who ruled over parts of China and Central Asia.
• From their father’s side, they were the successors of Timur (died 1404), the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey.
• However, the Mughals did not like to be called Mughal or Mongol. This was because Genghis Khan’s memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people.
• It was also linked with the Uzbeks, their Mongol competitors.
• On the other hand, the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry, not least of all because their great ancestor had captured Delhi in 1398. 

The correct answer is Aurangzeb.

Key PointsAurangzeb:

• He crowned himself with the title of "Alamgir".
• He was called Zinda peer.
• The Mughal area was the largest during the time of Aurangzeb.
• He forbade:
  • Singing and dancing in his court
  • Sati system and Jharokha darshan.
  • Kalma written coin.
  • Astrology and Palm reading.
  • Tuladan practice.
• Selling and drinking Alcohol and Bhang were prohibited in a public place during his time.
• Aurangzeb used to play "Veena".
• He started the Jaziya tax in 1679.
• He gave permission to the French for setting up a factory at Surat in 1667.
• Monuments:
  • Bibi ka Makabara: Aurangabad, Maharastra.
  • Moti Masjid: Delhi
  • Badshahi Masjid: Lahore.

Additional InformationHumayun: 

• He was defeated by Sher Shah Suri in the battle of Chausa in 1539.
• He was again defeated by Sher Shah Suri in the battle of Kannauj in 1540. 
• Humayunama was written by his half sister "Gulbadan Begum".
• Humayun's tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum (Bega Begum) in Delhi. 
• He died in 1556 due to falling from his Library stairs in Purana Quila, Delhi.

Akbar:

• He was born in 1542 at Amrakot, Sindh.
• He was son of Humayun and Hameeda Bano Begum.
• He was crowned by Bairam Khan at  Kalanaur, Punjab.
• He established Matrimonial Alliance between Mughal and Rajputs.
• He introduced the Mansabdari system in 1574.
• Monuments:
  • Ibadat Khana: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra.
  • Buland darwaza: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra.

Jahangir:

• In 1605, Prince Salim succeeded with the title Jahangir (Conqueror of World) when he assumed the throne after the death of Akbar.
• He established Zanjir-i-Adil (chain of justice) at Agra for the seekers of royal justice.
• He is the eldest son of Akbar was born at Fatehpur Sikri near Agra in 1569.
• In 1611, he married Mehr-un-Nisa whom he gave the title of Nur Jahan (light of the world).
• Nurjahan exercised tremendous influence over state affairs. She was made the official Badshah Begum. 
• Jahangir issued coins jointly in Nurjahan's name and his own.
• Jahangir also married Manbai in 1585 AD and Jodhbai (Jagat Gosain, daughter of Mota Raja Udai Singh) in 1587 AD.
• He defeated and imprisoned his son, Khusrau Mirza.
•  He also beheaded Guru Arjun, the 5th Sikh Guru and one of the supporters of Khusrau Mirza.
• Captain Hawkins (1608-1611) and Sir Thomas Roe (1615-1616) visited Jahangir's court.
• Production of Tobacco started in his reign.
• He wrote his autobiography Tuzuk-i-Jahangir.
• He was buried in Lahore in 1627.

The correct answer is Persian.

Key Points

• The Mughal court chronicles were written in Persian.
• ​Mughal chronicles such as the Akbar Nama were written in Persian, while others, like Babur's memoirs, were translated from Turkish into the Persian Babur Nama.
• Urdu came from the amalgamation of Persian with Hindavi. 
• Chronicles commissioned by the Mughal emperors are an important source for studying the empire and its court.
• The authors of Mughal chronicles were mostly courtiers.
• The Mughals were Chaghtai Turks by origin.
• Turkish was their mother tongue hence the first ruler Babur wrote poetry and his memoirs in this language.

The correct answer is 1564.

Key Points

• Jizyah Tax was a per capita yearly tax historically implied on non-Muslim subjects, called the “dhimma” exempting women, children, elders, handicapped, the ill, the insane, monks, hermits etc.
• Jizya was levied on Hindus on the ground that it was not mentioned in Sharia.
• Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq established Sharia across his realm. He imposed Jizya upon the Brahmins and made it a separate tax.
• It was abolished by “the third Mughal emperor Akbar”, in 1564.

Additional Information

• Akbar (1556 to 1605)
  • Akbar was the third Mughal emperor (1556 to 1605) and son of  Humayun.
  • Akbar succeeds in the throne at just 13 years old due to the death of Humayun.
  • The kingdom Akbar inherited was little more than a collection of frail fiefs, under the regency of  Bairam Khan.
  • Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system.
  • The Navratnas of Akbar were as follows: Raja Birbal, Tansen, Abul Fazal, Faizi, Raja Man Singh, Raja Todar Mal, Mullah Do Piaza, Fakir Aziao-Din, Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana.
  • Abul Fazl started the writing of Akbarnama in 1589.
  • It is the most detailed history of the reign of Akbar.

The correct answer is option 2:

• Sir Thomas Roe visited the court of Emperor Jahangir in 1615 as an ambassador of King James I.
• He was able to get permission for trade and establish factories at Agra, Ahmedabad and Broach.