Class 9 Medieval India: The Delhi Sultanate Mock Test (ICSE)

Topics in Medieval India: The Delhi Sultanate

• Sources: inscriptions and the Qutab Minar
• Dynasties of the Sultanate
• Alauddin Khilji's reforms
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq's experiments

Medieval India: The Delhi Sultanate practice questions with answers

1. Q1Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which of the following dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate immediately after the Tughlaq dynasty?

   1. (a)The Sayyid dynasty
   2. (b)The Khilji dynasty
   3. (c)The Lodi dynasty
   4. (d)The Slave dynasty
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (a) The Sayyid dynasty+1

   Answer: (a)
2. Q2Multiple choice·1 mark
   Which Sultan of Delhi started the construction of the Qutab Minar, which was later completed by his successor Iltutmish?

   1. (a)Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
   2. (b)Firoz Shah Tughlaq
   3. (c)Qutb-ud-din Aibak
   4. (d)Alauddin Khilji
   Show answer and step marks

   1. Correct option: (c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak+1

   Answer: (c)
3. Q3Short answer·2 marks
   State two military measures adopted by Alauddin Khilji to maintain a strong and efficient standing army.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. First measure, any one of: branding of horses (dagh) to stop inferior horses being substituted; a descriptive roll of each soldier (huliya or chehra) to stop proxies; a large permanent standing army recruited directly by the Sultan; payment of fixed salaries in cash; regular musters and inspection of the troops; strengthening of forts on the Mongol route; or any other valid measure.+1
   2. Second measure, a different one from the same list.+1

   Answer: Any two of: dagh (branding of horses), huliya or chehra (descriptive roll of soldiers), a permanent standing army, cash salaries, regular musters, strengthened frontier forts.
4. Q4Short answer·2 marks
   State any two military reforms introduced by Alauddin Khilji to strengthen his armed forces.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. First reform, any one of: a large permanent standing army; payment of fixed salaries to soldiers in cash from the treasury; branding of horses (dagh) to stop inferior horses being substituted; a descriptive roll of each soldier (chehra or huliya) to stop proxies; regular musters and inspection of the troops; strengthening of forts on the Mongol route; or any other valid reform.+1
   2. Second reform, a different one from the same list.+1

   Answer: Any two of: a permanent standing army, cash salaries, dagh (branding of horses), chehra (descriptive roll of soldiers), regular musters, strengthened frontier forts.
5. Q5Long answer·4 marks
   Muhammad bin Tughlaq is remembered in history as a ruler ahead of his time whose innovative projects unfortunately ended in failure due to poor execution. In this context, answer the following: (a) Give two reasons for the failure of his project of the transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. [2] (b) Explain two main factors that led to the failure of the token currency experiment introduced by him. [2]
   Show answer and step marks

   1. (a) First reason, any one of: the people of Delhi suffered great hardship and many died on the long journey to Daulatabad; Delhi and the north-west frontier were left exposed to Mongol attacks; it was hard to control north India from distant Daulatabad; people were forced to leave their homes against their will and resented it; or any other valid reason.+1
   2. (a) Second reason, a different one from the same list.+1
   3. (b) First factor, any one of: the state kept no control over minting, so people forged the copper or brass token coins at home; people paid taxes in token coins and hoarded gold and silver coins, emptying the treasury; foreign merchants refused token coins, so trade suffered; people did not trust coins whose metal was worth less than their face value; or any other valid factor.+1
   4. (b) Second factor, a different one from the same list.+1

   Answer: (a) Any two of: hardship and deaths on the long journey, Delhi and the north-west left open to Mongols, difficulty of ruling the north from Daulatabad, resentment at forced migration. (b) Any two of: easy forgery of token coins at home, taxes paid in token coins while gold and silver were hoarded, foreign merchants refused token coins, lack of public trust.
6. Q6Long answer·4 marks
   Muhammad bin Tughlaq undertook several ambitious administrative experiments during his reign. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) State two reasons for his decision to transfer the capital from Delhi to Devagiri (Daulatabad). (b) Give two main reasons for the failure of his token currency experiment.
   Show answer and step marks

   1. (a) First reason, any one of: Devagiri was centrally located, so the whole empire could be ruled from it; it was far from the north-west frontier and safe from Mongol invasions; it helped control the newly conquered territories of the Deccan and South India; or any other valid reason.+1
   2. (a) Second reason, a different one from the same list.+1
   3. (b) First reason, any one of: the government kept no monopoly over minting, so people forged copper or brass coins at home; people paid taxes in token coins and hoarded gold and silver, emptying the treasury; foreign merchants refused token coins, so trade suffered; people did not trust coins worth less than their face value; or any other valid reason.+1
   4. (b) Second reason, a different one from the same list.+1

   Answer: (a) Any two of: Devagiri's central location, safety from Mongol invasions, control over the Deccan and South India. (b) Any two of: forgery of token coins at home, taxes paid in token coins while gold and silver were hoarded, refusal of foreign merchants, lack of public trust.

More Class 9 History and Civics mock tests