The Delhi Sultanate: 18 MCQs with answers

Five dynasties

Five dynasties ruled from Delhi: Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, and Lodi.

Qutb-ud-din Aibak

Qutb-ud-din Aibak founded the Sultanate in 1206 after the death of Muhammad Ghori.

Khalji Dynasty

The Khalji Dynasty (1290–1320) followed the Slave Dynasty.

Maintaining troops

An iqtadar collected revenue and, in return, maintained troops for the Sultan.

Razia Sultan

Razia Sultan (1236–1240) was the only woman to rule Delhi.

True

The **First Battle of Panipat (1526)** ended the Delhi Sultanate when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, founding the Mughal Empire.

The theory of divine kingship

Balban introduced the theory of divine kingship and Persian court etiquette.

The Iqta system

This describes the Iqta system — land revenue in exchange for military service.

Fixed prices enforced by inspectors

Alauddin fixed prices and appointed shahna-i-mandi inspectors to enforce them.

Copper coins were easily forged

Copper coins were easily forged, which destroyed confidence in the token currency.

Delhi was better located strategically

Delhi's strategic location made it a better capital, so the shift failed.

Timur's invasion of 1398

Timur's invasion in 1398 shattered Delhi's power.

Urdu

Urdu developed from the mixing of Persian, Arabic, and local dialects.

He was learned and ambitious, but his projects were poorly planned

Muhammad bin Tughlaq was learned and ambitious; his projects failed because they were ahead of their time and poorly planned.

Its location controlled trade routes and monitored invasions

Delhi's strategic location between Central Asia and the Gangetic plains made it the centre of power.

Iqtas became hereditary, weakening central control

Over time iqtas became hereditary in practice, which weakened central control and contributed to decline.

It facilitated the emergence of a hereditary nobility that weakened central authority over time.

The correct option is B because the Iqta system, while initially effective for local governance and military support, eventually led to the establishment of hereditary rights among the iqtadars, which undermined the Sultanate's central authority and contributed to its decline.

The internal strife and power struggles among the nobility during Ibrahim Lodi's reign.

The correct option is B because the internal conflicts and power struggles among the nobility, particularly during Ibrahim Lodi's attempts to centralize power, alienated key supporters and led to the fragmentation of authority, ultimately facilitating Babur's successful invasion.