The Delhi Sultanat–I (Circa 1200

1. Qutbuddin Aibak was succeeded on the throne of Delhi by which ruler in 1210?

2. Who among the following declared himself an independent ruler of Multan after seizing Lahore and parts of the Punjab during Iltutmish's accession?

3. The Khwarizmi empire was destroyed in 1218 by which power?

4. Consider the following statements regarding Iwaz (Sultan Ghiyasuddin) of Bengal: (I) He assumed independence in Bengal and Bihar. (II) He was defeated and killed by Iltutmish's son near Lakhnauti. (III) He was defeated by Balban during Balban's Bengal campaign. Which of the above is/are correct?

5. Iltutmish nominated which family member as his successor, bypassing his surviving sons?

6. The Turkish nobles who wielded power after Iltutmish's death and were sometimes called "the forty" are known by which term?

7. Which of the following statements about Raziya's reign is/are correct? (I) She discarded female apparel and held court with her face unveiled. (II) She was accused by Turkish nobles of being too friendly with Yaqut Khan. (III) She died while ruling securely at Delhi. Which of the above is/are correct?

8. Yaqut Khan, whose closeness to Raziya drew criticism from Turkish nobles, held which court position?

9. Iltutmish's wazir who opposed Raziya's elevation to the throne and backed a rebellion against her was:

10. Raziya was imprisoned by Altunia at which place following an internal rebellion?

11. Ulugh Khan, who gradually arrogated power and ascended the Delhi throne in 1265, is better known in history by which title?

12. Balban initially held which position under Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud before ascending the throne himself?

13. In 1253, Balban was ousted from his position through a conspiracy of Turkish chiefs and was replaced by:

14. Balban claimed descent from which legendary Iranian king to strengthen his claim to noble blood?

15. The historian who recorded Balban's remark about reaching for his sword at the sight of a "base-born ignoble man" was:

16. Which cousin of Balban was poisoned by him in his effort to break the power of the Turkish nobles?

17. Balban's military department, which he reorganized to pension off soldiers no longer fit for service, was known as:

18. The ceremonies of sijada and paibos, which Balban insisted on to emphasize that nobles were not his equals, involved:

19. Balban undertook only one distant military campaign during his reign, against a rebel governor of Bengal named:

20. Balban died in which year?

21. After Balban's death, his son Bughra Khan, governor of Bengal, chose to:

22. Changez Khan halted near which river for three months before deciding not to invade India in pursuit of Jalaluddin?

23. Consider the following statements on the Mongol threat during Iltutmish's reign: (I) Jalaluddin, the fleeing Khwarizmi crown prince, sought asylum from Iltutmish. (II) Iltutmish politely refused Jalaluddin's request for asylum to appease the Mongols. (III) The river Indus continued to serve as India's stable western boundary after this episode. Which of the above is/are correct?

24. In 1241, which Mongol commander appeared at Lahore, leading to the town being sacked?

25. In 1245, the Mongols invested which city, with the situation saved only by a speedy march of Balban?

26. Which Turkish governor of Multan defected to the Mongols during Balban's struggle against Imaduddin Raihan's faction?

27. As a result of sustained Mongol pressure, the frontier of the Delhi Sultanat gradually receded from the river Jhelum to which river?

28. Balban sent diplomatic envoys and tacitly agreed to leave the major portion of the Punjab under Mongol control while dealing with which Mongol ruler of Iran?

29. Balban's eldest son and heir-apparent, who was killed while holding the Multan-Beas frontier line against the Mongols, was:

30. In 1292, a Mongol force of 1,50,000 horses under Abdullah, grandson of Halaku, advancing on Delhi, was defeated by:

31. The 1299 Mongol invasion of Delhi with a force of 2,00,000 was led by Qutlugh Khwaja, son of which Chaghatai Mongol ruler of Trans-Oxiana?

32. Which Delhi general died in an isolated action while Alauddin Khalji's forces held their own against the 1299 Mongol invasion?

33. During the 1303 Mongol invasion, Alauddin Khalji fortified himself at which newly built capital near Delhi?

34. Consider the following statements on Balban's suppression of internal disorder near Delhi: (I) The Mewatis had become bold enough to plunder people up to the outskirts of Delhi. (II) Balban adopted a policy of "blood and iron" against the Meos. (III) In the doab and Katehar, Balban ordered forests cleared and rebellious villagers destroyed. Which of the above is/are correct?

35. Balban subdued which region so thoroughly that Delhi remained secure from its raids for almost a hundred years, though his attempts on Ranthambhor and Gwaliyar failed?

36. Iltutmish's attempts to extend Turkish control into which two regions were repulsed, by the Chalukyas and the Paramaras respectively?

37. In 1244, the ruler of which region badly defeated Muslim forces near Lakhnauti, showing that independent Muslim rulers there could not subdue neighbouring Hindu areas?

38. Who is credited as the real consolidator of the Turkish conquests in north India, having recovered Bengal and Lahore during his reign?

16. The Delhi Sultanat–I (Circa 1200–1400)