DELHI SULTANS

Delhi, also known as the National Capital Territory of India, has a long political history; it has been the capital of many empires. Who were the first rulers to make Delhi their capital?

• Cholas

• Tomara Rajputs

• Chauhans

• Mughals

Under the Tomaras and the Chauhans, Delhi became an important centre for business. The Tomara Rajputs even made Delhi the capital of their kingdom. But Delhi wasn't just a place for business and politics. Many cultures also grew there, and places of worship such as temples are an important part of any culture. A temple, from Latin 'templum, is a structure usually built for and dedicated to religious or spiritual activities. Who built most of the Jaina temples in Delhi?

• rich Jaina merchants

• chief army officers

• rich Jaina fishermen

• king Ananga Pala

Abhishek and his brother Aniket went on a tour of Delhi, and they decided to visit different parts of Delhi. Abhishek went to the Red Fort which is in old Delhi, and Aniket went to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. But before independence from the British, there were many towns in the large area now called Delhi. Who created the fort-cities of Jahapanah and Tughluqabad?

• Akbar

• Muhammad bin Tughlaq

• the Mauryan Rulers

• the Cholas

Delhi became the capital of a kingdom for the first time under the reign of the Tomara Rajputs. And under their rule, Delhi started growing as a center for business and culture. Rich Jaina merchants who lived in Delhi also built many temples there. But as all kingdoms and empires do, even the Tomaras came to an end. Who defeated the Tomara Rajputs in the 12th century?

• the Mughals

• the Khaljis

• the Tughluqs

• the Chauhans

Apart from coins, inscriptions, and architectures, historians also use tawarikh, written by learned men, to know about the administration of the Delhi Sultanate. Which language were tawarikh written in?

• Persian

• Hindi

• Sanskrit

• English

Most authors of tawarikh lived in cities, and they usually wrote praises so they could get rewards from the Sultans. But they also advised rulers about the importance of preserving an “ideal” social order based on birthright and gender distinctions. What do we mean by 'tawarikh'?

• accounts

• lists

• photos

• histories

According to Indian mythology, Delhi was the site of Indraprastha, the capital of the ancient Pandava Dynasty mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. That region has a long and complicated political history, and it has been the capital of many kingdoms. In the 700 years since the Delhi Sultanate, India has had both a female Prime Minister and a female President. But who was the first female ruler of Delhi?

• Nur Jahan

• Draupadi

• Raziyya Sultana

• Mumtaz Mahal

Iltutmish's daughter, Raziyya, became the Sultana of Delhi in 1236. And she was chosen to be the ruler because she was more capable and qualified than her brothers were. But why was she removed from the throne?

• because other sultans put her in prison

• because her nobles did not want a female ruler

• because she was not a good manager

• because she didn't like the business of politics

Kings generally built forts around their territories to protect their kingdom from enemy attacks. And the early Sultans of Delhi rarely went out of their fortified towns to conquer and control the hinterlands. What does hinterland mean?

• land away from coasts and major riverfronts

• land near a mosque or a temple

• land near the Sultan's palace

• foreign land

The first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, was a former slave in the Persian army of Muhammad Ghori. But in a mere 150 years, his sultanate had spread to most parts of the Indian sub-continent. Such rapid growth meant that the Delhi Sultans could never fully control all the people and places in their kingdom, and they had to keep huge armies to protect their garrison towns. What is a garrison town?

• a town with homes made of wood and glass

• a town built for queens and mistresses

• a fortified settlement

• a town for rich merchants and high priests