Q. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

(a) Paragana-Sarkar-Suba

(b) Sarkar-Paragana-Suba

(c) Suba-Sarkar-Paragana

(d) Paragana-Suba-Sarkar

Answer: (a) Paragana-Sarkar-Suba

Notes:
  • In medieval India, especially during the Mughal period, the empire was divided into multiple administrative units for better governance.
  • The scorrect sequence in ascending order of size is: Paragana → Sarkar → Suba.
  • Paragana (Smallest Unit):
    • A Paragana was a cluster of villages.
    • It was the smallest administrative unit, consisting of several villages, typically managed by officials like a qanungo (record keeper) and chaudhary (local headman).
  • Sarkar (Intermediate Unit):
    • A Sarkar was a group of Paraganas.
    • It acted as an intermediate administrative division, headed by faujdar (military officer) and amil (revenue collector).
  • Suba (Largest Unit):
    • A Suba was the largest administrative division, equivalent to a province, and was governed by a subedar (provincial governor).
    • The Mughal Empire was divided into multiple Subas (provinces) during Akbar’s reign, each responsible for managing the Sarkars and Paraganas within it.

Q. According to the Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?

  1. Wrestling
  2. Astrology
  3. Accounting
  4. Soothsaying

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Notes:
  • Women in general occupied a high position in Vijayanagara society and instances of the active part they took in the political, social and literary life of the country are not rare, besides being trained in wrestling, handling swords and shields, music and other fine arts, some of them at any rate received a fair amount of literary education.
  • Fernao Nuniz visited Vijayanagara Empire in the time period of 1535-1537 AD.
  • Nuniz wrties: “he (the king of Vijaynagar) has also women who wrestle, and others who are astrologers and soothsayers; and he has woman who write all the accounts of expenses that are incurred inside the gates and others whose duty it is to write all the affairs of the kingdom and compare their books with those of the writers outside; he has women also for music, who play instruments and sing. Even the wives of the king are well versed in music…it is said that he has judges, as well as bailiffs and watchmen who every night guard the palace, and these are women.” 

Q. Consider the following statements:

  1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
  2. It was during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
  3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (a) 1 only

Notes:
  • During the rule of Iltutmish, Chenghiz Khan defeated Jalal al-Din near the banks of Indus.
  • Muhammad Bin Tughluq was the sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351 AD. In 1398 AD, Timur invaded India. He crossed the Indus and ravaged Multan and Punjab.
  • Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara empire ruled between 1422 and 1446 AD. Vasco Da Gama reached the coast of Kerala in 1498.