MCQ on Vijaynagara, Bahmani and Other Provincial Kingdoms

🟢 Easy (1–20)

1. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in which year?
   a) 1236
   b) 1336 ✅
   c) 1436
   d) 1536
   Explanation: The Vijayanagara Empire was established in 1336 CE by Harihara I and Bukka I.
2. Who founded the Bahmani Kingdom?
   a) Firuz Shah Bahmani
   b) Mahmud Gawan
   c) Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah ✅
   d) Zafar Khan
   Explanation: Hasan Gangu (Alauddin Hasan) founded the Bahmani kingdom in 1347.
3. Which river was important to the Vijayanagara capital?
   a) Krishna
   b) Godavari
   c) Kaveri
   d) Tungabhadra ✅
   Explanation: The capital, Hampi, was on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
4. Who was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire?
   a) Deva Raya I
   b) Harihara I
   c) Krishna Deva Raya ✅
   d) Bukka I
   Explanation: Krishna Deva Raya ruled during the empire’s golden age (1509–1529).
5. What was the capital of the Bahmani kingdom?
   a) Hampi
   b) Daulatabad
   c) Gulbarga ✅
   d) Warangal
   Explanation: Initially, Gulbarga was the capital before it shifted to Bidar.
6. Which of the following dynasties ruled the Vijayanagara Empire last?
   a) Sangama
   b) Saluva
   c) Tuluva
   d) Aravidu ✅
   Explanation: The Aravidu dynasty was the last ruling dynasty.
7. Which city was the capital of Vijayanagara Empire?
   a) Madurai
   b) Hampi ✅
   c) Bijapur
   d) Golconda
   Explanation: Hampi was the capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
8. The Battle of Talikota took place in:
   a) 1451
   b) 1565 ✅
   c) 1540
   d) 1510
   Explanation: In 1565, a coalition of Deccan Sultanates defeated Vijayanagara.
9. Which foreign traveller visited Vijayanagara during Krishna Deva Raya’s reign?
   a) Al-Biruni
   b) Marco Polo
   c) Domingo Paes ✅
   d) Ibn Battuta
   Explanation: Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes gave a detailed account of the empire.
10. The Bahmani Kingdom split into how many successor states?
    a) 3
    b) 4
    c) 5 ✅
    d) 6
    Explanation: The five Deccan Sultanates were Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar.
11. Krishna Deva Raya belonged to which dynasty?
    a) Aravidu
    b) Saluva
    c) Tuluva ✅
    d) Sangama
    Explanation: He was the most powerful king of the Tuluva dynasty.
12. Which provincial kingdom was centered in modern-day Karnataka?
    a) Bahmani
    b) Madurai
    c) Vijayanagara ✅
    d) Gondwana
    Explanation: Vijayanagara was in present-day Karnataka.
13. Which ruler of the Bahmani Kingdom encouraged Persian culture?
    a) Mahmud Gawan ✅
    b) Hasan Gangu
    c) Muhammad Shah
    d) Firuz Shah
    Explanation: Mahmud Gawan promoted Persian culture and education.
14. Which was a powerful provincial kingdom in Tamil Nadu?
    a) Madurai Sultanate ✅
    b) Bijapur
    c) Berar
    d) Bidar
    Explanation: The Madurai Sultanate ruled parts of Tamil Nadu.
15. The chief architect of the Bahmani administration was:
    a) Alauddin Bahman Shah
    b) Mahmud Gawan ✅
    c) Zafar Khan
    d) Barid Shah
    Explanation: Gawan reformed the administration and education system.
16. The ruins of Hampi are located in which state today?
    a) Tamil Nadu
    b) Andhra Pradesh
    c) Telangana
    d) Karnataka ✅
    Explanation: Hampi is in Karnataka.
17. Which kingdom emerged after the decline of Bahmani?
    a) Mughals
    b) Marathas
    c) Deccan Sultanates ✅
    d) Vijayanagara
    Explanation: Five Deccan Sultanates emerged after Bahmani decline.
18. Which Sultanate had its capital at Ahmadnagar?
    a) Golconda
    b) Berar
    c) Nizam Shahi ✅
    d) Bidar
    Explanation: The Nizam Shahi dynasty ruled from Ahmadnagar.
19. Which king authored ‘Amuktamalyada’ in Telugu?
    a) Bukka I
    b) Krishna Deva Raya ✅
    c) Harihara I
    d) Tirumala
    Explanation: Krishna Deva Raya wrote this devotional work in Telugu.
20. Which kingdom was known for Gol Gumbaz?
    a) Bijapur ✅
    b) Berar
    c) Bidar
    d) Golconda
    Explanation: Gol Gumbaz, with one of the world’s largest domes, is in Bijapur.

🟡 Moderate (21–40)

21. Which Vijayanagara king sent an embassy to China?
    a) Bukka I
    b) Harihara II ✅
    c) Krishna Deva Raya
    d) Achyuta Raya
    Explanation: Harihara II maintained foreign diplomacy.
22. Which Sultanate built the Charminar?
    a) Ahmadnagar
    b) Golconda ✅
    c) Bijapur
    d) Berar
    Explanation: Built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in Golconda.
23. Which Sultan moved the Bahmani capital from Gulbarga to Bidar?
    a) Alauddin Hasan
    b) Firuz Shah
    c) Ahmad Shah Wali ✅
    d) Mahmud Gawan
    Explanation: Ahmad Shah Wali shifted the capital.
24. The Bahmani Kingdom was constantly in conflict with which empire?
    a) Cholas
    b) Mughals
    c) Vijayanagara ✅
    d) Rajputs
    Explanation: There were frequent battles between Bahmani and Vijayanagara.
25. Which kingdom is associated with the Qutb Shahi dynasty?
    a) Bijapur
    b) Berar
    c) Golconda ✅
    d) Ahmadnagar
    Explanation: Qutb Shahis ruled Golconda.
26. Mahmud Gawan was executed due to:
    a) Rebellion
    b) Corruption
    c) A forged letter ✅
    d) Military failure
    Explanation: A forged letter made the Sultan suspect him of treason.
27. Which regional kingdom had close trade relations with Portugal?
    a) Bahmani
    b) Madurai
    c) Vijayanagara ✅
    d) Berar
    Explanation: Vijayanagara maintained trade with Portuguese traders.
28. Who built the Vitthala temple in Hampi?
    a) Krishna Deva Raya ✅
    b) Harihara I
    c) Achyuta Raya
    d) Deva Raya II
    Explanation: The Vitthala temple is a prime example of Vijayanagara architecture.
29. What was the language of administration in Vijayanagara?
    a) Sanskrit
    b) Telugu
    c) Kannada
    d) All of the above ✅
    Explanation: Multiple languages were used for administration.
30. Which kingdom ruled Bidar after Bahmani’s decline?
    a) Barid Shahi ✅
    b) Nizam Shahi
    c) Imad Shahi
    d) Adil Shahi
    Explanation: Bidar became independent under the Barid Shahi dynasty.
31. Who was Deva Raya II known as?
    a) Abhinava Bhoja ✅
    b) Navakoti Narayana
    c) Kavi Chakravarti
    d) Rajaraja
    Explanation: He was called Abhinava Bhoja due to his patronage of learning.
32. Which dynasty was overthrown by the Bahmani Sultanate?
    a) Kakatiya
    b) Yadavas
    c) Tughlaq ✅
    d) Chalukyas
    Explanation: Bahmani revolt broke away from the Tughlaq empire.
33. Who was the last ruler of the Bahmani kingdom?
    a) Mahmud Gawan
    b) Kalimullah ✅
    c) Ahmad Shah
    d) Hasan Gangu
    Explanation: Kalimullah was the last Bahmani ruler before it split.
34. What was Bidar famous for?
    a) Paintings
    b) Weapons
    c) Bidriware ✅
    d) Sculptures
    Explanation: Bidriware is a form of metalwork from Bidar.
35. What was the main source of income in Vijayanagara?
    a) Land tax ✅
    b) Trade
    c) Mining
    d) Tribute
    Explanation: Agriculture and land tax were primary income sources.
36. Which of the following was NOT a Deccan Sultanate?
    a) Bijapur
    b) Berar
    c) Madurai ✅
    d) Golconda
    Explanation: Madurai was a separate provincial kingdom in the south.
37. The rulers of Bijapur belonged to which dynasty?
    a) Barid Shahi
    b) Adil Shahi ✅
    c) Nizam Shahi
    d) Imad Shahi
    Explanation: The Adil Shahi dynasty ruled Bijapur.
38. Which Sultanate was known for diamond mining?
    a) Ahmadnagar
    b) Golconda ✅
    c) Bidar
    d) Berar
    Explanation: Golconda was famous for its diamond mines.
39. Which Vijayanagara ruler fought the Battle of Raichur?
    a) Harihara II
    b) Krishna Deva Raya ✅
    c) Achyuta Raya
    d) Tirumala
    Explanation: Krishna Deva Raya defeated the Sultan of Bijapur.
40. What was the purpose of the Kamavisdar in Bahmani administration?
    a) Commander
    b) Tax collector ✅
    c) Priest
    d) Diplomat
    Explanation: Kamavisdar was in charge of revenue collection.

🔴 Hard (41–50)

41. Which kingdom patronized Urdu language in Deccan?
    a) Bahmani ✅
    b) Vijayanagara
    c) Gondwana
    d) Kakatiya
    Explanation: The Bahmani kingdom contributed to early Urdu development.
42. Who founded the Imad Shahi dynasty in Berar?
    a) Imad-ul-Mulk ✅
    b) Malik Ambar
    c) Quli Qutb Shah
    d) Adil Shah
    Explanation: He was a Bahmani noble who established Berar.
43. Which ruler constructed the Lotus Mahal in Hampi?
    a) Achyuta Raya ✅
    b) Deva Raya II
    c) Harihara II
    d) Krishna Deva Raya
    Explanation: Built as part of the Zenana enclosure.
44. What title did Krishna Deva Raya assume after military victories?
    a) Abhinava Bhoja
    b) Yavanaraja
    c) Andhra Bhoja ✅
    d) Rajaadhiraja
    Explanation: He was titled Andhra Bhoja for his literary and military prowess.
45. Which Bahmani ruler was known for his diplomacy and tolerance?
    a) Mahmud Gawan ✅
    b) Ahmad Shah
    c) Muhammad Shah
    d) Kalimullah
    Explanation: Mahmud Gawan skillfully handled internal and external affairs.
46. Who defeated the Bahmani kingdom in the Battle of Kalpi?
    a) Vijayanagara
    b) Gondwana
    c) Sharqi Kingdom ✅
    d) Mughals
    Explanation: The Sharqi kingdom defeated Bahmani forces.
47. The Vijayanagara city was discovered by whom in modern times?
    a) James Prinsep
    b) Colin Mackenzie ✅
    c) Alexander Cunningham
    d) William Jones
    Explanation: Colin Mackenzie surveyed and documented Hampi in the 19th century.
48. Which Bahmani king adopted Persian customs at court?
    a) Hasan Gangu
    b) Firuz Shah ✅
    c) Kalimullah
    d) Mahmud Shah
    Explanation: Firuz Shah promoted Persian customs, dress, and culture.
49. Who was the first ruler of the Tuluva dynasty?
    a) Narasa Nayaka ✅
    b) Krishna Deva Raya
    c) Achyuta Raya
    d) Deva Raya I
    Explanation: Narasa Nayaka laid the foundation of the Tuluva dynasty.
50. What was ‘Athanayaka’ in Vijayanagara administration?
    a) Tax officer
    b) Revenue clerk
    c) District officer ✅
    d) Military commander
    Explanation: Athanayaka was the head of a territorial unit or district.