MCQ on Arab and Turkish Invasion in India

🟢 Easy (1–20)

1. Who led the Arab invasion of Sindh in 712 AD?
   a) Mahmud of Ghazni
   b) Muhammad Ghori
   c) Muhammad bin Qasim ✅
   d) Alauddin Khilji
   Explanation: Muhammad bin Qasim led the Arab invasion of Sindh in 712 AD under the Umayyad Caliphate.
2. Which river did Muhammad bin Qasim cross to enter India?
   a) Ganga
   b) Yamuna
   c) Indus ✅
   d) Narmada
   Explanation: He crossed the Indus River to begin his campaign in Sindh.
3. Which was the first Indian city captured by Muhammad bin Qasim?
   a) Delhi
   b) Debal ✅
   c) Multan
   d) Kannauj
   Explanation: Debal was the first city captured by Qasim.
4. Which caliphate supported Muhammad bin Qasim’s invasion?
   a) Abbasid
   b) Umayyad ✅
   c) Fatimid
   d) Ottoman
   Explanation: The Umayyad Caliphate under Al-Walid sent Muhammad bin Qasim.
5. Who was the ruler of Sindh during Muhammad bin Qasim’s invasion?
   a) Dahir ✅
   b) Harshavardhana
   c) Jaipal
   d) Rajendra Chola
   Explanation: Raja Dahir was the ruler of Sindh at that time.
6. What was the capital of Raja Dahir?
   a) Multan
   b) Debal
   c) Brahmanabad ✅
   d) Ujjain
   Explanation: Brahmanabad was Raja Dahir’s capital.
7. Which city is known as the ‘City of Gold’ captured by Qasim?
   a) Lahore
   b) Debal
   c) Multan ✅
   d) Delhi
   Explanation: Multan was rich and known as the ‘City of Gold’.
8. The Turkish invasions of India started mainly from which century?
   a) 7th
   b) 8th
   c) 9th
   d) 11th ✅
   Explanation: The Turkish invasions started in the 11th century with Mahmud of Ghazni.
9. Who was the first Turkish invader of India?
   a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
   b) Mahmud of Ghazni ✅
   c) Muhammad Ghori
   d) Timur
   Explanation: Mahmud of Ghazni was the first Turkish invader.
10. How many times did Mahmud of Ghazni invade India?
    a) 5
    b) 10
    c) 17 ✅
    d) 20
    Explanation: He invaded India 17 times between 1000–1027 AD.
11. Which famous temple was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1025?
    a) Konark
    b) Somnath ✅
    c) Meenakshi
    d) Jagannath
    Explanation: The Somnath temple in Gujarat was looted and destroyed by Mahmud.
12. Who was the Indian king defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni in the first battle?
    a) Prithviraj Chauhan
    b) Jaipal ✅
    c) Raja Dahir
    d) Rana Sanga
    Explanation: Raja Jaipal of the Hindu Shahi dynasty was defeated in 1001 AD.
13. Who succeeded Mahmud of Ghazni?
    a) Muhammad Ghori ✅
    b) Muhammad bin Qasim
    c) Qutbuddin Aibak
    d) Alauddin Khilji
    Explanation: Muhammad Ghori carried forward Turkish invasions after Mahmud.
14. Which battle marked the beginning of Muslim rule in North India?
    a) First Battle of Panipat
    b) Battle of Tarain (1191)
    c) Second Battle of Tarain (1192) ✅
    d) Battle of Kannauj
    Explanation: The Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 saw Ghori defeat Prithviraj Chauhan.
15. Who was the ruler of Delhi defeated by Muhammad Ghori?
    a) Harshavardhana
    b) Jaipal
    c) Prithviraj Chauhan ✅
    d) Raja Dahir
    Explanation: Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated in 1192.
16. Which slave of Muhammad Ghori became ruler of Delhi?
    a) Iltutmish
    b) Qutbuddin Aibak ✅
    c) Balban
    d) Razia Sultana
    Explanation: Qutbuddin Aibak became the first Sultan of Delhi.
17. Qutb Minar was started by:
    a) Iltutmish
    b) Alauddin Khilji
    c) Qutbuddin Aibak ✅
    d) Firoz Shah
    Explanation: Aibak started its construction in honor of his master.
18. What was the capital of Ghazni?
    a) Kabul
    b) Ghazni ✅
    c) Lahore
    d) Herat
    Explanation: Ghazni in present-day Afghanistan was Mahmud’s capital.
19. Who is called the ‘founder of Muslim rule in India’?
    a) Mahmud of Ghazni
    b) Muhammad bin Qasim
    c) Muhammad Ghori ✅
    d) Babur
    Explanation: Muhammad Ghori laid the foundation of Muslim rule in India.
20. Which dynasty did Mahmud of Ghazni belong to?
    a) Mamluk
    b) Tughlaq
    c) Ghaznavid ✅
    d) Khilji
    Explanation: He belonged to the Ghaznavid dynasty.

🟡 Moderate (21–40)

21. Who defeated Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain?
    a) Jayachandra
    b) Prithviraj Chauhan ✅
    c) Rana Sanga
    d) Harshavardhana
    Explanation: Prithviraj Chauhan defeated him in 1191 AD.
22. What was the main objective of Arab invasions in Sindh?
    a) Spread Christianity
    b) Political alliance
    c) Trade
    d) Expansion of Islam and trade ✅
    Explanation: Arabs aimed to spread Islam and control trade routes.
23. Which Indian dynasty resisted Arab invasions after Qasim’s campaign?
    a) Chalukyas ✅
    b) Palas
    c) Rashtrakutas
    d) Guptas
    Explanation: The Chalukyas and Gurjara-Pratiharas pushed back Arab forces.
24. Who took over after Muhammad Ghori’s death?
    a) Qutbuddin Aibak ✅
    b) Iltutmish
    c) Mahmud of Ghazni
    d) Razia Sultana
    Explanation: Aibak declared independence and became Sultan of Delhi.
25. Why is the Second Battle of Tarain significant?
    a) Ended Mughal rule
    b) Ended British rule
    c) Established Turkish rule in India ✅
    d) Ended Arab rule
    Explanation: It was a decisive Turkish victory leading to Muslim rule.
26. What was the main reason for success of Turkish invasions?
    a) Harsh climate
    b) Internal divisions among Indian rulers ✅
    c) Better agriculture
    d) Geography
    Explanation: Disunity among Indian rulers facilitated the invasions.
27. Which battle saw the defeat of Jaipal by Mahmud of Ghazni?
    a) Peshawar ✅
    b) Tarain
    c) Kannauj
    d) Panipat
    Explanation: Jaipal was defeated in Peshawar in 1001 AD.
28. Muhammad Ghori’s empire was centered in:
    a) Delhi
    b) Ghazni
    c) Ghor ✅
    d) Kandahar
    Explanation: He belonged to the Ghurid dynasty centered in Ghor.
29. Which title was assumed by Qutbuddin Aibak?
    a) Sultan of Ghazni
    b) Malik
    c) Sultan of Hindustan ✅
    d) Shah
    Explanation: He called himself Sultan of Hindustan.
30. The term “Jiziya” refers to:
    a) Land tax
    b) Trade tax
    c) Tax on non-Muslims ✅
    d) Income tax
    Explanation: It was a religious tax on non-Muslims under Muslim rule.
31. Which dynasty succeeded the Ghaznavids in India?
    a) Khilji
    b) Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty ✅
    c) Tughlaq
    d) Mughal
    Explanation: The Slave Dynasty was founded by Aibak.
32. Where did Mahmud of Ghazni build a famous university?
    a) Multan
    b) Ghazni ✅
    c) Delhi
    d) Kabul
    Explanation: He built libraries and centers of learning at Ghazni.
33. Who consolidated Turkish rule in India after Aibak?
    a) Razia Sultana
    b) Balban
    c) Iltutmish ✅
    d) Babur
    Explanation: Iltutmish was key in consolidating the Delhi Sultanate.
34. Who destroyed the city of Mathura in the 11th century?
    a) Timur
    b) Mahmud of Ghazni ✅
    c) Muhammad Ghori
    d) Babur
    Explanation: Mahmud looted and destroyed temples in Mathura.
35. Which term refers to the military slaves of the Turkish invaders?
    a) Sepoys
    b) Ghazis
    c) Mamluks ✅
    d) Qazis
    Explanation: Mamluks were military slaves, often rising to power.
36. Which Indian king tried to form a confederacy against Ghori?
    a) Rana Sanga
    b) Jayachandra
    c) Prithviraj Chauhan ✅
    d) Harshavardhana
    Explanation: Prithviraj attempted to unite Rajput states.
37. Why was Muhammad bin Qasim recalled?
    a) He lost battles
    b) Harsh weather
    c) Political change in Damascus ✅
    d) Defection of troops
    Explanation: After Caliph Al-Walid’s death, new rulers recalled Qasim.
38. The Arab rule in Sindh lasted till:
    a) 815 AD
    b) 870 AD ✅
    c) 900 AD
    d) 1000 AD
    Explanation: Arab control in Sindh ended around 870 AD.
39. Who was the Arab governor of Sindh appointed after Qasim?
    a) Junayd ✅
    b) Mansur
    c) Ghori
    d) Mahmud
    Explanation: Junayd was one of the successors of Qasim in Sindh.
40. Which was the last Hindu Shahi ruler defeated by Ghazni?
    a) Anandpal ✅
    b) Jaipal
    c) Prithviraj
    d) Bhimdev
    Explanation: Anandpal was defeated in 1008 AD.

🔴 Hard (41–50)

41. Which Rajput clan resisted Arab expansion beyond Sindh?
    a) Chauhans
    b) Solankis ✅
    c) Tomars
    d) Paramaras
    Explanation: The Solankis of Gujarat resisted Arab expansion.
42. In which year was the Second Battle of Tarain fought?
    a) 1190
    b) 1191
    c) 1192 ✅
    d) 1206
    Explanation: The decisive battle was fought in 1192.
43. Which scholar accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni to India?
    a) Al-Biruni ✅
    b) Ibn Battuta
    c) Al-Masudi
    d) Amir Khusrau
    Explanation: Al-Biruni wrote Kitab al-Hind after visiting India.
44. Which battle marked the end of the Hindu Shahi dynasty?
    a) Peshawar ✅
    b) Tarain
    c) Thanesar
    d) Kannauj
    Explanation: Jaipal’s defeat marked the fall of Hindu Shahi rule.
45. Which Indian ruler declined to aid Prithviraj in Tarain battles?
    a) Rana Sanga
    b) Jayachandra ✅
    c) Harshavardhana
    d) Vikramaditya
    Explanation: Jayachandra of Kannauj refused to support him.
46. Which caliph was ruling during Muhammad bin Qasim’s campaign?
    a) Al-Mansur
    b) Harun al-Rashid
    c) Al-Walid I ✅
    d) Al-Ma’mun
    Explanation: Al-Walid I of the Umayyad Caliphate supported Qasim.
47. What was the language of administration under the Turks?
    a) Sanskrit
    b) Arabic
    c) Persian ✅
    d) Urdu
    Explanation: Persian was the official language under Turkish rule.
48. Who wrote Tariq-i-Yamini, a history of Mahmud of Ghazni?
    a) Al-Biruni
    b) Utbi ✅
    c) Firdausi
    d) Barani
    Explanation: Utbi was Mahmud’s court historian.
49. Who was the commander-in-chief of Ghori at Tarain?
    a) Qutbuddin Aibak ✅
    b) Al-Biruni
    c) Iltutmish
    d) Timur
    Explanation: Aibak played a key role in the battle.
50. Which was the strongest reason for failure of Indian rulers?
    a) Weak armies
    b) Poor weapons
    c) Lack of unity ✅
    d) Poor geography
    Explanation: Indian rulers failed to unite against foreign invasions.