UPSC Medieval India – Chapter 17: Mughal Architecture, Painting, Music and Literature (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Medieval India – Chapter 17: Mughal Architecture, Painting, Music and Literature (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: History. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

A garden divided into four parts by water channels and walks is called a:

Correct Answer: A [charbagh]

Explanation:

The charbagh, of Persian origin, divides a garden into four quarters by water channels and walkways, as at Humayun's Tomb.

2.  

Humayun's Tomb was built on the orders of:

Correct Answer: A [Humayun's widow Bega Begum]

Explanation:

Humayun's senior widow Bega Begum (Haji Begum) commissioned the tomb in Akbar's reign; Mirak Mirza Ghiyas designed it.

3.  

The tomb of Akbar is located at:

Correct Answer: C [Sikandra]

Explanation:

Akbar's tomb at Sikandra near Agra was begun by Akbar himself and completed by Jahangir; it is a tiered structure without a dome.

4.  

The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula at Agra was built by:

Correct Answer: D [Nur Jahan]

Explanation:

Nur Jahan built the white-marble tomb at Agra for her father Itimad-ud-Daula; it shows early pietra dura inlay.

5.  

The Badshahi Mosque at Lahore was built by:

Correct Answer: D [Aurangzeb]

Explanation:

Aurangzeb built the Badshahi Mosque at Lahore in the 1670s, one of the largest Mughal mosques.

6.  

Bibi ka Maqbara is located at:

Correct Answer: B [Aurangabad]

Explanation:

Bibi ka Maqbara, the tomb of Aurangzeb's wife modelled on the Taj Mahal, stands at Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

7.  

The two Persian painters brought to India by Humayun were Mir Sayyid Ali and:

Correct Answer: C [Abdus Samad]

Explanation:

Humayun brought Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad from Persia; under Akbar they led the imperial painting workshop.

8.  

The Hamzanama was illustrated at the court of:

Correct Answer: D [Akbar]

Explanation:

The Hamzanama, a huge illustrated manuscript of Amir Hamza's adventures, was produced in Akbar's workshop under Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad.

9.  

Ustad Mansur, famous for paintings of birds and animals, was given the title Nadir-ul-Asr by:

Correct Answer: D [Jahangir]

Explanation:

Jahangir, a keen naturalist, gave Mansur the title Nadir-ul-Asr ('wonder of the age') for his studies of birds and animals.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. The double dome was used in Humayun's Tomb.
2. Pietra dura was used in the Taj Mahal.
3. Akbar's buildings were mainly of white marble.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Humayun's Tomb has a double dome and the Taj Mahal uses pietra dura; Akbar's buildings were mainly red sandstone, so statement 3 fails.

11.  

Assertion (A): After Aurangzeb, many Mughal painters moved to the courts of regional rulers.

Reason (R): Imperial patronage of painting declined under Aurangzeb.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true: as Aurangzeb withdrew imperial patronage, painters left for Rajput and Pahari courts, so R explains A.

12.  

Before joining Akbar's court, Tansen served:

Correct Answer: B [Raja Ramchandra of Rewa]

Explanation:

Tansen served Raja Ramchandra of Rewa before Akbar called him to the Mughal court.

13.  

The dhrupad style had earlier been developed at the court of:

Correct Answer: A [Raja Man Singh Tomar]

Explanation:

Dhrupad was developed at the Gwalior court of Raja Man Singh Tomar in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

14.  

The translation bureau set up by Akbar was called the:

Correct Answer: A [Maktab Khana]

Explanation:

Akbar's Maktab Khana at Fatehpur Sikri translated Sanskrit works such as the Mahabharata (Razmnama) into Persian.

15.  

The Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, critical of Akbar's religious policy, was written by:

Correct Answer: B [Badauni]

Explanation:

Abdul Qadir Badauni's Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh is an unofficial history that openly criticises Akbar's religious policy.

16.  

Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan is known for his:

Correct Answer: B [Hindi dohas]

Explanation:

Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, son of Bairam Khan, is best remembered for his Hindi dohas; he also translated the Baburnama into Persian.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order of their building:

1. Itimad-ud-Daula's Tomb
2. Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
3. Humayun's Tomb
4. Taj Mahal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3-1-4-2]

Explanation:

Humayun's Tomb, Itimad-ud-Daula, Taj Mahal, Badshahi Mosque.

18.  

The Padshahnama, a history of Shah Jahan's reign, was written by:

Correct Answer: A [Abdul Hamid Lahori]

Explanation:

Abdul Hamid Lahori wrote the Padshahnama, the official history of Shah Jahan's reign.

19.  

An early major poet of Urdu from the Deccan was:

Correct Answer: B [Wali Dakhni]

Explanation:

Wali Dakhni of the Deccan is regarded as an early major Urdu poet who made Urdu a literary language.

20.  

The Shalimar Bagh at Srinagar was laid out in the reign of:

Correct Answer: C [Jahangir]

Explanation:

The Shalimar Bagh at Srinagar was laid out under Jahangir around 1619.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2019

With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?

Correct Answer: A [Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.]

Explanation:

(a) Correct answer (the statement is not correct) – he was known as Tansen before Akbar; the title linked with Akbar is "Mian".

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2022

"Yogavasistha" was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:

Correct Answer: A [Akbar]

Explanation:

the translation was made in the late 16th century.

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