The Mamluk Dynasty, also known as the Slave Dynasty, was the first Muslim dynasty to rule over the Delhi Sultanate. It was founded by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1206 AD after the death of Muhammad of Ghor. The term “Mamluk” is derived from an Arabic word meaning “owned” or “slave.” These rulers were originally slaves who rose through military ranks and eventually became powerful sovereigns. The dynasty lasted from 1206 AD to 1290 AD and laid the foundation of Muslim political power in India.
The Mamluk Dynasty produced several notable rulers including Iltutmish, Razia Sultana, and Balban. Each of these rulers made remarkable contributions to administration, architecture, and military organization. Iltutmish consolidated the Delhi Sultanate and introduced the silver Tanka and copper Jital. Razia Sultana became the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Balban strengthened the army and introduced the concept of Zil-i-Ilahi (Shadow of God). Studying the Mamluk Dynasty is extremely important for aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, State PSC, and other competitive examinations.
30 MCQs on Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty – Indian History
Q1. Who founded the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty in India?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Balban
(c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(d) Nasiruddin Mahmud
Q2. In which year was the Mamluk Dynasty established?
(a) 1192 AD
(b) 1206 AD
(c) 1210 AD
(d) 1290 AD
Q3. Qutb-ud-din Aibak was a slave and general of which ruler?
(a) Mahmud of Ghazni
(b) Muhammad of Ghor
(c) Alauddin Khalji
(d) Genghis Khan
Q4. Which title was given to Qutb-ud-din Aibak due to his generous nature?
(a) Zil-i-Ilahi
(b) Lakh Bakhsh
(c) Sultan-us-Sharq
(d) Amir-ul-Umra
Q5. Qutb-ud-din Aibak made which city his capital?
(a) Delhi
(b) Lahore
(c) Agra
(d) Multan
Q6. Qutb-ud-din Aibak died while playing which sport?
(a) Wrestling
(b) Sword fighting
(c) Polo (Chaugan)
(d) Hunting
Q7. Who completed the construction of the Qutub Minar?
(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Balban
(d) Razia Sultana
Q8. Iltutmish was the successor of which ruler?
(a) Balban
(b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(c) Aram Shah
(d) Muhammad of Ghor
Q9. Which silver coin was introduced by Iltutmish?
(a) Rupiya
(b) Dinar
(c) Tanka
(d) Mohur
Q10. Iltutmish shifted the capital of the Delhi Sultanate from Lahore to which city?
(a) Agra
(b) Delhi
(c) Daulatabad
(d) Fatehpur
Q11. Who was the first female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
(a) Nur Jahan
(b) Chand Bibi
(c) Razia Sultana
(d) Mumtaz Mahal
Q12. Razia Sultana was the daughter of which ruler?
(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(b) Balban
(c) Iltutmish
(d) Nasiruddin Mahmud
Q13. Which group of nobles was powerful during the early Mamluk period?
(a) The Forty (Chalisa/Chahalgani)
(b) The Hundred
(c) Ashtapradhan
(d) Navaratnas
Q14. Razia Sultana was overthrown and killed in which year?
(a) 1236 AD
(b) 1240 AD
(c) 1246 AD
(d) 1250 AD
Q15. Who was Ghiyas ud din Balban before becoming the Sultan?
(a) A provincial governor
(b) Naib (regent) of Nasiruddin Mahmud
(c) Commander of the Mongol army
(d) A religious scholar
Q16. What concept did Balban introduce to elevate the status of the Sultan?
(a) Din-i-Ilahi
(b) Sulh-i-Kul
(c) Zil-i-Ilahi (Shadow of God)
(d) Jaziya
Q17. Which system did Balban introduce to suppress robbers and maintain law and order?
(a) Iqta System
(b) Blood and Iron Policy
(c) Mansabdari System
(d) Jagirdari System
Q18. The Mamluk Dynasty came to an end in which year?
(a) 1266 AD
(b) 1280 AD
(c) 1290 AD
(d) 1320 AD
Q19. Who succeeded the Mamluk Dynasty as the next ruling dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?
(a) Tughlaq Dynasty
(b) Sayyid Dynasty
(c) Lodi Dynasty
(d) Khalji Dynasty
Q20. Qutb-ud-din Aibak began the construction of which famous mosque in Delhi?
(a) Jama Masjid
(b) Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
(c) Moth ki Masjid
(d) Fatehpuri Masjid
Q21. The last ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty was:
(a) Balban
(b) Kaiqubad
(c) Nasiruddin Mahmud
(d) Muiz ud din Bahram
Q22. Which Mongol invasion did Balban successfully repel during his reign?
(a) Invasion of Timur
(b) Invasion led by Tair Bahadur and others
(c) Invasion of Babur
(d) Invasion of Nadir Shah
Q23. Who among the following was the court poet of Balban?
(a) Amir Khusrau
(b) Alberuni
(c) Firdausi
(d) Zia Nakshabi
Q24. The Iqta system in India was first introduced by which Mamluk ruler?
(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Balban
(d) Razia Sultana
Q25. Iltutmish received the investiture from which Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad?
(a) Al-Nasir
(b) Al-Mustansir
(c) Al-Mutawakkil
(d) Al-Mamun
Q26. Balban’s son Prince Muhammad was killed while fighting against which enemy?
(a) Rajputs
(b) Mongols
(c) Afghans
(d) Marathas
Q27. Which historian wrote “Tabaqat-i-Nasiri” during the Mamluk period?
(a) Ziauddin Barani
(b) Minhaj-us-Siraj
(c) Amir Khusrau
(d) Ibn Battuta
Q28. Iltutmish nominated which of his children as his successor?
(a) Ruknuddin Firuz
(b) Razia Sultana
(c) Nasiruddin Mahmud
(d) Bahram Shah
Q29. Who among the following was NOT a ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty?
(a) Aram Shah
(b) Alauddin Khalji
(c) Nasiruddin Mahmud
(d) Kaiqubad
Q30. The term “Mamluk” is derived from which language?
(a) Persian
(b) Turkish
(c) Arabic
(d) Urdu
Correct Answers
- (c) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
- (b) 1206 AD
- (b) Muhammad of Ghor
- (b) Lakh Bakhsh
- (b) Lahore
- (c) Polo (Chaugan)
- (b) Iltutmish
- (c) Aram Shah
- (c) Tanka
- (b) Delhi
- (c) Razia Sultana
- (c) Iltutmish
- (a) The Forty (Chalisa/Chahalgani)
- (b) 1240 AD
- (b) Naib (regent) of Nasiruddin Mahmud
- (c) Zil-i-Ilahi (Shadow of God)
- (b) Blood and Iron Policy
- (c) 1290 AD
- (d) Khalji Dynasty
- (b) Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
- (b) Kaiqubad
- (b) Invasion led by Tair Bahadur and others
- (a) Amir Khusrau
- (b) Iltutmish
- (b) Al-Mustansir
- (b) Mongols
- (b) Minhaj-us-Siraj
- (b) Razia Sultana
- (b) Alauddin Khalji
- (c) Arabic
Conclusion
The Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty holds a special place in the history of medieval India. It marked the beginning of Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent and set the stage for future dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate. Rulers like Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultana, and Balban shaped the political and cultural landscape of their era. Their contributions to administration, military reforms, and architecture remain noteworthy even today.
Practicing MCQs on the Mamluk Dynasty helps aspirants strengthen their preparation for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, and State PSCs. These questions cover various aspects of the dynasty including its founders, administrative policies, military campaigns, and cultural achievements. Regular practice of such objective questions will help candidates perform well in the Indian History section of their examinations.