CDS History · Free notes
Medieval India: CDS History
Medieval India has 106 past-year questions in CDS General Knowledge, from 2016 (II) to 2026 (II), and 65 of them are HARD. Very few ask about a battle. Most name a book, a painting, a saint or a Persian or Sanskrit term and ask who made it or what it meant, and the wrong options are real names from the same court or the same century. So the tables here keep each work beside its author and each term beside its meaning, in time order. 2024 gave more of them than any other year, many as statement sets on art, science and religion, so the themes at the end matter as much as the dynasties.
The handout has every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap with answers shown. The formula sheet is the chapter’s formulas and traps alone, on one page.
Subtopic notes
Early Medieval Kingdoms: Cholas to Kakatiyas
13 PYQsThe kingdoms of about 700 to 1300: Chola villages and temples, the Pratiharas, Kashmir, Odisha and the Kakatiyas, and the land grants, guilds and learning of the age.
The Delhi Sultanate: Sultans, Sieges and Regional Courts
11 PYQsThe Delhi Sultans from Iltutmish to Firuz Shah, the Mongol threat, the books written at their courts, the siege engine and the stirrup, and the 15th century courts of Mewar, Gwalior and Kashmir.
The Vijayanagara Empire: Amara-nayakas, Hampi and Visitors
13 PYQsHow Vijayanagara was ruled through the amara-nayakas, the royal centre at Hampi and Krishnadeva Raya's court, and the foreign visitors who described the city.
The Mughals and the Marathas
16 PYQsMughal kingship and the mansab system, the books and paintings of the Mughal court, Shivaji's rise and rule, and the later Mughals and Awadh in the 18th century.
The Bhakti Movement: Saints and Their Songs
16 PYQsThe Tamil Alvars and Nayanars, Basavanna and the Virashaivas, the saints of Maharashtra, north India, Punjab and Assam, and the devotional poems of Bengal and Braj.
Sufis and Schools of Thought
9 PYQsThe Sufi silsilas and the Chishtis, the Sufi books CDS names, and the Indian schools of philosophy from Mimamsa and Vedanta to Kashmir Shaivism and the Sahajiyas.
Peasants, Trade and Travellers
18 PYQsMughal peasants, zamindars and village servants, the crafts and mines of medieval India, and the travellers from Al-Biruni to Bernier whose accounts describe it all.
Art, Architecture and Science
10 PYQsChola bronzes and the Thanjavur temple, the Sultanate and Mughal buildings of Delhi and Agra, Indo-Islamic building terms, and the astronomy and medicine of medieval India.
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 24 reference tables · 38 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Formula & revision sheet
0 formulas · 24 reference tables · 38 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet
Early Medieval Kingdoms: Cholas to Kakatiyas
Reference tables (3)
The Cholas: sabhas, temples and land6 rows
| Time | Record or building | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Parantaka I (907 to 955) | Uttaramerur inscriptions | Sabha members own land and a house, aged 35 to 70Q CDS 2026 (II): owning a house and land is a rule; an age limit of 30 to 60 is not. |
| Chola period | Land classes in inscriptions | Nancai wet land, puncai dry land, tottakal garden landQ |
| Rajaraja I (985 to 1014) | Brihadishvara temple, Thanjavur | A Shiva temple |
| Rajaraja I | Chudamani Vihara, Nagapattinam | Built by the Shailendra king of Srivijaya with Chola supportQ CDS 2024 (I): the Chola king who encouraged it was Rajaraja I. |
| Rajendra I (1014 to 1044) | Gangaikonda Cholapuram | His new capital, with a Shiva temple |
| Tamil country | Srirangam temple | Vishnu as Ranganatha: a Vaishnava templeQ CDS 2021 (II): Srirangam is the Vaishnava temple in a list of Shiva temples. |
Kingdoms of the north, Kashmir, Odisha and the Deccan4 rows
| Dynasty | Region and time | Fact asked |
|---|---|---|
| Bhauma-Karas | Odisha, 8th to 10th century | Queens such as Prithivimahadevi and Dandimahadevi ruled when there was no male heirQ CDS 2026 (II): the four queens belonged to the Bhauma-Kara dynasty. |
| Gurjara-Pratiharas | Kannauj, 9th century | Gwalior prashasti of Mihira Bhoja, by the poet BaladityaQ |
| Utpalas | Kashmir, 9th century | Founder Avantivarman; minister Suyya's works on the VitastaQ CDS 2024 (II): both statements about Avantivarman and Suyya were correct. |
| Kakatiyas | Warangal, 12th to 14th century | Titles such as RayagajakesariQ |
Land grants, guilds and learning5 rows
| Term or work | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Apabhramsha | Literary language formed by about the 6th century from regional speech, Prakrit and SanskritQ |
| Brahmadeya | Land granted to Brahmanas; the state gave up its revenue from itQ |
| Manigramam, Nanadesi | Merchant guilds of south IndiaQ CDS 2022 (II): these were guilds of Indian merchants. |
| Turushka, Tajika, Parashika | Sanskrit names for Muslims: Turks, Tajiks, PersiansQ CDS 2022 (II): Kardamaka was the odd one out. |
| Krityakalpataru (12th century) | Lakshmidhara's digest (nibandha) of epic and Puranic textsQ |
Watch out for (5)
- Srirangam is the one Vishnu temple→ The Cholas: sabhas, temples and land
- Rajaraja began the vihara, Rajendra renewed it→ The Cholas: sabhas, temples and land
- Suyya was a minister, not a king→ Kingdoms of the north, Kashmir, Odisha and the Deccan
- Kardamaka is a dynasty, not a name for Muslims→ Land grants, guilds and learning
- Manigramam was a guild, not a village→ Land grants, guilds and learning
The Delhi Sultanate: Sultans, Sieges and Regional Courts
Reference tables (3)
Sultans, the Mongols and the court writers5 rows
| Time | Person | Fact asked |
|---|---|---|
| 1221 | Chenghiz Khan | Reached the Indus but did not cross itQ CDS 2020 (I): the one Mongol leader in the list who did not cross the Indus. |
| 1211 to 1236 | Iltutmish | Created the Forty (Turkan-i-Chihalgani) |
| 1266 to 1287 | Balban | Broke the power of the FortyQ CDS 2020 (I): Balban, not Iltutmish or Alauddin. |
| 1318 | Amir Khusrau | Nuh Sipihr: praise of India, its languages, music and animalsQ CDS 2025 (I): the work is the Nuh Sipihr. |
| 1351 to 1388 | Firuz Shah Tughlaq | Moved the Topra pillar; painting in the Sirat-i-Firuz ShahiQ CDS 2021 (II): the illustration is in the Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi. |
Siege engines and the stirrup4 rows
| Device | When and where | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden stirrup | Khajuraho sculpture, about the 10th century | A broad foot-rest for the rider |
| Ring-stirrup | Konark horse, about 1250 | A ring for the foot |
| Iron stirrup | Delhi Sultans' armies, from the 13th century | Firm seat; a lance charge without being unhorsedQ Asked twice: CDS 2022 (II) and 2025 (I). Every statement offered was true both times. |
| Manjaniq (munjaniq) | Sultanate sieges | Hurled stones at fort walls: a mangonel or catapultQ Asked twice: CDS 2022 (II) and 2025 (I). |
Courts of the 15th century: Mewar, Gwalior and Kashmir3 rows
| Ruler | Kingdom and reign | Work at the court |
|---|---|---|
| Zain-ul-Abidin | Kashmir, 1420 to 1470 | Rajatarangini continued by Jonaraja and Shrivara; Zainavilas by BhattavataraQ |
| Rana Kumbha | Mewar, 1433 to 1468 | Rasikapriya, a commentary on the Gitagovinda; four dramasQ |
| Raja Man Singh Tomar | Gwalior, 1486 to 1516 | Man Kautuhal, a work on musicQ CDS 2024 (I): prepared under Raja Man Singh of Gwalior, not Tansen. |
Watch out for (4)
- Iltutmish made the Forty, Balban broke them→ Sultans, the Mongols and the court writers
- Sirat, not Tarikh→ Sultans, the Mongols and the court writers
- A manjaniq is not a cannon→ Siege engines and the stirrup
- The patron, not the singer→ Courts of the 15th century: Mewar, Gwalior and Kashmir
The Vijayanagara Empire: Amara-nayakas, Hampi and Visitors
Reference tables (3)
The amara-nayaka system and the walled city5 rows
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1336, by Harihara and Bukka |
| Amara-nayakas | Military commanders who governed territories and kept troops for the rayaQ Asked three times: CDS 2018 (II), 2021 (I) and 2025 (II). |
| Gajapati, Ashvapati, Narapati | Rulers of Odisha, Deccan Sultans, rayas of VijayanagaraQ CDS 2024 (II): all three pairs were correctly matched. |
| Fields inside the walls | So the city could feed itself through a siegeQ CDS 2026 (II): to protect the farmland from a besieging army. |
| Battle of Talikota | 1565; the city was sacked |
Hampi and Krishnadeva Raya's court5 rows
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Mahanavami Dibba | Platform for the king's rituals at the Mahanavami festivalQ CDS 2018 (I): the ritual platform of the Vijayanagara kings. |
| Virupaksha temple | The chief temple of the sacred centre |
| Amuktamalyada | Krishnadeva Raya's Telugu work on statecraftQ Asked twice: CDS 2022 (I) and 2023 (II). The language is Telugu. |
| Ashtadiggajas | Krishnadeva Raya's eight court poets, among them Peddana, Timmana, Mallana and DhurjatiQ |
| Colin Mackenzie | Brought the Hampi ruins to light with a survey map in 1800Q |
Foreign visitors to Vijayanagara5 rows
| Visitor | From | When |
|---|---|---|
| Marco Polo | Venice | 1290s, before Vijayanagara was foundedQ CDS 2026 (II): the traveller who did NOT write about Vijayanagara. |
| Niccolo de Conti | Italy | About 1420 |
| Abdur Razzaq | Persia, envoy of Shah Rukh | 1440s, by way of CalicutQ |
| Domingo Paes | Portugal | Reign of Krishnadeva RayaQ CDS 2021 (II): Paes described Vijayanagara. |
| Fernao Nuniz | Portugal | 1530s |
Watch out for (5)
- Commanders, not village chiefs→ The amara-nayaka system and the walled city
- Their share also kept temples→ The amara-nayaka system and the walled city
- Mackenzie found Hampi, Prinsep read Brahmi→ Hampi and Krishnadeva Raya's court
- Telugu, not Sanskrit or Kannada→ Hampi and Krishnadeva Raya's court
- Check the date before the name→ Foreign visitors to Vijayanagara
The Mughals and the Marathas
Reference tables (3)
Emperors, kingship and the mansab5 rows
| Emperor | Reign | Fact asked |
|---|---|---|
| Babur | 1526 to 1530 | Follower of the Naqshbandi Khwaja Ubaydullah AhrarQ |
| Akbar | 1556 to 1605 | Kingship as farr-i izadi, an idea from Shihabuddin SuhrawardiQ CDS 2018 (I): Suhrawardi, not Ibn al-Arabi or Nizamuddin Auliya. |
| Akbar | 1598 | Farman allowing a church at CambayQ |
| Akbar onward | 16th and 17th centuries | Zat fixes rank and pay; sawar fixes horsemen; umara at zat 1,000 or moreQ CDS 2020 (I): the nobility line rests on zat, not sawar. |
| Jahangir | 1605 to 1627 | Muqarrab Khan was his favouriteQ |
Books and painting at the Mughal court5 rows
| Work | By | Reign |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings of Humayun's atelier | Mir Sayyid Ali, Abd al-Samad, Dost Musawwir (not Bihzad) | HumayunQ CDS 2021 (I): Bihzad was the painter NOT associated with Humayun. |
| Tarikh-i-Akbari | Arif Qandahari | AkbarQ |
| Lilavati in Persian | Faizi | AkbarQ CDS 2021 (I): Faizi, not his brother Abul Fazl. |
| Ain-i Akbari's Indian sciences | Abul Fazl lists Vyakarana, Nyaya, Vedanta, Patanjala | AkbarQ CDS 2025 (I): Vyakarana is on the list; Ayurveda, Ganita and Jyotisha are not. |
| Jahangir embracing Shah Abbas | Abul Hasan | JahangirQ |
Shivaji, the Marathas and the later Mughals8 rows
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| About 1646 | Shivaji captures Torna |
| 1656 | Annexation of Javli |
| 1659 | Afzal Khan killed at Pratapgarh |
| 1663 | Night raid on Shaista Khan at PoonaQ CDS 2023 (II): the order is Torna, Javli, Afzal Khan, Shaista Khan. |
| 1674 | Coronation; Ashta Pradhan completed; Marathi in place of PersianQ |
| 1713 | Sayyid brothers overthrow Jahandar Shah and enthrone FarrukhsiyarQ CDS 2017 (II): the Sayyids did NOT bring Jahandar Shah to power. |
| 1719 | Sayyid brothers' agreement with Shahu |
| 1748 | Safdarjung becomes wazir: the first Nawab Wazir of AwadhQ |
Watch out for (6)
- Nobles by zat, not sawar→ Emperors, kingship and the mansab
- Suhrawardi's light, not Ibn al-Arabi's→ Emperors, kingship and the mansab
- Bihzad never painted for Humayun→ Books and painting at the Mughal court
- Faizi translated, Abul Fazl chronicled→ Books and painting at the Mughal court
- Nawab first, Nawab Wazir second→ Shivaji, the Marathas and the later Mughals
- Mirasdar owns, upari rents→ Shivaji, the Marathas and the later Mughals
The Bhakti Movement: Saints and Their Songs
Reference tables (4)
Alvars and Nayanars2 rows
| Group | God | Saints named in CDS | Hymn collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alvars (12) | Vishnu | Andal, the woman Alvar | Nalayira Divya Prabandham, compiled in the 10th centuryQ CDS 2018 (I): the Nalayira Divya Prabandham is the work of the Alvars. |
| Nayanars (63) | Shiva | Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar; women: Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Mangayarkkarasiyar, Isaignaniyar | TevaramQ Alvars or Nayanars were asked five times, from CDS 2018 (I) to 2023 (II). |
Basavanna and the Virashaivas4 rows
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founder | Basavanna, a minister at the Kalachuri court, 12th centuryQ Asked three times: CDS 2022 (I), 2024 (I) and 2026 (I). |
| Followers | Virashaivas, also called Lingayats |
| Writings | Vachanas in Kannada |
| Doctrine | Five founding teachers; Shaktivishishtadvaita; the eight AshtavaranaQ CDS 2024 (I): all three statements were correct. |
Saints of Maharashtra, the north, Punjab and Assam4 rows
| Saint | Region and time | Key fact |
|---|---|---|
| Namdev | Maharashtra, 13th to 14th century | Took bhakti to the north; opposed caste; earlier than KabirQ |
| Kabir | Varanasi, 15th century | Verses in the Bijak, the Kabir Granthavali and the Adi GranthQ CDS 2018 (I): all three compilations hold his verses. |
| Shankaradeva | Assam, late 15th century | Bhagavati dharma; satras and namghars; Kirtana-ghoshaQ |
| Guru Nanak | Punjab, 1469 to 1539 | Rules for the sangat, congregational worshipQ CDS 2021 (II): Guru Nanak, not Guru Arjan. |
Devotional writing in Bengal and Braj6 rows
| Work | Author | Language and time |
|---|---|---|
| Chandimangal | Mukundaram Chakravarti | Bengali, 16th centuryQ CDS 2019 (II): the language is Bengali. |
| Vraja Bhakti Vilasa | Narayana Bhatta | Sanskrit, 16th centuryQ |
| Chaitanyamangal | Brindavan Das | Bengali, 16th century |
| Chaitanyacharitamrita | Krishnadas Kaviraj | Bengali, 16th century |
| Shivasankirtan (Shivayan) | Rameshwar Bhattacharya | Bengali, early 18th centuryQ Asked twice: CDS 2021 (I) and 2025 (I). |
| Annadamangal (Vidyasundar) | Bharatchandra Ray | Bengali, 18th century |
Watch out for (5)
- Vishnu for Alvars, Shiva for Nayanars, Shakti for neither→ Alvars and Nayanars
- Andal is an Alvar→ Alvars and Nayanars
- Basavanna was not a Nayanar→ Basavanna and the Virashaivas
- Nanak set the rules, Arjan compiled the book→ Saints of Maharashtra, the north, Punjab and Assam
- Two lives of Chaitanya→ Devotional writing in Bengal and Braj
Sufis and Schools of Thought
Reference tables (2)
Sufi silsilas and the Chishtis6 rows
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| Kashf al-Mahjub (11th century) | Al-Hujwiri's book on Sufism; he was not convinced by the yogis' theory of the bodyQ |
| Silsila | A chain: master to disciple, back to the Prophet; a channel of blessingsQ CDS 2018 (I): all three meanings were correct. |
| Chisht | Town in central Afghanistan that names the Chishti silsilaQ CDS 2021 (II): central Afghanistan. |
| Fawaid al-Fuad | Conversations of Nizamuddin Auliya |
| Munis al-Arwah (17th century) | Jahanara's biography of Muinuddin ChishtiQ CDS 2021 (II): Jahanara's book is the Munis al-Arwah. |
| Ginan | Devotional poems of the Khojas, an Ismaili branchQ |
Schools of philosophy6 rows
| School | Teacher | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Purva-Mimamsa | Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakara | 7th to 8th centuryQ CDS 2022 (II): Purva-Mimamsa, not Uttara-Mimamsa. |
| Advaita Vedanta | Shankara | 8th centuryQ |
| Kashmir Shaivism | Vasugupta (founder); Abhinavagupta (later) | 9th century onwardQ CDS 2024 (I): Vasugupta propounded it. |
| Sahajiya | Buddhist siddhas; songs in the Charyapadas | 10th to 11th centuryQ |
| Vishishtadvaita Vedanta | Ramanuja | 11th to 12th century |
| Dvaita Vedanta | Madhva | 13th century |
Watch out for (4)
- Munis al-Arwah, not Fawaid al-Fuad→ Sufi silsilas and the Chishtis
- Hujwiri was not won over by the yogis→ Sufi silsilas and the Chishtis
- Abhinavagupta explained, Vasugupta founded→ Schools of philosophy
- Early Sahajiyas were Buddhist→ Schools of philosophy
Peasants, Trade and Travellers
Reference tables (3)
Peasants, zamindars and village servants6 rows
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Raiyat, muzarian, asami, kisan | Words for a peasant in Mughal Persian sources (majur was a labourer)Q CDS 2022 (I): raiyat, asami and muzarian; not majur. |
| Khud-kashta | Resident peasant farming his own village |
| Pahi-kashta | Non-resident peasant farming on contract, for better terms or from distressQ CDS 2016 (II): both statements true, and the second explains the first. |
| Zamindar | Exploitative, yet often backed by peasants in 17th century revoltsQ |
| Panchayat records | Women's petitions against infidelity and neglect (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra)Q |
| Balutedar | Village servant or artisan of the Deccan, serving the whole villageQ |
Crafts, mines and coins4 rows
Travellers' accounts7 rows
| Traveller | From and when | Fact asked |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Biruni | Khwarizm, 11th century | Kitab-ul-Hind, written in ArabicQ CDS 2020 (II): Arabic, not Persian. |
| Ibn Battuta | Morocco, 14th century | Rihla in Arabic; Muhammad bin Tughluq's envoy to ChinaQ Asked twice: CDS 2020 (II) for the envoy and 2026 (I) for the Rihla. |
| Francisco Pelsaert | Holland, about 1626 | So much is wrung from the peasants...Q |
| Francois Bernier | France, 1656 to 1668 | Physician to Prince Dara ShikohQ |
| Niccolao Manucci | Venice, from 1653 | Never returned to Europe; died in IndiaQ CDS 2018 (II): Manucci, not Bernier or Tavernier. |
| Jean-Baptiste Tavernier | France, 17th century | Jeweller; six voyages to IndiaQ |
| Abbe J. A. Dubois | France, around 1800 | A Hindu woman could go anywhere aloneQ |
Watch out for (5)
- Balutedars served the village, not one family→ Peasants, zamindars and village servants
- Exploiter and ally at once→ Peasants, zamindars and village servants
- Khambhat traded gems, Panna mined them→ Crafts, mines and coins
- Dara Shikoh, not Shah Jahan→ Travellers' accounts
- Both books are in Arabic→ Travellers' accounts
Art, Architecture and Science
Reference tables (3)
Chola bronzes and the Thanjavur temple6 rows
| Image or part | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Chola bronzes | Finest metal images of India; same iconography as the stone imagesQ CDS 2024 (II): both statements were correct. |
| Nataraja's right leg | Stands on Apasmara, the dwarf of ignorance |
| Nataraja's raised left leg | Bhujangatrasita pose: tirobhava, kicking away illusionQ |
| Nataraja's hands | Upper right: damaru; upper left: fire; main right: abhaya |
| Brihadishvara, Thanjavur | Shiva most often as TripurantakaQ |
| Thanjavur murals, found 1931 | Shiva as Yoga-DakshinamurtiQ CDS 2024 (I): the Buddhist and Jain subjects in the options belong to other sites. |
Buildings and painting styles6 rows
| Building or term | Builder or meaning | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Qutb Minar | Begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, finished by Iltutmish | About 1199 onwardQ CDS 2017 (II): the order is Qutb Minar, Tughlaqabad, Bada Gumbad, Fatehpur Sikri. |
| Tughlaqabad Fort | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | 1320s |
| Bada Gumbad, Lodi Garden | Reign of Sikandar Lodi | 1490s |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Akbar | From 1571 |
| Pendentive | Triangular corner piece carrying a dome on its arches | Indo-Islamic buildingsQ CDS 2026 (II): the bracket that joins the base of the dome to its arches. |
| Basohli | A Pahari style with bold, intense colour | 17th to 18th centuryQ |
Astronomy and medicine3 rows
| Scholar or practice | Time | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Vararuchi; Achyuta Pisharati; Ravi Varma | Kerala, up to the 17th century | Katapayadi numbers; a text on eclipses; an observatory and the Kollam eraQ |
| Tibb-i-Yunani and Bernier | 17th century | Medicine like Persia's; Harvey's discovery explained to Danishmand KhanQ CDS 2024 (I): two of the three statements were correct; smallpox inoculation was not in the texts. |
| Sawai Jai Singh II | 1699 to 1743 | Jantar Mantars; de La Hire's tables; a home-made telescopeQ CDS 2024 (I): both statements about his astronomy were correct. |
Watch out for (4)
- Tirobhava is the raised leg→ Chola bronzes and the Thanjavur temple
- The drum is in an upper hand→ Chola bronzes and the Thanjavur temple
- The Qutb Minar has two builders→ Buildings and painting styles
- A folk practice, not a textbook one→ Astronomy and medicine
PYQ weightage by concept
24 concepts · 106 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
PYQ weightage by concept
24 concepts · 106 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first
Early Medieval Kingdoms: Cholas to Kakatiyas13 PYQs · 12%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Land grants, guilds and learning | 5 | 5% |
| The Cholas: sabhas, temples and land | 4 | 4% |
| Kingdoms of the north, Kashmir, Odisha and the Deccan | 4 | 4% |
The Delhi Sultanate: Sultans, Sieges and Regional Courts11 PYQs · 10%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sultans, the Mongols and the court writers | 4 | 4% |
| Siege engines and the stirrup | 4 | 4% |
| Courts of the 15th century: Mewar, Gwalior and Kashmir | 3 | 3% |
The Vijayanagara Empire: Amara-nayakas, Hampi and Visitors13 PYQs · 12%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The amara-nayaka system and the walled city | 5 | 5% |
| Hampi and Krishnadeva Raya's court | 5 | 5% |
| Foreign visitors to Vijayanagara | 3 | 3% |
The Mughals and the Marathas16 PYQs · 15%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Shivaji, the Marathas and the later Mughals | 6 | 6% |
| Emperors, kingship and the mansab | 5 | 5% |
| Books and painting at the Mughal court | 5 | 5% |
The Bhakti Movement: Saints and Their Songs16 PYQs · 15%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Alvars and Nayanars | 5 | 5% |
| Saints of Maharashtra, the north, Punjab and Assam | 4 | 4% |
| Devotional writing in Bengal and Braj | 4 | 4% |
| Basavanna and the Virashaivas | 3 | 3% |
Sufis and Schools of Thought9 PYQs · 8%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Sufi silsilas and the Chishtis | 5 | 5% |
| Schools of philosophy | 4 | 4% |
Peasants, Trade and Travellers18 PYQs · 17%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Travellers' accounts | 8 | 8% |
| Peasants, zamindars and village servants | 6 | 6% |
| Crafts, mines and coins | 4 | 4% |
Art, Architecture and Science10 PYQs · 9%
| Concept | PYQs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Chola bronzes and the Thanjavur temple | 4 | 4% |
| Buildings and painting styles | 3 | 3% |
| Astronomy and medicine | 3 | 3% |
Test yourself on Medieval India
20 past CDS questions from this chapter, timed at 20 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.