Medieval India — Complete Notes for SSC CGL General Awareness
Quick Answer: Medieval India (roughly 750-1750 CE) covers the early Rajput kingdoms, the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms, the Bhakti and Sufi movements, the Mughal Empire, and the Marathas. For SSC CGL, Medieval History carries about 1-3 questions in the Tier-1 General Awareness paper, mostly on rulers, battles, monuments, and administrative reforms.
These notes are structured from SSC CGL previous-year patterns. Read the whole chapter once, then use the battle table, Quick Revision Table, and FAQs for fast revision before your exam.
1. Early Medieval Period (750-1200 CE)
What was the Tripartite Struggle? The Tripartite Struggle was a three-way contest (8th-9th century CE) among the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas for control of Kannauj, the symbol of sovereignty over North India. The Gurjara-Pratiharas eventually held Kannauj the longest.
The Three Powers of North India
| Dynasty | Region | Key Rulers | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pala | Bengal & Bihar | Gopala (founder), Dharmapala, Devapala | Founded Vikramshila University; patrons of Buddhism |
| Gurjara-Pratihara | Western India (Kannauj) | Nagabhata I, Mihir Bhoja | Held Kannauj longest; resisted Arab expansion |
| Rashtrakuta | Deccan | Dantidurga (founder), Krishna I, Amoghavarsha | Built the Kailasa temple at Ellora (Krishna I) |
The Rajputs
- The Rajputs rose after the Gupta decline and dominated North and Central India from the 8th century.
- Major clans: Chauhans (Ajmer/Delhi — Prithviraj Chauhan), Chandelas (Bundelkhand — built Khajuraho temples), Solankis/Chaulukyas (Gujarat — Dilwara temples), Paramaras (Malwa — Raja Bhoja), Gahadavalas (Kannauj — Jaichand).
- Four clans claimed origin from a sacrificial fire-pit (Agnikula) at Mount Abu: Chauhan, Pratihara, Solanki, and Paramara.
2. South Indian Kingdoms
Which was the greatest South Indian empire of the medieval age? The Chola Empire (9th-13th century CE) was the most powerful South Indian kingdom, famous for its strong navy, local self-government, and magnificent Dravidian temples. The Cholas even conquered Sri Lanka and parts of Southeast Asia.
The Chola Empire
- Founder: Vijayalaya (revived Chola power, ~850 CE). Greatest rulers: Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra I.
- Rajaraja I built the Brihadeeswarar (Rajarajeswara) Temple at Thanjavur — a UNESCO site and the peak of Dravidian architecture.
- Rajendra I defeated the Palas, reached the Ganga (title "Gangaikonda Chola"), and led naval expeditions to Srivijaya (Southeast Asia).
- The Cholas are famous for local self-government — village assemblies (Ur, Sabha/Mahasabha) known from the Uttaramerur inscriptions.
- Art: the Chola bronzes, especially the Nataraja (dancing Shiva), are world-renowned.
Other Southern Dynasties
- Pallavas (Kanchipuram) — Narasimhavarman I; built the Shore Temple and the rock-cut Rathas at Mahabalipuram.
- Chalukyas of Badami — Pulakeshin II defeated Harshavardhana on the Narmada; cave temples at Badami and Aihole.
3. Arab and Turkish Invasions
Who was the first Muslim invader of India? The Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim was the first, conquering Sindh in 712 CE by defeating Raja Dahir. Later, Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori launched the invasions that led to Turkish rule in North India.
The Invaders
| Invader | Period | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad bin Qasim | 712 CE | Arab; conquered Sindh (defeated Raja Dahir); first Muslim invasion |
| Mahmud of Ghazni | 1000-1027 CE | Invaded India 17 times; plundered and destroyed the Somnath Temple (1025); court scholars Al-Biruni (Kitab-ul-Hind) and Firdausi (Shahnama) |
| Muhammad Ghori | 1175-1206 CE | Aimed at conquest, not just plunder; laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate |
The Battles of Tarain
- First Battle of Tarain (1191): Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori.
- Second Battle of Tarain (1192): Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan — the decisive battle that opened North India to Turkish rule.
- Battle of Chandawar (1194): Ghori defeated Jaichand of Kannauj (Gahadavala).
4. The Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526 CE)
Which five dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate? The Delhi Sultanate was ruled by five successive dynasties: the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty, and the Lodi dynasty. It lasted from 1206 to 1526 CE, when Babur founded the Mughal Empire.
(a) Slave / Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290)
| Ruler | Key Achievements |
|---|---|
| Qutb-ud-din Aibak | Founder (1206); began the Qutub Minar and the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque; called "Lakh Baksh" (giver of lakhs); died playing chaugan (polo) |
| Iltutmish | Real consolidator; completed the Qutub Minar; introduced the silver tanka and copper jital; set up the Iqta system; nominated a woman (Razia) as successor |
| Razia Sultana | First and only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate |
| Ghiyasuddin Balban | Strong ruler; "blood and iron" policy; introduced Sijda (prostration) and Paibos (kissing the feet); theory of kingship as "shadow of God" |
(b) Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
- Jalal-ud-din Khilji founded the dynasty.
- Alauddin Khilji (1296-1316) was the greatest Sultan of Delhi. He:
- Introduced famous market/price-control reforms to keep prices low and maintain a huge standing army.
- Was the first Sultan to pay soldiers in cash and to brand horses (dagh) and keep descriptive rolls (chehra).
- Repelled repeated Mongol invasions.
- Sent his general Malik Kafur on conquests deep into South India.
- Built the Alai Darwaza and the city of Siri; his court poet was Amir Khusrau.
(c) Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1414)
| Ruler | Key Facts |
|---|---|
| Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | Founder; built the fortress-city of Tughlaqabad |
| Muhammad bin Tughlaq | The "wisest fool"; transferred the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri) and back; issued a token currency of copper/brass; the traveller Ibn Battuta visited his court |
| Firoz Shah Tughlaq | Built canals and the cities of Firozabad and Hisar; brought two Ashokan pillars to Delhi; wrote his memoirs (Futuhat-i-Firozshahi) |
Timur (Tamerlane) invaded Delhi in 1398, during the late Tughlaq period, and sacked the city.
(d) Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1451)
Founded by Khizr Khan, a deputy of Timur. It was a weak dynasty ruling a shrunken Sultanate.
(e) Lodi Dynasty (1451-1526)
- Bahlol Lodi — founder; the first Afghan dynasty of Delhi.
- Sikandar Lodi — founded the city of Agra (1504); introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari (a measuring yard).
- Ibrahim Lodi — the last Sultan; defeated and killed by Babur at the First Battle of Panipat (1526).
5. Vijayanagara and Bahmani Kingdoms
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire? The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by the brothers Harihara and Bukka (Sangama dynasty) on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Its greatest ruler was Krishnadevaraya, and it was a major Hindu power in South India for over two centuries.
Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1646)
- Founders: Harihara and Bukka (1336); capital at Hampi.
- Krishnadevaraya (Tuluva dynasty) was the greatest ruler; he wrote Amuktamalyada (in Telugu); the Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes visited his court.
- The empire was crippled at the Battle of Talikota (1565), when the combined Deccan Sultanates defeated Vijayanagara.
- Hampi's temples (Virupaksha, Vittala with its stone chariot and musical pillars) are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Bahmani Kingdom (1347-1527)
- Founded by Alauddin Bahman Shah in the Deccan (capital Gulbarga, later Bidar).
- Its most famous minister was Mahmud Gawan. The kingdom later split into five Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, Berar).
6. Bhakti and Sufi Movements
What was the Bhakti movement? The Bhakti movement was a devotional reform movement (roughly 8th-17th century) that stressed intense personal devotion to a single God, rejected caste distinctions and ritualism, and used regional languages. The Sufi movement was its Islamic parallel, emphasising love of God and unity.
Bhakti vs Sufi — Comparison
| Basis | Bhakti Movement | Sufi Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Religion | Hindu devotional reform | Islamic mysticism |
| Core idea | Personal devotion (bhakti) to one God | Love of and union with God |
| On caste/ritual | Rejected caste and empty ritual | Preached equality and tolerance |
| Language | Regional languages (Hindi, Marathi, Tamil...) | Persian, Urdu, local dialects |
| Key figures | Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Chaitanya | Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya |
Major Bhakti Saints
| Saint | Associated With |
|---|---|
| Ramanuja | Vishishtadvaita philosophy (South India) |
| Ramananda | Brought Bhakti to the North; teacher of Kabir |
| Kabir | Nirguna Bhakti; unity of Hindu-Muslim; Dohas |
| Guru Nanak | Founder of Sikhism |
| Mirabai | Devotee of Krishna (Rajasthan) |
| Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Krishna Bhakti in Bengal; Kirtan |
| Tulsidas | Wrote the Ramcharitmanas (Awadhi) |
| Surdas | Krishna devotion; Sursagar (Braj) |
Sufi Orders (Silsilas)
- Chishti order: the most popular; Moinuddin Chishti (dargah at Ajmer) and Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi).
- Suhrawardi order: based in Sindh and Multan; more comfortable with state power.
7. The Mughal Empire (1526-1857 CE)
Who founded the Mughal Empire? The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526, after he defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat. The empire reached its cultural and territorial peak under Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, and declined after Aurangzeb.
Babur (1526-1530)
- Founder of the Mughal Empire; descended from Timur (father's side) and Genghis Khan (mother's side).
- First Battle of Panipat (1526) — defeated Ibrahim Lodi (first use of gunpowder/artillery in India on a large scale).
- Battle of Khanwa (1527) — defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar.
- Wrote his memoirs, the Baburnama (Tuzuk-i-Baburi), in Turkish.
Humayun (1530-1540, 1555-1556)
- Lost his empire to Sher Shah Suri at the Battles of Chausa (1539) and Kannauj/Bilgram (1540).
- Regained the throne in 1555 with Persian help; died in 1556 after falling from his library stairs.
Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545) — the great administrator
- Founded the short-lived Sur Empire; a model administrator.
- Built the Grand Trunk (GT) Road from Bengal to the northwest; introduced the silver Rupiya and the copper Dam.
- Built the Rohtas Fort and the Purana Qila; his tomb is at Sasaram (Bihar).
Akbar (1556-1605) — the Great
- Second Battle of Panipat (1556) — his regent Bairam Khan defeated Hemu (Hemchandra Vikramaditya).
- Abolished the jizya (tax on non-Muslims) and the pilgrim tax; promoted religious tolerance (Sulh-i-Kul).
- Founded the syncretic faith Din-i-Ilahi (1582) and built Fatehpur Sikri with the Buland Darwaza.
- Set up the Mansabdari system (ranking of officials) and, with Raja Todar Mal, the Dahsala land-revenue system.
- His court had the Navaratnas (nine gems): Birbal, Tansen, Todar Mal, Abul Fazl, Faizi, Man Singh, Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana, Mullah Do-Piyaza, Fakir Aziao-Din.
Jahangir (1605-1627)
- Married Nur Jahan, who wielded great influence.
- English envoys Captain Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe visited his court; he set up the "chain of justice".
Shah Jahan (1628-1658)
- The golden age of Mughal architecture; built the Taj Mahal (for Mumtaz Mahal), the Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid in Delhi.
- Commissioned the jewelled Peacock Throne (Takht-i-Taus).
Aurangzeb (1658-1707)
- The last of the great Mughals; title "Alamgir"; the longest-reigning emperor.
- Reimposed the jizya; executed the Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur; faced long wars with the Marathas, Rajputs, and Sikhs.
- After his death in 1707 the empire declined rapidly; the last emperor was Bahadur Shah Zafar (deposed in 1857).
8. The Maratha Empire
Who founded the Maratha Empire? The Maratha Empire was founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji, who was crowned in 1674 at Raigad. He built a strong navy and an efficient administration run by a council of eight ministers (Ashtapradhan), and challenged Mughal power in the Deccan.
Shivaji and the Marathas
- Shivaji (crowned 1674, Raigad); ran the administration through the Ashtapradhan (council of eight ministers, headed by the Peshwa).
- Revenue systems: Chauth (one-fourth of revenue) and Sardeshmukhi (an extra one-tenth).
- After Shivaji, real power shifted to the hereditary Peshwas (Balaji Vishwanath, Baji Rao I, Balaji Baji Rao), who expanded Maratha power across India.
- Maratha northward expansion was checked at the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), where Ahmad Shah Abdali (Durrani) defeated the Marathas.
9. Indo-Islamic Architecture
| Monument | Built By | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Qutub Minar | Begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, completed by Iltutmish | Delhi |
| Alai Darwaza | Alauddin Khilji | Delhi |
| Tughlaqabad Fort | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | Delhi |
| Humayun's Tomb | Hamida Banu Begum (widow of Humayun) | Delhi — first Mughal garden tomb |
| Fatehpur Sikri & Buland Darwaza | Akbar | Near Agra |
| Taj Mahal | Shah Jahan | Agra |
| Red Fort & Jama Masjid | Shah Jahan | Delhi |
10. Important Battles of Medieval India
| Battle | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First Battle of Tarain | 1191 | Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori |
| Second Battle of Tarain | 1192 | Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan |
| First Battle of Panipat | 1526 | Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi (Mughal Empire begins) |
| Battle of Khanwa | 1527 | Babur defeated Rana Sanga |
| Battle of Chausa | 1539 | Sher Shah defeated Humayun |
| Second Battle of Panipat | 1556 | Akbar (Bairam Khan) defeated Hemu |
| Battle of Talikota | 1565 | Deccan Sultanates defeated Vijayanagara |
| Battle of Haldighati | 1576 | Mughals (Man Singh) vs Rana Pratap (indecisive) |
| Third Battle of Panipat | 1761 | Ahmad Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas |
Previous Year Style MCQs (Practice Set)
Attempt these 15 SSC-CGL-pattern questions, then check the answer key below.
(a) Akbar and Hemu
(b) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi
(c) Babur and Rana Sanga
(d) Humayun and Sher Shah
(a) Nur Jahan
(b) Razia Sultana
(c) Chand Bibi
(d) Rani Durgavati
(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Balban
(d) Alauddin Khilji
(a) Akbar
(b) Alauddin Khilji
(c) Sher Shah Suri
(d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(a) Krishnadevaraya
(b) Harihara and Bukka
(c) Alauddin Bahman Shah
(d) Pulakeshin II
(a) Babur
(b) Akbar
(c) Aurangzeb
(d) Shah Jahan
(a) Al-Biruni
(b) Ibn Battuta
(c) Marco Polo
(d) Megasthenes
(a) Bahmani Kingdom
(b) Vijayanagara Empire
(c) Chola Empire
(d) Delhi Sultanate
(a) Baji Rao I
(b) Shivaji
(c) Balaji Vishwanath
(d) Shahu
(a) Akbar
(b) Sher Shah Suri
(c) Ashoka
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
(a) Amir Khusrau
(b) Abul Fazl
(c) Tulsidas
(d) Firdausi
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) Aurangzeb
(a) Nizamuddin Auliya
(b) Moinuddin Chishti
(c) Baba Farid
(d) Salim Chishti
(a) Prithviraj Chauhan
(b) Muhammad Ghori
(c) Mahmud of Ghazni
(d) Jaichand
(a) the Mughals
(b) Ahmad Shah Abdali
(c) Nadir Shah
(d) the British
Answer Key
1-b 2-b 3-b 4-c 5-b 6-b 7-b 8-b 9-b 10-b 11-a 12-c 13-b 14-b 15-b
Quick Revision Table — Most Asked in SSC CGL
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| First Muslim invader of India | Muhammad bin Qasim (712 CE, Sindh) |
| Destroyed the Somnath Temple | Mahmud of Ghazni (1025) |
| Winner, Second Battle of Tarain (1192) | Muhammad Ghori |
| Founder of the Slave dynasty | Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1206) |
| Began / completed the Qutub Minar | Aibak / Iltutmish |
| Only woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate | Razia Sultana |
| Market/price-control reforms | Alauddin Khilji |
| Transferred capital to Daulatabad | Muhammad bin Tughlaq |
| Token currency issued by | Muhammad bin Tughlaq |
| Timur invaded Delhi | 1398 |
| Founder of the Lodi dynasty | Bahlol Lodi |
| Founder of Vijayanagara | Harihara & Bukka (1336) |
| Greatest Vijayanagara ruler | Krishnadevaraya |
| Battle that ended Vijayanagara | Battle of Talikota (1565) |
| Founder of the Bahmani Kingdom | Alauddin Bahman Shah (1347) |
| Founder of Sikhism | Guru Nanak |
| Dargah at Ajmer | Moinuddin Chishti |
| Founder of the Mughal Empire | Babur (1526) |
| First Battle of Panipat | 1526 (Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi) |
| Wrote the Baburnama | Babur (in Turkish) |
| Introduced the Rupiya & GT Road | Sher Shah Suri |
| Sher Shah's tomb | Sasaram (Bihar) |
| Second Battle of Panipat | 1556 (Akbar/Bairam Khan vs Hemu) |
| Founded Din-i-Ilahi | Akbar (1582) |
| Built Fatehpur Sikri | Akbar |
| Built the Taj Mahal | Shah Jahan |
| Executed Guru Tegh Bahadur | Aurangzeb |
| Founder of the Maratha Empire | Shivaji (crowned 1674) |
| Maratha council of 8 ministers | Ashtapradhan |
| Third Battle of Panipat | 1761 (Abdali vs Marathas) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many questions come from Medieval History in SSC CGL?
Medieval History usually contributes about 1-3 questions in the SSC CGL Tier-1 General Awareness section. Combined with Ancient and Modern History, the full History section carries roughly 3-5 questions, so it is worth thorough revision.
Which dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate?
Five dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate in order: the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty, and the Lodi dynasty, from 1206 to 1526 CE. The Sultanate ended when Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat.
Who founded the Mughal Empire?
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526, after he defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat. Babur was a descendant of Timur on his father's side and of Genghis Khan on his mother's side.
What were Alauddin Khilji's market reforms?
Alauddin Khilji fixed the prices of essential goods, set up separate markets with strict controls and inspectors, and maintained buffer stocks. The aim was to keep prices low so he could pay and maintain a large standing army cheaply.
What is the difference between the Bhakti and Sufi movements?
The Bhakti movement was a Hindu devotional reform stressing personal devotion to one God and rejecting caste and ritual, while the Sufi movement was Islamic mysticism stressing love of and union with God. Both preached tolerance and used popular languages, which is why they influenced each other.
Who built the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in Agra in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Who was the founder of the Maratha Empire?
The Maratha Empire was founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji, who was crowned in 1674 at Raigad. He is remembered for his strong navy, guerrilla warfare, and an efficient administration run by the Ashtapradhan (council of eight ministers).
What is the best strategy to prepare Medieval India for SSC CGL?
Focus on the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal rulers, the important battles table, and monuments with their builders. Memorise the confusion-busters (like the three Battles of Panipat), revise the Quick Revision Table weekly, and solve previous-year MCQs to lock in the repeated facts.
Prepared by the ExamAtlas Content Team. Facts are compiled from NCERT, standard reference books, and verified against SSC CGL previous-year question patterns. Practise these topics with free mock tests and daily quizzes on ExamAtlas.com.