Medieval Indian History

Ustad Mansur was famous for naturalistic painting. Exam tip: connect Jahangir's reign with nature-based painting.

Asaf Khan was an influential member of the Nur Jahan group and father of Mumtaz Mahal. Exam tip: connect Mughal court factions with family links.

The Peacock Throne symbolized Mughal splendour and royal prestige. Exam tip: understand the political meaning of monuments and symbols.

After Jaswant Singh's death the Marwar succession issue worsened Mughal-Rajput relations. Exam tip: remember political effects of events.

Chitnis was an officer assisting in correspondence and writing. Exam tip: remember supporting posts of Maratha administration too.

Forts were centres of Shivaji's defence and administrative hold. Exam tip: link Maratha power with fort policy.

Sar-i-Naubat or Senapati was related to military command. Exam tip: match Ashtapradhan posts with their duties.

Nyayadhish was related to justice and law. Exam tip: remember Maratha council posts with a simple chart.

Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom is linked with Aurangzeb's reign. Exam tip: match Sikh Guru events with Mughal reigns.

Akal Takht became a centre of Sikh temporal leadership. Exam tip: remember its link with the idea of Miri-Piri.

Kabir's Ram is often understood as the formless divine. Exam tip: remember the difference between Nirguna and Saguna Bhakti.

Ramananda's tradition emphasized devotion beyond caste limits. Exam tip: remember the inclusive side of the Bhakti movement.

Murid meant a disciple or follower of a Sufi master. Exam tip: remember Sufi vocabulary in simple meanings.

Pir or Shaikh was a spiritual guide in Sufi practice. Exam tip: understand Sufi institutions and terms.

Suhrawardi saints maintained more contact with the state than the Chishtis. Exam tip: remember differences among Sufi orders.

The direct answer is A, Province. In the Bahmani kingdom, “Taraf” was the name used for a province or large administrative division. To reason correctly, first separate administrative words from physical or economic objects: a kingdom is divided into provinces; provinces contain smaller areas such as villages; temples are religious buildings; coins are money. Thus Taraf belonged to the system of governing territory. Option A is correct because a taraf was a provincial unit under Bahmani administration. Option B, Village, is wrong because a village was a much smaller local settlement, not the meaning of taraf. Option C, Temple, is wrong because a temple is a place of worship and not an administrative division. Option D, Coin, is wrong because a coin is a unit of currency, not a territorial unit. Remember: in medieval Deccan history, Taraf means a province. The answer is therefore A with high confidence.

Mahmud Gawan tried to increase central control by reducing provincial size. Exam tip: link reforms with centralisation.

The famous Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan was located at Bidar. Exam tip: remember Deccan centres of learning and architecture.

Ayangars were hereditary officers connected with village administration. Exam tip: remember the local structure of Vijayanagara administration.

Amara-Nayakas controlled revenue areas in return for military service. Exam tip: connect it with a military-feudal structure.

Abdur Razzaq mentioned the prosperity and markets of Vijayanagara. Exam tip: connect travellers' accounts with economic history.

A coalition of Deccan Sultanates defeated Vijayanagara at Talikota. Exam tip: remember alliances formed in battles.

Mahmud Begada's title is associated with the conquest of two important forts. Exam tip: remember titles of regional rulers.

Hundi was a means of money transfer and payment for merchants. Exam tip: remember financial instruments of medieval trade.

Qutbuddin Aibak began the construction of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi. Exam tip is to link it with early Sultanate architecture.