General Knowledge MCQs
Topic Notes: General Knowledge
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
20361
Which medieval institution governed trade, standards, and training for craftsmen and merchants in European towns and cities?
Answer:
The Guild System
Guilds (merchant guilds and craft guilds) were associations of people with the same trade or craft in medieval towns. They controlled production, set prices, trained apprentices, and ensured the quality of goods, playing a vital role in urban economic life.
20362
The establishment of the **Khalsa** tradition in Sikhism in 1699 AD was done by which Guru?
Answer:
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last human Guru of the Sikhs, founded the Khalsa (the collective body of all initiated Sikhs) in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, transforming the Sikh community into a disciplined, initiated, and military order.
20363
What title did **Ala-ud-din Khalji** adopt, meaning 'The Second Alexander,' reflecting his ambition for world conquest?
Answer:
Sikandar-i-Sani
Ala-ud-din Khalji harbored dreams of conquering the world and establishing a new religion, initially. He was a great general and styled himself as 'Sikandar-i-Sani' (The Second Alexander), though he ultimately focused on conquering the Indian subcontinent.
20364
In the Mughal administration, what did the term **'Zat'** refer to within the Mansabdari System?
Answer:
The personal rank and salary of the *mansabdar*
The Mansabdari System had two components: **Zat** (personal rank, which determined the officer's status and personal salary) and **Sawar** (cavalry rank, which determined the number of horsemen and horses the officer had to maintain and pay for).
20365
The first great international art style in Medieval Europe that succeeded Romanesque and featured soaring heights and dramatic light from stained glass windows was:
Answer:
Gothic
The Gothic style (mid-12th century onwards) is characterized by its dramatic verticality, pointed arches, flying buttresses, and expansive use of light through large, ornate stained-glass windows, seen famously in cathedrals like Notre-Dame and Chartres.
20366
Who was the founder of the Lodi Dynasty, the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?
Answer:
Bahlul Khan Lodi
Bahlul Khan Lodi (reigned 1451–1489 AD) was the founder of the Lodi Dynasty, an Afghan dynasty that succeeded the Sayyid Dynasty. His son, Sikandar Lodi, founded the city of Agra.
20367
Which King of Wessex is credited with preventing England from falling entirely to the Danes in the 9th century and establishing a law code?
Answer:
Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great (reigned 871–899 AD) successfully defended his kingdom of Wessex against the Viking (Danish) attempts to conquer England, eventually negotiating the Danelaw. He is also famous for promoting literacy and consolidating law codes.
20368
The term **'Do-Aspa'** and **'Seh-Aspa'**, meaning 'two horses' and 'three horses' respectively, were military grades introduced by which Mughal Emperor to regulate the number of soldiers and horses a Mansabdar had to maintain?
Answer:
Jahangir
The 'Do-Aspa Seh-Aspa' system was introduced by Emperor Jahangir. It was an innovation within the Mansabdari system, allowing a Mansabdar to maintain and be paid for double or triple the contingent (troop numbers) of his *sawar* rank without altering his basic *zat* (personal) rank.
20369
Which famous work by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, completed around 1320 AD, is considered a cornerstone of medieval literature?
Answer:
The Divine Comedy
Dante Alighieri's *The Divine Comedy*, a narrative poem describing the author's journey through Hell (*Inferno*), Purgatory (*Purgatorio*), and Paradise (*Paradiso*), is a major work of world literature and a profound summary of medieval thought.
20370
Who was the founder of the Rashtrakutas Empire, a prominent dynasty in the Deccan region of India (c. 8th to 10th century AD)?
Answer:
Dantidurga
Dantidurga (also known as Dantivarman) was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, overthrowing the Chalukyas of Badami in the mid-8th century AD.