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
20401
Which code of conduct was followed by the Knights in Medieval Europe, emphasizing virtues like courage, honor, and loyalty?
Answer:
Chivalry
Chivalry was the traditional code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of knighthood. It was a moral, religious, and social code that included bravery, military skill, generosity, and courtesy to women and the weak.
20402
The **Diwan-i-Kohi** was a new department established by Muhammad bin Tughluq of the Delhi Sultanate. What was its function?
Answer:
Department of Agriculture
Muhammad bin Tughluq created the Diwan-i-Kohi to improve agricultural practices and bring uncultivated land under cultivation. He also provided agricultural loans called *Takavi* to farmers.
20403
The conflict between the Papacy and secular rulers over the appointment of church officials, particularly bishops, was known as the:
Answer:
Investiture Controversy
The Investiture Controversy, primarily active during the 11th and 12th centuries between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Popes (like Pope Gregory VII and Henry IV), was a struggle for power over who had the right to appoint, or 'invest' in, church officials like bishops.
20404
Which famous Persian poet and author of the *Shahnameh* (Book of Kings) was the court poet of Mahmud of Ghazni?
Answer:
Firdausi
Abū'l-Qāsim Firdausī Tūsī, known as Firdausi, was the author of the *Shahnameh*, the national epic of Greater Iran. He was one of the prominent figures at the court of the Ghaznavid ruler, Mahmud of Ghazni.
20405
The 'Black Death' plague that devastated Europe in the mid-14th century is estimated to have killed what proportion of the population?
Answer:
About one-third to half (30-50%)
The Black Death, caused by the bacterium *Yersinia pestis*, is estimated to have killed between 30% and 50% of Europe's population in the 14th century, leading to profound economic and social changes, including the weakening of the feudal system.
20406
Who was the first and only woman Sultan to rule the Delhi Sultanate?
Answer:
Razia Sultan
Razia Sultan, the daughter of Iltutmish, was the only female Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She ruled from 1236 to 1240 AD, belonging to the Mamluk/Slave Dynasty.
20407
What major religious conflict was started by Pope Urban II's sermon at the Council of Clermont in 1095 AD?
Answer:
The First Crusade
Pope Urban II's speech at Clermont in 1095 AD called upon Western Christians to aid the Byzantines and free the Holy Land from Muslim control, directly leading to the launching of the First Crusade (1096–1099 AD).
20408
Which structure was the architectural centerpiece of the city of Hyderabad, founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of the Qutb Shahi dynasty?
Answer:
Charminar
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founded the city of Hyderabad in 1591 and built the Charminar (literally 'Four Minarets') as its architectural and ceremonial focal point to commemorate the eradication of plague from the city.
20409
What event is generally considered to mark the beginning of the Medieval Period in Western Europe?
Answer:
The fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 AD)
The traditional and most widely accepted date for the start of the Medieval Period (or Middle Ages) in Europe is 476 AD, when the last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic leader Odoacer, signaling the end of the Western Roman Empire.
20410
Which system, characterized by a hierarchy of nobles holding land in exchange for military service and loyalty, was the dominant socio-political structure in Medieval Western Europe?
Answer:
Feudalism
Feudalism was the system in medieval Europe where a lord gave a parcel of land (a fief) to a vassal in exchange for military service and loyalty. This established a political and military hierarchy. Manorialism, on the other hand, describes the economic organization of rural life, where peasants (serfs) worked the land on a self-sufficient estate called a manor.