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
101
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.
102
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.
103
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.
104
The medieval concept of **Manorialism** describes primarily the organization of:
Answer:
Rural economy and peasant labor
Manorialism, also known as the manorial system, was the economic and social system of medieval Western Europe, centered around the *manor*—a self-sufficient landed estate run by a lord and worked by serfs and free peasants.
105
Who was the last Lodi Sultan of Delhi, defeated by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD?
Answer:
Ibrahim Lodi
Ibrahim Lodi was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate. He was defeated and killed by Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, which established the Mughal Empire in India.
106
The medieval term **'Tithe'** in Europe refers to:
Answer:
A payment of one-tenth of one's income to the Church
A tithe was a one-tenth part of something, paid as a tax or compulsory contribution to a religious organization. In Medieval Europe, it was a primary source of income for the Catholic Church.
107
Who was the founder of the independent **Bahmani Kingdom** in the Deccan in 1347 AD?
Answer:
Hasan Gangu (Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah)
Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah, originally known as Hasan Gangu, founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347 AD, breaking away from the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq. The Bahmani Kingdom later fragmented into the five Deccan Sultanates.
108
The **Hundred Years' War** (1337–1453) was fought primarily between which two kingdoms?
Answer:
England and France
The Hundred Years' War was a series of conflicts waged between the House of Plantagenet (rulers of England) and the House of Valois (rulers of France) over the right to rule the Kingdom of France.
109
The famous Brihadeeswara Temple, located in Thanjavur, is dedicated to which Hindu deity and was built by a ruler of the Chola Dynasty?
Answer:
Shiva
The Brihadeeswara Temple (also known as the Big Temple) is a magnificent example of Dravidian architecture, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was built by the Chola Emperor Rajaraja I (985–1014 AD).
110
In the feudal system of Medieval Europe, a **fief** primarily referred to:
Answer:
A grant of land
A fief was an estate of land, especially one held on condition of feudal service. It was the central element of feudalism, granted by a lord to a vassal in return for military and political support.