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Q18 (IAS/2021) History & Culture › Medieval India › Medieval political chronology Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince. 2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus. 3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1. Statement 1 is historically accurate, while statements 2 and 3 contain chronological errors.

  • Statement 1 is correct: In 1221 AD, during the reign of Iltutmish, the Mongol leader Chengiz Khan reached the banks of the Indus. He was pursuing Jalaluddin Mangabarni, the Khwarezm Prince. Iltutmish’s diplomatic refusal to grant asylum to the Prince saved the Delhi Sultanate from a direct Mongol invasion.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect: Taimur (Tamerlane) invaded India in 1398 AD. At that time, the Sultan of Delhi was Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughluq, the last ruler of the Tughluq dynasty, not Muhammad bin Tughluq (who reigned 1325–1351 AD).
  • Statement 3 is incorrect: Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (Kerala) in 1498 AD. During this period, the Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by the Saluva Dynasty (specifically Narasimha Raya II). Deva Raya II had already passed away in 1446 AD.
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : 1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitiv…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 6.7/10

This is a classic 'Timeline Synchronization' question. It rewards 'horizontal' reading (mapping North India, South India, and World events simultaneously) over 'vertical' rote learning of single dynasties. It is highly fair, relying on standard NCERT themes and basic chronology found in every serious history book.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Did Genghis Khan reach the Indus while pursuing the fugitive Khwarezm prince (Jalal ad‑Din) during Sultan Iltutmish's reign (c.1211–1236)?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 66
Presence: 5/5
“Opp. page: 'Barbarians' as imagined by a European artist. Mongol forces in pursuit of Sultan Muhammad pushed into Azerbaijan, defeated Russian forces at the Crimea and encircled the Caspian Sea. Another wing followed the Sultan's son, Jalaluddin, into Afghanistan and the Sindh province. At the banks of the Indus, Genghis Khan considered returning to Mongolia through North India and Assam, but the heat, the natural habitat and the ill portents reported by his Shaman soothsayer made him change his mind. Genghis Khan died in 1227, having spent most of his life in military combat. His military achievements were astounding and they were largely a result of his ability to innovate and transform different aspects of steppe combat into extremely effective military strategies.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly records a Mongol wing following Jalaluddin into Afghanistan and the Sindh province.
  • States that at the banks of the Indus Genghis Khan considered returning to Mongolia, implying he reached the Indus while pursuing Jalaluddin.
  • Mentions factors (heat, shaman's ill portents) that made him halt further advance into India, explaining why the campaign stopped at the Indus.
Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 65
Presence: 3/5
“After the defeat in 1218 of the Qara Khita who controlled the Tien Shan mountains north-west of China, Mongol dominions reached the Amu Darya, and the states of Transoxiana and Khwarazm. Sultan Muhammad, the ruler of Khwarazm, felt the fury of Genghis Khan's rage when he executed Mongol envoys. In the campaigns between 1219 and 1221 the great cities – Otrar, Bukhara, Samarqand, Balkh, Gurganj, Merv, Nishapur and Herat - surrendered to the Mongol forces. Towns that resisted were devastated. At Nishapur, where a Mongol prince was killed during the siege operation, Genghis Khan commanded that the 'town should be laid waste in such a manner that the site could be ploughed upon; and that in the exaction of vengeance [for the death of the prince] not even cats and dogs should be left alive'.”
Why this source?
  • Gives the chronology of Genghis Khan's campaigns (1219–1221) across Khwarazm and Transoxiana, the campaign context in which Jalaluddin was pursued.
  • Documents the wide territorial reach of Mongol operations that makes a push into Afghanistan and toward the Indus plausible within the same campaign phase.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Iltutmish (1211-1236) > p. 140
Presence: 3/5
“He diplomatically saved India by refusing to support the Khwarizmi Shah Jalaluddin of Central Asia against the Mongol ruler Chengiz Khan. Had he supported Jalaluddin, the Mongols would have overrun India with ease. Since the dynastic traditions of the 'slave regime' were weak, succession to the throne was not smooth after Iltutmish's death. The monarch was succeeded by a son, a daughter (Sultana Razia), another son, and a grandson, all within ten years, and finally by his youngest son Sultan Nasir al-Din Mahmud II (1246-66). Iltutmish's descendants fought long but in vain with their father's military slaves who had been appointed as governors of vast territories and generals of large armies.”
Why this source?
  • Links Jalaluddin with the political context of Sultan Iltutmish's reign by stating Iltutmish refused to support Jalaluddin, a decision relevant to Mongol access to India.
  • Supports the temporal overlap between Jalaluddin's flight, Mongol pursuit, and Iltutmish's rule (c.1211–1236).
Statement 2
Did Timur (Tamerlane) occupy Multan and cross the Indus during Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign (1325–1351)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Muhammad bin Tughluq | 1325–1351"
Why this source?
  • Gives the exact reign dates for Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325–1351), establishing the time window referenced in the question.
  • Provides the chronological anchor needed to compare Timur's actions against Muhammad's reign.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Before the Delhi sultanate was crushed by a new Central Asian conqueror, Timur (Tamerlane), Firuz Shah, a cousin of Muhammad Tughluq, had completed his relatively peaceful reign,"
Why this source?
  • States that Timur (Tamerlane) crushed the Delhi sultanate after the relatively peaceful reign of Firuz Shah, who succeeded Muhammad bin Tughluq.
  • Implies Timur's major invasion occurred after Firuz Shah's rule rather than during Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"invader, Timur (Tamerlane) defeated four armies of the Sultanate. During the invasion, Sultan Mahmud Khan fled before Tamerlane as he entered Delhi."
Why this source?
  • Describes Timur's invasion and capture of Delhi, confirming a major Timurid campaign against the Sultanate.
  • Supports that Timur's notable conquest targeted Delhi and defeated the Sultanate's armies (context for timing relative to rulers).

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Timur's Invasion > p. 147
Strength: 5/5
“The last Tughlaq ruler was Nasir-uddin Muhammad Shah (1394 - 1412), whose reign witnessed the invasion of Timur from Central Asia, Turkish Timur, who could claim a blood relationship with the 12th century great Mongol Chengiz. Khan, ransacked Delhi virtually without any opposition. On hearing the news of arrival of Timur, Sultan Nasir-ud-din fled Delhi. Timur also took Indian artisans such as masons, stone cutters, carpenters whom he engaged for raising buildings in his capital Samarkhand. Nasir-ud-din managed to rule up to 1412. Then the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties ruled the declining empire from Delhi till 1526.”
Why relevant

This snippet dates Timur's invasion to the reign of Nasir-ud-din Muhammad Shah (1394–1412), i.e. several decades after Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325–1351).

How to extend

A student could compare these reign dates on a timeline to see that Timur's known invasion falls well after Muhammad bin Tughluq's rule, making contemporaneous occupation unlikely.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (1320 - 1325) > p. 144
Strength: 4/5
“Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq followed a policy of reconciliation with the nobles. But in the fifth year of his reign (1325) Ghiyas-ud-din died. Three days later Jauna Khan ascended the throne and took the title Muhammad bin Tughlaq.”
Why relevant

Gives the precise start of Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign (1325), establishing the timeframe to compare against other events.

How to extend

Use this date with the Timur timing in (1) to check for overlap or chronological contradiction.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388) > p. 146
Strength: 4/5
“Firuz's father, Rajab, was the younger brother of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. Both had come from Khurasan during the reign of Alaud-din Khalji. Rajab who had married a Jat princess had died when Firuz was seven years old. When Ghiyas-ud-din ascended the throne, he gave Firuz command of a 12,000 strong cavalry force. Later Firuz was made in charge of one of the four divisions of the Sultanate. Muhammad bin Tughlaq died without naming his successor. The claim made by Muhammad's sister to his son was not supported by the nobles. His son, recommended by Muhammad's friend Khan-i Jahan, was a mere child.”
Why relevant

States Muhammad bin Tughluq died in 1351, which fixes the end of his reign for timeline comparison.

How to extend

Combine this end-date with Timur's invasion date (from 1) to confirm there is no temporal overlap.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers > 2.1 An early globe-trotter > p. 118
Strength: 3/5
“Before he set off for India in 1332-33, he had made pilgrimage trips to Mecca, and had already travelled extensively in Syria, Iraq, Persia, Yemen, Oman and a few trading ports on the coast of East Africa. Travelling overland through Central Asia, Ibn Battuta reached Sind in 1333. He had heard about Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi, and lured by his reputation as a generous patron of arts and letters, set off for Delhi, passing through Multan and Uch. The Sultan was impressed by his scholarship, and appointed him the qazi or judge of Delhi. He remained in that position for several years, until he fell out of favour and was thrown into prison.”
Why relevant

Reports that Ibn Battuta travelled through Multan and Sind in 1333 and passed to Delhi during Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign, showing Multan was accessible/traversed under Tughluq rule in the 1330s.

How to extend

A student could map Ibn Battuta's 1333 route and compare it with known later invasions — if Timur invaded decades later, Multan's 1333 status suggests it was not occupied by Timur during Tughluq's earlier reign.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > LET US EXPLORE > p. 26
Strength: 2/5
“What kind of resources do you think were needed to maintain an army and wage war in those days? Discuss in groups the various types of expenditure involved, from weapons or food for soldiers to animals used in warfare, road construction, etc. A few decades later, Muhammad bin Tughlaq (or 'Tughluq') ruled Delhi and expanded the Delhi Sultanate's territories further. For the first time since the Mauryan Empire, most of”
Why relevant

Notes that Muhammad bin Tughluq expanded the Sultanate's territories further, implying military activity and possible western/frontier reach during his reign.

How to extend

A student could use a political map of the period to assess whether Tughluq-era expansion likely included the Indus/Multan region — useful to evaluate claims about crossings but not proof of Timur's actions.

Statement 3
Did Vasco da Gama reach the coast of Kerala during the reign of Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire (c.1422–1446)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The king Deva Raya II (1424–1446) of"
Why this source?
  • Gives the dates of Deva Raya II's reign (1424–1446), establishing the timeframe in question.
  • Provides the specific end date (1446) to compare with Vasco da Gama's voyage date.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Da Gama sailed on July 8, A.D. 1497,"
Why this source?
  • States the date when Vasco da Gama sailed (July 8, A.D. 1497), showing his voyage occurred after 1446.
  • This date places da Gama's arrival to the Indian coast well after Deva Raya II's reign had ended.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"And 1446 was *forty-two* years before the Portuguese pirate Bartholomew Diaz sighted the Cape of Good Hope and *half a century* before another Portuguese pirate Vasco da Gama actually crossed it."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly relates the year 1446 to being decades before Vasco da Gama's crossing, reinforcing the chronological gap.
  • Confirms that 1446 preceded Vasco da Gama's voyage by roughly half a century.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > The Portuguese: commerce and atrocities > p. 87
Strength: 5/5
“The Portuguese explorer and navigator Vasco da Gama's arrival at Kappad (near Kozhikode in Kerala) in May 1498 paved the way for the beginning of European colonisation in India.”
Why relevant

States Vasco da Gama's arrival at Kappad (Kerala) occurred in May 1498, giving a specific year for his Kerala landfall.

How to extend

A student can compare this 1498 date to the reign dates of Deva Raya II (c.1422–1446) to judge chronological overlap.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Modern World: The Age of Reason > Vasco da Gama > p. 136
Strength: 5/5
“The success of Columbus prompted Vasco da Gama to start his historic voyage (1497) to the eastern part. He set sail with four ships from Lisbon and reached the island of Mozambique. Later he travelled further south and reached Kapad, a beach near Kozhikode, Kerala. By reaching a part of India, he opened avenues for direct trade with India. This voyage led to the colonisation of a few regions in India. One such region was Goa.”
Why relevant

Describes Vasco da Gama's historic voyage (1497–1498) ending at Kapad/Kozhikode, reinforcing the late-15th-century date of his arrival on the Kerala coast.

How to extend

Use this voyage date (1497–1498) alongside the stated reign c.1422–1446 to assess whether the events coincide.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
Strength: 5/5
“Vasco Da Gama discovered sea route to India in 1498. • Vasco's second visit in 1502 led to the establishment of trading stations at Calicut, Cochin and Cannanore.• Francisco de Almeida (1505-09) First governor, initiated the blue water policy (cartaze system).• Alfonso de Albuquerque (1509-1515) Considered to be the founder of the Portuguese power in India: captured Goa from Bijapur; persecuted Muslims; captured Bhatkal from Sri Krishna Deva Rai (1510) of Vijayanagara; and initiated the policy of marrying with the natives of India and banned the practice of sati in his area of influence.• Nino da Cunha (1529-38) shifted the capital from Cochin to Goa in 1530.”
Why relevant

Explicitly gives 1498 as the year Vasco da Gama discovered a sea route to India and links subsequent Portuguese activity to the early 1500s.

How to extend

A student can place Vasco's 1498 arrival on a timeline and compare it to earlier 15th‑century Vijayanagara rulers' reigns to test simultaneity.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Portuguese Rise and Fall > p. 33
Strength: 4/5
“• 1498:: ; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: reception by the local king, Zamorin. • 1498:: 1503:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Establishment of the first Portuguese fort at Cochin. • 1498:: 1505:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Establishment of the second Portuguese fort at Cannanore. • 1498:: 1509:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Defeat of the combined fleet of Gujarat, Egypt and Zamorin • 1498:: ; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: by the Portuguese governor Francisco Almeida. • 1498:: 1510:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Alfonso Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor, captures • 1498:: ; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Goa from Bijapur. • 1498:: 1530:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Declaration of Goa as the Portuguese capital. • 1498:: 1535:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Subjugation of Diu. • 1498:: 1559:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: The Portuguese capture Daman. • 1498:: 1596:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Ouster of the Portuguese by the Dutch from South-east • 1498:: ; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Asia. • 1498:: 1612:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: Loss of Surat to the English. • 1498:: 1663:; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: The Dutch win all Portuguese forts on the Malabar coast • 1498:: ; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand: to oust the Portuguese. • 1498:: ; Arrival of Vasco-da-Gama at Calicut and his grand:”
Why relevant

Presents a chronology of Portuguese milestones all anchored to 1498 (Vasco's arrival) followed by events in the early 1500s, showing Portuguese India begins after 1498.

How to extend

Compare this sequence starting in 1498 with the c.1422–1446 dates to evaluate whether Vasco's arrival could fall within Deva Raya II's reign.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara > 2.2 The apogee and decline of the empire > p. 173
Strength: 3/5
“Although the kingdom remained in a constant state of military preparedness, it flourished under conditions of unparalleled peace and prosperity. Krishnadeva Raya is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive gopurams to many important south Indian temples. He also founded a suburban township near Vijayanagara called Nagalapuram after his mother. Some of the most detailed descriptions of Vijayanagara come from his time or just after. Strain began to show within the imperial structure following Krishnadeva Raya's death in 1529. His successors were troubled by rebellious nayakas or military chiefs. By 1542 control at the centre had shifted to another ruling lineage, that of the Aravidu, which remained in power till the end of the seventeenth century.”
Why relevant

Discusses Vijayanagara rulers around the early 16th century (Krishnadeva Raya died 1529), indicating major Vijayanagara activity continued into the 1500s and provides context for dating rulers.

How to extend

A student can use this temporal context (noting prominent rulers active after 1500) plus Vasco's 1498 date to distinguish between different Vijayanagara reigns and test if Deva Raya II's c.1422–1446 fits with Vasco's arrival.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Contemporary Pairs.' They check if your mental map of North India aligns with South India and the External World. They punish linear reading (finishing Delhi then starting Vijayanagara) and reward cross-referencing timelines.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hits from NCERT Class XI (Themes in World History) and standard TN Board/Satish Chandra timelines.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Chronology of Foreign Invasions & Travelers vis-a-vis Indian Rulers.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map these pairs: Chengiz Khan ↔ Iltutmish (1221); Marco Polo ↔ Pandyas (1290s); Ibn Battuta ↔ MBT (1333); Taimur ↔ Nasir-ud-din Mahmud (1398); Abdur Razzaq ↔ Deva Raya II (1443); Vasco da Gama ↔ Zamorin/Saluva Narasimha period (1498).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Stop memorizing isolated dates. Create a 'Parallel Timeline' chart with three columns: Delhi Sultanate Ruler | Vijayanagara Ruler | External Event (Invasion/Traveler). Visualizing overlaps exposes the errors in Statements 2 and 3 immediately.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Mongol pursuit of Khwarazmian fugitives reached the Indus
💡 The insight

Genghis Khan's forces pursued Jalaluddin into Afghanistan and Sindh and reached the banks of the Indus before turning back.

High-yield for questions on the western limits of Mongol expansion and their incursions into South Asia; links military campaigns with geographic end-points and explains why full-scale invasion of the Indian subcontinent did not follow. Useful for mapping campaign routes and assessing regional impact.

📚 Reading List :
  • Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 66
  • Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 65
🔗 Anchor: "Did Genghis Khan reach the Indus while pursuing the fugitive Khwarezm prince (Ja..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Regional diplomacy altered invasion outcomes (Iltutmish's refusal)
💡 The insight

Iltutmish refused to support Jalaluddin, a move that blocked an easier Mongol entry into India.

Important for answering questions on how local political choices shaped the course of external invasions; connects diplomatic history with military outcomes and helps evaluate agency of South Asian rulers during Mongol expansion.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Iltutmish (1211-1236) > p. 140
  • Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 66
🔗 Anchor: "Did Genghis Khan reach the Indus while pursuing the fugitive Khwarezm prince (Ja..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Chronology of Genghis Khan's Khwarazm campaigns (1219–1221) and aftermath
💡 The insight

The Khwarazm campaigns (1219–1221) frame the pursuit of Jalaluddin and culminate in operations that reached western South Asian frontiers before Genghis Khan's death in 1227.

Crucial for timeline-based questions and for comparing contemporaneous South Asian rulers' responses; helps place Mongol actions within early 13th-century global events and link to succession and later Mongol policy.

📚 Reading List :
  • Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 65
  • Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 66
🔗 Anchor: "Did Genghis Khan reach the Indus while pursuing the fugitive Khwarezm prince (Ja..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Chronology: Muhammad bin Tughluq versus Timur's invasion
💡 The insight

Distinguish the dates of Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign (1325–1351) from Timur's invasion associated with the late 14th century and later Tughlaq rulers.

High-yield: UPSC questions require correct alignment of major invasions with the ruler in power; mastering chronological placement prevents misattribution of events and aids in tracing political consequences across successive reigns.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (1320 - 1325) > p. 144
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Timur's Invasion > p. 147
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388) > p. 146
🔗 Anchor: "Did Timur (Tamerlane) occupy Multan and cross the Indus during Sultan Muhammad b..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Using traveller accounts (Ibn Battuta) to date routes and control
💡 The insight

Ibn Battuta passed through Multan and Uch en route to Delhi in 1333 while Muhammad bin Tughluq was Sultan, providing a contemporary marker for Multan's place in 14th‑century routes and administration.

High-yield: Traveller narratives are primary tools to verify territorial control and movement; mastering their use helps answer questions on extent of rule, administrative reach, and chronological sequencing of events.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Through the Eyes of Travellers > 2.1 An early globe-trotter > p. 118
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (1320 - 1325) > p. 144
🔗 Anchor: "Did Timur (Tamerlane) occupy Multan and cross the Indus during Sultan Muhammad b..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Political consequences of Timur's invasion on the Delhi Sultanate
💡 The insight

Timur's campaign resulted in the sack of Delhi and later dynastic adjustments, such as Sayyid rulers paying tribute to Timur's lineage, signalling post‑invasion political fragmentation.

High-yield: Understanding consequences of invasions links military events to dynastic change and territorial loss — a common UPSC theme connecting medieval polity, decline of central authority, and rise of successor regimes.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Timur's Invasion > p. 147
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > 10.5 Sayyid Dynasty (1414 - 1451) > p. 148
🔗 Anchor: "Did Timur (Tamerlane) occupy Multan and cross the Indus during Sultan Muhammad b..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Vasco da Gama's 1498 arrival at Kappad (Kerala)
💡 The insight

Vasco da Gama reached the Malabar coast at Kappad near Kozhikode in May 1498.

Knowing the precise year of European landings is high-yield for chronology questions about early colonial contact; it anchors subsequent developments in trade and diplomacy. This concept connects to questions on maritime routes, coastal polities, and dating of Portuguese interventions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India > The Portuguese: commerce and atrocities > p. 87
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Vasco Da Gama > p. 23
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Modern World: The Age of Reason > Vasco da Gama > p. 136
🔗 Anchor: "Did Vasco da Gama reach the coast of Kerala during the reign of Deva Raya II of ..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Abdur Razzaq. He visited Vijayanagara during Deva Raya II's reign (the exact ruler mentioned in the wrong option). UPSC likely swapped Vasco (1498) with Razzaq (1443) to create the trap. Expect a future question on Nikitin (Bahmani Kingdom) or Nuniz (Achyuta Raya).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Century Check' Heuristic. Taimur (1398) is the 'Death Knell' of the Tughlaqs; MBT (1325-51) is the 'Peak'—they cannot overlap. Vasco da Gama (1498) is practically 1500; Deva Raya II (died 1446) belongs to the mid-15th century. A 50-year gap in medieval history is a different era.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS1 & IR: Iltutmish's refusal to grant asylum to Jalaluddin Mangbarani (Statement 1) is a classic case of 'Strategic Autonomy.' It saved the infant Delhi Sultanate from the Mongol scourge. Use this as a historical example of successful non-alignment/neutrality in International Relations answers.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2022 · Q47 Relevance score: 2.75

With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements: 1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji. 2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city. 3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of north-west of his kingdom to Mongols. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2004 · Q134 Relevance score: 1.41

Consider the following statements: 1. In the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Ibrahim Lodi. 2. Tipu Sultan was killed in the Third Anglo-Mysore War. 3. Mir Jafar entered in a conspiracy with the English for the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah in the Battle of Plassey. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-II · 2012 · Q65 Relevance score: 1.29

Consider the following statements about the European travelers to India : 1. Sir Thomas Roe, the representative of the East India Company, was granted the permission by Jahangir to open a factory at Surat. 2. Captain Hawkins was driven out from Agra by the Mughals at the instigation of the Portuguese. 3. Father Monserrate traveled with Akbar on his journey to Kashmir. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2003 · Q30 Relevance score: 1.11

Consider the following statements: 1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in early medieval times. 2. The Cholas sent an expedition against Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas. Which of these statements is/are correct?

IAS · 2011 · Q91 Relevance score: 0.87

Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements. 1. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element though present, did not dominate the scene. 2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?