Ancient and Medieval History - 4

When Timur invaded India, Tughlaqs was the ruling dynasty at that time. Timur defeated four armies of the Sultanate on December 15, 1398. Subsequently the Sultan Mahmud Khan of the Tughlaqs dynasty fled before Tamerlane entered Delhi on December 18. For eight days Delhi was plundered. 

The temples at ‘Khajuraho’ were built by the Chandelas. The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone. The Pallavas didn't use mortar and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons. 

Harshavardhana held a religious assembly at Prayag every five years. Harsha called this assembly in Prayag and the ceremony began with the worship of Lord Buddha, Shiva and Surya. The assembly of Prayag has a record in charity which no other in any age can possibly beat.

Rajuka was appointed by Ashoka to administer justice in his empire. Rajuka was appointed by Ashoka to govern the countryside and administer justice. 

The Gupta Empire declined in the fifth century AD as a result of the invasions of Huns. The Huns were the violent tribes which invaded the Guptas during the reign of Skandagupta. They were originally the inhabitants of the Central Asia and were divided into two tribes. 

Kanishka had its capital at Purushapura. The mightiest of the Kushana rulers in India was Kanishka. He was in power from 78 AD to 120 AD. It was Kanishka who initiated the Saka Era in 78 AD. He had his capital in Purushapura or Peshawar. 

 Dantidurga founded the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. Dantidurga (735-756 CE) was the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta. His capital was based in Gulbarga region of Karnataka. He was succeeded by his uncle Krishna I who extended his kingdom to all of Karnataka.

Dwarasamudram was the capital of Hoysalas. The ancestors of the Hoysalas joined hands with the Gangas in the war against Cholas and eventually built their own Empire on the edge of Malnad region. They made the capital as Dwarasamudra in later half of 11th century, which is now called Halebidu. 

Slave Dynasty - Khilji Dynasty- Tughlaq Dynasty- Lodi Dynasty is correct as per their period of rule in India. Slave dynasty ruled Delhi from 1206 to 1290, Khilji dynasty from 1290 to 1320, Tughlaq dynasty from 1321-1398 and Lodi dynasty from 1451 to 1526. 

The first ruler responsible for the rise of Magadha was Bimbisara. Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara (542-493 BC), who belonged to the Haryanka dynasty. He strengthened his position by marriage alliances. 

Asoka's queen who issued the famous Queen's Edict was Karuvaki. The famous Queen's Edict describes the sacred dona­tions made to the Buddhist Samgha by Asoka's second Queen Karuvaki. 

Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese traveller, visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana.

The donee in the Gupta age had no right to evict till the peasant paid tax perfectly. Six land grants of Gupta period were given to the Brahmanas by the feudatories or Samantas in Central India. The inhabitants of those land-grants were asked not only to pay the customary tax to the beneficiaries, but also obey their orders. 

Under the reign of Vakatakas the earliest of Ajanta caves were built.  The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves were built under the patronage of Vakataka Emperor Harishena. 

The mauryan ruler known as “Amitraghata” was Bindusara. Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor after Chandragupta Maurya. During his reign, the empire expanded southwards. The Greeks called him Amitrochates which is the Greek transliteration for the Sanskrit word 'Amitraghata' which means slayer of enemies.

The Kushanas belonged to the Yueh-Chi tribe. The Kushanas were said to be an offshoot of a branch of the Yueh-Chi tribe following their mass exodus from China in around 165 BC. Chinese chronicle, Hou Hanshu provides much of the details on the Kushan Empire. 

The Sayyid Brothers came into prominence and emerged powerful during the reign of Farrukh Siyar. His reign witnessed the primacy of the Sayyid Brothers who became the effective powers of the land, behind the facade of Mughal rule. His constant plotting eventually led the Sayyid Brothers to officially depose him. 

Satvanas minted coins made of lead. Satavahana coins give unique indications as to their chronology, language, and even facial features. They issued mainly minted lead and copper coins. Their portrait-style silver coins were usually struck over coins of the Western Kshatrapa kings. 

In Rock Edict XIII, Asoka expresses regret over the bloodshed in his conquest of Kalinga. Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, conquered the Kalingas eight years after his coronation. After the Kalingas had been conquered, beloved-of-the-Gods came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dhamma.

Alauddin Khilji called himself as the 'Second Alexander'. Alauddin Khilji wanted to be a world conqueror. In his coins, he depicted himself as Sikaiidar-i Sam, which means Second Alexander. 

There were 23 Tirthankaras before Mahavira. In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a human being who achieves liberation and enlightenment as an Arihant by destroying all of their soul. The first Tirthankara was Rishabha, who is credited with formulating and organising humans to live in a society harmoniously. The last Tirthankara was Mahavira. 

First battle of Panipat was the battle between Babar and Ibrahim Lodi. In 1526, the Mughal forces of Babur, the Timurid ruler of Kabulistan, defeated the much larger ruling army of Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi. 

Pratiharas, Chauhans, Paramaras and Solankis are the Agnikula Rajputs. Four Agnikula Rajput clans sprung from fire as per Hindu mythology.

The third Buddhist Council held at Patliputra was presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa. Moggaliputta-Tissa presided over the Third Buddhist Council. He had consented himself to be reincarnated as a human in order to chair the council, on the request of the arahants who has presided over the second. 

Cholas was justly famous for its system of village administration. Every village was a self governing unit. A number of such villages constituted a Korram in different parts of the country. At the height of the Chola Empire there were eight or nine of provinces including Sri Lanka. These divisions and names underwent constant changes throughout the Chola period.