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?

Updated 11 Apr 2026 · From UPSC Prelims GS Paper I 2021, Q4

Contents19

UPSC Prelims GS2021Ancient and Medieval Indian History

A1 only
B1 and 2
C3 only
D2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (A) 1 only

Statement 1 is correct:

When Chengiz Khan pursued the Khwarezm prince Jalaluddin to the Indus,

Iltutmish was the Sultan of Delhi (r. 1211-1236).

Iltutmish wisely refused asylum to Jalaluddin, avoiding confrontation with the Mongols.

Statement 2 is wrong:

Muhammad bin Tughluq ruled from 1324-1351.

Timur invaded India in 1398, which was during the reign of the last Tughluq ruler (Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah Tughluq), not Muhammad bin Tughluq.

Statement 3 is wrong:

Devaraya II died in 1446, while Vasco da Gama arrived in India in 1498 — over 50 years later.

They were not contemporaries.

Only

Statement 1 is correct.

Answer: (a).

Why this was asked

UPSC tests chronological precision by mixing rulers from different periods with major invasions - Chengiz Khan (1221), Timur (1398), and Vasco da Gama (1498) span nearly 300 years.

The question checks if students can match the correct Delhi Sultan with each foreign invasion, particularly distinguishing between early Tughluqs (Muhammad bin Tughluq died 1351) and later ones during Timur's 1398 invasion.

Iltutmish and Chengiz Khan Encounter

Ancient And Medieval History Iltutmish Chengiz Khan Khwarezm prince

Iltutmish's Wise Diplomacy with Chengiz Khan (1221)

Must know

Iltutmish (r. 1211-1236) refused asylum to Jalaluddin Khwarezm when pursued by Chengiz Khan to the Indus in 1221

This diplomatic decision saved the Delhi Sultanate from early Mongol invasion

Good to know

Iltutmish was the third Sultan of the Slave Dynasty and real founder of Delhi Sultanate

The Crisis of 1221

When Chengiz Khan destroyed the Khwarezm Empire, prince Jalaluddin fled westward and eventually reached the Indus River in 1221. Iltutmish faced a critical choice: grant asylum and risk Mongol wrath, or refuse and preserve his nascent sultanate.

Sequence of Events

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
  s1["`**Mongol Conquest**
**Chengiz Khan** destroys Khwarezm Empire (1219-1221)`"]
  s2["`**Prince Flees**
**Jalaluddin Khwarezm** escapes westward toward India`"]
  s3["`**Pursuit to Indus**
Chengiz Khan follows Jalaluddin to **Indus River** (1221)`"]
  s4["`**Diplomatic Decision**
**Iltutmish refuses asylum** to Jalaluddin despite requests`"]
  s5["`**Mongols Withdraw**
Chengiz Khan returns without invading Delhi Sultanate`"]
  s1 --> s2
  s2 --> s3
  s3 --> s4
  s4 --> s5

Why This Decision Mattered

Iltutmish was still consolidating power after overthrowing Aram Shah in 1211

The Delhi Sultanate was militarily weak and could not face the Mongol war machine

This pragmatic diplomacy gave the sultanate 15 more years to strengthen before serious Mongol threats

Later sultans like Alauddin Khilji had to build extensive fortifications against Mongol invasions

Exam traps

Trap: UPSC may confuse Iltutmish's reign dates - he ruled 1211-1236, not earlier

Trap: Don't confuse Chengiz Khan (1221) with Timur (1398) - different invaders, different periods

Trap: The prince was Jalaluddin of Khwarezm, not any other refugee leader

Muhammad bin Tughluq vs Timur's Invasion

Ancient And Medieval History Muhammad bin Tughluq Taimur Multan

Timur's Invasion: Wrong Sultan in Statement 2

Must know

Muhammad bin Tughluq ruled 1324-1351, died 47 years before Timur's invasion

Timur invaded India in 1398 during reign of Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah Tughluq

Good to know

Timur sacked Delhi and caused the collapse of the Tughluq Dynasty

Tughluq Rulers & Key Events

Sultan	Reign	Key Events	Relation to Timur
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq	1320-1325	Founded dynasty	Before Timur
Muhammad bin Tughluq	1324-1351	Capital shift, token currency	Died 47 years before
Firoz Shah Tughluq	1351-1388	Infrastructure, reforms	Died 10 years before
Nasir-ud-din Mahmud	1394-1412	Weak rule, nominal power	Faced Timur in 1398

Timur's 1398 Invasion Route

%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
  s1["`**Entry Point**
Timur crosses **Indus River** at Attock`"]
  s2["`**Multan Captured**
**Occupies Multan** after brief resistance`"]
  s3["`**March to Delhi**
Advances through Punjab toward Delhi`"]
  s4["`**Battle of Delhi**
Defeats Sultan **Nasir-ud-din Mahmud** (December 1398)`"]
  s5["`**Sack of Delhi**
**15 days of plunder**, massive destruction`"]
  s1 --> s2
  s2 --> s3
  s3 --> s4
  s4 --> s5

Exam traps

Major Trap: Statement 2 deliberately swaps Muhammad bin Tughluq (1324-1351) with the actual ruler during Timur's invasion

Chronology Trap: 1398 (Timur) vs 1351 (Muhammad bin Tughluq's death) - note the 47-year gap

Name Confusion: Don't mix Timur (1398) with Chengiz Khan (1221) - different centuries

Devaraya II vs Vasco da Gama Timeline

Ancient And Medieval History Deva Raya II Vasco da Gama Kerala

Devaraya II vs Vasco da Gama: 52-Year Gap

Must know

Devaraya II died in 1446, 52 years before Vasco da Gama's arrival

Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, Kerala on May 20, 1498

Good to know

Devaraya II ruled Vijayanagara Empire during its golden period

Timeline Comparison

Event	Year	Period	Significance
Devaraya II becomes king	1424	Medieval	Vijayanagara expansion
Devaraya II dies	1446	Medieval	End of golden period
Vasco da Gama reaches Kerala	1498	Early Modern	52 years later
Portuguese establish factories	1500s	Early Modern	Colonial period begins

Who Actually Ruled in 1498

Vijayanagara Empire: Narasimha II was ruling when Vasco da Gama arrived

Kerala: Various local rulers including Zamorin of Calicut controlled the coast

Devaraya II's legacy: His military reforms and irrigation projects were complete by 1446

Portuguese impact: Initially limited to trading posts, major conquest came later

Why This Matters

The 52-year gap represents a transition from the medieval period (Devaraya II's consolidated empire) to the early modern period (European maritime expansion). Statement 3 tests whether students can distinguish between these historical phases.

Exam traps

Chronology Trap: 1446 (Devaraya II's death) vs 1498 (Vasco da Gama) - over half a century apart

Empire Confusion: By 1498, Vijayanagara was ruled by Narasimha II, not Devaraya II

Period Mixing: Don't assume medieval Indian rulers were contemporaries of European explorers

Mongol Invasions of India

Ancient And Medieval History Chengiz Khan Taimur

Major Mongol Invasions: Chengiz Khan to Timur

Must know

Chengiz Khan reached Indus in 1221 but did not invade due to Iltutmish's diplomacy

Multiple Mongol raids occurred during 13th-14th centuries against Delhi Sultanate

Timur's 1398 invasion was the most devastating, ending Tughluq Dynasty

Major Mongol Threats to India

Leader	Year	Delhi Sultan	Outcome	Impact
Chengiz Khan	1221	Iltutmish	No invasion	Diplomatic success
Mongol Raids	1241-1306	Various Sultans	Multiple raids	Border insecurity
Alauddin's Period	1296-1316	Alauddin Khilji	Successfully repelled	Military innovations
Timur	1398	Nasir-ud-din Mahmud	Delhi sacked	Dynasty collapse

Sultanate Responses to Mongol Threat

# Anti-Mongol Strategies
## Diplomatic
- Iltutmish's refusal of asylum
- Marriage alliances
- Tribute payments
## Military
- Border fortifications
- Standing armies
- Cavalry improvements
- Siege warfare
## Administrative
- Revenue reforms
- Military iqtas
- Spy networks
- Supply systems

Mongol Invasion Routes

Northwest frontier remained vulnerable - from Khyber Pass to Indus crossings

Source: Reddit — A Mongol Empire in India - the Delhi Khanate : r/imaginarymaps · www.reddit.com

Vijayanagara Empire Key Rulers

Ancient And Medieval History Deva Raya II Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire: Major Rulers & Periods

Must know

Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1646) was the last major Hindu empire of South India

Devaraya II (r. 1424-1446) belonged to Sangama Dynasty, the first ruling house

Good to know

Empire reached its peak under Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509-1529) of Tuluva Dynasty

Major Vijayanagara Dynasties

Dynasty	Period	Key Rulers	Major Achievements
Sangama	1336-1485	Harihara I, Bukka I, Devaraya II	Empire foundation, territorial expansion
Saluva	1485-1505	Narasimha Saluva	Brief transitional period
Tuluva	1505-1570	Krishnadevaraya	Golden Age, literature, architecture
Aravidu	1570-1646	Rama Raya	Decline after Battle of Talikota (1565)

Devaraya II's Reign (1424-1446)

Military reforms: Employed Muslim cavalry and archers to strengthen army

Territorial expansion: Extended empire's control over Konkan coast and interior regions

Administrative efficiency: Improved revenue collection and provincial governance

Cultural patronage: Supported Telugu literature and temple construction

Economic prosperity: Controlled lucrative spice trade and diamond mines

Vijayanagara Empire Extent

At its peak, the empire controlled most of peninsular India south of the Krishna River

Source: Super Tutor — An Imperial Capital: Vijaynagara Important Questions — Karnataka ... · supertutor.in

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