Cambridge O Level Bangladesh Studies - Topic 1: 1204–1784

Flashcards testing critical dates, historical figures, military battles, administrative policies, and religious developments in Bengal from 1204 to 1784.

Who was Shah Jalal and when did he die?

Shah Jalal was one of the earliest and most revered Sufi saints who settled in Sylhet with 313 disciples and died in 1346.

Which Sufi pirs are associated with the Dhaka region, Khulna-Jessore, Rajshahi, and Chittagong in the transcript?

Baba Adam Shahid (Dhaka region, 14th century), Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali (died 1459, Khulna-Jessore), Hazrat Shah Makhdum (died 1313, Rajshahi), and Hazrat Bayazid Bostami (died 874, Chittagong).

Who founded the Ilyas Shahi Dynasty and what title did he take in 1342?

Haji Ilyas took control of Lakhnauti in 1342 and assumed the title Sultan Shamsuddin Abul Muzaffar Ilyas Shah.

What three major geographical units were first united under a single authority by Haji Ilyas?

Satgaon, Sonargaon, and Lakhnauti.

What religious policies were maintained under the Ilyas Shahi Dynasty?

Non-Muslims (including Brahmins) held high posts such as Wazir, jizya was not imposed, and Hindu elements appeared in coins and administration.

What are the important architectural monuments of the Ilyas Shahi period mentioned in the notes?

Kotwali Darwaza, Dakhil Darwaza, Nim Darwaza, Tantipara Mosque, Qadam Rasul, and Sona Masjid of Gaur.

Who was the greatest ruler of the Hussain Shahi Dynasty and what was his background?

Alauddin Hussain Shah (1493–1519), who was of Ethiopian (Abyssinian) origin through the slave system.

Which Hindus held high offices under Alauddin Hussain Shah?

Rupa Goswami served as dabir-i-khas and Sanatana Goswami served as minister.

How did Nusrat Shah avoid conflict with Babur after the Battle of Panipat in 1526?

He avoided direct confrontation and concluded a treaty with Babur.

When did the Portuguese establish diplomatic relations and trade links in Chittagong during Nusrat Shah's reign?

Portuguese diplomatic missions arrived around 1521.

What major exports flourished in Bengal during Nusrat Shah's reign?

Cotton textiles, rice, sugar, ginger, and silk.

What event brought an end to independent Hussain Shahi rule in 1538?

Sher Shah (Sher Khan) captured Gaur after the death of Nusrat Shah's successors, forcing Mahmud Shah to pay tribute before finally toppling him.

When and where was Babur born, and who were his ancestors?

Babur (Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur) was born in 1483 in Central Asia (Farghana) and was a descendant of Timur and Chengiz Khan.

How did Babur defeat Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat on 21 April 1526?

He used superior artillery, cannons, gunpowder, and the innovative tulughma tactics.

In which battles did Sher Shah Suri defeat Humayun?

The Battle of Chausa (1539) and the Battle of Kanauj / Bilgram (May 1540).

When did Akbar ascend the throne and who was his regent during the Second Battle of Panipat (1556)?

Akbar ascended the throne in 1556 at age 13, and his regent was Bairam Khan, who defeated Hemu.

In which 1576 battle was Daud Khan Karrani defeated, bringing Bengal under effective Mughal control?

The Battle of Rajmahal (following the Battle of Tukaroi in 1575).

What were Akbar's key religious developments in 1575, 1579, and 1582?

In 1575 he built the Ibadat Khana; in 1579 he issued the Infallibility Decree (Mahzar); and in 1582 he founded the syncretic cult Din-i-Ilahi.

When was the Bengali solar calendar (Bangabda) formally implemented and from what year was it retrospectively dated?

It was formally implemented in 1584 and retrospectively dated from the year of Akbar's accession (1556).

What administrative systems were introduced by Emperor Akbar?

The Mansabdari system, the zabt revenue system based on measurement, and a centralised bureaucracy.

What was the Golden Chain of Justice (Zanjir-i-Adl) established by Emperor Jahangir?

A chain installed outside the Agra fort allowing any citizen to pull it to seek justice directly from the emperor.

Who shifted the capital of Bengal from Rajmahal to Dhaka (Jahangirnagar) during Jahangir's reign?

Islam Khan.

What was the official court language under Muslim rule in Bengal?

Persian.

What year marks the traditional start of Muslim rule in Northern Bengal?

1204.