Razia Sultana - only Muslim lady ever ruled India

Razia Sultana - only Muslim lady ever ruled India : Though Iltumish had nominated his daughter Razia as the successor, the nobles placed Ruknuddin Firoz as the throne. However, Razia got rid of Ruknuddin and ascended the throne.

Razia was the "first and only Muslim lady who ever ruled India". Razia was popular among the people but was not acceptable to the nobles and theologians.

Razia further offended the nobles by her preference for an Abyssian slave Yakut. Soon after her accession, the governors of Multan, Badaun, Hansi and Lahore openly revolted against her.

There was a serious rebellion in Bhatinda. Altunia, governor of Bhatinda refused to accept suzerainity of Razia. Razia accompanied by Yakut marched against Altunia.



(Grave of Razia Sultan)

However, Altunia got Yakut murdered and imprisoned Razia. Subsequently, Razia married Altunia and both of them marched towards Delhi.

In 1240 AD, Razia became the victim of a conspiracy and was assassinated near Kaithal, Haryana.

Mesopotamian System of Counting

Mesopotamian System of Counting : The Mesopotamian System of Counting is known as sexagesimal because the Mesopotamian people counted by sixties as we count by tens i.e. decimal system.

Their sexagesimal system is no longer in use but we still use it as the basis of division of time into minutes and seconds and of a circle into degrees.

Types of Hindu Vivah (Marriage)

»»   Arsha Vivaha : Giving the girl to a man after accepting a bride-price

»»   Asura Vivaha : Marriage with a purchased girl

»»   Brahma Vivaha : Giving the girl to a man with dowry

»»   Daiva Vivaha : Giving the girl to the priest himself in lieu of his fees

»»   Gandharva Vivaha : Love Marriage

»»   Paishacha Vivaha : Marriage with a girl after seducing or raping her

»»   Prajapatya Vivaha : Giving the girl to a man without demanding a bride-price




"Which one do you like/prefer and which you don't?"

Socialism

Socialism Symbol

Socialism : Political and Economic Theory that land, transport, the main industries, natural resources such as Coal, Water, Power etc., should be owned and managed by the state, and wealth equally distributed.

In 1848, Karl Max and Engels laid down the principles of scientific socialism in Communist Manifesto and Marxism became the theoretical basis for most socialist thought.

Socialism was split in Russia between the reformist Mensheviks and revolutionary Bolsheviks that led to the term Socialism and Communism as they are now generally understood.

Navaratna (Nine Jewels) of Akbar

(1) Birbal : Administrator

(2) Abul Fazl : Scholar and Statesman

(3) Faizi : Scholar and Statesman

(4) Todarmal :  Finance Minister

(5) Bhagwandas : Mansabdar

(6) Man Singh : Mansabdar

(7) Tansen : Musician

(8) Abdur Rahim Khanekhana : Statesman

(9) Mullah Do Pyaza : Chief Advisor

Important Monuments of the World

»»   Pyramid : Giza (Egypt)

»»   The Leaning Tower of Pisa : Italy

»»   Great Wall : China

»»   Taj Mahal : Agra (India)

»»   Eiffel Tower : Paris (France)

Association of Places : World Volume II

»»  St. Helena : Napoleon Bonaparte

»»  Mecca : Prophet Muhammad

»»  Pearl Harbour : Japan's attack during World War II

»»  Trafalgar : Nelson

»»  Crosica : Napoleon Bonaparte

Meaning of Certain Terms : Colonialism, Imperialism and Capitalism

Colonialism : Colony means the country or territory settled by migrants from another country. Thus, the policy of having colonies and keeping them dependant is called Colonialism.
Imperialism : The policy of extending a state's rule over other territories, and of incorporating such colonized into an empire is called Imperialism.
Capitalism : Economic system in which a country's trade and industry are organized and controlled by the owners of capital, the chief elements being competition, profit, supply and demand.

Medieval Japan

Medieval Japan : Japan consists of hundred of small islands of which four are major islands - Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. Almost the entire country was unified into a single state by around 7th century AD.

In the 8th century Edo (modern Kyoto) became the capital and continued to be the seat of the emperors of Japan for over 1000 years. The real power, however, was in the hands of an aristocratic family.

Towards the end of the 12th century, a new political institution Shogun came into being. The Shogun or the 'General' became the commander of Japan'a army and ruled Japan, while the emperor remained at his capital at Edo (Kyoto).

Japanese Samurai or the warriors were similar to the Knights of Western Europe. The most unique contribution of medieval Japan to literature was a form of poetry called Haiku. Haiku poems are short poems of only 17 syllables.




The most important contribution of medieval Japan to art was Ikebana or the art of flower arrangement, which is being imitated throughout the world.

Buddhism reached Japan early in the 6th century from China through Korea and during the course of centuries it became widespread. In certain periods it even eclipsed Shintoism, the old religion of Japan.




Gradually, the Japanese developed their own distinct schools of Buddhism, the most famous of which is Zen Buddhism. The word Zen is derived from 'Dhyana'.



What is Periodic Motion?...Know more here»»

Akbar

Akbar, the eldest son of Humayun, ascended the throne under the title of Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar Badshah Ghazi at the young age of 14 at Kalanaur, Punjab and his tutor Bairam Khan was appointed as the regent. Akbar ended the regency of Bairam Khan in 1560 and at the age of 18 assumed the reigns of the kingdom.

Akbar was under the influence of Maham Anga and Adham Khan Junta from 1560 to 1562. In his bid to expand the empire he conquered various provincial states.

Akbar tried to win over the Rajputas wherever possible and inducted Rajputas kings into Mughal service and treated them at par with Mughal nobility. By marrying Harakha Bai, daughter of Biharimal in 1962. Akbar displayed his secular policy with the Hindus. Most of the Rajputas Kings recognized the supremacy of Akbar except Rana Pratap Singh and his son Amar Singh.

Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Lahore Fort, and Allahabad Fort and Humayun's Tomb at Delhi. Fatehpur Sikri, place near Agra- it is said that Akbar had no son for a long time. Sheikh Salim Chisti, a Sufi saint blessed Akbar with a son who was named Salim/Sheikho Baba (Jahangir). In honour of Salim Chisti, Akbar shifted his court from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri.

Football

It is believed that Football is also of British origin. However, it is said that a game similar to Football was played in 500 B.C. by the Greeks of Sparta and they called this game 'Harpastum'.

Harpastum

The first football club of the world 'Sheffield Football Club' was founded in the year 1857 in England.

Sheffield Football Club - Logo

Football was introduced in India by the Britishers in 1848 and the first football club of India was 'Dalhousie Club'. The Indian Football Association, the oldest football Association association in the east, was formed in 1878.

Indian National Football Team

The apex institution of football is 'Federation of International de Football Association' (FIFA), which was formed by seven countries on May 21, 1904. The headquarters of FIFA is in Paris (France).

FIFA - Headquarters

In order to distinguish this game from the carrying cum kicking game i.e. Rugby, it was given the name of "Soccer". This name was given to this game (Football) by an association named London Football Association which was formed in 1863 in England. The Football World Cup, organized by the FIFA, is the biggest competition.

Football Match in Progress

Football was included as a competitive game in Olympic Games officially in 1908. India took part in the World Olympic Competition in 1948 in London. Besides Olympic Competitions, World Cup Football Championships were planned by two Frenchman i.e. M Jules Rimet and Henry Delaunay.

Jules Rimet was president of the French Football Federation and remained president of FIFA from 1924 to 1957. The first world Cup was organized at Monte Video (Uruguay) in 1930.



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Mahakavyas (Epics)

There are mainly two Mahakavyas (Epics) :

(i) The Ramayana (Valmiki) : It is known as 'Adi Kavya' (the oldest epic of the world). At present, it consists of 24,000 shlokas i.e. verses (originally 6,000, later -12,000, Finally - 24,000) in 7 Khandas i.e. sections. 1st and 7th Khandas were the latest additions to the Ramayana.

(ii) The Mahabharata (Ved Vyas) : The longest epic of the world. At present, it consists of 100,000 shlokas i.e. verses (originally - 8,800- Jay Samhita, later -24,000 - Chaturvinshati Sahastri Samhita / Bahrata, finally -100,000- Shatasahastri Samhita / Maha Bharata) in 18 Parvans i.e. chapters, plus the Harivamsa supplement. Bhagavad Gita is extracted from Bhishma Parvan of Mahabharata. Shanti Parvan is the largest parvan (chapter) of the Mahabharata.

The Purana : The Purana means 'the old'. There are 18 famous 'Puranas'. The Matsya Purana is the oldest Purnic text. The other important Puranas are the Bhagavata, The Vishnu, The Vayu and The Brahamnda. They describe genealogies of various royal dynasties.

The Upavedas (the auxiliary vedas) were traditionally associated with vedas :
Upavedas : Associated with
(1) Ayurveda (Medicine) : Rig Veda
(2) Gandharveda (Music) : Sama Veda
(3) Dhanurveda (Archery) : Yajur Veda
(4) Shilpveda (craft) : Atharva Veda

Association of Places

»» Hiroshima : Dropping of first atom bomb

»» Jerusalem : Jesus Christ

»» Medina : Prophet Muhammad

»» Waterloo : Nepoleon Bonaparte

»» Macedonia : Alexander, the Great

Egyption Civilization

Egyption civilization : Egypt is called the 'Gift of the Nile'. Historians divided the history of Egypt into three periods; the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom.

The Old Kingdom is also called the 'Age of the Pyramids'. The Egyption king was called the pharaoh. The Egyptions were the worshipper of the nature and sun was their most important god.

Mesopotamians

Mesopotamian Civilization : In astronomy, the Mesopotamians made astonishing progress. They could calculate the length of the day and the night.

Mesopotamians divided the whole day into 24 hours. They divided the sky into 12 parts, each assigned a name. This has come down to us as the 12 signs of zodiac.

Another remarkable achievement of the Mesopotamians was the invention of a lunar calendar, based on the moon.

Geometry

In geometry, the Mesopotamians had discovered what was later called the Pythagoras' theorem.

World History

Mesopotamian Civilazation : The oldest Civilization of the World
Mesopotamia means 'land between the rivers'. Mesopotamia is the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
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