7.Tribes,Nomads And Settled Communities

7.Tribes,Nomads And Settled Communities

6. Towns, Traders and Craftspersons

6. Towns, Traders and Craftspersons

5.Rulers and Buildings

a

5.Rulers and Buildings

4. The Mugual Empire

4. The Mugual Empire: 

Q1: Match the following:

1. Mansab	(a) Marwar
2. Mongol	(b) Governor
3. Sisodiya Rajput	(c) Uzbeg
4. Rathor Rajput	(d) Mewar
5. Nur Jahan	(e) Babur
6. Subadar	(f) Rank

Answer:
1. Mansab - (f) Rank
2. Mongol - (c) Uzbeg
3. Sisodiya Rajput - (d) Mewar
4. Rathor Rajput - (a) Marwar
5. Nur Jahan - (e) Babur
6. Subadar - (b) governor


Q2: Fill in the blanks.

(a) The capital of Mirza Hakim, Akbar's Half brother, was __________
(b) The five Deccan Sultanates were Berar, Khandesh, Ahmadnagar, ___________ and ___________.
(c) If zat determined a mansabdar’s rank and salary, sawar indicated his ____________ .
(d) Abul Fazl, Akbar’s friend and counsellor, helped him frame the idea of ____________________ so that he could govern a society composed of many religions, cultures and castes.

Answer: (a) Kabul
(b) Bijapur, Golconda
(c) Cavalrymen
(d) Sulh-i-kul (or universal peace)


Q3: What were the central provinces under the control of the Mughals?

Answer: The central provinces under the control of the Mughals were:

• Lahore,
• Panipat,
• Delhi,
  
• Agra,
  
• Mathura,
  
• Amber,
  
• Ajmer,
  
• Fatehpur Sikri,
  
• Chittor,
• Ranthambhor and
  
• Allahabad.
  

Q4: What was the relationship between the mansabdar and the jagir?



Answer: Mansabdars were given rights to collect revenue from the lands (called jagir) allotted to them. The revenues collected were their salaries. Revenue was collected by their servants while Mansabdar had to serve outside their jagirs.

Q5: What was the role of zamindar in Mughal administration?

Answer: Role of zamindar in Mughal administration:

1. Zamindar were intermediaries, whether they were local headmen of the village or powerful cheiftains.
2. On behalf of Mughal administrators, zamindars used to collect taxes from the peasants .
3. Zamindars exercised a great deal of power. The exploitation by Mughal administrators could drive them to rebellion.

Q6: How were the debates with religious scholars important in the formation of Akbar’s ideas on governance?

Answer:

1. The debates gave Akbar the idea about the religion and social customs of different people.
2. These debates made him realise that religious scholars who emphasised ritual and dogma were often bigots.
3. The religious teachings often created divisions and disharmony amongst his subjects.
4. With the help of his counsellor Abul Fazl, Akbar decided to work out new policy of governance. He he proposed the idea of sulh-i kul ''universal peace'' i.e., religious tolerance.

Q7: Why did the Mughals emphasise their Timurid and not their Mughal descent?

Answer: Following were the main reasons why the Mughals did not emphasise their Mongol lineage:

1. Mughals did not like to be called Mughal or Mongol. This was because Mongol ruler Genghis Khan’s memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people.
2. Uzbegs, another Mongols tribe was a competitor of Mughals.
3. Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry because their great ancestor had captured Delhi in 1398..

Q8: How important was the income from land revenue to the stability of the Mughal Empire?

Answer:

1. The main source of income available to Mughal rulers was tax on the produce of the peasantry collected by rulers.
2. Akbar's revenue minister, Todarmal, carried on a careful survey of crops, yields, prices and areas cultivated for ten years.
3. On the basis of their data, tax was fixed on each crop in cash.
4. Each province was divided into revenue circle with its own schedule of revenue rates for individual crops. This revenue system was known as zabt.

Q9: Why was it important for the Mughals to recruit mansabdars from diverse backgrounds and not just Turanis and Iranis?

Answer: Mughal empire expanded to encompass different religion as they recruited Mansabdars from diverse bodies of people from a nucleus Turanis and Iranis nobles. They expanded to include Indians, Muslims, Iranis, Afghanis, Rajputs and Maratahas.


Q10: Like the Mughal Empire, India today is also made up of many social and cultural units. Does this pose a challenge to national integration?

Answer: India today is full of diversity in terms of language, religion, caste and creed. For national integration it is a challenge. India being a secular republic has addressed this challenge by proviading social equality constituionally.


Q11: Peasants were vital for the economy of the Mughal Empire. Do you think that they are as important today? Has the gap in the income between the rich and the poor in India changed a great deal from the period of the Mughals?

Answer: Even today, agriculture is the primary source of income in India. In present context peasant play an important role in the economy of India. As compared to Mughals period, incomes have increased, but the widening gap between the rich and the poor still pose a challenge.


Q12: How was Humayum's relationship with Safavid Iran different from Akbar's?

Answer: Humayun received help from the Safavid Shah to recapture Delhi in 1555. While Akbar, during his expansion campaign, seized Qandahar from Safavids in 1585-1605.


Q13: Did the annexation of Golconda and Bijapur in Aurangzeb's region end hostilities in the Deccan?

Answer: Despite the annexation of Golconda and Bijapur in Aurangzeb's region, it did not end the hostilities in the Deccan. Marathas started gurreilla war against him. Aurangzeb had to personally manage the campaigns in Deccan for a long period of time.


Q14: Who wrote Akbar Nama?

Answer: Abul Fazl. He wrote a three volume history of Akbar’s reign titled, Akbar Nama.

Q15: Define Dogma.

Answer: A statement or an interpretation declared as authoritative with the expectation that it would be followed without statement.


Q16: Who is called Bigot?

Answer: An individual who is intolerant of another person’s religious beliefs or culture is called as bigot.


Q17: What is primogeniture?

Answer: It is a kind of belief followed by many dynasties as a rule of inheriance where the eldest son inherited his father’s estate.

3. The Delhi Sultans

01: Which ruler first established his or her capital at Delhi?

Answer: Delhi first became the capital of a kingdom under the Tomara Rajputs. Anangpal of Tomar dynasty built a fort called Lal Kot (present area around Suraj Kund and Mehrauli). Later Chauhans defeated Tomars and established their rule. Chauhans renamed Lal Kot as Kila Rai Pitthora.

Q2: Name any famous king of Tomar Dynasty and Chauhan Dynasty

Answer: Angpal (Tomar) and Prithviraj Chauhan


Q3: Who were the rulers of Delhi when it became an important commercial hub?  What was the coinage called?

Answer: Tomar Rajputs and later Chauhan dynasty ruled over Delhi when it became an important commercial centre. Many rich Jaina merchants lived in the city and constructed several temples. Coins minted here, called dehliwal, had a wide circulation.


Q4: Was Delhi a single city during Delhi Sultanate period?

Answer: During this period many cities were developed in Delhi. A few were:

• Dehli-i Kuhna 
• Siri
• Tughluqabad 
• Jahapanah
• Firozabad
• Dinpanah and Shergarh (Purana Quila

• Q5: Who defeated Chauhan rulers and established his rule over Delhi
  ?

Answer: Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated by Mohammad Ghori. Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the commander of Muhammad of Ghori marked the beginning of the Mamaluk (Slave Dynasty) rule and the establishment of Sultanate period in India.

Q6: Delhi Sultanate refers to what period of rule over Delhi? List the dynasties come under this Sultanate?

Answer: Delhi Sultanate collectively refers to the period of 320 years (from 1206 AD to 1526 AD). during this period, five dynasties ruled over Delhi. The list of dynasties ruled this period were:

1. Slave/Mamluk dynasty
2. Khalji Dynasty
3. Tughluq Dynasty
4. Sayyid Dynasty
5. Lodi Dynasty

Q7: Who was the founder of the Turkish dominion in India?

Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak who was the first ruler of slave dynasty was the founder of  Turkish dominion in India.

Q8: Why do we call the Qutb-ud-din Aibak' dynsaty as Mamaluk or Slave dynasty?

Answer: Mamluk or (Bandagan in Persian) refers to Turkish ‘ slave ’ soldier who were bought as children and given military training. They were carefully trained to man some of the most important political offices in the kingdom. The first few Delhi Sultans (Qutbuddin Aybak, Iltumish, Balban)  were mamluks. Therefore this dynasty was also referred as slave dynasty. Most of them ruled under the name of Turkish empire.


Q9: What do you mean by the term Tawarikh? Who were the authors of Tawarikh?

Answer: Tawarikh is persian term refers to 'histories'. The authors of tawarikh were learned men:
secretaries, administrators, poets and courtiers, who both recounted events and advised rulers on
governance, emphasizing the importance of just rule.

Q10: Were the authors of Tawarikh true accountants of history? What did they advise to rulers?
or
Q(NCERT):Do you think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of ordinary men and women?

Answer: No, Although the authors were learned men but they lived in cities (mainly Delhi) and
hardly ever in villages. They often wrote their histories for Sultans in the hope of rich rewards. These authors advised rulers on the need to preserve an “ideal” social order based on birthright and gender distinctions. Their ideas were not shared by everybody.

Q11: Who started the construction of Qutb Minar at Delhi?

Answer: Qutbuddin Aybak. Later Iltutmish and Firuz Shah Tughluq completed and extended it.

Q12(NCERT): What was the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans? 

Answer: Persian Language


Q13: Name the Delhi Sultan popularly called as 'Lakh Baksh'.

Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak was called as Lakh Baksh or Giver of Lakhs for his generosity.

Q14(MCQ): Which phrase from the following defined the relationship between the king and his subjects?
(a) Circle of Administration
(b) Circle of Justice
(c) Circle of Confidence
(d) Circle of Loyalty

Answer: (b) Circle of Justice

015: In whose reign did the Sultanate reach its farthest extent? 

Answer: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.
Military expeditions into southern India started during the reign of Alauddin Khalji and culminated (reached highest) with Muhammad Tughluq.

Q16(NCERT): From which country did Ibn Battuta travel to India?

Answer: Morroco


Q18(NCERT): According to the “Circle of Justice”, why was it important for military commanders to keep the interests of the peasantry in mind?

Answer:  Salaries of the soldiers and the king come from the revenue collected from peasants. But peasants can pay revenue only when they are prosperous and happy. Therefore it was important for military commanders to keep the interests of peasantry in mind and would promote justice and honest governance.

Q19(NCERT): What is meant by the “internal” and “external” frontiers of the Sultanate?

Answer: Internal frontiers refers to the hinterlands i.e. lands adjacent to a city that supply it with goods and services. Here it refers to Ganga-Yamuna doab.

External frontiers refers to unconquered territories i.e. southern parts of the subcontinent, Bengal and Gujarat.

Q20: What were Garrison towns?

Answer: Garrison towns were fortified settlements, with soldiers. The beginning Sultans of Delhi rarely went beyond heavily fortified towns occupied by garrisons. e.g. Bengal and Sind were garrison towns.

Q21(MCQ): Bandagon is a Persian word for 
(a) Client
(b) Slave
(c) Administrator
(d) Soldier

Answer: (b) Slave

Q22(NCERT): What were the steps taken to ensure that muqtis performed their duties? Why do you think they may have wanted to defy the orders of the Sultans?

Answer: Following steps were taken by Delhi Sultans to ensure that muqtis performed their duties:

1. Land grants or iqtas were not inheritable.
2. They were assigned iqtas for a short period of time.
3. Accountants were appointed by the state to check the amount of revenue collected by the muqtis.
4. Care was taken that the muqti collected only the taxes prescribed by the state and that he kept the required number of soldiers.

The revenue collection from iqtas was in the hand of Muqtis, who deducted his share (his salary + his army expenses) and paid the surplus to the Sultanate. There were high chances they might misuse the revenue for their own good or to revolt against the Sultanate.

Muqtis might want to defy the orders of the Sultan because too much restrictions were put on them.

Q23: What were the three type of taxes collected by the Delhi Sultans?

Answer: The three main types of taxes were:

1. on cultivation called kharaj and amounting to about 50 per cent of the peasant’s produce,
2. on cattle
3. on houses

Q24(NCERT): What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?

Answer:

1. Delhi Sultanate was under constant threat from Mongols. Genghis Khan invaded
   Delhi in 1219 and Sultanate faced their onslaught (destructive attack) soon after.
2. The Sultans had to mobilise a large standing army in Delhi which posed a huge administrative challenge.
3. They had to take various administrative measures to check prices and efficient supplies of goods to feed their armies. Alauddin Khalji was successful in controlling these challenges while Muhammad Tughluq's measures were utter failure.

Q25: Raziyya Sultan was unique in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. Do you think women leaders are accepted more readily today?

Answer: Raziya Sultan, though a capable ruler, was not accepted by Turkish nobles. They were not comfortable having a queen as ruler. Her regime ended within four years.
Today women leaders are accepted more readily. They have become President and Prime minister of our nation. Still there are challenges they have to face due to gender bias.

Q26(From Compptt. View): Name the king who died in Lahore after falling down from his horse during a polo match.

Answer: Qutbuddin Aybak

Q27: Express Minhaj’s ideas in your own words. Do you think Raziyya shared these ideas? Why do you think it was so difficult for a woman to be a ruler?

Answer: Minhaj agreed that Raziya was more able and qualified than her brothers. Being a woman, she did not have rights to be a ruler like men. Razia did not share his ideas. On her inscriptions and coins Raziyya mentioned that she was the daughter of Sultan Iltutmish.

It was very difficult for a woman to be a ruler because the society believed that social order was based on birthright and gender distinctions.

Q27: What did Ibn Battuta explain about the reasons for Delhi Sultanate failure to control forest areas of Doab?

OR

Q: Describe the ways in which the chieftains arranged for their defence.

Answer:  Delhi Sultanate failed to penetrate forested areas of Gangetic plain and Local Chieftains ruled that area. Ibn Batuta mentioned the following factors in his travelogues:

1. Chieftains fortified themselves in mountains, in rocky, uneven and rugged places as well as in bamboo groves.
2. In India, the bamboo grooves are big but not hollow. They do not catch fire easily. chieftains lived in these bamboo forests which serves them as ramparts along with their cattle, crops and collected rain water.
3. These tick forests could not be easily penetrated unless attacked by powerful army with special equipments to cut down the bamboos.

Q28: How many times Delhi was attacked during Alauddin Khalji regime?

Answer: Twice. 1299/1300 and 1302-03

Q29: Name the garrison town built by Alauddin Khalji for his army.

Answer: Siri

Q30: What were the administrative measures taken by Alauddin Khalji to check the prices and supply of goods for his large standing army?

Answer: Alauddin Khalji executed the following administrative measures:

1. He fixed at 50 per cent of the peasant’s yield for the Ganga Yamuna lands.
2. The soldiers were paid salaries instead of iqtas. The soldiers would buy their supplies from
   merchants in Delhi.
3. The prices of the goods in Delhi were regulated. Merchants were asked to sell at prescribed rates.
4. Prices were carefully surveyed by officers, and merchants who did not sell at the prescribed rates were punished.

Q31: What forced the two rulers Allauddin Khilji and Muhammed Tughluq to mobilise a large standing army in Delhi?

Answer: Mongol attacks on the Delhi Sultanate increased during the reign of Alauddin Khalji and in the early years of Muhammad Tughluq’s rule. This forced the two rulers to mobilise a large standing army in Delhi. It also posed a huge administrative challenge to both rulers.

Q32: Why do you think Barani criticised the Sultan Muhammad Tughluq?

Answer: Muhammad Tughluq appointed a wine distiller, a barber, a cook and two gardeners, Ladha and Pira, to high administrative posts. Ziyauddin Barani criticised Tuglaq decision as it was against the "social order". He reported their appointments as a sign of the Sultan’s loss of political judgement and his incapacity to rule.

Q33: Who built the Begumpuri Mosque?

Answer: It was built in the reign of Muhammad Tughluq.


Q34: What is a congregational mosque?

Answer: A “congregational mosque” (masjid-i jami or jama masjid) is mosque where Muslims read their prayers (namaz) together.


Q35: Why did the Delhi Sultans built several mosques in different cities?

Answer:  The Delhi Sultans built several mosques in cities all over the subcontinent for the following reasons:

1. They wanted themselves be depicted as protectors of Islam and Muslims.
2. Muslims came from a variety of backgrounds, they thought Mosques would create the sense of a community of believers who shared a belief system and a code of conduct.

Q36: Name the Mongol ruler who attacked Delhi during Sulanate regime.

Answer: Genghis Khan

Q37: What were the duties of Muqtis?

Answer: The military commanders who were given land grants were called Iqtadars or Muqtis. Their duties were:

• to lead military campaigns
• to maintain law and order in their Iqtas.
• to collect revenue
• to pay salaries to the soldiers.

Q38: Why was Muhammad Tughlaq known as "Man of Ideas" but a failure as an administrator?

a

Answer:  Muhammad Tughlaq, was a learned man, a philosopher, student of science and maths. His ideas about "token currency" and "central capital" were good but failed miserably as administrative measures:

1. After he defeated Mongol Army, he planned to raise large army to attack on Transoxiana. But his campaign into Kashmir was a disaster. He had to disband his large army as well as his plans to conquer Mongols.
2. He asked residents of Dehli-i Kuhna to vacate the city for his soldiers and move to new capital Daulatabad in the south. It resulted in another failure and resentment among the citizens.
3. To feed his army, he levied additional taxes which coincided with famine in the area. It led to widespread rebellion in Ganga-Yamuna belt.

 To control prices, he introduced a token currency, People did not trust these new coins but they outsmarted the king and paid the taxes in new currency. This cheap currency could also be counterfeited easily. Finally, the “token” currency had to be recalled

Q39: Ala-ud-din built the Siri Fort in Delhi due to following reason(a) Provide accommodation to growing population

(b) Defend city from Mongol invasions(c) Protect people from Rajput invasions
(d) None of these

2. New Kings And Kingdoms

2. New Kings And Kingdoms

Book Questions:

Q1: Locate the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, Cholas and Chahamanas (Chauhans) etc. Can you identify the present-day states over which they exercised control?

Answer:

Dynasty	Present Day States
Gurjara-Pratihara	Western Uttar Pradesh, Northern Madhya Pradesh
Chahamanas (Chauhans)	East Rajasthan, Parts of Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana
Parmars	Parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Chandelas	Eastern Uttar Pradesh
Rashtrakutas	Maharashtra, Central Madhya Pardesh, Parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Palas	Bengal, Parts of Bihar, North East part of India
Kalinga	Orissa and parts of Bihar
Cholas	Tamilnadu and some parts of Andhra Pradesh
Pandyas	Kerela
Cheras	Karnataka
Chalukayas	Karnataka

Q2: Who were known as Samantas?

Answer: Big landlords or warrior chiefs who were subordinates to a king are called samantas.

Q3:Who were Rashtrakutas?

Answer: They were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka. Later they became independent started their own dynasty.

Q4: Do you think being born as a Kshatriya was important in order to become a ruler during this period? Give examples.

Answer: No. It was not important to be a Kshatriya in order to become a ruler in that period. 
For example:

1. Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual
   called hiranya-garbha to establish his kingdom.
2. Kadamba Mayurasharman and the Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra were Brahmanas who gave up their traditional professions and took to arms, successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and Rajasthan respectively.

Q5: Name the famous caves having a wall carving of Vishnu as Narasimha, the man-lion done during  Rashtrakutas period.

Answer: Ellora caves.

Q6: What is vetti and kadamai?

Answer:  These terms are taxes during Chola period. Vetti was the most common tax which means forced labour. Kadamai refers to land revenue.

Q7: As compared to taxes of Chola period, are any such taxes collected today?

Answer: No not all type of such taxes are collected today. E.g. At present we have taxes like land revenue but there are no taxes on using a ladder or thatching the house.

Q8 In what ways was this form of administration different from the present-day system?

Answer: In that period, kings and their subordinates (samantas) collected various types of taxes and revues from peasants, cattle-keepers, artisans. Sometimes they were forced to do labour work at Kings premises. Even part of their produce was collected as revenue. The revenue collected was used by the kings and his subordinates for their personal use, for construction of temples and forts and to fight wars.

In present day system, it is the democratic government which does administration. We have a revenue collection system according to our constitution. Revenue collected is spent on public welfare.

Q9: What are Prashastis?

Answer: Prashastis contain details that may not be literally true. But they tell us how rulers wanted to depict themselves – as valiant, victorious warriors, for example. These were composed by learned Brahmanas, who occasionally helped in the administration.

Q10: In prashastis, rulers made tall claims about their victories. Why do you think they made these claims?

Answer: These tall claims made by the rulers were not actually true. Rules wanted to show themselves as great warriors and often described themselves as equal to god.

Q11: How prashasti written by Kalhana is different from pashastis writtent by other brahamans?

Answer: In general prashastis were written in praise of kings and were not accurate information about the king. It usually had boastful praise about kings describing him as a great warrior and valiant. Kalhana composed a long Sanskrit poem containing the history of kings who ruled over Kashmir. Unlike the writers of prashastis, he was often critical about rulers and their policies.

Q12(NCERT): Match the following

Gurjara-Pratiharas	Western Deccan
Rashtrakutas	Bengal
Palas	Gujarat and Rajasthan
Cholas	Tamil Nadu

Answer:

Gurjara-Pratiharas	Gujarat and Rajasthan
Rashtrakutas	Western Deccan
Palas	Bengal
Cholas	Tamil Nadu

Q13: Who were the parties involved in the “tripartite struggle”?

Answer: The Gujara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakuta and Palas dynasties were involved in the 'tripartite struggle'

Q14: What was Tripartite Struggle?

Answer: For centuries, rulers belonging to the Gurjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties fought for control over Kanauj. Because there were three “parties” in this long drawn conflict, historians often describe it as the “tripartite struggle”

Q15: Why the rulers wanted to control Kanauj and the Ganga valley?

Answer: Kanauj(near modern Kanpur) was rich fertile plain between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Kanauj was already established business hub. It had been capital city and a political center. These were the reasons rulers wanted to control Kanauj and the Ganga valley,

Q16: What were the two major cities under the control of the Chahamanas?

Answer: Delhi and Ajmer

Q17: How did the Rashtrakutas become powerful?

Answer: Initially the Rashtrakutas were subordinates to the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the mid 8th century, Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual called hiranyagarbha and became ruler.

Q18: What is meant by Hiranya-garbha?
                  Or
What was the purpose behind performing Hiranya-garbha ritual?

Answer: Hiranyagarbha (literally, the golden womb) war a ritual performed by the non-kshatriyas to become a Kshatriya and a ruler. It was thought to lead to the rebirth of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya even if he is not one by birth.

Q19: Why were temples often raided when kingdoms were attacked?

Answer: The rulers tried to demonstrate their power and resources by building large temples. Temples had become rich and had been a hub of social, cultural and economic activties. Therefore, when kingdoms were attacked, temples were raided to plunder money and rich valuables.

Q20: What term was used for land grants given to Brahmanas in Chola period? How these land grants were recorded?

Answer: Land grants received by Brahmanas were called Brahmadeya. These were recorded on copper plates It was written partly in Sanskrit and partly in Tamil. The ring holding the plates together was secured with the royal seal, to indicate that this is an authentic document.

Q21: Write a short note on Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni

Answer:

• Sultan Mahmud was ruler of Ghazni. He ruled from 997 to 1030 AD.
• He extended control over parts of Central Asia, Iran and the north-western part of the subcontinent.
• He attacked Indian subcontinent seventeen times and plundered wealth from rich temple including Somnath, Gujarat.
• Much of the wealth Mahmud carried away was used to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni.
• He was also interested in finding about the people he conquered. He brought his scholar Al-Biruni, to study about India. Al-Biruni wrote a book about India called Kitab-al Hind. 

Q22: Why the Chahamanas may have wanted to expand their territories? Who was the famous Chauhan ruler who defeated Sultan Ghori?

Answer: Chahamanas, or Chauhans dynasty ruled over the region around Delhi and Ajmer in 12th century. Being centrally located, they attempted to expand their control to the west and the east, where they were opposed by the Chalukyas of Gujarat and the Gahadavalas of western Uttar Pradesh.
The best-known Chahamana ruler was Prithviraja III (1168-1192), who defeated an Afghan ruler named Sultan Muhammad Ghori in 1191, but lost to him the very next year, in 1192.

Q23: How did the Cholas rise to power?

Answer: A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar held power in the Kaveri delta. They were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. Vijayalaya, who belonged to the ancient chiefly family of the Cholas from Uraiyur, captured the delta from the Muttaraiyar in the middle of the ninth
century. The successors of Vijayalaya conquered neighbouring regions and the kingdom grew in size and power. Rajaraja I and Rajendra I were the most powerful Chola leaders.

Q24: Who built the town of Thanjavur and its famous goddess temple?

Answer: Vijayalaya built the town of Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini there.

Q25: Name the territories annexed by Chola kings to expand their kingdom.

Answer:

• The Pandyan and the Pallava territories in south India
• Ganga valley
• Sri Lanka, Lakshdweep, Countries of Southeast Asia (e.g. Sumatra
  .

Q26: Name the two big temples built by Chola kings.

Answer: The big temples of Thanjavur and 'Gangaikonda cholapuram', built by Rajaraja and Rajendra, are architectural and sculptural marvels.


Q27: How did the city and temple get name its name 'Gangaikonda cholapuram'?

Answer: After defeating Pala kings, Chola king Rajendra I brought Ganga water from Ganga valley to sanctify tank of his royal temple. The temple and the city got its name as 'Gangaikonda cholapuram' i.e. the city of the Chola that seized the River Ganga.

Q28: How did Chola temples become the nuclei of settlements?

Answer: Chola temples became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them.

1. These were centres of craft production. Amongst the crafts associated with
   temples, bronze images and paintings were distinctive and world famous.
2. Temples were also endowed with land by rulers as well as by others. The produce of this land went to maintain all the specialists who worked at the temple and very often lived near it – priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers, etc. In
3. Temples were not only places of worship, they were the hub of economic, social and cultural life as well.

Q29: What type of Chola art is world famous?

Answer: Chola bronze images are considered amongst the finest in the world.

Q30: How did River Kaveri bring prosperity to Chola kingdom?

Answer: The river Kaveri branches off into several small channels before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. These channels overflow frequently, depositing fertile soil on their banks. Water from the
channels also provides the necessary moisture for agriculture, particularly the cultivation of rice. It promoted agriculture development during Chola period.

Q31: What kind of irrigation works were developed in the Tamil region?
                   OR
How did agriculture developed in Chola kingdom?

Answer:  Although agriculture had developed earlier in other parts of Tamil Nadu, it was only
from the fifth or sixth century that this area was opened up for large-scale cultivation.

1. Forests were cleared in some regions; land was levelled in other areas.
2. In the delta region embankments were built to prevent flooding.
3. Canals were constructed to carry water to the fields. 
4. In many areas two crops were grown in a year.
5. For irrigation, wells were dug and in other places huge tanks were constructed to collect rainwater.

Q32: Was caste system prevalent in Chola empire? Give details.

Answer: Following instances indicate that caste system was prevalent in Chola kingdom:

1. Rich peasants of the Vellala caste had considerable control under Chola govenment.
2. Brahmanas often received land grants or brahmadeya. As a result, a large number of
   Brahmana settlements emerged in the Kaveri valley.
3. People of Pulaiyas (considered outcast by Brahamanas and Vellala caste) used to live on the outskirts of village in small hamlet. They were not allowed to partcipate in Village administrative activities.

Q33: Describe the administration of Chola empire.

Answer:

1. The Cholas set up a highly efficient system of administration.
2. The empire was divided into provinces called Mandalams. The Mandalams were further divided into Districts called Nadu. Each Nadu consists of  a group of Villages called Urs.
3. The village council and the Nadu performed several administrative functions including dispensing justice and collecting taxes.
4. In towns, associations of traders known as nagarams also occasionally performed administrative functions in towns.

Q34: What was sabha in Chola empire? How its members were chosen?

Answer:

1. Land grants given to Brahamans called brahamadeya. These land grants wre looked after by an assembly (Sabha) of prominent Brahmana land holders which worked very efficiently. 
2. Their decisions were recorded in detail in inscriptions, often on the stone walls of temples.
3. The sabha had separate committees to look after irrigation works, gardens, temples, etc
4. The members of the village assembly were elected by lottery system called Kudavolai System. The names of the eligible persons were written on palm leaves and put into a pot. A boywas asked to pick up names from the pot. The chosen persons were declared elected.

Q35: Who can become the member of the village assembly under Chola kingdom?

Answer:  Brahamans who had received land grants and people of Vellala caste has considerable control of village assembly or sabha. Following was the criterion to become member of the sabha:

1. All those who wish to become members of the sabha should be owners of land from which land revenue is collected.
2. They should have their own homes.
3. They should be between 35 and 70 years of age.
4. They should have knowledge of the Vedas. They should be well-versed in administrative matters and honest.
5. If anyone has been a member of any committee in the last three years, he cannot become a member of another committee.
6. Anyone who has not submitted his accounts, as well as those of his relatives, cannot contest the elections.

1. Tracing Changes Through A Thousand Years

1. Tracing Changes Through A Thousand Years

Q1: Who was considered a “foreigner” in the past?

Answer: In past (medieval period), foreigner is referred to any person who was not a part of the same society or culture. For example, a city-dweller might regard a forest-dweller as foreigner. But two peasants living in the same village were not foreigners to each other even though they belong to different caste or religious backgrounds.

Q2: State whether true or false:
(a) We do not find inscriptions for the period after 700.
(b) The Marathas asserted their political importance during this period.
(c) Forest-dwellers were sometimes pushed out of their lands with the spread of agricultural settlements.
(d) Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban controlled Assam, Manipur and Kashmir.

Answer:
(a) False
(b) True
(c) True
(d) False

Q3: Fill in the blanks:(a) Archives are places where ____________ are kept.
(b) _______________ was a fourteenth-century chronicler.
(c) , , , ______ and ________ were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period.

Answer:
(a) Archives are places where manuscripts are kept.
(b) Amir Khusrao was a fourteenth-century chronicler.
(c) Potatoes, corn, chillies,  and coffee were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period.



Q4: List some technological changes associated with this period.
 
Answer: In the thousand years between 700 to 1750, there occurred large variety of technological changes impacting social, economical, political and cultural changes. Prominent technological developments were:

1. Persian wheel in irrigation.
2. Spinning wheel in weaving
3. Firearms in combat.
4. New food and beverages like potatoes, corn, chillies, tea and coffee.

Q5: What were the some of the major religious developments during this period?
Answer: In the thousand years history, it witnessed major developments in religious traditions.

1. The religious belief in supernatural agency was collective among people and it was often connected with the social and economic organization of local communities.
2. In Hinduism, it lead to worshiping new deities, construction of new temples by the kings.
3. Brhamins gained importance and became dominant group in the society because of their knowledge of Sanskrit language and role playing as priests in religious activities.
4. Later one of the major development was the emergence of the idea of Bhakti or Sufism  i.e. devotees can pray their personal deities by sermons without the aid of priests or elaborate rituals.
5. In this period, new religions also appeared in the subcontinent. E.g. during seventh century merchants and migrants brought the teachings of Islam. Later many rulers (Sultanate of Delhi and Mughals) became patrons of Islam. Like Hinduism, Islam was interpreted by in variety of ways by its followers.

Q6: In what ways has the meaning of the term ''Hindustan" changed over the centuries?

Answer: The time the meaning of the term ''Hindustan" changed number of times over the centuries:

1. Presently, the term ''Hindustan" is understood by ''India", the modern nation state.
2. During 13th century writer Minhaj-i-Siraj, used the term ''Hindustan" in political context to denote kingdom areas of Punjab, Haryana and the lands between Ganga and Yamuna (Uttar Pradesh).
3. In 16th century, Babur and Amir Khusro used the term "Hindustan'' to describe the geography, the fauna (animals) and the culture of the inhabitants of the sub-continent.

Q7: How were the affairs of jatis regulated?

Answer: Jatis framed their own rules and regulations to manage the conduct of their members. These regulations were enforced by an assembly of elders( called jati panchayat in some areas). Several villages were governed by a chieftain. Together they were only one small unit of a state.

Q8: What does the term pan-regional empire mean?

Answer:The empire which spreads across many regions of diverse culture, religion and geography is called pan-regional empire. Cholas, Khaljis, Tughluqs and Mughals were pan-regional empires.

 

Q9: What are the difficulties historians face in using manuscripts? 

Answer: Following difficulties generally historians face while using manuscripts:

1. Poor Handwriting: Manuscripts were mostly hand written. Illegible handwriting introduce errors while copying these scripts. 
2. Different Interpretations: illegible writings force historians to take guess which may not be accurate. 
3. Copying Errors: Scribes while copying introduce small errors which grew over the centuries. 
4. Different versions of Manuscripts may lead to confusion. It becomes a challenge to decide the chronological order of their releases.

Q10: Give examples of forts built during Medieval period.

Answer:

1. Lal Quila (Red Fort at Delhi) 
2. Red Fort at Agra
3. Gwaliar Fort 
4. Amer Fort (Jaipur)

Q11:  Name any two mosques built during Medieval period.

Answer:

1. Jama Masjid (Delhi)
2. Moti Masjid (Agra)

Q12: List the name of temples built during Medieval period.

Answer:

1. Meenakshi Temple (Madurai)
2. Khujrao Temples 
3. Dilwara Temples (Mt. Abu)

Q13: List any two pillars built during Medieval period.

Answer:

1. Qutub Minar (Delhi)
2. Charminar (Hyderabad)
3. Vijay Pillar (Chittorgarh)

Q 14: List names of tombs built during Medieval period.

Answer: Taj Mahal (Agra), Humanyun Tomb (Delhi)