Exercises
I. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. In India, the Period of Medieval history ranges from the
(a) 6th to 15th century AD
(b) 8th to 18th century AD ✓
(c) 10th to 15th century AD
(d) 13th to 18th century AD
2. Who among the following was a fourteenth-century chronicler?
(a) Romila Thapar
(b) Abu’l Fazl
(c) Ghiyasuddin Balban
(d) Zia-ud-Din Barni ✓
3. Who among the following was an Arab Cartographer who made a World map in 1154?
(a) Guillaume de l’Isle
(b) Al-Idrisi ✓
(c) Zia-ud-Din Barni
(d) Abdul Hamid Lahori
4. British historians divided the history of India into three periods, namely
(a) Hindu, Muslim and British
(b) Ancient, Medieval and Modern ✓
(c) Pre-historic, Historic and Modern
(d) None of these
5. The use of which one of the following materials increased significantly in the Metal down the manuscripts?
(a) Palm-leaves
(b) Birch bark
(c) Paper ✓
(d) None of these
B. Mark the option that matches Column A with Column B.
| Column A | Column B |
| 1. Al Idrisi 2. Alauddin Khilji 3. Minhaj-i-Siraj 4. Amir Khusrau 5. Marco Polo | (i) A 14th century poet (ii) A Persian writer (iii) A traveller (iv) Made world map in 1154 CE (v) Ruler of Delhi Sultanate |
(a) 1.-(iv), 2.-(v), 3.-(i), 4.-(ii), 5.-(iii)
(b) 1.-(iv), 2.-(v), 3.-(ii), 4.-(i), 5.-(iii) ✓
(c) 1.-(ii), 2.-(i), 3.-(iii), 4.-(iv), 5.-(v)
(d) 1.-(i), 2.-(ii), 3.-(iii), 4.-(iv), 5. (v)
C. Fill in the blanks
1. The archives are places where documents are kept.
2. New crops like sugarcane, cotton, rice, wheat, and spices were introduced into the subcontinent during the medieval period.
3. The Arabs called the Indian subcontinent as Hind.
4. ‘Dravya Pariksha’, a famous book on coins was written during the reign of Sher Shah Suri.
5. The rupee was the coinage of Sher Shah Suri.
D. State True or False
1. A cartographer studies about flora and fauna. [False]
2. Manuscripts were written by hand. [True]
3. Rajputs were famous for their valour and loyalty. [True]
4. Jatis had no rules and regulations. [False]
5. Bhakti required no rituals and priests. [True]
E. Assertion Reason
For question numbers 1 to 4, two statements are given one labelled Assertion (A) and the other labelled Reason (R). Select the correct answer to these questions from the codes (a), (b), (c) and (d) as given below:
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false but Reason is true.
1. Assertion (A): Babur used the term Hindustan”.
Reason (R): He used it to describe the geography, fauna and culture of Indian people.
Answer: (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
2. Assertion (A): People in the Medieval Period wrote lots of texts, letters, teachings and petitions
Reason (R): By now, paper had become quite cheap and widely available
Answer: (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
3. Assertion (A): Ziyauddin Barani wrote his chronicle first in 1354
Reason (R) : He revised it after two years.
Answer: (b) Both Assertion and Reason are true but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
4. Assertion (A): Jatis were formed according to the background and occupation of people.
Reason: (R) Jatis had no rules and regulations.
Answer: (d) Assertion is false but Reason is true.
II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Discuss how geography influences the history of a region.
Answer: Geography shapes the history of a region by affecting settlement patterns, trade, and culture. Rivers like the Indus and Ganges supported agriculture and trade, while mountains like the Himalayas provided natural protection. Coastal areas enabled maritime trade, and resource availability influenced economic development. Geography thus played a key role in the rise and fall of civilizations.
2. Describe any two archaeological sources of the medieval period in India.
Answer: two archaeological sources of the medieval period in India-
3. Describe some important chronicles of history during the medieval period in India.
Answer: important chronicles of history during the medieval period in India –
4. “The medieval period was marked by significant changes in religious conditions of India. “Discuss.
Answer: The medieval period saw the spread of Islam, especially through the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. The Bhakti movement rejected caste and ritual, focusing on devotion to a single god. Akbar’s religious tolerance promoted a blend of Hindu and Islamic practices, leading to a syncretic culture in India.
III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Discuss how the meaning of the term, “Hindustan’ has changed over the centuries.
Answer: The term “Hindustan” evolved significantly over time. Initially, during the 13th and 14th centuries, it was used by rulers like Babur to describe the geographical region of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing parts of northern India and the areas around the Ganges. Babur used it to describe the landscape, flora, fauna, and culture of the people living there. In the Mughal period, Hindustan came to be associated with the empire’s territories, representing the region under Mughal rule. Over time, the term came to refer more broadly to the entire Indian subcontinent, especially in the colonial era, where it was used to denote the British territories in India. Today, the term is synonymous with modern-day India, though its historical usage was limited to the northern and central regions.
2. In what ways were the affairs of jatis regulated ?
Answer: Jatis, or social groups in medieval India, were regulated by a system of rules, customs, and regulations that governed their social and economic activities. These rules were decided by the council of elders or panchayats within each jati, which enforced decisions regarding marriage, occupation, and social behavior. The jatis had codes of conduct that members were expected to follow, and deviations could lead to penalties or excommunication from the group. These regulations helped maintain social order within the community, ensuring the smooth functioning of local economies and social systems.
3. Mention the various difficulties that historians face in using manuscripts.
Answer: Historians face several challenges when using manuscripts as historical sources:
4. What were some of the major religious developments during the medieval period?
Answer: The medieval period in India saw significant religious developments, particularly with the rise of Islam and the Bhakti movement:
5. How do historians divide the past into periods? Do they face any problem in doing so?
Answer: Historians divide the past into periods to make the study of history more manageable and to understand changes over time. This division is often based on political, cultural, and economic factors. In India, history is commonly divided into the following periods:
However, this periodization is not without problems. Overlapping of periods and the arbitrary nature of the boundaries can lead to confusion. Different regions of India experienced historical changes at different times, and the impact of these changes wasn’t uniform across the subcontinent. Additionally, the focus on political history often overlooks cultural, social, and economic factors. Thus, while periodization helps in organizing history, it can also oversimplify the complexity of historical events.
IV. PICTURE STUDY
This is a picture of a famous monument from the 13th century. Look at it carefully and answer the following questions.
1. Identify the monument.
Answer: The monument is Qutub Minar.
2. Name the place where this monument is located.
Answer: The Qutub Minar is located in Delhi, India.
3. Are monuments sources of history? Explain how.
Answer: Yes, monuments are important sources of history. They provide valuable insights into the architecture, culture, religion, and political history of the time when they were built. Monuments like Qutub Minar reflect the technological advancements, artistic styles, and social structures of the period. They also serve as physical evidence of rulers, their reigns, and significant historical events. For example, the Qutub Minar commemorates the establishment of Muslim rule in northern India by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in the 13th century.
4. Name some other sources of history.
Answer: Some other sources of history include:
5. Name 3 more monuments of Medieval India.
Answer: Red Fort (Delhi), Taj Mahal (Agra) and Gol Gumbaz (Bijapur)
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