ZOOM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

(Senior Secondary : Affiliated to CBSE, Delhi )

Study Materials August 2021-22

Class :VII Subject : SOCIAL SCIENCE

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CREATION OF MUGHAL EMPIRE
Things To Remember

 Babur (1526-1530 CE) : The Baburnama tells us about the founder of the Mughal Empire
Babur. After capturing the throne of Delhi, Babur had to deal with the Rajput King of Mewar,
and the Afghan Chief of Bengal, Nusrat Shah. He inflicted a crushing defeat on the Rajputs
at the battle of Khanua in 1527.Thereafter, Babur defeated the Afghans in the Battle of
Ghaghra in 1528. Thus, he quickly established his power from Delhi and Agra to Bihar. In
1530, he fell ill and passed away at the age of only 48. Humayaun, the eldest son of
Babur’s four sons was proclaimed his successor.

 Humayun (1530-1540 CE, 1555-56 CE): As the emperor, Humayun defeated Sher Shah
Suri, the Afghan ruler of Bihar and Bahadur Shah, the ruler of Gujarat.
In 1532, Humayun defeated Sher Shah and captured the fort of Chunar.
In 1534, he attacked Bahadur Shah and captured Gujarat and Malwa.
Sher Shah attacked and defeated Humayun’s army at Chausa in 1539. In 1540, Sher Shah
dealt Humayun a decisive blow, defeating him in the Battle of Kanauj and annexing his
empire.

 Sher Shah Suri and the Sur Empire ( 1540-1545 CE) : Sher Shah was originally named
Farid Khan. His father Hasan Khan Suri was a jaigirdar at Sasaram in Bihar. He laid the
foundation of the Sur Dynasty. He raised a large army and occupied the modern-day states
of Bihar, Jharkhands, and West Bengal.
● Under Sher Shah, the whole empire was divided into 47 provinces or sarkars and
parganas or districts.
● He duly supervised the recruitment of soldiers, maintained their descriptive rolls and
revived the practice of branding horses.
● Sher Shah also introduced the silver coin called the rupia.
● Sher Shah built a network of excellent roads such as the Grand Trunk Road which
connected Delhi, Agra, Multan and Sonargon in Bengal.

His Successors: Sher Shah died in a gunpowder explosion during the siege of Kalinjar
Fort in Bundelkhand in May 1545. He was succeeded by his son, Islam Shah. He was
assassinated by his own maternal uncle, who ascended the throne as Muhammad Shah
Adil. He was followed by Ibrahim Shah Suri in quick succession. It led to the process of
disintegration of the vast Sur Empire.

Revival of Mughal rule: IN 1555, Humayun defeated Sikander Shah Suri and captured
Delhi and Agra and thus, re-established Mughal rule after an interval of 15 years.

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 Akbar (1556-1605): Humayun’s son Akbar was crowned the emperor at the age of 13, and
Bairam Khan a trusted officer of Humayun became his regent. Bairam Khan led the Mughal
army in the Second Battle of Panipat against Hemu. The Mughal army emerged victorious
and recaptured Agra. Akbar expanded his empire in the following ways:
● through direct conquests.
● through matrimonial alliances with Rajput princesses.
● by winning the trust of Rajput rulers and giving them high positions in administration.

Rajput policy: Akbar followed the policy of friendship and matrimonial alliance with Rajput
Chiefs . Most of the Rajput Chiefs accepted Akbar’s suzerainty, but some did not accepted
like the ruler of Mewar, Rana Udai Singh. In 1567, Akbar defeated Mewar and captured its
capital Chittor in spite of the brave resistance put up by Rana Udai Singh.

Cultural contributions: Akbar was a great patron of art, learning and literature. His court
was adorned by nine gems such as Abul Fazl, Faizi, Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Knana, Todar
Mal, Man Singh, Birbal, Tansen, Humam and Mullah Do Piaza. Faizi was the poet who
translated the Ramayana and Mahabharata into Persian. Tansen was the greatest singer
of the period, enriched Hindustani classical music with new compositions of new ragas
such as the Raga Darbari in Akbar’s honour.

Religious policy: Secular outlook and tolerant policies of Akbar were very well known. His
secular approach led him to invite scholars from all religious beliefs and hold discussions
with in the Ibadat Khana. He abolished jaziyah, pilgrim tax and practice of forcibly
converting prisoners of war to Islam. He developed the policy of Sulh-i-Kul meaning
universal peace. In 1582, he promulgated a new religious order called the Tauhid-i-Ilahi or
Divine Faith. It was also referred as Din-i-Ilahi.

 Jahangir( 1605-1627CE): Following the death of his illustrious father Akbar in 1605, Prince
Salim succeeded the throne with the title of Jahangir. He continued his father’s policy of
winning over the Rajput through matrimonial alliances.

Challenges before Jahangir:

● Revolt by his son Prince Khusrau in alliance with Raja Man Singh at Lahore.
● Strained relationship with the Sikhs because Guru Arjun Dev was executed for
supporting Prince Khusrau in rebellion.
● Loss of Kandahar to the Persians.
● Bid for independence by Ahmednagar in the Deccan.

Nur Jahan: Emperor or Jahangir married Mehrunnisa, the daughter of Mirza Ghias Beg,
who was a noble in Akbar’s court and gave her title of Nur Jahan( Light of the world).
Emperor Jahangir conferred upon Nur Jahan, the status of Padshah Begum. Jahangir died
in 1627 and was succeeded by Shah Jahan. After Jahangir’s death, Nur Jahan retired from
court life and died in 1645.

 Shah Jahan: Shah Jahan ruled from 1628 to 1658. He was a great general and undertook
the following military campaigns to extend his empire:
● He defeated and killed the chieftain of Bundelkhand, Raja Jujhar Singh in 1636.
● He annexed Ahmednagar ruled by Nizam Shahi dynasty and forced Bijapur and
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 Golkunda to accept Mughal suzerainty, which they had always resisted.
● He controlled the Portuguese and ousted them from Hugli in Bengal.
● He sent his army to Balkh and Badakshan in Central Asia to reconquer the old territories
of his ancestors.
● Shah Jahan’s reign is know for great architectural activities and economic prosperity.

 Aurangzeb(1658-1707 CE): Aurangzeb’s reign can be broadly divided into two distinct
phases, from 1658-1681, when he was positioned in North India and from 1681-1707,
when he was stationed in the Deccan. When he crowned himself, he assumed the title of
Alamgir( Conqueror of the world).
Aurangzeb adopted policies that had negative implications for the integrity of the vast
Mughal Empire. Some these are as follows:
● Confrontation with the Ahoms of Assam.
● Rebellion by the Afghan tribes of the North-West.
● Tense relations with the Sikhs because of his intolerant religious policies.
● Revolts by many Rajput rulers, including the Bundelas, against the re-imposition of
jaziyah and destroying Hindu temples.

 The Mughal Court: In governance and court decorum, the Mughal Empire followed the
central Asian traditions. The tradition of considering a ruler as the representative of God on
Earth was reflected in the fact that the Mughal throne was kept on a raised platform.
Nobles and officials bowed to the ruler. The Diwani-i-Aam was meant for meetings with the
general public. The Dwani-i-Khas was the hall of private audience, where the Emperor
received his personal guests.

 The Mughal administration and key offices: The Mughal Empire was highly centralised.
Emperor was the supreme commander of the armed forces and had several officials to
assist him in administration.
● The wazir or wakil headed the Dwani-i-wazarat.
● The mir bakshi looked after the army and military affairs.
● The khan-i-saman looked after the imperial household.
● The daroga-i-tan looked after matters relating to jaigirs.

 Mansabdari System: One of the most significant features of Mughal Administration is the
mansabdari system.It was a refined form of the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate. Mansab
means ‘rank’ or ‘position’ in Arabic. It was a graded system and not hereditary. Every
officer was assigned a mansab and was called a mansabdar. Usually, a mansabdar
entered service at low rank, but rose to higher ranks through promotions, on the basis of
loyalty and service. His rank depended on the number of horsemen he would maintain.

 Major literary sources for the Mughal period:

Tuzuk-i-Baburi: Babur’s autobiography written in Chaghatay Turkish.
Humayunnama: A biography of Humayun. It was written by Humayun’s sister Gulbadan
Begum, on the request of Akbar.
Tuzuk-i-jahangiri: the autobiography of Jahangir.
Padshahnama: written by Abdul Hamid Lahori.

 Terms to Remember
Suzerainty: A situation in which a powerful region or people controls the foreign policy and
international relations of a tributary vassal state.
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Chaghatay: An extinct Turkish language once spoken widely in Central Asia and by the
Mongols.
Dak chowki: Postal system.
Jagir: A land grant bestowed by the Mughal Emperor in recognition of a person’s
administrative or military service.

Exercise

A. Answer the following questions by choosing the appropriate option:

1. ____________ laid the foundations of Mughal rule in India.

Ans : b.Babur

2. Sher Shah revived the practice of ____________.

Ans : b.dagh

3. ___________ was a jewel in Akbar’s court, whose ragas have enriched Hindustani
classical music.
Ans : d.Tansen

4. The new religious order started by Akbar was referred to as ____________.

Ans : a.Din-i-Ilahi

5. Jahangir gave the English to set up a trade factory in _______________.

Ans : b.Surat

6. The state’s land under Mughal administration was called _____________.

Ans : c.Khalisa

B.Who am I ?

1. My name means ‘light of the world’. Nur Jahan

2. I translated the Ramayana into Persian. Faizi

3. I visited the court of Jahangir. Sir Thomas Roe/ Captain William Hawkins

4. I was Akbar’s revenue minister. Todar Mal

5. I was named after a Sufi Saint. Prince Salim

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C. Match the following :

1. Mir bakshi d. supervised the army and military affairs.

2. Daroga-i-dak chowki c. in charge of the imperial post.

3. Mir atish a. supervised the artillery.

4. Khan-i-saman e. looked after the imperial household.

5. Qazi b. head of the religious affairs.

D. Write (T) for true and (F) for false:

1. Babur was a descendant of Timur. T

2. Akbar ascended the throne after the first Battle of Panipat. F

3. Sulh-i-Kul and Din-i-Ilahi were started by Aurangzeb. F

4. Sher Shah laid the foundation of the Sur Dynasty. T

5. The word ‘mansab’ means rank or position in Persian. F

E. Answer the questions :

1. Name any three officers that assisted the emperor in running the administrative
system.

Ans : Three officers that assisted the emperor in running the administrative system are-
wazir, mir bakshi, chief qazi.

2. Why did Rajput rulers revolt against Aurangzeb?

Ans : Many Rajput rulers, including the Bundelas revolted against Aurangzeb,as he re-
imposed jaziyah and destroyed the Hindu temples.

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3. Mention four challenges faced by Jahangir when he ascended the throne.

Ans : Challenges faced by Jahangir when he ascended the throne are as follows:
● revolt by his son Prince Khusrau in alliance with Raja Man Singh at Lahore.
● strained relationship with the Sikhs because Guru Arjun Dev was executed for supporting
Prince Khusrau in rebellion.
● loss of Kandahar to the Persians.
● bid for independence by Ahmednagar in the Deccan.

4. How did Shah Jahan gain control of the Deccan?

Ans : Shah Jahan gain Mughal control over the Deccan through military conquest. The
Deccan, the region of central India had several different states that contested with the
Mughals for power. Among these, he annexed Ahmednagar ruled by Nizam Shahi dynasty
and forced Bijapur and Golkunda to accept Mughal suzerainty, which they had always
resisted.

5. Mention three measures adopted by Akbar to expand his empire?

Ans : Three measures adopted by Akbar to expand his empire are as follows:
● through direct conquests.
● through matrimonial alliances with Rajput princesses.
● by winning the trust of Rajput rulers and giving them high positions in administration.

F. Answer the questions :

1. Discuss the military campaigns undertaken by Shah Jahan when he succeeded

the throne.

Ans : Campaigns undertaken by Shah Jahan when he succeeded the throne are as
follows:
● He defeated and killed the Chieftain of Bundelkhand, Raja Jujhar Singh in 1636.
● He annexed Ahmednagar ruled by Nizam Shahi dynasty and forced Bijapur and
Golkunda to accept Mughal suzerainty, which they had always resisted.
● He controlled the Portuguese and ousted them from Hugli in Bengal.
● He sent his army to Balkh and Badakshan in Central Asia to reconquer the old territories
of his ancestors.

2. In what way did Aurangzeb’s policies weaken the Mughal Empire?

Ans : Aurangzeb adopted some policies that had negative implications for the integrity of
the vast Mughal Empire. Some of these are as follows:
● Confrontation with the Ahoms of Assam.

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● Rebellion by the Afghan tribes of the North-West.
● Tense relations with the Sikhs because of his intolerant religious policies.
● Revolts by many Rajput rulers, including the Bundelas, against the re-imposition of
jaziyah and destroying Hindu temples.

3. What were the main features of the Mughal court?

Ans : In governance and court decorum, the Mughal Empire followed the central Asian
traditions. The tradition of considering a ruler as the representative of God on Earth was
reflected in the fact that the Mughal throne was kept on a raised platform. Nobles and
officials bowed to the ruler. The Diwani-i-Aam was meant for meetings with the general
public. The Dwani-i-Khas was the hall of private audience, where the Emperor received his
personal guests.

4. Discuss the measures adopted by Sher Shah to strengthen his conquests?

Ans : The measures adopted by Sher Shah to strengthen his conquests are as follows:
● Under Sher Shah, the whole empire was divided into 47 provinces or sarkars and
parganas or districts.
● He duly supervised the recruitment of soldiers, maintained their descriptive rolls and
revived the practice of branding horses.
● Sher Shah also introduced the silver coin called the rupia.
● Sher Shah built a network of excellent roads such as the Grand Trunk Road which
connected Delhi, Agra, Multan and Sonargon In Bengal.

5. Describe the masabdari system briefly.

Ans : One of the most significant features of Mughal Administration is the mansabdari
system. It was a refined form of the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate. Mansab means
‘rank’ or ‘position’ in Arabic. It was a graded system and not hereditary. Every officer was
assigned a mansab and was called a mansabdar. Usually, a mansabdar entered service at
low rank, but rose to higher ranks through promotions, on the basis of loyalty and service.
His rank depended on the number of horsemen he would maintain.

G. Think and answer :

1. Do you agree that Shah Jahan’s rule was the Golden Age of the Mughal Empire?
Give reasons for your answer.

Ans : During the reign of Shah Jahan, there was undisturbed peace within the country.

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There were no foreign threats and Shah Jahan devoted most of his time in maintaining
peace and order in the country.Trade and commerce flourished, bringing in lots of wealth.
The land was fertile and revenue flowed into the treasury. Shah Jahan carried out many
works of public welfare. Roads, canals, bridges, etc., were constructed for the welfare of
the people. Thus his reign is called the Golden Age of the Mughal Empire.

2. Do you think that Din-i-Ilahi reflects Akbar’s policy of religious tolerance?

Ans : Din-i-Ilahi was propounded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, intending to merge some
of the elements of the religious of his empire and thereby reconcile the differences that
divided his subjects. Through he did not made it mandatory for his associates or subjects to
follow it. It included the good points of all religions. It shows Akbar’s respect for every
religion and tolerance.

Map Skills:
Mughal Empire during 18th Century

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 THE AIR AROUND US
Things To Remember

 Atmosphere: The atmosphere is the gaseous layer that surrounds planet Earth. It is the
widest of all four realms as it extends more than 1,600 km into space. It is held in its place
by the gravitational pull of the Earth. Although also regulates the temperature conditions on
the Earth. Although, air does not absorb much of the insolation, its constituents like water
vapour, dust particles and a form of oxygen gas called ozone, absorb most of the harmful
ultraviolet rays of the Sun. Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are some of the important
gases present in the ideal combination, to make life possible on the Earth.

 Composition: The Earth’s atmosphere consists of various gases. It is densest at sea level
and thins rapidly with altitude. Nitrogen(78 per cent) and oxygen (21 per cent) constitute
the bulk of the total atmosphere. Remaining 1 per cent volume of the atmosphere is
constituted by carbon dioxide, argon, neon, helium, krypton, xenon and ozone.

 Structure of the Atmosphere: Scientists have identified five, almost concentric layers of
air from the bottom to the highest limit of the atmosphere. These layers are distinguished
with respect to their density and temperature. They are - troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere, thermosphere and the exosphere. Each layer has a zone of marked change
in composition and temperature, called pause.

 Troposphere: This layer of the atmosphere is the closest to the Earth’s surface. It extends
to a height of 8km above the poles and 18 km above the Equator. Its extends over the
Equator is more because intense heating at the Equator expands the air. At the poles, the
air is cold, dense and heavy. Temperature decreases with altitudes of 1°C for 165 m of
ascent with in the troposphere. The atmosphere does not get heated directly by the sun
rays. The troposphere absorbs the maximum heat from the warm Earth.

 Stratosphere: The stratosphere extends to a height of 50 km from the surface of the Earth.
It lies above the troposphere. It absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. Hence the high
temperature condition occurs. As the stratosphere is free from clouds, thunder and
lightning, the atmospheric conditions are ideals for large jet planes to fly.

 Mesosphere: The mesosphere extends to a height of about 80 km on an average, and

lies above the stratosphere. The upper limit of the mesosphere is called mesopause. The
mesosphere has high clouds that shine at night. They are form due to the presence of
cosmic dust.

 Thermosphere: This layer extends from 80 km to 500 km lies above the mesosphere, it
corresponds closely with the ionosphere as its lower part has electrically charged particles
called ions. Radiowaves transmitted from the Earth are reflected back to the Earth by this
layer.

 Exosphere: The uppermost layer of the atmosphere, which extends beyond the
ionosphere, up to 1,600 km is known as exosphere. It does not have any defined border to
the inner-planetary space. Gravitational pull is minimum in this layer.

 Importance of the Atmosphere: The atmosphere is very useful to us in the following ways:
● It is essential for both plants and animal life because it contains life-sustaining gases-
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 oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
● The atmosphere regulates the air temperature on the Earth. It prevents extremes of
temperature which could have made life impossible.
● The ozone layer in the upper stratosphere protects us from the ultraviolet rays of the Sun.
● The ionosphere reflects radio waves transmitted from the Earth makes radio
broadcasting possible.
● The atmosphere allows sounds to travel through it.

 Terms To Remember

Gravitational pull: The attraction that an object feels for another object due to the force of
gravity.
Ozone: Nearly colourless form of oxygen which is found in the upper stratosphere. It
protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun.
Cosmic dust: A type of dust composed of particles in space.
Ion: Electrically charged atom or molecule.
Radiowaves: Electromagnetic waves that occur on the radio frequency portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
X-ray: Electromagnetic radiation which is given out by the Sun.

Exercise

A. Answer the questions by choosing the most appropriate option :

1. Which of the following energy transfers is in the form of short waves?

Ans : a.Insolation.

2. The zone marking change in composition and temperature is called a __________.

Ans : a. pause.

3. The troposphere has the largest concentration of _____________.

Ans : c. water vapour.

4. In the normal lapse rate of temperature, ______________.

Ans : b. temperature decreases with altitude.

5.Clouds in the mesosphere are formed due to the presence of _____________.

Ans : c. cosmic dust
.

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B. Fill in the blanks :

1. Layer of gases which envelops Earth is called ____________.

Ans : Atmosphere.

2. Air contains a variable amount of ____________ about 1 to 4 per cent at least.

Ans : water vapour.

3. The upper limit of mesosphere is called the ______________.

Ans : mesopause.

4. The layer of atmosphere where airplanes fly is called ______________.

Ans : Stratosphere.

5. Meteors burns on entering the atmosphere, due to air resistance is the presence
of ____________.
Ans : Oxygen.

C. Give one word for each of the following :

1. One of the gases present in atmosphere in a very small amount. Carbon dioxide

2. Weather phenomena takes place in this layer of atmosphere. Troposphere

3. The layer of air that saves us from ultraviolet rays. Ozone layer

4. Radio waves are reflected back to Earth from this layer of atmosphere. Thermosphere

5. Gravitational pull is minimum in this layer. Exosphere

D. Give reasons :

1.The atmosphere makes life possible on Earth.

Ans : The atmosphere is the gaseous layer that surrounds planet Earth. Oxygen, nitrogen
and carbon dioxide are some of the gases present in an ideal combination, to make life
possible on the Earth.

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2. Mesosphere has high night-shining (noctilucent) clouds.

Ans : Mesosphere has high night-shining clouds, as they are formed due to the presence
of cosmic dust.

3. Temperature decreases with altitude in the troposphere.

Ans : At poles, the air is cold, dense and heavy. The troposphere is therefore, more
compressed above the poles and here temperature decreases with altitudes at a rate of
1°C for 165 m of ascent within the troposphere.

4. The air resting over the poles is dense and heavy.

Ans : As polar region receives a very little amount of sun rays, thus the air over the poles
very dense and heavy.

5. Jet planes moves in the stratosphere.

Ans : As the stratosphere is free from clouds, thunder and lighting, the atmospheric
conditions are ideal for large jet planes to fly.

E. Answer the questions :

1. Name the important gases of the atmosphere.

Ans : The important gases of the atmosphere are:

Nitrogen (78 per cent)
Oxygen (21 per cent)
Carbon dioxide (0.04 percent)

2. Name two inert gases of the atmosphere.

Ans : Two inert gases of the atmosphere are - Helium and Neon.

3. Explain the importance of the atmosphere.

Ans : The importance of the atmosphere :

● It is essential for both plants and animal life because it contains life-sustaining gases-
oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
● The atmosphere regulates the air temperature on the Earth. It prevents extremes of
temperature which could have made life impossible.
● The ozone layer in the upper stratosphere protects us from the ultraviolet rays of the Sun.
● The ionosphere reflects radio waves transmitted from the Earth makes radio

12
broadcasting possible.
● The atmosphere allows sounds to travel through it.

4. What is global warming? What are its effects?

Ans : Burning of solid waste, trees and the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel like coal,
oil and natural gas results in the increase of the amount of carbon dioxide in the nature,
destroys the balance of environment. The record keeping began in 1880, and temperatures
are still rising upward, this process is called global warming.
Effects:
● Melting glaciers and server drought will cause more dramatic water shortage.
● Rising sea levels will lead to costal flooding.
● Allergies, asthma and infectious disease outbreaks will became more common due to air
pollution.
● Disruption of habitats could drive many plant and animal species to extinction.

5. What is greenhouse effect? Which gases are responsible for it ?

Ans : Greenhouse effect refers to the problem of the gradual rise in temperature of the
Earth‘s atmosphere, this is caused by an increase of gases such as carbon dioxide in the
surrounding, that traps the heat of the Sun. The heating of the Earth through this process is
termed as greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide, Methane are example of greenhouse gases, those are responsible for it.

F. Answer the questions :

1. Explain the composition of the atmosphere ?

Ans: The Earth’s atmosphere consists of various gases. It is densest at sea level and thins
rapidly with altitude. Nitrogen (78 per cent) and oxygen (21 per cent) constitute the bulk of
the total atmosphere. Remaining 1 per cent volume of the atmosphere is constituted by
carbon dioxide, argon, neon, helium, krypton, xenon and ozone.
Composition of air

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2. Explain the structure of the atmosphere.

Ans : Scientists have identified five, almost concentric layers of air from the bottom to the
highest limit of the atmosphere. These layers are distinguished with respect to their density
and temperature. They are - troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and
the exosphere. Each layer has a zone of marked change in composition and temperature,
called pause.

3. Explain the Earth’s heat budget.

Ans : Sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface as visible light, infrared waves and ultraviolet
rays. Waves of varying wavelength-long and short, enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The short
wave incoming solar radiation heat the Earth’s surface during daylight. Partly close to
evening and throughout the night, Earth emits long wave radiation back towards space,
which warms the closest overlaying air layer called troposphere. This is called heat budget.

4. Write four characteristic features of two lower layer of atmosphere closest to the
Earth.

Ans : The two lower layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth are troposphere and
stratosphere.
Characteristics of Troposphere:
● This layer of the atmosphere is the closest to the Earth’s surface. It extends to a height of
8 km above the poles and 18 km above the Equator.
● Its extends over the Equator is more because intense heating at the Equator expands the
air. At the poles, the air is cold, dense and heavy.
● The atmosphere does not get heated directly by the sun rays.
● The troposphere absorbs the maximum heat from the warm Earth.

Characteristics of Stratosphere:
● The stratosphere extends to a height of 50 km from the surface of the Earth.
● It lies above the troposphere.
● It absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. Hence the high temperature condition
occurs.
● As the stratosphere is free from clouds, thunder and lightning, the atmospheric
conditions are ideals for large jet planes to fly.

5. What are the advantages of the atmosphere?

Ans : The advantages of the atmosphere are as follows:

● It is essential for both plants and animal life because it contains life-sustaining gases-
oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
● The atmosphere regulates the air temperature on the Earth. It prevents extremes of
temperature which could have made life impossible.
● The ozone layer in the upper stratosphere protects us from the ultraviolet rays of the Sun.
● The ionosphere reflects radio waves transmitted from the Earth makes radio
broadcasting possible.

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 ● The atmosphere allows sounds to travel through it.

G. Think and answer :

1. Why do meteors burn when they enter the atmosphere of the Earth?

Ans : When a meteor comes toward the Earth, the high-pressure air in front of it seeps
into its pores and cracks, pushing the body of the meteor apart and due to the friction with
the atmosphere it started to burn.

2. Why does all the weather phenomena takes place in the troposphere?

Ans : Water vapour and dust particles are present in this layer, as well as it is the layer
where the greatest energy imbalance between the surface and the atmosphere exists. As a
result nature tries to restore energy balance in that layer by various means, and the effects
of those processes we call weather. Hence, all the weather phenomena takes place in here.

TOWN, TRADES AND CRAFTSMEN

Things To Remember

 How did town develop?

Medieval rulers such as the Cholas, the Delhi Sultans and Mughals brought stability and
security. Thus, trade and commerce flourished leading to the growth of towns and cities.
Large villages also developed into towns and at times into big cities.

 Different types of towns:

Depending on the chief activities of the medieval cities, they were divided into different
categories.

Administrative or Capital Towns: Capital towns in the past were primarily the chief towns
where the administrative machinery was based. With the use of iron, the process of
urbanisation started taking roots. It led to rise of 16 Mahajanapadas or large territorial
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 kingdoms in 6th century BCE. Rajagriha, Kaushambi, Ujjain and Vaishali were important
capital towns of ancient India. Then in 8th century the Rajputs emerged as a powerful force
on India’s political horizon, resulting in the development of Delhi, Ajmer,Mahoba and Dhar
into capital towns.

Pilgrimage Towns: Tirthayatra or pilgrimage has been an important aspect of religion,

since ancient times. Pilgrimage or temple towns developed near sacred rivers or places
which had religious sanctity. Haridwar, Allahabad, Mathura, Varanasi and Sanchi were
some of the major pilgrimage towns that were very popular in the ancient times.

Trading Towns: Indian merchants had been engaged in trade-related activities since
ancient times, not only within India but also with the outside world. They exchanged goods
like spices, tea, silk,textile semi-precious stones and other merchandise that was great in
demand with other countries. Example of trading towns - Surat, Muslipatnam, Agra etc.

Port Towns: The long coastline of India and its expensive trade with the outside world
during the ancient and medieval times, paved the way for the emergence and growth of
port towns. Cambay, Sopara, Broach, Surat and Goa developed on the western coast,
while the eastern coast carried on trade via the ports of Tamralipti and Vishakhapatnam.
These ports facilitated India’s trade with Africa, West-Asia, Europe and Southeast, Asia.

Founded Towns: During Sultanate period, a number of towns and urban centers were
founded. Ahmadabad owed its origin to Sultan Ahmed Shah, Murshidabad to Murshid Quli
Khan Tughlaq rulers built the new cities of Tughlaqabad. Shah Jahan built the city of
Shahjahanabad near Delhi.

 Hampi: Morden Hampi is located in Karnataka. Many scholar identify Hampi with the
mythological Kiskindha, the monkey kingdom which finds mention in the Ramayana. The
first historical settlements in Hampi date back to the 1st century CE. Hampi has a trade
connections with international markets.

 Masulipatnam: Masulipatnam lies on the Coromandel Coast of India. The city derives its
name from a gateway in the town decorated with the eyes of a fish. It is situated on one of
the mouths of River Krishna. During the 17th century, western traders were attracted by the
art of Kalamkari. The term comes from the word ‘kalam’, the Persian word for a pen-like
tool used to draw outlines on cloth. And ‘kari’ meaning work. This art was introduced by
Qutub Shahis. Textiles and paintings were created using vegetables.

 Surat: Surat is located on the bank of the River Tapi. Some scholars identify it with
Ptolemy’s Muziris. In 13th century, Surat was merely a hamlet(village having not more than
100 house), and later grew into a trading town.

 Terms To Remember

Urbanisation: The process of movement of people from rural areas to towns and cities
and their consequent growth and development.
Monolithic: Formed of a single block of stone.
Confederacy: A group rulers who have formed an alliance for the purpose of war.

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Exercise :

A. Answer the questions by choosing the most appropriate option :

1. Rameshwaram is a ____________ town.

Ans : b.pilgrimage.

2. Firozabad was set up by _____________.

Ans : b.Firoz Tughlaq .

3. Hampi was the capital of the __________ Empire.

Ans : d.Vijayanagara

4. In the medieval period, Kalamkari was produced in _______________.

Ans : c.Masulipatnam

5. Surat is located on the banks of the River _____________.

Ans : a.Tapi

B. Fill in the blanks :

1. ____________ and __________ founded the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

Ans : Haihara and Bukka.

2. Masulipatnam is situated at the mouth of the River _____________.

Ans : Krishna.

3. The outer pillar of the ____________ are known as ‘musical pillars’.

Ans : Vitthala Temple.

4. Ahmadabad owed its origin to Sultan _____________.

Ans : Ahmed Shah.

5. The old name of Surat was ________________.

Ans : Suryapur.

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C. Match the following :

1. Shrenis d. trade guild

2. Murshidabad c. Murshid Quil Khan

3. Hamlet a. village having not more than 100 houses

4. Farman e. royal order

5. House of Victory b. Krishnadeva Raya

D. Write (T) for true or (F) for false :

1. Ajmer is a port town. F

2. Allahabad is a pilgrimage town. T

3. Fatehpur Sikri was built to pay respect to the Sufi Sanit Salim Chisti. T

4. Surat became a British settlement in the 17th century. T

5. The Hazara Rama Temple is in Masulipatnam. F

6. The city of Masulipatnam derives its name from a gateway to the town decorated with
coins.F

E. Answer the questions :

1. What are port towns?

Ans : The long coastline of India and its expensive trade with the outside world during the
ancient and medieval times, paved the way for the emergence and growth of port towns.
These towns facilitated India’s trade with Africa, West-Asia, Europe and Southeast, Asia.
Example - Cambay, Sopara, Broach Surat, Goa.

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2. Mention four factors that helped in the growth of Surat.

Ans : Factors that helped in the growth of Surat are as follows:

● Surat is located on the bank of the River Tapi.
● It surpassed Cambay as the major port on the western coast.
● Surat emerged as a major commercial city of India, during the reign of the Mughal
Emperors.
● Later, British East India Company made it their transit point.

3. What are capital towns?

Ans : Capital towns in the past were primarily the chief towns where the administrative
machinery was based, including rulers, ministers, officials, judges. Example - Delhi, Ajmer
etc.

4. Why did Hampi prosper?

Ans : Hampi prosper because of its strategic location, bounded by the Tungabhadra River
on one side, and hills on the other three side. It controlled the trade in the Indian peninsula,
except for few commercial principality along the Malabar Coast. Hampi had connections
with international markets.

5. Name the travellers who visited India and wrote about its thriving trade with the
outside world.

Ans : Marco Polo and Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta were travellers who visited
India and wrote about its thriving trade with the outside world.

F. Answer the questions :

1. How do scholars link Hampi to the epic Ramayana?

Ans : Scholar identify Hampi with the mythological Kiskindha, the monkey kingdom which
finds mention in the Ramayana. The first historical settlements in Hampi date back to the
1st century.

2. Why did the medieval period witness the growth of the different types of towns?

Ans : Medieval rulers such as the Cholas, the Delhi Sultans and Mughals brought stability
and security. Thus, trade and commerce flourished leading to the growth of towns and
cities. Large villages also developed into towns and at times into big cities.

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3. Explain the importance of Surat as a trading centre in medieval period.

Ans : Surat was merely a hamlet (village having not more than 100 house), and later grew
into a trading town. Importance of Surat as a trading centre are as follows:
● It surpassed Cambay as the major port on the western coast.
● Surat emerged as a major commercial city of India, during the reign of the Mughal
Emperors.
● Later, British East India Company made it their transit point.

4. Explain what are capital/administrative towns.

Ans : Capital towns in the past were primarily the chief towns where the administrative
machinery was based. With the use of iron, the process of urbanisation started taking roots.
It led to rise of 16 Mahajanapadas. Rajagriha, Kaushambi, Ujjain and Vaishali were
important capital towns of ancient India. Then in 8th century the Rajputs emerged as a
powerful force on India’s political horizon, resulting in the development of Delhi,
Ajmer,Mahoba and Dhar into capital towns.

5. Write a short note on Kalamkari textile.

Ans : During the 17th century, western traders were attracted by the art of Kalamkari. The
term comes from the word ‘kalam’, the Persian word for a pen-like tool used to draw
outlines on cloth. And ‘kari’ meaning work. This art was introduced by Qutub Shahis.
Textiles and paintings were created using vegetables.

G. Think and answer :

1. To what extent did overseas trade contribute to the prosperity of India in the
medieval period?

Ans : Trade with Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and Arabia was in full swing. New trade
route developed on land giving rise to trading settlements such as Surat, Masulipatnam,
Pataliputra, Dhaka, Agra and Lahore. When Turks established their control over the land
routes connecting Asia and Europe, a quest for alternative route began. It led to the
exploration of new sea route.

2. How different were Indian medieval towns from the modern world?

Ans : Medieval cities – with their agrarian societies and simple market economies – seem
very different from modern Indian urban centers. Life in 14th-century cities centred around
hierarchical institutions such as the sherins, guilds, and temples. Today, companies,
technologies, and a global economy dominate our lives.

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Map Skills:
Important Centres of Trades:

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