CHAPTER 8 – DELHI SULTANATE

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1
The handwritten works were decorated with gold
or silver to highlight important words and
passages were called:

1. Important Manuscripts
2. Highlighted Manuscripts
3. Illuminated Manuscripts
4. Significant Manuscripts

Answer
Illuminated Manuscripts

Question 2
Which of the following was not involved in the
construction of the Qutub Minar?

1. Qutubuddin Aibak
2. Iltutmish
3. Alauddin Khilji
4. Feroz Shah Tughluq

Answer
Alauddin Khilji

Question 3
Which is the chronological order of the
dynasties of the Delhi-Sultanate?
(i) Khilji (ii) Slave (iii) Lodhi (iv) Sayyid
(v) Tughluq

1. (ii); (iii); (iv); (v); (i)

2. (ii); (i); (v); (iv); (iii)
3. (ii); (i); (iii); (iv); (v)
4. (ii); (i); (v); (iii); (iv)

Answer
(ii); (i); (v); (iv); (iii)

Question 4
Who is regarded as the founder of the slave-
dynasty?

1. Alauddin Khilji
2. Muhammad Ghori
3. Qutubuddin Aibak
4. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq

Answer
Qutubuddin Aibak

Question 5
Who earned the title of 'Lakhbaksh'?

1. Fakir Mudin
2. Hasan Nizami
3. Qutubuddin Albak
4. Alam Shah

Answer
Qutubuddin Albak
Question 6
Alauddin Khilji is best known for his market
regulations. Which amongst the following was
not one of the markets set up by him?

1. Costly cloth
2. Horses, Slaves and Cattle
3. Gold, Silver, Copper
4. Food grains

Answer
Gold, Silver, Copper

Question 7
Name the first ruler of Delhi to lay the
foundation of a permanent standing army.

1. Alauddin Khilji
2. Shihabuddin Masud
3. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
4. Jauna Khan

Answer
Alauddin Khilji

Question 8
Complete the analogy with reference to Khilji
administration
Market controller : Shahna :: Identity card :

1. Dagh
2. Chehra
3. Tanka
 4. None of the above

Answer
Chehra

Question 9
Which of the following was not the one of
reasons for the transfer of the capital to
Daulatabad?

1. Central location of Daulatabad

2. Delhi had severe famine
3. Threat of Mongol invasion
4. Delhi's Extreme weather conditions

Answer
Delhi's Extreme weather conditions

Question 10
Complete the following analogy with respect to
the Sultanate administration
diwan-i-risalat : religious matters :: diwan-
i-insha :

1. army
2. state correspondence
3. land grants
4. provincial administration

Answer
state correspondence
Short Answer Questions
Question 1
Who was the founder of the Slave dynasty in
India? Give the other name of this dynasty.
Answer
Qutubuddin Aibak was the founder of the Slave
dynasty.
The rulers of this dynasty were also known as
Mamluk sultans. Since these Sultans were
earlier either the slaves of Turks or were the
sons of the slaves, they were called 'Mamluk'
which means 'owned'.

Question 2
Why was Qutubuddin known as Lakhbaksh? List
any two of his qualities.
Answer
Qutubuddin was known as Lakhbaksh because he
was liberal in distributing money.
Two of his qualities were:

1. He was a brave and capable military

general.
2. He was a man of letters. Scholars like
Hasan Nizami and Fakhre Mudir adorned his
court.

Question 3
State any two architectural features of Qutub
Minar.
Answer
Two architectural features of Qutub Minar are:

1. It has five storeys tapering as they

ascend. Each storey is separated from the
other by projecting balcony.
2. The Minar is a circular tower about
13.8 metres in diameter at the base and
tapers to the width of around 3 metres at
the summit. It has a circular stairway of
379 steps leading to the top.

Question 4
Mention any two military reforms introduced by
Alauddin Khilji.
Answer
Two military reforms introduced by Alauddin
Khilji were:

1. He imported quality horses and started

the system of branding horses (dagh) so
that the soldiers could not replace them
with inferior quality horses.
2. He introduced the system of chehra
which meant giving a kind of identity card
for every soldier.

Question 5
How did Alauddin Khilji expand his empire?
Answer
After conquering the bulk of northern India,
Alauddin Khilji sent an expedition to Deccan
under Malik Kafur. The kingdoms of Devagiri,
Warangal, Dwarasamudra and Madurai were
conquered but not annexed. Alauddin Khilji
knew that it was difficult to control these
distant lands from Delhi and also he was only
interested in acquiring the wealth of these
Deccan kingdoms for the maintenance of his
huge army. That is why he forced the rulers of
Deccan to accept his overlordship and to pay
annual tribute to him.

Question 6
Mention the two controversial steps taken by
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.
Answer
The two controversial steps taken by Muhammad
Bin Tughlaq were:

1. Shifting of Capital from Delhi to

Devagiri (Daulatabad) and back to Delhi
which caused lots of hardships to the
people.
2. Introduction of token currency or
bronze tanka to replace the silver tanka
but the experiment failed due to the
circulation of counterfeit or fake coins.

Question 7
Who was the commander-in-chief of the army
during the Sultanate period? Name the
department which dealt with state
correspondence during the Sultanate period.
Answer
The Sultan himself was the commander-in-chief
of the army during the Sultanate period.
The department which dealt with state
correspondence during the Sultanate period was
the diwan-i-insha.

Question 8
What was the iqta system?
Answer
The practice of giving grants of revenue from
a territory came to be known as the iqta
system. Those who were given iqtas were called
iqtadars. Out of this grant, the iqtadars had
to maintain themselves, their families and
some soldiers for use by the Sultan during
war.
Structured Questions

Question 1
With reference to the Khilji Dynasty, answer
the following question:
(a) What were the steps taken by Alauddin
Khilji to regulate prices?
(b) What were the methods adopted by Alauddin
Khilji to crush the power of the nobility?
(c) What measures did Alauddin Khilji take to
increase the revenue?
Answer
(a) The steps taken by Alauddin Khilji to
regulate prices were:
 1. He fixed the cost of all commodities
such as foodgrains, sugar and cooking oil.
2. He set up three different markets at
Delhi — one market for food grains, the
second for costly cloth and the third for
horses, slaves and cattle. Each market was
put under the charge of a controller of
market or Shahna.
3. There were strict punishments for
cheating and underweighing goods.

(b) Alauddin Khilji had to face a series of

rebellions from the nobles. That's why he took
steps to crush their power. The methods
adopted by Alauddin Khilji to crush the power
of the nobility were:

1. The nobles were not allowed to hold

functions or parties or to form marriage
alliances without the permission of the
Sultan.
2. The use of wine and intoxicants was
banned.
3. Gambling was forbidden and gamblers
were severely punished.
4. He started paying soldiers in cash
instead of land.
5. He established an efficient spy system
to keep a check on the activities of the
nobles.

(c) The measures Alauddin Khilji took to

increase the revenue were:

1. He brought all the land of the empire

under his direct control.
 2. He introduced the practice of measuring
the land and fixed the state share
accordingly.
3. He increased the state revenue from
one-third to one-half.
4. He demanded the revenue in cash and not
in kind.
5. He appointed special officers for
revenue collection.

Question 2
With reference to the reign of Muhammad Bin
Tughlaq, explain the following:
(a) His attempts to transfer the capital from
Delhi to Daulatabad.
(b) Introduction of token currency.
(c) Increased taxation in Doab and its
consequences.
Answer
(a) Muhammad Bin Tughlaq shifted his capital
from Delhi to Devagiri near Aurangabad and
renamed it Daulatabad. He did this for
following reasons:

1. His intention was to control Deccan

from there as Daulatabad was centrally
located.
2. Delhi was in grip of severe famine.
3. Delhi was constantly threatened by the
Mongol invasions.
He ordered the people of Delhi including the
religious heads to shift to Daulatabad. On
realising the gravity of threat from north
west, he decided to shift the capital back to
Delhi. This caused lots of hardships to the
people.
(b) Introduction of token currency was one of
the controversial steps taken by Muhammad Bin
Tughlaq. There was shortage of silver, so
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq introduced bronze Tankas
in place of silver Tankas. But this experiment
failed due to the circulation of counterfeit
or fake coins on a very large scale, which
caused a chaos in trade and commerce.
Consequently, he withdrew the token currency.
(c) Muhammad Bin Tughlaq wanted to conquer
territories not only in India but also in
Central Asia. For this he needed more money to
maintain a big army, so he increased taxes in
fertile regions of Ganga-Yamuna Doab. At the
same time, a severe famine broke out in the
area and people refused to pay the extra taxes
and rose in rebellion. But the tax collectors
showed no mercy and took stern measures to
collect the taxes. This made some of the
peasants to abandon their lands and flee to
jungles. Though Muhammad Bin Tughlaq took
effective actions to fight the famine but it
was too late and many people were starved to
death as agriculture suffered a heavy setback
in the doab area.

Question 3
With reference to the administrative system of
the Delhi Sultanate, give the functions of
each of the officials:
(a) Ariz-i-mumalik
(b) Wazir
(c) Diwan-i-risalat
Answer
(a) Ariz-i-mumalik — He was the minister in
charge of the army but not the commander-in-
chief, since Sultan himself commanded all the
armed forces. The responsibility of the ariz's
department was to recruit, equip and pay the
army.
(b) Wazir — He was the key figure in
administration who acted as the Prime
Minister. The Wazir supervised the work of the
other officials. The final decisions were
always taken by the Sultan.
(c) Diwan-i-risalat — He dealt with religious
matters and was presided over by the chief
Sadar, who was generally a leading qazi.

Question 4
Study the picture and answer the following
questions:
(a) Who began erecting this monument? Who
completed it? Where is it located?
(b) Name the saint after whom the monument is
named. What information do the monuments of
the Sultanate period provide about the
Sultanate era?
(c) Mention any four architectural features of
the monument.
Answer
(a) Qutub-ud-din Aibak began erecting this
monument. It was completed by Iltutmish. It is
situated in Delhi.
(b) It is named after Sufi Saint Qutub-ud-din
Bakhtiyar Kaki.
The monuments of the Sultanate period reveal
the cultural trends, the living conditions,
faiths and beliefs of the period. They also
reveal the socio-cultural outlook of the
rulers.
(c) Four architectural features of the Qutub
Minar are:

1. When originally completed, it rose to a

height of 71.4 metres with four storeys.
The tower was damaged due to lightning in
1369. Feroz Shah Tughlaq repaired it and
rose its height further.
2. It has five storeys tapering as they
ascend. Each storey is separated from the
other by projecting balcony.
3. The base of the Minar has a diameter of
13.8 metres and the top of Minar has a
diameter of 3 metres. It has a circular
stairway of 379 steps leading to the top.
4. The projecting balconies are supported
in such a way that the whole structure
takes the load of the weight.

Thinking Skills

Question 1
Besides the lack of political unity in
northern India by the 13th century, what were
the other factors that made it possible for
the Turks to establish their empire in
northern India?
Answer
Besides the lack of political unity in
northern India by the 13th century, following
were the factors that made it possible for the
Turks to establish their empire in northern
India:

1. Lack of powerful central authority led

to weakening of the resistence offered to
invasions.
2. Internal feuds resulted in weak
frontier policy.
3. Lack of appropriate military strategy
as compared to turks.
4. Turks used horses and modern weapons.
5. Turks were united and their army was
motivated.
6. The society was in grips of hatred,
inequality, prejudices and untouchability.
7. Indian kings had no spy system.
8. Turks were attracted by the wealth of
India. They, therefore, fought with full
zeal.

Question 2
Imagine that you are transported in a time-
machine to Alauddin Khilji's reign. You
visited a number of markets. Write what you
saw about the commodities being sold, the
price regulations and punishments meted out to
the sellers for cheating the consumers. Do you
think that the market regulations at present
match up to Alauddin Khilji's reign or are
better or need some changes?
Answer
When I visited the markets in Alauddin
Khilji's reign, I witnessed a vastly different
market scene than what we see today. Alauddin
Khilji brought a historical market reform. He
introduced several measures to regulate the
market and protect consumers from fraud.
I saw that there were different markets for
different goods — there was one market for
food grains, the second for costly cloth and
the third for horses, slaves and cattle.
The prices of these commodities sold in the
markets were not left to the discretion of the
sellers. Instead, Alauddin Khilji had set
fixed prices for every commodity, which were
to be followed by all sellers in the market.
The prices were determined based on the cost
of production, transportation, and other
factors. Any seller found selling above the
fixed price was severely punished. The
punishments were severe and humiliating like
confiscation of goods, fines and even
imprisonment. In some cases, the seller's
hands were chopped off as a warning to others
not to engage in such fraudulent activities.
There were spies and supervisors, who ensured
the compliance of regulations.
Market regulations of Alauddin Khilji's reign
were designed to protect consumers and prevent
fraud, which is a common goal of present
market regulations as well. However, present
market regulations also take into account
other factors, such as competition,
innovation, intellectual property and
globalization, which were not relevant during
Alauddin Khilji's reign. In addition, present
market regulations aim to strike a balance
between consumer protection and business
growth, which may involve trade-offs and
compromises. One advantage of present market
regulations is that they are often more
flexible and adaptable to changing
circumstances. For example, in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, new regulations were
introduced aimed at protecting consumers from
price gouging and ensuring the availability of
essential goods.
However, there is always room for improvement
in any regulatory framework, and present
market regulations should be continually
reviewed and updated to ensure that they are
serving the interests of consumers and
businesses in a fair and transparent way.

Question 3
Suppose you met a person belonging to Muhammad
Bin Tughlaq's reign, who had to shift to
Daulatabad when the capital was shifted there.
Write down what he described about the
circumstances that forced him to shift, the
difficulties which he and others like him
faced while moving from Delhi to Daulatabad.
Answer
I met a person belonging to Mohammad Bin
Tughlaq's reign and discussed with him, the
shifting of capital. He told that the
circumstances that forced the capital to be
shifted from Delhi to Daulatabad were complex
and multifaceted. The move was forced upon
them by complex political and military
factors.
It was very painful for him to leave his own
place. He said that he was very attached to
Delhi. But he had no choice because the Sultan
(Mohammad Bin tughlaq) was very harsh on him
and others. Although, Sultan had made
arrangements for smooth shifting of people yet
people suffered a lot as these arrangemets
were not enough. The journey from Delhi to
Daulatabad was long and arduous, and many
people died on the way due to illness, hunger,
and exhaustion. The person left behind his
home, his belongings, and his community, to
start afresh in a new place. The pain of exile
was too much for him and others like him to
bear.
CHAPTER 9 - MUGHAL EMPIRE
Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1
The Ain-i-Akbari written by Abul Fazl is
divided into ............... books:

1. Three
2. Five
3. Two
4. Seven

Answer
Five

Question 2
Ustad Isha Khan designed one of the Seven
Wonders of the World in 2007. Name it.

1. Jama Masjid
2. Qutub Minar
3. Red Fort
4. Taj Mahal

Answer
Taj Mahal

Question 3
Which is the biggest mosque in India?

1. Jama Masjid
2. Mecca Masjid
 3. Haji Ali Dargah
4. Kabuli Bagh Masjid

Answer
Jama Masjid

Question 4
The method decoration of the walls of the Taj
Mahal is called

1. inlay work
2. chhatris
3. pietra dura
4. sculpture

Answer
pietra dura

Question 5
The Red fort complex does not house

1. Diwan-i-Aam
2. Buland Darwaza
3. Diwan-i-Khas
4. Moti Mahal

Answer
Buland Darwaza

Question 6
Which of the following is incorrect?

1. First Battle of Panipat : Babur

 2. Battle of Khanwa : Rana Sanga
3. Battle of Haldighati : Raja Man Singh
4. Second Battle of Panipat : Bairam Khan

Answer
Battle of Khanwa : Rana Sanga

Question 7
In 1575, Akbar built a hall called Ibadat
Khana at:

1. Fatehpur Sikri
2. Delhi
3. Shahjahanabad
4. Agra

Answer
Fatehpur Sikri

Question 8
Who abolished the poll tax or Jizyah, which
the non-muslims were required to pay?

1. Aurangzeb
2. Akbar
3. Babur
4. Humayun

Answer
Akbar

Question 9
Name the new faith promulgated by Akbar:
 1. Mahzar
2. Sulh-kul
3. Din-i-Illahi
4. Ibadat

Answer
Din-i-Illahi

Question 10
Complete the analogy: Shuhra-i-am : public
works department :: Subah : ...............

1. subahdar
2. provinces
3. sarkars
4. parganas

Answer
provinces

Question 11
According to the Mansabdari System, the ranks
were divided into

1. zat and sawar

2. mansabdars
3. jagirdars
4. cavalrymen and horses

Answer
zat and sawar

Question 12
Todar Mal : land revenue :: ............... :
Prime Minister

1. Abul Fazl
2. Bairam Khan
3. Bhara Mal
4. Rana Sanga

Answer
Bairam Khan
Short Answer Questions

Question 1
Name two important sources which provide
information about the Mughals.
Answer
Two important sources which provide
information about the Mughals are:

1. Ain-i-Akbari — A set of five books

written by Abul Fazal during reign of Akbar
which provides information about the
administration and culture of that period.
2. The Taj Mahal — Mausoleum of Mumtaz
Mahal at Agra which provides information
about architecture of Mughal period.

Question 2
Name the author of Ain-i-Akbari. Name any two
books which constitute the Ain-i-Akbari.
Answer
The author of Ain-i-Akbari was Abul Fazl.
Two books constituting Ain-i-Akbari are:

1. Manzil-Abadi
2. Sipah-Abadi

Question 3
Who invited Babur to India? Why?
Answer
Babur was invited by Daulat Khan Lodhi who was
Governor of Punjab.
Daulat Khan Lodhi invited Babur to India to
oust Ibrahim Lodhi from the throne. Babur
defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in First Battle of
Panipat and occupied Delhi and Agra.

Question 4
Between whom was the First Battle of Panipat
fought? What was the outcome of the battle?
Answer
The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought
between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi.
In this battle Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi
and occupied Delhi and Agra.

Question 5
Between whom was the Battle of Haldighati
fought? Who was defeated by Akbar at this
Battle?
Answer
The Battle of Haldighati was fought between
Maharana Pratap, the ruler of Mewar and the
Mughal army led by Raja Man Singh.
Maharana Pratap was defeated by Akbar at this
Battle.

Question 6
Mention any two steps taken by Akbar to
promote better understanding between the
Hindus and the Muslims.
Answer
Two steps taken by Akbar to promote better
understanding between the Hindus and the
Muslims were:

1. Akbar abolished the poll tax or jizyah,

which the non-muslims were required to pay.
He also abolished the pilgrim tax on
bathing at holy places such as Prayag and
Benaras. Further, he abolished the practice
of forcibly converting prisoners of war to
Islam.
2. To strengthen the liberal principles,
Akbar enrolled a number of Hindus into the
nobility. While most of these were Rajput
Rajas, many of whom entered into
matrimonial alliances with Akbar, mansabs
(position or rank) were given to others on
the basis of their competence.

Question 7
Name the two taxes abolished by Akbar.
Answer
The two taxes abolished by Akbar were:

1. Poll tax (Jizyah).

2. Pilgrim tax.

Question 8
What principles did Akbar's Din-i-Illahi
promote?
Answer
Akbar's Din-i-Illahi promote the principle of
oneness of God. The new religion stressed on
virtues like courage, loyalty and justice. It
also demanded loyalty to the Emperor. The
basic purpose of forming Din-i-Illahi was
Sulh-kul or universal harmony which governed
all public policies of Akbar.

Question 9
Why did Akbar build the Ibadat Khana?
Answer
Akbar build the Ibadat Khana or the Hall of
Prayer at Fatehpur Sikri to discuss religious
and spiritual matters. He used to call
selected theologians of all religions, mystics
and intellectuals at Ibadat khana.

Question 10
Name the title given to the heads of the
revenue department and the military department
respectively in the Mughal Empire.
Answer
The title given to the head of the revenue
department was 'diwan' or 'diwan-i-ala' and
the title given to the head of military
department was 'mir bakshi'.

Question 11
Who were mansabdars? How were they paid?
Answer
The term 'mansab' means rank or position and
the term mansabdar refers to an individual who
holds a mansab. The mansabdars formed the
ruling group in the Mughal empire. Almost the
whole nobility, the bureaucracy as well as the
military hierarchy, had mansabs. The lowest
rank in the system was 10, and the highest was
5000 for nobles. It was a grading system used
by Mughals to fix rank, salary and military
responsibilities.
Mansabdars were paid salaries as revenue
assignments called jagirs. They had rights to
the revenue of their assignments which was
collected from their jagirs by their servants.

Question 12
List any two social reforms that were
introduced by Akbar.
Answer
Two social reforms that were introduced by
Akbar were:

1. Akbar raised the age of marriage to 14

for girls and 16 for boys.
 2. Akbar legalised widow remarriage.

Structured Questions

Question 1
With reference to the Mughal Empire, explain
briefly the significance of the following:
(a) Ain-i-Akbari
(b) Taj Mahal
(c) Red Fort
Answer
(a) Ain-i-Akbari — Ain-i-Akbari was a part of
a large project of history writing
commissioned by Akbar. Written by Abul Fazl,
it is regarded as a precious source material
for knowing the administration and culture
during the reign of Akbar. The Ain-i-Akbari is
divided into five books. The first book deals
with the imperial household. The second book
deals with the servants of the emperor,
military and civil services. The third book
deals with the imperial administration. It
consists of the regulations for the judicial
and executive departments, and the division of
empire. The fourth book contains information
about Hindu philosophy, science, social
customs and literature. The fifth book
contains the wise sayings of Akbar. It also
contains an account of the ancestry and
biography of the author, Abul Fazl.
(b) Taj Mahal — It was built by Shah Jahan in
memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is
mausoleum of both of them. It is built at Agra
on the banks of the river Yamuna. It was
designed by Ustad Isha Khan. It is made up of
pure white marble. The main structure is
constructed on a high platform. On each corner
of this platform there is a minaret. The
central dome rises to the height of 56.1
metres. The interior has an octagonal chamber
with an inverted lotus ceiling. The actual
graves are in lower chamber, underground. The
walls of the entire structure are decorated
with floral designs. The Taj Mahal brought
together all the architectural forms developed
by the Mughals like massive domes of marble,
pietra dura (method of decoration) and kiosks
(chhatris).
(c) Red Fort — The Red Fort was built by Shah
Jahan on the bank of river Yamuna. Red
sandstone and marble was used in its
construction. The fort has massive walls and
two gateways. The Western Gateway is known as
the Lahori Gate. This gate was used for the
emperor's ceremonial purposes. The campus has
some impressive buildings like Diwan-i-Aam,
Diwan-i-Khas and Moti Masjid. The Diwan-i-Khas
is lavishly ornamented hall where the Peacock
Throne was placed. The hall was used by the
emperor to give audience to the princes of the
royal family, nobles and other important
dignitaries. The red fort is an important
historical monument.

Question 2
With reference to the Mughal rule, state
briefly:
(a) Akbar's policy towards the Rajputs.
(b) Akbar's policy of religious tolerance.
(c) Social reforms introduced by Akbar.
Answer
(a) Akbar's policy towards the Rajputs — The
Rajput policy of Akbar proved to be one of his
greatest achievements. He entered into
marriage alliances with Rajputs. Bhara Mal,
the ruler of Amber, married his younger
daughter, Harkha Bai to Akbar. Akbar not only
gave complete freedom to his wives who
followed Hinduism but also gave an honoured
place to their parents and relations in
nobility. The Rajputs were also made equal
partners in the Mughal government, it
considerably affected the public policies of
the Mughals and greatly helped in the growth
of a composite culture. Thus, the Rajput
policy of Akbar ended the centuries old
animosity between the Muslim rulers and the
Rajputs.
(b) Akbar's policy of religious tolerance —
Akbar took a number of measures to promote
greater understanding between the Hindus and
the Muslims. The major steps taken by him
were:

1. He abolished the poll tax or jizyah as

well as pilgrim tax, which the non-muslims
were required to pay.
2. He abolished the practice of forcible
conversion of prisoners of war to Islam.
 3. Akbar enrolled a number of Hindus into
the nobility.
4. He built a hall called Ibadat Khana or
the hall of prayer at Fatehpur Sikri. At
this hall, he used to call selected
theologians of all religions, mystics and
intellectuals and discuss religious and
spiritual matters with them.
5. Akbar issued a declaration or mahzar,
making him the supreme or final arbiter in
religious matters and replaced the power of
Ulema by the power of the Emperor.
6. He promulgated a new faith called Din-
i-Illahi. The basic purpose of forming it
was universal harmony or Sulh-kul.
7. Akbar set up a big translation
department for translating works in
Sanskrit, Arabic and Greek into Persian.
The books taken for translation were the
Singhasan Battisi, the Atharva Veda, the
Bible, the Quran, the Mahabharata, the Gita
and the Ramayana.

(c) Social reforms introduced by Akbar — Akbar

introduced a number of social and educational
reforms which were pivotal in upliftment of
women. Some of his reforms were:

1. He abolished the practice of forcible

Sati. However, the women who committed Sati
of their own free will were allowed to do
so.
2. Akbar legalised widow remarriage.
3. Akbar was against anyone having more
than one wife unless the first wife could
not bear children.
 4. He raised the age of marraige to 14 for
girls and 16 for boys.
5. He revised the educational syllabus
giving more importance to moral education,
mathematics and secular subjects like
agriculture, geometry, astronomy, logic and
history.

Question 3
With reference to the administrative system in
the Mughal period, answer the following
questions:
(a) What was the position of the monarch?
(b) Who were the three important ministers?
(c) How was the provincial government
organised?
Answer
(a) According to Abul Fazl, the office of a
true ruler was a very responsible one which
depended on divine illumination. Thus, the
Mughal Emperor endowed with the divine light
was regarded as the vice-regent of God on
earth. He ruled the empire with paternal love
towards his subjects without distinction of
sect or creed. The emperor was the head of the
Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and the
Army. He was the supreme commander of armed
forces and all other commanders were appointed
and removed by him. He made laws and issued
administrative ordinances. The royal uzuk
(small singet ring) was affixed to farmans
granting appointments, titles, jagirs etc.
(b) The three ministers in Mughal empire were:

1. Vakil or Prime Minister — he was

entrusted with great powers in civil and
military affairs.
2. Diwan or Diwan-i-ala — He was head of
revenue department. He was responsible for
all income and expenditure.
3. Mir Bakshi — He was the head of
military department and intelligence and
information agencies of the empire.

(c) The Empire was divided into twelve

provinces or subahs, which was further
subdivided into sarkars and each sarkar into
parganas or mahals. Each subah was headed by
one governor who was called the subahdar or
sipah salar or nazim. He was usually a
mansabdar of high rank. His functions included
maintenance of law and order, enforcement of
imperial decrees, administration of criminal
justice and the smooth collection of revenue.
The provincial diwan was incharge of revenue
administration of the province. Beside them,
the other important officials in the province
were faujdar, kotwal, bakshi, sadr qazi and
muhtasib. The centre appointed the officials
of the provinces, sarkars and the parganas.
Hence, these divisions were directly
responsible to the centre.

Question 4
With reference to the Mansabdari system,
answer the following questions:
(a) What was the Mansabdari system?
(b) What was meant by zat and sawar rank?
(c) Trace the changes in the system from the
rule of Jahangir to Aurangzeb.
Answer
(a) The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar
was a unique feature of the administrative
system of the Mughal Empire. It was a grading
system used by the Mughals to fix rank, salary
and military responsibilities. Under this
system, every officer was assigned a rank
(mansab). Thus, the term Mansabdar refers to
an individual who holds a mansab, meaning a
position or rank. The Mansabdars formed the
ruling group in the Mughal empire. Almost the
whole nobility, the bureaucracy as well as the
military hierarchy, had mansabs. The lowest
rank in the system was 10 and the highest was
5000 for nobles. The mansabdars received their
salaries as revenue assignments called jagirs.
However, they only had rights to the revenue
of their assignments, they didn't actually
reside in or administer their jagirs.
(b) The Mansabdari system was a grading system
used by the Mughals to fix rank, salary and
military responsibilities. These ranks were
divided into two, namely Zat and Sawar. Zat
fixed the personal status of a person and the
salary due to him. The higher the Zat, the
more prestigious was the noble's position in
court and the larger his salary. The Sawar
rank indicated the number of cavalrymen or
sawar a mansabdar was required to maintain.
(c) Jahangir maintained the Mansabdari system
developed by Akbar. But he reduced the average
rate of Zat salary from Rs. 240 per annum to
Rs. 200 per annum. Shah Jahan reduced the
number of sawars a noble was requied to
maintain. Thus, a noble was expected to
maintain a quota of only one-third of his
sawar rank and in some cases, one-fourth.
During the reign of Aurangzeb, there was a
huge increase in the number of mansabdars.
These and other factors created a shortage in
the number of jagirs.

Question 5
Study the picture and answer the following
questions:

(a) Who built this fort? Where is it located?

State its ceremonial importance in the
present?
(b) Mention three important buildings within
the fort.
(c) Mention two architectural features of the
fort.
Answer
(a) This fort was built by Shah Jahan. It is
located in Delhi.
Its ceremonial importance in the present lies
in the fact that the Prime Minister of India
every year unfurls the national flag from its
ramparts on Independence day (August 15).
(b) Three important buildings within the fort
are:

1. Diwan-i-Aam
2. Diwan-i-Khas
3. Moti Masjid

(c) Two architectural features of the fort

are:

1. The fort has massive walls and two

gateways. The Western Gateway is known as
the Lahori Gate.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in
its construction.

Question 6
Study the picture and answer the following
questions:
(a) Who built this monument? Where is it
located? Of which material is this monument
built?
(b) Name the person who designed this
monument. Why was the monument erected? What
is the method of decoration of this monument
called?
(c) State the four features of this monument
which reflect the Mughal style of
architecture.
Answer
(a) This monument was built by Shah Jahan. It
is located on the bank of river Yamuna in
Agra. This monument is built of pure white
marble.
(b) This monument was designed by Ustad Isha
Khan.
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of
his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal as her
mausoleum.
The method of decoration of this monument is
called pietra dura.
(c) The four features of this monument which
reflect the Mughal style of architecture are:

1. The massive central dome of Marble.

2. Pietra dura inlay work.
3. Presence of kiosks (chhatris).
4. Presence of Minar.

Thinking Skills

Question 1
Imagine that you visited Agra during the reign
of Akbar. You visited so many places in Agra
and also met local people belonging to both
the Hindu and the Muslim communities. State
how both the communities lived amicably and
strengthened the composite culture of India.
Answer
When I visited Agra during the reign of Akbar,
Agra had became the hub of trade and
transformed into a grand city. It was a
beautiful city where Hindus and Muslims lived
in peace and harmony. This amicable relation
was due to policies of Akbar. Akbar abolished
laws that discriminated against non-Muslims.
Akbar established separation of state and
religion, and opened government positions to
members of all religions. He abolished the
poll tax (jizyah) on non-Muslims and the
forced conversion of war prisoners. All these
steps led to faith and belief of common people
on Akbar and his administration. This further
resulted in amicable relations among people
and bond developed between Hindus and Muslims.
I saw people of Agra, helping each other,
participating in all festivals, doing
businesses without any discrimination or hate
between Hindu and Muslims.

Question 2
Suppose you were a mansabdar during Akbar's
reign. Give details of your powers and the
salary received by you.
Answer
I was made a Mansabdar during the reign of
Akbar. Mansabdars form the ruling group in
Mughal Empire. They are appointed by the King.
I have to maintain cavalry men and horses. I
have to get them registered. I received my
salary as revenue assignments called Jagirs. I
have the right to revenue of the Jagirs
collected by servants.
CHAPTER – 10 COMPOSITE CULTURE

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1
The Bijak (the seed book) is the compilation
of the verses of :

1. Premchand
2. Kabir
3. Kalidasa
4. Mirza Ghalib

Answer
Kabir

Question 2
Which of the following are the sections of
Bijak, the seed book?

1. Sakhi, Smriti and Ramaini

2. Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda
3. Ramaini, Stuti and Smriti
4. Shabda, tawarikh and chaugan

Answer
Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda

Question 3
Ajmer Sharief is the holy shrine of which sufi
saint?
 1. Ali Moinuddin
2. Khwajah Khan
3. Khwajah Moinuddin
4. Ali Shah

Answer
Khwajah Moinuddin

Question 4
Name the oldest European Church in India.

1. St. Francis Church

2. St. Vasco Church
3. St. Francisco Church
4. St. Anglico Church

Answer
St. Francis Church

Question 5
Who was allowed to reconstruct wooden
buildings in stone and masonry at Kochi?

1. French Viceroy, Francisco de Almeida

2. Portuguese Viceroy, Francisco de
Almeida
3. German Viceroy, Francisco de Almeida
4. Spanish Viceroy, Francisco de Almeida

Answer
Portuguese Viceroy, Francisco de Almeida

Question 6
Which language was originally known as 'Zaban-
e-Hindvi'?

1. Hindi
2. Urdu
3. Sanskrit
4. Persian

Answer
Urdu

Question 7
Which of the following are the doctrines of
the Bhakti cult?

1. God is one
2. Bhakti leads to salvation
3. All are equal before God
4. All of the above

Answer
All of the above

Question 8
The Rajasthani princess Mirabai's poetry in
the form of devotional songs to Lord Krishna
is known as:

1. Krishna Bhajans
2. Bhaktigeet
3. Padavali
4. Mirageet

Answer
Padavali

Question 9
Sant Jnaneswar commentary on the Bhagvad Gita
is called

1. Jnaneswari
2. Bhavartha Dipika
3. Both (a) and (b)
4. None of the above

Answer
Both (a) and (b)

Question 10
Which sufi saint believed in drawing close to
God through renunciation of the world and
service to humanity?

1. Hazrat Ali
2. Hazrat Shan
3. Hazrat Khan
4. Hazrat Nizamuddin

Answer
Hazrat Nizamuddin
Short Answer Questions

Question 1
What is meant by the term composite culture?
Answer
The term composite culture refers to the
culture that developed due to the interaction
of the Turks and the Indians. This culture was
neither purely Persian nor entirely Indian,
but a fusion of the best elements of the two.
This culture is also known as Indo-Islamic
culture.

Question 2
Mention any two factors which promoted
composite culture during the Mughal Age.
Answer
Two factors which promoted composite culture
during the Mughal Age are:

1. The immense wealth and the unlimited

power in the hands of the Mughal emperors
enabled them to continue their patronage of
fine arts and literature. They used their
wealth to build palaces, forts and
monuments.
2. The glorious and rich culture heritage
of the Mughals on the one hand and Indians
on other hand, created a unique atmosphere
for the brilliant output of letters and
fine arts.

Question 3
What is Bijak? Name any two sections into
which Bijak is divided.
Answer
The Bijak is the compilation of the verses of
Kabir. Kabir was an oral poet, whose works
were written by others. The Bijak is preserved
by the Kabirpanthis (the followers of Kabir)
in Varanasi and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh.
Two sections into which Bijak is divided are:

1. Sakhi — composed in Doha or couplet

form.
2. Ramaini — written in the form of
chaupai and is usually based on musical
raga.

Question 4
Enumerate any two teaching of Kabir, according
to the Bijak.
Answer
Two teaching of Kabir, according to the Bijak
are:

1. There is only one God. He may be

worshipped under many names.
2. Devotion to God and good actions are
only means of salvation.

Question 5
Who compiled Guru Granth Sahib? Why is it
called the living Guru?
Answer
Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by the tenth
Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Guru Granth Sahib is known as the living Guru
because it is considered as a spiritual guide
for the entire humanity and one can find in it
all the answers regarding religion and
morality.

Question 6
State any two teachings of Guru Nanak
according to the Guru Granth Sahib.
Answer
Two teachings of Guru Nanak according to the
Guru Granth Sahib are:

1. Guru Nanak preached the unity of God

and the nnity of mankind.
2. He advocated devotion to God in place
of ritualism.

Question 7
Which Sufi Saint's tomb is enshrined in the
Ajmer Sharief Dargah? What was his main
belief?
Answer
Ajmer Sharief is the holy shrine of the sufi
saint, Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti.
The main beliefs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
were achieving oneness with God, devotion to
the Divine, leading a pure life, showing
compassion and charity for the helpless and
poor.

Question 8
Mention any two doctrines of the Bhakti cult.
Answer
Two doctrines of the Bhakti cult are:

1. God is one. He must be worshipped with

love and devotion.
2. Guru, an enlightened teacher, is
indispensable for realising God.

Question 9
What is meant by Sufism? Name one sufi saint.
Answer
Sufism was a movement by Islamic sect that
preached religious tolerance, brotherhood and
oneness of God. The word 'Sufi comes from
arabic word Suf meaning wool and was used for
the mystics who used to wear only a coarse
woollen garment.
Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti was one of the Sufi
saints.

Question 10
Mention any two doctrines of Sufism.
Answer
The two doctrines of Sufism are:

1. Individual soul is the manifestation of

the supreme God and human soul will finally
merge with it.
2. Fundamental unity of all religions.

Question 11
Write a Short note on the life of St. Francis
Xavier.
Answer
St. Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506
in the castle of Xavier in Spain. After
completing his studies and working as teacher
for sometime, St. Xavier displayed zeal and
charity in attending to the sick in hospitals.
In 1537, he became a priest. In 1541, he
started his missionary journey towards India
and landed at Goa in 1542. He spent the first
five months in preaching and attending to the
sick in hospitals. He worked relentlessly for
ten years in India, and preached essentials of
christianity. He died on December 2, 1552,
when he was on a sea voyage to China. His
mortal remains were brought back and reached
Goa after a whole year. It is said that when
the body reached India, after a whole year, it
was still fresh as it was on the day of
burial. The body of St. Francis Xavier is
still enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus
in Goa.
Structured Questions

Question 1
With reference to the sources of composite
culture in India, state the significance of
the following:
(a) Bijak
(b) Guru Granth Sahib
(c) Ajmer Sharief
Answer
(a) Bijak — Bijak is the compilation of verses
of Kabir. Kabir was an oral poet, whose works
were written by others. The Bijak is preserved
by Kabirpanthis (the followers of Kabir) in
Varanasi and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh. Bijak
comprises three main sections called Sakhi,
Ramaini and Shabda and a fourth section
containing miscellaneous folk song forms.
According to Bijak, Kabir taught that there is
only one God who is worshipped under many
names. Kabir denounced idol worship, empty
rituals, meaningless ceremonies and
pilgrimage. Bijak presents Kabir's
compositions in a simple style and exhorts his
listeners to shed their delusions, pretensions
and orthodox views in favour of direct
experience of truth.
(b) Guru Granth Sahib — It is the only
scripture of its kind which contains the
songs, hymns and utterances of a wide variety
of saints, sages and bards. This shows that
Guru Arjan Dev wanted to affirm the
fundamental unity of all religions and the
unitary character of all mystic experience. It
is indeed, a magnificent compendium of
religions, mystic and metaphysical poetry
written or uttered between the 12th and the
17th century in different parts of India. It
is also at the same time, a mirror of the
sociological, economical and political
conditions of those days.
(c) Ajmer Sharief — Ajmer Sharief is the holy
shrine of the sufi saint, Khwajah Moinuddin
Chishti, located at Ajmer in Rajasthan. The
Dargah of Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti is one of
the most revered sites in India not only for
the Muslims but also for the people of other
faiths, who hold the saint in high esteem.
Every year thousands of people visit Ajmer
Sharief to pay reverence at the sanctified
dargah. A yearly carnival, known as Urs is
held for six days in the honour of the beloved
saint.

Question 2
Sufism was a liberal reform movement within
Islam. With reference to Sufism, write short
notes on the following:
(a) Devotion to God
(b) Caste distinctions
(c) Unity of all religions
Answer
(a) Devotion to God — Sufi saints like Khwaja
Moinuddin Chishti and Hazrat Nizamuddin,
stressed love and good actions as means of
realising God. According to Sufism one can
reach God through personal devotion and not
through empty rituals. The Doctrines of Sufism
include that individual soul is manifestation
of the Supreme God and human soul would
finally merge with it. Also inner purity and
self-discipline are essential for gaining the
knowledge of God.
(b) Caste distinctions — Sufism was a liberal
reform movement which created an atmosphere on
which liberal sentiments and views could grow
and narrowness of cast and religion was
shunned. Equality and brotherhood of all human
beings irrespective of caste, colour, creed
was emphasised. Sufism basically freed people
from the holds of age old rigid caste system.
(c) Unity of all religions — Sufism believed
in fundamental unity of all religions. It
insisted that the God is one and only he is
worshipped under different names. They shunned
all the rituals of different religions as
according to them one can reach the God
through personal devotion and not through
empty rituals. Sufism fostered the feelings of
Hindu-Muslim unity. It played a great role in
promoting feelings of tolerance among the
rulers. People, irrespective of their
religion, began to understand and appreciate
others' faith.

Question 3
Summarise the impact of the Bhakti movement
with regard to:
(a) Equality of all human beings.
(b) Fostering unity and harmony between
different communities.
(c) Promoting regional languages and
devotional literature.
Answer
(a) Equality of all human beings — Bhakti
saints preached universal brotherhood and
emphasised equality of all men. The teachings
of Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas helped reform
Indian society. They tried to evolve a new
social order by following the principle of
equality and by denouncing caste distinctions.
By exposing the futility of empty rituals,
they did away with the domination of priests.
Thus, the Bhakti movement brought in social
changes.
(b) Fostering unity and harmony between
different communities —The Bhakti movement
played an important role in fostering Indo-
Islamic culture. The Bhakti movement
emphasised the essential unity of Islam and
Hinduism, and laid stress on a religion based
on love and devotion rather than one based on
rituals. Thus, they created an atmosphere in
Which liberal sentiments and views could grow
and religious narrowness was shunned. They
preached that the God is one and only the ways
of worshipping him are different. The God must
be worshipped with love and devotion.
(c) Promoting regional languages and
devotional literature — The Bhakti movement
played an important role in promoting regional
languages and devotional literature. The
Bhakti saints preached in the language of
people. Languages like Hindi, Bhojpuri,
Maithili and Oriya became popular. Among
important literary works of this period were
Ramcharit Manas by Tulsidas, Gurmukhi
literature of the Sikh Gurus and the Vaishnava
literature in Bengal. The local languages
became even more popular by Bhakti saints like
Mira Bai and Sant Janeshwar.

Question 4
With reference to the influence of
Christianity during the Mughal period, answer
the following question:
(a) Explain the role played by St. Francis
Xavier in spreading Christianity in India.
(b) How did the missionaries bring Europeans
closer to Indians?
(c) Explain the role of Christian missionaries
in promoting language, literature and art in
India.
Answer
(a) St. Francis Xavier arrived in India in
1542. He spent the first five months in
preaching and attending to the sick in
hospitals. He would go through the streets
ringing a little bell and inviting the
children to hear the word of God. When he had
gathered a large number of people, he would
take them to a church and explain the beliefs
related to Christianity to them. During the
six years that St. Xavier had been working in
India, other Jesuit missionaries had arrived
in Goa. In 1584, he sent these missionaries to
the principal centres of India, where he has
established missions. He worked relentlessly
for ten years in India, and preached
essentials of Christianity.
(b) The missionaries in order to understand
and to be understood by the Indian people
brought out grammars and dictionaries of the
Indian languages. The missionaries began
teaching Western music, dance and instrumental
music in Church schools in India. The
missionaries and the Church were also teachers
and patrons in India of the arts of paintings,
carving and sculpture. The religious paintings
of the Churches influenced the Mughals.
Portuguese, English and Mughal records show
the interest of Akbar and Jahangir in
Christian works of arts. The Portuguese Church
provided the earliest introduction to European
architectural ideas in India. The Missionaries
were the best interpreters of India to the
Western World with their popular letters from
the mission field. All these works of the
missionaries brought the Indians and Europeans
closer.
(c) The Missionaries, in order to establish
effective communication with Indian people,
brought out grammars and dictionaries of the
Indian languages. St. Francis Xavier learnt
the language of Malabar and brought out a
manual of grammar and a vocabulary which
helped the Jesuits and other missionaries to
learn the language of the people of Malabar.
The English Jesuit, Thomas Stephens, brought
out an epic in Konkani and a grammar book.
Diogo Ribeiro, another English missionary,
wrote a grammar book and booklets on Christian
doctrines. The missionaries began teaching
Western music, dance and instrumental music in
Church schools in India. The Missionaries and
the Church were also teachers and patrons in
India of the arts of painting, carving and
sculpture. The religious paintings of the
Churches influenced the Mughals. The
Portuguese Church provided the earliest
introduction to European architectural ideas
in India. This included the long, two-storeyed
house, with high-pitched roof, balconies and
verandas, many windows and elaborately carved
walls.

Question 5
With reference to the pictures given
alongside, answer the following:

(a) Name the Bhakti Saints given in the

pictures. Where were they born?
(b) How did the Sufi and the Bhakti movements
foster the growth of Indo-Islamic culture?
(c) Mention any two teachings of each of these
two saints.
Answer
(a) The Bhakti Saints given in the pictures
are Kabir and Guru Nanak. Kabir was born in
Benaras (Varanasi) and Guru Nanak was born in
Talvandi (now known as Nankana Sahib), in the
state of Punjab (Pakistan).
(b) A number of sufi and bhakti saints
emphasised the essential unity of Islam and
Hinduism. They laid stress on a religion based
on love and devotion rather than one based on
rituals. Thus, they created an atmosphere in
which liberal sentiments and views could grow
and religious narrowness was shunned. In these
ways, the Sufi and the Bhakti movements played
an important role in fostering growth of Indo-
Islamic culture.
(c) The two teachings of Kabir were:

1. There is only one God. He may be

worshipped under many names.
2. Devotion to God and good actions are
the only means of salvation.

The two teachings of Guru Nanak were:

1. He preached unity of God and unity of

Mankind.
2. He advocated devotion to God in place
of ritualism.

Thinking Skills

Question 1
How did the teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak
promote the feelings of peace and harmony
among different communities and thereby,
strengthened the composite culture of India?
Answer
The teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak promoted
the feelings of peace and harmony among
different communities. Their teachings
advocated the unity of God and unity of
mankind. They preached that the God can be
worshipped under different names but there is
only one God. They emphasised that good
actions, meditation and devotion are only
means of salvation. They were against the
ritualism. Kabir had renounced idol worship,
empty rituals, meaningless ceremonies etc.
Guru Nanak believed that personal devotion to
God could lead to salvation regardless of
caste, creed or sect. Their teachings brought
people of different religions closer. The
people felt that they are free from
obligations of religion and ritualism. Thus,
the teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak promoted
the feelings of peace and harmony among
different communities and thereby,
strengthened the composite culture of India.

Question 2
Suppose you have recently shifted to a big
housing colony where people belonging to
different regions professing different
religions, cultures and views live. As the
Secretary of the Students Wing of the RWA of
your society, which measures you would
initiate to strengthen the composite culture
of India?
Answer
As the Secretary of the Students Wing of the
RWA of my society, I would initiate following
measures to strengthen the composite culture
of India:

1. I would arrange for celebration of all

festivals like Holi, Eid, Christmas, Diwali
etc, together where people of all religions
will get involved in celebration. Festivals
are great way of strengthening bonds
between the people.
2. I would make sure that no one is
ignored or sidelined on any basis.
Participation of all without any
discrimination is important for
strengthened composite culture of India.
3. National festivals can be celebrated in
society with cultural programmes. Plays or
programmes may be staged, teaching empathy
& compassion, tolerance and acceptance.
CHAPTER – 11 RENAISSANCE

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question 1
The modern era was heralded by

1. Nationalism
2. Renaissance
3. Reformation
4. Feudalism

Answer
Renaissance

Question 2
Name the system according to which the
medieval European society was organised?

1. Humanism
2. Renaissance
3. Feudalism
4. Crusades

Answer
Feudalism

Question 3
Which of the following is the correct order of
hierarchy of medieval Europe?

1. Dukes — Barons — Knight — peasants

 2. Barons — Earls — Feudal Lords —
peasants
3. Earls — Dukes — Knights — Barons
4. Barons — Dukes — Knights — Lords

Answer
Dukes — Barons — Knight — peasants

Question 4
Which of the following was NOT a result of the
Fall of Constantinople?

1. Discovery of new trade routes

2. Crusades
3. Decline of Feudalism
4. Revival of learning

Answer
Crusades

Question 5
............... refer to the religious
expeditionary wars with the goal of restoring
the Church’s access to holy places in and near
Jerusalem.

1. Crusades
2. Brisades
3. Black wars
4. Agnar

Answer
Crusades
Question 6
Which of the following are the features of
Renaissance?

1. Glorification of Human Form

2. Humanism
3. Spirit of Enquiry
4. All of the above

Answer
All of the above

Question 7
Where did the first Renaissance begin?

1. England
2. India
3. Italy
4. France

Answer
Italy

Question 8
Which of the following is incorrect?

1. Da Vinci :The Last Supper

2. Donatello : Pieta
3. Machiavelli : The Prince
4. Shakespeare : King Lear

Answer
Donatello : Pieta
Question 9
Who is known as the 'Bard of Avon'?

1. Dante
2. Nicolaus Copernicus
3. William Shakespeare
4. Donatello

Answer
William Shakespeare

Question 10
What was the Copernican Revolution?

1. Proof that the earth revolves around

the sun.
2. Proof that the earth was the centre of
the universe.
3. Proof of close connection between
medicine and chemists.
4. Proof of circulatory movement of blood
in the body.

Answer
Proof that the earth revolves around the sun.

Question 11
Interest in man, his interests, his nature and
his life on earth is referred to as

1. Spirituality
2. Theology
3. Humanism
 4. Reformation

Answer
Humanism

Question 12
Which of the following are a consequence of
Renaissance?

1. Rise of Monarchy
2. Rise of Nation States
3. Rise of the Middle Class
4. All of the above

Answer
All of the above
Short Answer Question

Question 1
What is meant by the term 'Renaissance'?
Answer
The term 'Renaissance' means rebirth or
revival. It stands for a complex transitional
movement in Europe between medieval and modern
times beginning in the 14th century in Italy
and lasting into the 17th century.

Question 2
Mention any two causes of the Renaissance.
Answer
Two causes of the Renaissance were:

1. Capture of Constantinople —
Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern
Roman Empire fell into the hands of the
Turks in 1453. This forced the Roman and
Greek scholars to shift to Rome and other
parts of Europe with their manuscripts.
These genius scholars spread their new
spirit and ideas, wherever they went paving
the way for Renaissance.
2. Decline of Feudalism — Decline of
Feudalism in the 13th and 14th centuries
provided an impetus to free thinking and
favoured the growth of new learning. It led
to new developments in the spheres of art,
literature, philosophy and science and
contributed to the rise of Renaissance.

Question 3
What role did the victory of the Turks over
Constantinople play in the rise Renaissance?
Answer
Constantinople was the capital of Eastern
Roman Empire and centre of Greek and Roman
cultures. It had valuable manuscripts of Greek
and Roman writers. When it fell into the hands
of the turks in 1453, the Roman and Greek
scholars were forced to shift to Rome and
other parts of Europe with their manuscripts.
Rome then became the centre of Greek culture.
These scholars were geniuses, men of liberal
outlook, humanism and logical thinking. They
spread their new spirit and ideas, wherever
they went. In this way they revived the
interest of the people in the study of Greek
philosophy, science, art and literature. The
revival of the learning of Greek classics
paved the way for the Renaissance.

Question 4
The decline of feudalism led to the rise of
Renaissance. Give two reasons.
Answer
The two reasons for the rise of Renaissance
with decline of feudalism were:

1. The decline of feudalism provided an

impetus to free thinking.
2. The peace and freedom that prevailed
after the decline of feudalism favoured the
growth of New learning.

Question 5
Mention any two factors that led to the growth
of the spirit of enquiry among the people of
Europe.
Answer
Two factors that led to the growth of the
spirit of enquiry among the people of Europe
were:

1. Role of original thinkers — During the

Medieval Age, the church discouraged
original thinking but certain bold and
independent thinkers who criticised the
church and their dogmas, came up. They
asked the people to developed their own
 thinking. Thinkers like Roger Bacon,
Abelard, Thomas Aquinas revolutionised the
thought process and laid stress on
reasoning.
2. Development of science — Certain
medieval scholar showed a scientific
attitude and asked their students to
observe things in nature. This brought in
many new inventions and discoveries.
Development of science created the spirit
of enquiry and scientific temper.

Question 6
How did the invention of the printing press
bring in a new awakening in Europe?
Answer
In the Middle Ages, books were few and they
were beyond the reach of the ordinary people.
The Printing Press enabled Europe to multiply
books and put them within the reach of people.
The printing press spread knowledge far and
wide. Scholars found it easier to read printed
books than hand-written manuscripts. Printing
and distribution of books influenced people's
attitude to life and brought about a new
awakening in Europe.

Question 7
Mention any two consequences of geographical
explorations.
Answer
Two consequences of geographical explorations
are:

1. The geographical discoveries led to the

establishment of trade between Europe and
the East.
2. They also paved the way for the process
of colonisation of Asia and Africa.

Question 8
Explain briefly the term 'Humanism'.
Answer
Humanism was regarded as the most remarkable
phenomena of Renaissance. It was a product of
the spread of education and learning. The word
humanism was derived from the Latin words
'Studia humanitatis' (the studies of mankind).
Basically it meant a decisive shift in concern
for human as distinct from divine matters.
Humanism extolled man and stressed his
essential dignity. It was centred on the man
of flesh and blood with all his earthly joys
and sorrows. It opposed religious asceticism.
It defended man's right to pleasure and the
satisfaction of earthly desires and
requirements.

Question 9
Why did Renaissance begin in Italy? Give two
reasons.
Answer
Renaissance began in Italy because of
following reasons:
 1. Italy was the seat of the glorious
Roman Empire and all the historical remains
and relics of the Romans were found there.
These attracted a number of scholars and
artists.
2. The enormous wealth which Italy had
accumulated as a result of trade with the
east also contributed to the rise of
Renaissance. The wealthy merchants of Italy
patronised the artists and literary figures
and used their wealth for the revival of
classical culture and literature.

Question 10
Renaissance artists tried to depict life on
canvas and stone. With reference to this
statement, describe the progress in the art of
painting.
Answer
The Renaissance painters established very high
standards and produced some of the greatest
paintings of the time. The artists of the
Renaissance period refused to abide by
medieval rules, tradition and adopted new
artistic methods such as frescoes for wall
pictures, oil colours and woodcuts. They
studied optics and geometry and used their
knowledge to develop perspective in their
paintings. They also studied human anatomy to
find the mechanism underlying gestures and
expressions. They had a humanistic secular
approach and produced highly artistic and life
like paintings.
Question 11
Mention the impact of the Renaissance in the
field of English literature.
Answer
The most significant impact of Renaissance on
literature was the use of local languages,
instead of Latin as in the Middle Ages.
Besides, there was a change of themes in the
literary work. Earlier writers dwelt on
spiritual themes including heaven. However,
during Renaissance, the authors wrote on man
and his problems. A number of english poets
and dramatists of repute were produced in
England. Some of the English writers of
Renaissance period were Geoffrey Chaucer,
Thomas More, Francis Bacon, William
Shakespeare, etc.

Question 12
Mention the theory introduced by Copernicus.
Answer
Copernicus introduced the Heliocentric theory.
It was about the model of the Universe. His
model of the universe placed the Sun rather
than the Earth at the centre of the universe.
Structured Questions

Question 1
Many factors contributed to usher in the
spirit of Renaissance, which had far-reaching
consequences for the entire world. In this
context, write short notes on:
(a) Invention of the printing press.
(b) Decline of Feudalism.
(c) Capture of Constantinople.
Answer
(a) Invention of the printing press — The
first printing press was set up in Germany by
Gutenberg in the middle of the 15th century.
Later on Caxton introduced it in England. The
invention of printing press in the middle of
the 15th century in Europe made it possible to
produce books in large numbers. The Bible and
many other religious and classical books were
printed and made available all over Europe.
The printing press spread knowledge far and
wide. Scholars found it easier to read printed
books than hand-written manuscripts. In the
Middle Ages, books were few and they were
beyond the reach of the ordinary people. The
Printing Press enabled Europe to multiply
books and put them within the reach of people.
Printing and distribution of books influenced
people's attitude to life and brought about a
new awakening in Europe.
(b) Decline of Feudalism — Feudalism was a
system according to which the medieval
European society was organised on the basis of
land tenure. In this system, all the people,
from the King down to the lowest land owners
were bound together by obligation and defence.
The King used to give estates to his lords
(Dukes and Earls). The Lords, distributed a
part of their land among the lesser lords
(Barons), who provided them with military
support. The Dukes and Earls owned allegiance
directly to the king, whereas the Barons owed
allegiance to Dukes and Earls. The Knights
formed the lower category of feudal lords. The
feudal lords did not cultivate their lands and
gave it to the peasants for cultivation.
The society had a graded organisation in which
there was hardly any chance for social
mobility and progress. It was also opposed to
freedom and equality of rights. Decline of
Feudalism in the 13th and 14th centuries
provided an impetus to free thinking. The
peace and freedom that prevailed after the
decline of feudalism favoured the growth of
New Learning. It led to new developments in
the spheres of art, literature, philosophy and
science and contributed to the rise of
Renaissance.
(c) Capture of Constantinople — Constantinople
was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire
and was a centre of Greek and Roman cultures.
It had valuable manuscripts of Greek and Roman
writers. But Constantinople fell into hands of
the Turks in 1453. Many Greek and Roman
scholars were thus, forced to shift to Rome
and other parts of Europe with their
manuscripts. Rome then became the centre of
Greek culture. These scholars were geniuses,
men of liberal outlook, humanism and logical
thinking. Wherever they went, they spread
their new spirit and ideas. They revived the
interest of people in the study of Greek
philosophy, science, art and literature. The
revival of the learning of Greek classics
paved the way for the Renaissance.

Question 2
Renaissance brought in a spirit of enquiry
among the people of Europe. In this context,
answer the following question:
(a) Explain briefly the role of original
thinkers in promoting the spirit of enquiry
among the people of Europe.
(b) How did the development of science create
the spirit of enquiry?
(c) What was the role of Crusades in ushering
in the spirit of enquiry?
Answer
(a) During the Medieval Age, the Church
discouraged original thinking and called upon
scholars to put faith in the Church dogmas.
However, original thinking could not be
suppressed for a long time and certain bold
and independent thinkers criticised the Church
and asked the people to develop their own
thinking. They developed a spirit of enquiry
and a sense of curiosity among the people.
They taught human beings to know the Why and
How of things. Thinkers like Roger Bacon,
Abelard, Thomas Aquinas revolutionised the
thought process and laid stress on reasoning.
(b) Certain medieval scholars showed a
scientific attitude and asked their students
to observe things in nature. This brought in
many new inventions and discoveries.
Development of science created the spirit of
enquiry and scientific temper. Roger Bacon
contemplated the use of horseless carriages
and flying machines. Copernicus proved that
the Earth moves around the Sun. Galileo
invented the telescope. These inventions
broadened the mental outlook of the people and
put an end to the old beliefs and traditions.
(c) The Crusades were the religious
expeditionary wars with the goal of restoring
the Church's access to holy places in and near
Jerusalem. They brought the people of Europe
into direct contact with the people of Asia.
The Crusades brought to Western Europe ideas
from the East. It widened their outlook on
life. People began to rely on reason rather
than on blind faith.

Question 3
Renaissance or rebirth brought about drastic
changes in art, literature and science. In
this context, wite short notes on the
following:
(a) Leonardo Da Vinci
(b) William shakespeare
(c) Copernicus
Answer
(a) Leonardo Da Vinci — Leonardo Da Vinci was
a great painter, sculpture, musician and a
scientist. Da Vinci's interests ranged far
beyond fine arts. He studied nature,
mechanics, anatomy, physics, architecture and
weaponry. He saw science and art as
complementary rather than distinct
disciplines, and thought that ideas formulated
in one realm could, and should, inform the
other. He spent a great deal of time immersing
himself in nature, testing scientific laws,
dissecting bodies (human and animals) and
thinking and writing about his observations.
In the early 1490s, Da Vinci started
documenting about four broad themes —
painting, architecture, mechanics and human
anatomy. He created thousands of pages of
neatly drawn illustrations. His paintings of
the 'Virgin of the Rocks', 'The Last Supper'
and 'Mona Lisa' are great masterpieces of art.
(b) William Shakespeare — He was an english
poet, playwright and actor who is widely
regarded as the greatest writer in the English
Language and the world's pre-eminent
dramatist. He is often called England's
national poet and the 'Bard of Avon'. He wrote
38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative
poems and a few other verses. His first plays
were mostly historical dramas like Richard II,
Henry VI and Henry V with the exception of
Romeo and Juliet. In his early period, he
wrote comedies like A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It and
Twelfth Night. After 1600, he wrote tragedies
like Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth.
William Shakespeare's work transcends culture
and history. He appeals to emotions and
thoughts that are a part of eternal human
nature and therefore, have a universal appeal.
(c) Copernicus — Nicolaus Copernicus was a
mathematician and astronomer. He formulated a
model of the universe that placed the Sun
rather than the Earth at the centre of the
universe. The publication of this model in his
book 'De revolutionibus orbium celestium' (On
the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres),
just before his death in 1543, is regarded as
a major event in the history of science,
triggering the Copernican Revolution. He
introduced the Heliocentric theory. This also
led to a series of discoveries by scientists
like John Kepler, Galileo and Isaac Newton.

Question 4
Study the picture given below and answer the
following questions:

(a) Identify the painting and name the artist

who made it. Name another famous painting by
the same artist.
(b) Write a short note on the artist who made
this painting.
(c) What changes occurred in the style of
painting as a result of the Renaissance spirit
in Europe?
Answer
(a) The given painting is 'The Last Supper' by
Leonardo Da Vinci. 'Mona Lisa' is the other
famous painting by him.
(b) Leonardo Da Vinci was a great painter,
sculpture, musician and a scientist. Da
Vinci's interests ranged far beyond fine arts.
He studied nature, mechanics, anatomy,
physics, architecture and weaponry. He refined
his skills of painting and sculpture and
trained in Mechanical arts under Andrea del
Verrocchio. He saw science and art as
complementary rather than distinct
disciplines, and thought that ideas formulated
in one realm could, and should, inform the
other. He spent a great deal of time immersing
himself in nature, testing scientific laws,
dissecting bodies (human and animals) and
thinking and writing about his observations.
In the early 1490s, Da Vinci started
documenting about four broad themes —
painting, architecture, mechanics and human
anatomy. He created thousands of pages of
neatly drawn illustrations. His paintings of
the 'Virgin of the Rocks', 'The Last Supper'
and 'Mona Lisa' are great masterpieces of art.
(c) The artists of the Renaissance period
refused to abide by medieval rules and
tradition. They adopted new artistic methods
such as frescoes for wall pictures, oil
colours and woodcuts. They studied optics and
geometry and used their knowledge to develop
perspective in their paintings. They also
studied human anatomy to find the mechanism
underlying gestures and expressions. They were
able to show their talent without being
restricted by the rigid rules of the church.
The Renaissance painters had a humanistic
secular approach and produced highly artistic
and life like paintings.
Thinking Skills

Question 1
Imagine that you went to Rome during the
period when the Renaissance movement was at
its peak. Describe the spirit of Renaissance
among the artists, scientists, authors and the
masses.
Answer
If I were to visit Rome during the peak of the
Renaissance movement, which spanned from the
14th to the 17th century, I would likely
observe a vibrant intellectual and artistic
scene that was characterized by a renewed
interest in the classical cultures of ancient
Greece and Rome. Here are some observations I
might make about the spirit of the Renaissance
among various groups:
Artists — The artists of the Renaissance were
deeply inspired by the art and architecture of
the classical world, and sought to emulate and
improve upon these ancient models. They were
also interested in creating more lifelike
representations of the human form and the
natural world, and developed new techniques
for achieving these aims, such as frescoes for
wall pictures, oil colours and woodcuts. They
studied optics and geometry and used their
knowledge to develop perspective in their
paintings and sculptures. Visitors to Rome
during this time would have seen works by some
of the most famous Renaissance artists, such
as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and
Raphael, who were all active in the city at
various points.
Scientists — Renaissance scientists were
similarly interested in the classical world,
but instead of focusing on art and
architecture, they sought to revive and build
upon the scientific knowledge of ancient
Greece and Rome. They used the methods of
enquiry, questioning, observation and
experimentation. They made significant
advancements in fields such as astronomy,
mathematics, and anatomy, and their work laid
the foundations for the scientific revolution
that would come later.
Authors — Writers during the Renaissance were
also deeply influenced by the classical world,
and often sought to emulate the style and
subject matter of ancient Greek and Roman
literature. They also began to write in the
vernacular languages of their own countries,
rather than in Latin, which had been the
dominant language of scholarly and literary
writing for centuries. The themes of their
writings shifted from spirituality and focused
more on man and his problems. This gave birth
to a new movement known as Humanism. I read
the works by authors such as Dante Alighieri,
Petrarch, and Giovanni Boccaccio, who were all
active during the early Renaissance.
Masses — I witnessed significant cultural and
social change for the broader population. The
rise of printing, for example, made books and
information more widely available than ever
before, and new forms of art and
entertainment, such as theater, became
popular. The decline of the authority of
Church and the feudal system strengthened the
desire of the people to have peace, security
and political stability. The middle class like
the traders, soldiers, lawyers, etc. began to
make rapid progress.

Question 2
How, according to you, the spirit of enquiry
has been an important factor in the growth and
development of human civilisation? Give
examples to support your answer.
Answer
The spirit of enquiry, or the human desire to
know the Why and How of things, has been a
driving force behind much of the growth and
development of human civilization. Here are
some examples of how this spirit of inquiry
has played a critical role in human progress:

1. Science and technology — The desire to

understand the natural world and find
practical solutions to problems has led to
significant advances in science and
technology. Some notable examples of
 scientific progress driven by the spirit of
inquiry include the discovery of
electricity, the invention of the steam
engine, the invention of the telescope, the
development of vaccines and antibiotics,
etc.
2. Philosophy and critical thinking — The
spirit of inquiry has also played a
critical role in the development of
philosophy and critical thinking.
Philosophers have asked fundamental
questions about the nature of reality,
ethics, and human existence, and their
ideas have influenced everything from
politics and law to art and literature. The
development of critical thinking skills,
such as the ability to analyze evidence,
identify logical fallacies, and evaluate
arguments, has also been essential for the
growth of human civilization.
3. Cultural and social progress — The
spirit of inquiry has driven cultural and
social progress as well. It has led to the
development of new art forms, literature,
and music, and has challenged traditional
beliefs and values. For example, the
Enlightenment of the 18th century was
driven by a spirit of inquiry that
challenged the authority of the church and
state and promoted reason, science, and
individual rights.
4. Exploration and discovery — Finally,
the spirit of inquiry has driven
exploration and discovery throughout human
history. Explorers and adventurers have
sought to understand the world beyond their
 borders, leading to the discovery of new
lands, cultures, and peoples. This spirit
of inquiry has also driven the exploration
of space, with humans setting foot on the
moon and launching spacecraft to explore
the far reaches of the solar system.

In each of these areas, the spirit of inquiry

has played a critical role in driving human
progress and development. It has allowed us to
push the boundaries of our knowledge and
understanding, and to continuously explore new
frontiers of human possibility.

Question 3
Do you think industrialisation would have been
possible without Renaissance? Give reasons to
support your answer.
Answer
No, I don't think industrialisation would have
been possible without Renaissance. Renaissance
was a critical period of intellectual and
technological development that laid the
foundations for many of the scientific and
technological advancements that were necessary
for industrialisation to occur.
The Renaissance saw significant advancements
in fields such as metallurgy, printing, and
shipbuilding, which were all critical to the
development of industrial technologies. The
development of new techniques for working with
metals, such as the blast furnace and the
Bessemer process, allowed for the production
of large quantities of steel, which was
essential for building machines, engines, and
other industrial infrastructure. The printing
press, developed during the Renaissance, made
it possible to disseminate information and
ideas on a massive scale, which was critical
to the spread of knowledge and technological
advancements. And the development of larger,
more efficient ships, such as those designed
by Leonardo da Vinci, made it possible to
transport goods and people over longer
distances, which was essential to the growth
of global trade and commerce.
Without these advancements and innovations, it
is unlikely that industrialisation would have
been possible, as many of the technologies and
infrastructure required for industrialisation
would not have been available. Therefore, it
can be said that the Renaissance was a
necessary precursor to industrialisation, and
that without the intellectual and
technological developments of the Renaissance,
industrialisation as we know it may not have
been possible.

Question 4
Compare and contrast the events in Europe with
what was happening in India at that time.
Answer
The Renaissance period in Europe began in the
14th century and lasted till the 17th century.
During this period, India saw the rule of the
Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal empire. Both
regions were marked by significant changes and
developments during this period, which would
have a lasting impact on their respective
histories and cultures. A comparative study of
the different aspects of each region's history
and development is presented below:

1. Political and Social Context — In

Europe, the Renaissance was a period of
significant political and social change,
with the rise of powerful monarchies and
the emergence of a new middle class. The
Protestant Reformation, which began in the
16th century, also challenged the authority
of the Catholic Church and led to
significant religious and social
disruption. In contrast, India during this
time was witnessing a fusion of the Indian
traditions with the Turkish culture which
led to the emergence of a new composite
culture incorporating the best elements of
the two.
2. Cultural and Intellectual Development —
The Renaissance in Europe was characterized
by a renewed interest in classical
learning, art, and literature, and by the
emergence of humanism, which emphasized the
value of human reason and creativity. This
led to significant advancements in fields
such as science, mathematics, and
philosophy. In contrast, India during the
period saw the emergence of new literary
forms, such as the development of Urdu
poetry, the Bijak, Padavali. The Bhakti
movement, Sufism and introduction of
Christianity greatly influenced the
culture, art and literature.
3. Architecture — During the Renaissance
period, European and Indian architecture
witnessed significant transformation, but
with notable differences. European
architecture was characterized by the use
of classical forms and motifs such as
columns, arches, and domes. In contrast,
Indian and Islamic architecture mingled to
give rise to a new type of Indo-Islamic
architecture characterised by spaciousness,
massiveness, majesty and width. Some
significant buildings built in Europe
during the Renaissance period were St.
Peter's Basilica, the Duomo of Florence and
the Palace of Versailles. In India,
magnificent monuments like Qutub Minar, Taj
Mahal, Red fort were constructed during
this period.
4. Economic Development — Europe during
the Renaissance saw significant economic
growth and development, with the emergence
of new industries and trade networks, and
the development of the first modern banking
and financial systems. In contrast, India
during this period was characterized by a
decline in trade and industry, as the
country was increasingly dominated by
European colonial powers.
5. Scientific and Technological
Advancements — The Renaissance in Europe
saw significant advancements in science and
technology, including the development of
new scientific theories and the creation of
new technologies such as the printing
press, which allowed for the spread of
knowledge and information on a mass scale.
In contrast, India during this period saw
relatively little scientific and
technological development, although there
were some significant advancements in
fields such as mathematics and astronomy.