Q.Name the two
sacrifices performed by the Kings during the Vedic times. 2
The two sacrifices performed by the kings during
Vedic times were :Rajasuya and Ashvamedha
Q. State any
two reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. 2
Two reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara
Empire :
(i) Successors of Krishnadeva Raya were troubled by
Nayakas.
(ii) Control at the Centre by 1542 shifted to new
lineage of Agavidu.
(iii) Clash with the Deccani Sultanates.
(iv) In 1565, Rama Raya’s defeat by the combined
Deccani forces andthe sack of Vijayanagar.
Q Mention two
main functions of the Village Panchayats in the 16th and
17th centuries in
India. 2
(i) To ensure that caste boundaries among the
various communitiesinhabiting the village were upheld.
(ii) Had the authority to levy times and inflict
most serious forms ofpunishment in case of this violation caste norms.
(iii) It supervised the preparation village
accounts.
(iv) It had to undertake welfare activities for the
village people.
Q. Why did
the Zamindars default on the payment of revenues under the
British government?
Give two reasons. 2
Zamindars defaulted on revenue payment : Reasons :
(i) The demand of revenue was very high.
(ii) The high demand was imposed at a time when the
agriculturalproduce were depressed and the peasants found it difficult topay
their dues to the zamindars.
(iii) Revenue was invariable and had to be paid
punctually.
Q. Explain any two
problems that historians may face while studying
autobiograhies.Problems faced by historians
while studying autobiographies :
(i) Autobiographies are
retrospective accounts very often from memory.
(ii) They tell us what the author could recollect or
what the authorsaw as important to write.
(iii) They may also be silent about certain
information which theauthor does not wish to write. State the Q.factors that helped Magadha emerge as the most powerful
Mahajanpada in the
6th century BCE. 4
Factors that helped Magadha emerge as most powerful
Mahajanapada.
According to modern historians :
(i) Very fertile region.
(ii) Iron mines in the region - accessible and used
for making weapons.
(iii) Elephants for the army available.
(iv) According to Buddhist and Jaina traditions -
ambitious rulers likeBimbisara, Ajatasatru etc.
(v) Capital Rajagaha was well fortified.
(vi) Pataliputra - commanded routes along the Ganga.
Q. “The
Begums of Bhopal played a significant role in preserving the remains
of Stupa at Sanchi.” Support this
statement with suitable evidence. 4
The Begums of Bhopal made significant contribution :
(1) In the 19th century, Europeans, first the French
and later theEnglish were interested to take away the eastern gateway of theStupa
to Paris and London museums.
(2) Shah Jehan Begum of Bhopal took a wise decision
to make aplaster cast copies to please the Europeans. This resulted in theoriginal
remain at the State.
(3) Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum financed
thepreservation of ancient site.
(4) Museum was built, publication of the volumes by
John Marshallwas funded.
(5) The Sanchi Stupa today stands as a testimony to
the marvelsof Indian architecture.
(6) The Sanchi Stupa as the most important Buddhist
centres has
greatly
helped in the understanding of early Buddhism.But for this timely and very wise
decision the fate of thisStupa could have been like that of Amaravati.
Q.Describe
the trade relations of the Harappans with West Asia. 4
‘The rules of the Brahmanical text were not
universally followed in
ancient time’.
Justify giving five evidence. 4
Harappans trade relation with West Asia.
Archaeological evidenceare suggestive of a possible trade relation with West
Asia :
(i) Copper was probably brought from Oman. As
chemical analysesof copper artefacts of Harappa and Oman contain trace ofnickel
of a common origin.
(ii) A distinctive Harappan jar, coated with layer
of black clay foundat Omani sites.
(iii) Mesopotamian text refer to copper coming from
Magan - a nameused for Oman.
(iv) Harappan seats, weights, dices and beads at
Mesopotamian sites.
(v) Mesopotamian text refers to a place Meluhha,
possibly theHarappan region, where from they got products like carmelian,lapiz
lazuli, copper, gold.
(vi) Depicting of ships and boats or seals.
Q.. ‘Bernier’s accounts influenced western theorists from the 18th
century’.Give arguments to support the statement. 4
Bernier’s account :
(i) Under the Mughals there was the practice of
crown ownershipof land and no private ownership of land or private property.This
led to lack of a class keen on agricultural improvement andconsequent
ruination. His ideas influenced the French philosopherMontesquieu to develop an
idea of oriental desposition, under whichthe people were kept in conditions of
subordination and poverty.
(ii) His accounts also influenced Karl Marx.
(iii) Karl Marx observes that before colonialism the
surplus productionwas appropriated by the state.
(iv) This led to autonomous village communities and
egalitarian society.This according to Marx was leading to a stagnant system.
Q.‘The rules of the
Brahmanical text were not universally followed in
ancient time’.
Justify giving five evidence.
Brahmanical texts were not universally followed in
ancient times :
(i) Gotra of women : Women were expected to give up
the gotraof the father after marriage. However, the women marriedSatvahana
rulers continued to have names derived from father’s
gotra. They did not adopt husband’s gotra.
(ii) Right occupation : Non-Kshatriya kings :
According to theShastras only Kshatriyas could become rulers. But there weremany
ruling families that claimed to be Brahmanas or Vaishyas.
(iii) There were population whose practices were not
influenced byBrahmanical ideas, such as Nishadas, nomadic pastoralists.
(iv) There were instances of multiple occupation of
the same caste,such as silk weavers of Mandasor.
(v) Instances of Chandalas not accepting the life of
degradationprescribed in the Shastras.
(vi) Rules of marriage : Sometimes marriage took
place outside thecaste, such as Bhima and Hidimba.
(vii) Gender property : Exceptions such as
Prabhavati Gupta.
(viii) Varna
and property rights.
Q.
What are the distinctive features of the Mughal mobility? Give any five. 4
Distinctive features of Mughal nobility :
(i) The important corps of officers of the Mughal
state was collectivelycalled the nobility.
(ii) Nobility was recruited from diverse ethnic and
religious groups.Turani, Irani, Rajputs, Shaikzadas, Hindu caste intellectuals
etc.
(iii) Held ranks (mansabs).
(iv) They participated in the military compaigns
with their armies andalso served as officers of the Empire.
(v) The nobility, gained power, wealth and
reputation by way ofimperial service.
Q. Why do you think
that the traditions of Baba Guru Nanak remain
significant
even in the 21st century? 4
Baba Guru Nanak traditions remain significant in the
21st century
because :
(i) His teachings were simple.
(ii) He rejected elaborate rituals, sacrifices,
image worship etc.
(iii) The absolute ‘rab’ had no gender or form. He
proposed a singleway to connect to the Divine by singing the hymns called ‘Shabad’.
(iv) He organised his followers into a community and
set up rules forcommunity worship.
(v) Even though according to Guru Nanak these
practices were notmeant to be a religion.
(vi) The hymns called ‘Gurbani’ are translated into
various language.His teachings appeal to the 21st century because of the
simplicity,practability and feeling of community.
Q. ‘The British
Government consciously developed the city of Madras toreflect their racial
superiority’. Justify the statement giving suitablearguments. 4
Development of city of Madras reflected the racial
superiority of the
British :
(i) Fort St. George became the nucleus of white
town.
(ii) Walls and bastions were built around the town.
(iii) Only white were allowed to live in within the
Fort.
(iv) Administration and judiciary also favoured
white population.
(v) Development of Madras followed the needs and
convenience ofthe minority whites in the town.
(vi) Black town developed outside the Fort.
Q. Describe the
events that led to the Non-Cooperation Movement. 4
Events leading to the Non-cooperation movement :
(1) The first world war and the laws introduced by
the British.
(2) Censorship of the Press.
(3) Introduction of Rowlatt act which permitted
detention without trial.
(4) Campaign against Rowlatt Act.
(5) Gandhiji detained while proceeding to Punjab.
(6) Prominent local Congressmen arrested.
(7) Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
(8) Success of Rowlatt Satyagraha.
(9) Gandhiji’s call for non-cooperation movement
Q. Describe any two
architectural styles used by the British in the
construction of
public buildings in Bombay. Give one example from
each. 4
The two architectural styles used by the British in
the construction of
public buildings in Bombay with one example each are
:
(1) Neo-classical on the new classical architectural
style. For example :The town Hall in Bombay.
(2) Italian architecture. For example Elphinstone
Circle later called asHorniman circle.
(3) Neo-Gothic architecture. For example the
Secretariat building,University of Bombay and High Court
Q. Assess the
impact of partition of India on Indian women. 4
Impact of partition of India on Indian women :
(1) Harrowing experience of women - Abduction, sold,
forced tosettle down to a new life etc.
(2) Government’s insensitivity to the feelings of
women.
(3) Women not allowed to voice their opinion.
(4) Killing of women in the name of saving honour of
women.
(5) Forcing women to commit suicide to save
themselves fromfalling into the hands of enemies.
(6) Dishonouring women of a community seen as
dishonouring the
community itself and a mode of taking revenge.
Q. Explain giving
examples how the accounts of foreign travellers help
in reconstructing
the history of India from the 10th to 17th century. 8
Account of foreign travellers help in reconstructing
the history of India :
(1) Most of the foreign travellers came from a
vastly different socialenvironment. So they were attentive to everyday
activities.
(2) These were taken for granted by indigenous
writers.
(3) Their difference in perspective make their
account interesting.
(4) Their comparisons with their own country -
outsider’s perceptions,made reconstruction of history more objective.
(5) Their accounts deal with affairs of the court,
religious issues,
architectural features. These enrich our knowledge
of the past.Three writers were Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta and Bermier :
(1) Al Biruni’s Kitab-ul Hind is simple and lucid -
deal with subjectssuch as religion, philosophy, astronomy etc.
(2) Al Biruni’s explaining the caste system by
looking for parallels inother societies and suggested that social diversions
were not uniqueto IndiaIbn Battuta’s book ‘Rihla’ - He travelled extensively in
India,
Centrel Asia and lived at the Court of Mohammad Bin
Tuglaq.
Recorded his observation meticulously about new
culture, people’s
beliefs and values.
(2) He gave fascinating details about Indian cities,
system ofcommunication and objects like paan and coconut.
(1) Bernier’s
book ‘Travels in Mughal Empire’.
(2) His account is marked by detailed observation,
critical insightsand reflections.
(3) A comparison with contemporary Europe.
(4) Account on land ownership, artisanal activities,
trade and women.
Q.Explain giving
examples the connection between the State and the
Bhakti tradition
and the State and the Sufi tradition. 4+4 = 8
Relation between the Bhakti tradition and the state
:Bhakti and state :
(1) One of the earliest Bhakti movement were led by
Alvars andNayanars in the southern part of India.
(2) Prior to the Bhakti traditions Buddhism and
Jainism were alsoprevalent in these regions which received royal/state
patronage.
(3) The Bhakti saints in their composition opposed
Jainism andBuddhism. This opposition mainly emerged due to state patronage.As a
result some of the rulers of southern kingdom like the
Cholas who supposed the earlier Brahmanical
traditions supportedBhakti traditions.
(4) They made land grants.
(5) Constructed temples for Vishnu and Shiva.
(6) Bronze sculpture of Shiva, one of the finest
specimen of Indian art.
(7) Both Nayanars and Alvars were reversed by the
rich Vellalapeasants and the Chola kings in turn tried to win their support.
(8) The Chola kings to claim divine support and also
to reveal theirpower, built temples adorned with the image the saints where thepeople
worshipped.
(9) The kings also introduced the singing of Tamil
hymns in temples underroyal patronage.
(10) In North
India deities such as Vishnu and Shiva were worshippedin the temples often
built with the support of rulers.
Sufi and the state :
(1) The Chishti tradition was austere but it did not
isolate politicalpower.
(2) The sufis accepted unsolicited grants and
donation from thepolitical elites and the Sultans in turn set up charitable
trustsand granted tax-free land.
(3) The donations given to the Chishtis were used by
them to meettheir immediate requirements for food, clothes, living of quarters,ritual
necessities etc.
(4) The moral high status of the Sufi saints
attracted people from allwalks of life. The kings in town wished to secure
their support.
(5) The Turkish sultans not only associated
themselves with the Sufisbut also sought their legitimation especially because
the majoritywere non-muslims.
(6) The Sultans also came to depend on the sufis to
interpret the Shara.
(7) It was believed that Auliya could intercede with
god to improve thematerial and spiritual conditions of the people. As a result
the kingsgot the shrines of the sufis built near their tombs.
(8) There were also instances of conflict between
the sufis and theSultan.
(9) To assert their authority both expected certain
rituals performedike kissing of the feet etc.
18. Explain the
development since March, 1946 that led to the Partition
of India. 8
The developments that led to the Partition of India
:
(1) Recommendations of Cabinet Mission.
(2) Initial acceptance by major political parties
but the agreementwas short lived.
(3) Mutually opposed interpretation of the plan.
(4) Inevitability of the partition.
(5) Announcement of “Direct Action Day” by Muslim
League.
(6) Break of riots, followed by spread of violence
in many parts ofNorth India.March 1947, Congress voting to divide Punjab and
Bengalwith Hindu/Muslim/Sikh majority.
(8) More and more Congressmen and groups getting
convinced aboutthe necessity of partition.
(9) Unabated continuation of communal violence.
(10) All this led to the conclusion that partition
was a necessary evil.
Examine any four major issues that went into the
making of the Indian
Constitution. 4×2 =
8
The major issues that went into the making of the
Indian Constitution :
(1) Political democracy along with socio-economic
justice (right tovote along with equality and justice).
(2) Sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic
Republic.
(3) Issue of depressed classes and untouchability.
(4) Reservation of seats along with joint electorate
(rejected the ideaof separate electorate which was based on divide and rule
policy).
(5) Minorities protection.
(6) Protection of tribals.
(7) Centralised federation to promote the idea of
unity in diversity.
(8) Reorganisation of states on linguistic pattern
in accordance withpopular demand.
(9) Hindi - as official language along with use of
English for officialpurpose.
PART D – Passage Based Questions
Read the following passage given carefully. Answer
the questions that follow them.
19. Draupadi’s marriage
Drupada, the king of Panchala, organised a
competition where the challengewas to string a bow and hit a target; the winner
would be chosen to marryhis daughter Draupadi. Arjuna was victorious and was
garlanded byDraupadi. The Pandavas returned with her to their mother Kunti,
who,even before she saw them, asked them to share whatever they had got.She
realised her mistake when she saw Draupadi, but her command couldnot be
violated. After much deliberation, Yudhisthira decided that Draupadi
would be their common wife.When Drupada was told
about this, he protested. However, the seerVyasa arrived and told him that the
Pandavas were in reality incarnationsof India, whose wife had been reborn as
Draupadi, and they were thusdestined for each other.Vyasa added that in another
instance a young woman had prayed to Shivafor a husband, and in her enthusiasm,
had prayed five times instead ofonce. This woman was now reborn as Draupadi,
and Shiva had fulfilledher prayers. Convinced by these stories, Drupada
consented to themarriage.
(i) What was the
competition organised by the Panchala King Drupadafor the marriage of his
daughter?
(ii) What two
explanations were given by Vyasa to convince KingDrupada for Draupadi being the
common wife of the Pandavas?
(iii) What form of
marriage was Draupadi’s marriage to the Pandavas’?Give two views of historians
about this form of marriage.
(I)Drupada, the King of Panchala, organised a
competition wherethe challenge was to string a bow and hit a target, the winnerwould
be chosen to marry his daughter. 2 marks
(ii) (a) Pandavas were in reality incarnations of
Indra, whose wifehad been reborn as Draupadi and they were thus destinedfor
each other.
(b) Draupadi was the young woman who had prayed to
Shivafor a husband and in her enthusiasm, had prayed five timesinstead of once.
Shiva had fulfilled her prayers.
(iii) (a) Polyandry.
(b) The two views of the historians are :
(i) Polyandry may have been prevalent amongst ruling
elitesat certain point of time.
(ii) Gradually it might have fallen into disfavour
amongst theBrahmanas.
The world beyond the palace
Just as the Buddha’s teachings were compiled by his
followers, theteaching of Mahavira were also recorded by his disciples. These
wereoften in the form of stories, which could appeal to ordinary people. Hereis
one example, from a Prakrit text known as the Uttaradhyayana Sutta,describing
how a queen named Kamalavati tried to persuade her husbandto renounce the world
:If the whole world and all its treasures were yours, you would not besatisfied,
nor would all this be able to save you. When you die, O kingand leave all
things behind, dhamma alone, and nothing else, will saveyou. As a bird
dislikes the cage, so do I dislike (the world), I shall liveas a nun without
offspring without desire, without the love of gain, andwithout hatred ...Those
who have enjoyed pleasures and renounced them, move about like
the wind, and go wherever they please, unchecked
like birds as their flight.Leave your large kingdom ... abandon what pleases
the senses, be withoutattachment and property, then practise severe penance,
being firm ofenergy ...
(i) Name the text
from which this excerpt has been taken. What is
the language of the
text?
(ii) What all did
queen Kamalavati ask the king to renounce?
(iii) Describe the
main principles of Jainism.
The name of text - Uttaradhyayana Sutta. The language
is Prakrit.
(ii) Queen Kamalavati asked her husband to renounce
the world, thekingdom, abandon what pleases senses, be without attachmentand
property and renounce all pleasures. 2 marks
(iii) Main principles :
(a) Entire world is animated : Even stones, rocks
and water havelife.
(b) Non-injury to living beings, especially to
humans, animals,plants and insects.
(c) Cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through
Karma.
(d) Asceticism and penance are required to free
oneself fromthe cycle of Karma.
(e) Monastic existence is a necessary condition of
salvation.
(f) Jaina monks and nuns took five vows : to abstain
fromkilling, stealing and lying; to observe celibacy and to abstainfrom
possessing property.
20. How tanks were built
About a tank constructed in Vijaynagara, Paes wrote
:The king made a tank ... at the mouth of two hills so that all the waterwhich
comes from either one side or the other collects there; and, besidesthis, watercomes
to it from more than three leagues (approximately kilometres) by pipes which
run along the lower parts of the range outside.This water is brought from a
lake which itself overflows into a little river.
The tank has three large pillars handsomly carved
with figures; theseconnect above with certain pipes by which they get water
when theyhave to irrigate their gardens and rice-fields. In order to make this
tank the said king broke down a hill ... In the tank I saw so many people atwork
that there must have been fifteen or twenty thousand men like ants
...
(i) Name the king
associated with the construction of the tank.
(ii) How did the water
get collected in the tank?
(iii) Why do you
think that so many people were engaged the
construction of the
tank?
(iv) What were the
other sources of water for Vijayanagara?
Krishnadeva Raya.
(ii) (a) The tank was made at the mouth of two hills
and thus thewater which came from each side fell there.
(b) Water also reached the tank from pipelines which
wereas long as three kms.
(c) The water was also brought from the lake which
drainedinto the river and which then drained into the tank. 3 marks
(iii) There were so many people working on the
construction of thetank because it only helped them further, by the
construction ofthe tank they would be able to irrigate their gardens and rice
fields, they would all tremendously benefit from the water tank. 2 marks
(iv) (a) The lake which drained into a river which
was an alternativesource of water.
(b) Pipelines which were well connected throughout
the kingdom.
21. A ryot petitions
This is an example of a petition from a ryot of
the village of Mirajgaon,Taluka Karjat, to the Collector, Ahmednagar, Deccan
Riots Commission:The sowkars (sahukars) ... have of late begun to
oppress us. As wecannot earn enough to defray our household expense, we are
actuallyforced to beg of them to provide us with money, clothes and grain,
whichwe obtain from them not without great difficulty, nor without their
compellingus to enter into hard conditions in the bond. Moreover, the necessaryclothes
and grain are not sold to us at cash rates. The prices asked fromus are
generally twenty-five or fifty per cent more than demanded fromcustomers making
ready money payments... The produce of our fieldsis also taken by the sowkars
who at the time of removing it assure usthat it will be credited to our
account, but they do not actually make anymention of it in the accounts. They
also refuse to pass us any receiptsfor the produce so removed by them.
(i) What were the
four grievances of the peasants?
(ii) Give one norm
that regulated the relationship between the money
lender and the
ryot?
(iii) What was the ‘Limitation
Law’? How was it manipulated by the
money lender?
(i)Peasants were oppressed by Sowkars.They were not
sold clothes and grain in cashThe prices were generally twenty-five or fifty
percent more thandemanded from customers making payment in cash.
The produce from their fields were also taken by
Sowkars.No receipt for the produce was given to the peasants.
(ii) Interest charged could not be more than the
principal. 1 marks
(iii) • The Limitation Law stated that the loan
bonds figured betweenmoney lenders and ryots would have validity for only three
years.
• The money lenders turned the law around forcing
the ryot tosign a new bond every three years, entering the unpaid balance as
the Principal. A new set of interest was calculated.
The Azamgarh Proclamation, 25
August, 1857
This is one of the main sources
of our knowledge about what the rebels wanted :
Section III – Regarding Public Servants :
It is not a secret thing, thatunder the British Government, natives employed in
the civil and militaryservices have little respect, low pay, and no manner of
influence; andall the posts of dignity and emolument in both the departments
areexclusively bestowed on Englishmen, ... Therefore, all the natives in theBritish
service ought to be alive to their religion and interest, and abjuringtheir
loyalty to the English, side with the Badshahi Government, and obtainsalaries
of 200 and 300 rupees a month for the present, and be entitledto high posts in
the future.....
Section IV – Regarding Artisans. It is evident
that the Europeans, bythe introduction of English articles into India, have
thrown the weavers,the cotton dressers, the carpenters, the blacksmiths, and
the shoemakers,etc., out of employ, and have engrossed their occupations, so
that everydescription of native artisan has been reduced to beggary. But under
theBadshahi Government the native artisans will exclusively be employedin the
service of the kings, the rajahs, and the rich; and this will no doubtensure
their prosperity. Therefore, these artisans ought to renounce theEnglish
services.
(i) How did the
introduction of English articles affect the artisans?
(ii) How would the
conditions of the artisans improve under the
Badshahi Governmnt?
(iii) Why were the
Public servants dissatisfied with the British
Government?
(iv) What did the
rebel proclamation repeatedly appeal for?
(i)Effects on kisans :
• They became unemployed.
• Reduced to beggary. 2 marks
(ii) Under Badshahi government :
• Native artisans were exclusively employed in the
service of thekings, the rajahs and the rich.
• This ensured their prosperity. 2 marks
(iii) Dissatisfaction of public servants :
• They had little respect.
• Low pay.
• No manner of influence. 2 marks
(iv) Rebel proclamation repeatedly appealed :
• To all sections of the population.
• It addressed to the sentiments of Hindus and
Muslims andharked back to the pre-British Hindu-Muslim past andglorified the
existence of different communities.
• Under the name of Bahadur Shah they appealed to
the peopleto join the fight under the standard of both Muhammad andMahavir.
