Category: CBSE Class 12

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 12 Colonial Cities: Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 12 Colonial Cities: Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture

Question 1.
Name three Presidency cities established by the British.
Answer:
Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

Question 2.
Who gave Bombay to the British East India Company in 1661 A.D.?
Answer:
Bombay was given to the company in 1661 A.D. by the English King.

Question 3.
Name the important centres of imperial administration and central during the Mughal Empire.
Answer:
Agra, Delhi and Lahore.

Question 4.
Which south Indian cities were femous for their temples?
Answer:
Madurai and Kanchipuram.

Question 5.
What is Qasbah?
Answer:
Qasbah is a small town in the countryside, often the seat of a local notable.

Question 6.
What is meant by Ganj?
Answer:
Ganj refers to a small fixed market.

Question 7.
When and where did the different Europeans establish their base in India?
Answer:
Portugues in Panaji in 1510, the Dutch in Masulipatnam in 1605, the British in Madras in 1639 and the French in Pondicherry in 1673.

Question 8.
Why did the importance of Surat, Masulipatnam and Dhaka decline during the British period?
Answer:
Due to shifting of trade to other places such as Madras, Bombay and Calcutta. .

Question 9.
How did the British try to raise money for administering towns?
Answer:
Through the systematic annual collection of municipal taxes.

Question 10.
How much was the urban population in India in 1900 and 1940?
Answer:
10 per cent in 1900 and 13 per cent in 1940.

Question 11.
When was railway introduced in India?
Answer:
In 1853 A.D.

Question 12.
Name three cities developed as railway towns. ,
Answer:
Jamalpur, Waltair and Bareilly.

Question 13.
When did the decennial (conducted every ten years) census become a regular feature in India ? Also, tell its importance.
Or
When was the first All India Census attempted ? Mention two of its early aims. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
The first All-India census was attempted in the year 1872. However, the decennial census became a regular feature since 1881. This collection of data is an invaluable source to study urbanisation in India.

Question 14.
What factors helped in the establishment of industries in Bombay and Calcutta in the middle of the 19th century ?
Answer:
(i) These cities were linked to the whole country by the expanding network of railways.
(ii) There was an availability of cheap labour. Therefore, it was convenient to set up new factories in these towns.

Question 15.
What were the two important industrial cities of India in the nineteenth century ? What was manufactured there ?
Answer:
In the nineteenth century, there were two main industrial cities, that is, Kanpur and Jamshedpur. Kanpur was famous for leather, woollen and cotton textiles. But Jamshedpur was known for the production of steel.

Question 16.
What were the objectives of early hill- stations ?
Or
How were the hill-stations a distinctive feature of colonial urban development ? Give two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
(i) The initial hill-stations served the needs of the British army.
(ii) They served as places to stay troops, guard frontiers and launch campaigns against enemy rulers.

Question 17.
How important were the hill- stations for colonial economy ?
Or
Why were hill stations important for colonial economy ? Give any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D))
Or
Why did the hill stations become an ideal destination for the British and Europians? Give any one’reason. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.D.))
Answer:
Hill stations were very important for colonial economy on account of the following reasons:
(i) They had tea and coffee plantations in their vicinity.
(ii) There was an influx of immigrant labour from the plains as these hill-stations provided many opportunities for jobs.

Question 18.
What was the Lottery Committee of Calcutta (1817) ?
Or
Give any two functions of the Lottery Committee in the context of colonial Calcutta (Kolkata). (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Or
Name the region where the lottery committee initiated town planning ‘. during the 18th century. Mention any ‘one feature of it. (C.B.S.E. 2015 (O.D.))
Answer:
The Lottery Committee was set up at Calcutta in 1817 after the departure of Lord Wellesley. It carried on the work of town planning with the help of the government. It was named as the Lottery Committee because it raised funds through public lotteries. However, it used these funds for the improvement of the town.

Question 19.
What did the city of Bombay gain by the opening of Suez Canal in 1869 ?
Answer:
(i) The opening of the Suez Canal strengthened the links of Bombay with the entire world economy.
(ii) It developed Bombay as the most important city of India. In fact, Bombay was declared as the Urbs Prima in India-a Latin phrase, which meant that Bombay was a great city of India.

Question 20.
What is the importance of architecture for students of history ?
Answer:
Architecture helps in giving shape to our ideas with the help of stone, brick, wood or plaster. Social relations and identities are reflected in many ways through the bunglow of the government officers, the palatial house of the rich merchant to the humble hut of the labourer.

Question 21.
Name two buildings each made in Neo-Gothic and Indo-Saracenic styles during colonial period.
Answer:
(i) Neo-Gothic Style : The Secretariat, University of Bombay and High Court.
(ii) Indo-Saracenic Style : Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Hotel.

Question 22.
Name two buildings of Neo-Gothic style and name those Indians who donated money for these buildings.
Answer:
(i) University Hall: Sir Cowas Jee Jehangir Readymoney.
(ii) Rajabai Tower : Premchand Roychand.

Question 23.
Mention any two characteristic features of the “middle classes” in the new colonial cities under the British. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) The middle class had an access to new education centres like schools, colleges and libraries.
(ii) As they were educated, they could express their views in newspapers, journals and social gatherings. It helped in the creation of new public environment.

Question 24.
Who were the Dubashes in colonial cities ? Explain one function they performed. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
In the colonial cities, the Dubashes were those people who spoke in both the local language and English language. They used to act as agents or traders. They acted as mediators between the British and Indian society. They constructed their houses in traditional way near the markets of the Black Town.

Question 25.
Mention two changes that were seen in the network of trade in the urban centres from the mid 18th century. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Traders migrated from the old Mughal centres to new centres in search of work and patronage.
(ii) Importance of commercial centres like Dhaka, Surat, etc., declined when trade shifted to other places, like Bombay.

Question 26.
Mention two features of the Fort St. George of White Town, where most of the Europeans lived. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) The white towns were those parts of the colonial towns where the white people lived. The cantonment areas were also developed at safe places.
(ii) They had wide roads, barracks, churches and parade grounds. Besides, they had big bungalows as well as gardens.

Question 27.
Mention two fears of Conservatives in introducing social changes in the new cities built by the British. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Conservatives feared that the British could destroy their social customs.
(ii) They also feared that the British could convert them to Christians.

Question 28.
Who were Dubashes ? What did they do in Madras (now Chennai) ? (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Dubashes were those Indians who knew the local language and English language. They also worked as agents and traders and played the role of mediocres between Indian society and the British.

Question 29.
How was the separation between town and country fluid ? State any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Peasants travelled long distances to visit pilgrimage and they went through towns.
(ii) They generally collected in towns at the time of a famine.

Question 30.
Mention two new transport facilities introduced in the new colonial cities and also one important effect of it. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) In 1853, railways was introduced, which completely changed the outlook of cities. It connected colonial city with the rest of India.
(ii) New facilities lead to the development of ship industry.

Question 31.
Mentioh two characteristics of Neo-Gotbic style of architecture for publie buildings (C.B.S.E 2010,2o14 (OD))
Answer:
(i) The building constructed in this style had high pitched roofs, pointed arches and extensive decoration.
(ii) This style was adopted in the construction of churches in northern Europe during the medieval period

Question 32.
How did the introduction of .’railway in 1853 bring a change in the ‘ fortunes: of towns ? Mention any two changes. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Or
Analyse how did the introduction of the railways by the British prone advantageous for the Indians in the late nineteenth century. (C.B.S.E. 2015 (D))
Answer:
(i) The centre of economic activities started to move away from traditional centres because these towns were near to old routes and rivers.
(ii) Each railway station became a centre of collection of raw material and distribution of imported items.

Question 33.
Mention two characteristics of neoclassical style of architecture for public buildings in India during the British period. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
(i) First characteristic of it was the construction of geometrical structures fronted with lofty pillars.
(ii) It was delved from a style that was originally typical of buildings in ancient Rome. It was considered particularly appropriate for the British Empire in India.

Question 34.
Mention the significance of census operation undertaken by the British in India. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (D))
Answer:
Census data helped the British to undertake development works in new cities. This census data was also a valuable source to study the development of urbanisation in India.

Question 35.
Why did paupers from rural areas flock to the cities ? Mention any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Paupers from rural areas flocked to the cities in the hope of employment.
(ii) Some saw cities as places of opportunity, others were attracted by the allure of a different way of life.

Question 36.
Why were Kanpur and Jamshedpur known . as prosper “Industrial Cities” ? (Give any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
Kanpur and Jamshedpur were known as prosper industrial cities, because:
(i) Kanpur was specialised in the production of leather, woollen and cotton textiles.-
(ii) Jamshedpur was specialised in steel production.

Here we are providing Class 12 History Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara. Class 12 History Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 History Chapter 7 Important Extra Questions An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Who founded the ruins of Hampi?
Answer:
Colonel Colin MacKenzie founded the ruins of Hampi.

Question 2.
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E.?
Answer:
Two brothers Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 A.D.

Question 3.
Which European company arrived on the Indian scene in 1498 A.D.?
Answer:
The Portugues.

Question 4.
Who was the most powerful ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Answer:
Krishnadeva Raya.

Question 5.
When did Krishnadeva Raya die?
Answer:
In 1529 A.D.

Question 6.
Between whom the battle of Rakshasi- Tangadi was fought?
Answer:
Between Vijayanagara and the combined forces of Bijapur Ahmadnagar and Golconda.

Question 7.
Name the major political innovation of the Vijayanagara empire.
Answer:
The system of Amara-Nayakas.

Question 8.
Who were the Amara-Nayakas?
Answer:
They were the military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya or the Kings.

Question 9.
What is Mahanavami dibba?
Answer:
It was the massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 feet to a height of 40 feet.

Question 10.
Where did kings meet advisers?
Answer:
At Lotus Mahal.

Question 11.
Which temple was used by the King and his family?
Answer:
Hazara Rama Temple.

Question 12.
When and by whom was the ‘ Vijayanagara Empire founded? Also, explain its expansion.
Or
Who founded the Vijayanagara ‘.Empire in 1336 C.E.? (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Two brothers namely Harihara and Bukka laid the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E. It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

Question 13.
Name different dynasties that ruled over Vijayanagara.
Answer:

1. Sangam dynasty
2. Saluva dynasty
3. Tuluva dynasty
4. Aravind dynasty.

Question 14.
What was the period of rule by Krishna Deva Raya? Which two cities of Bahmani Kingdom were controlled by him?
Answer:
Krishna Deva Raya ruled from 1509 to 1529 C.E. He had controlled both Gulbarga and Bidar.

Question 15. Between whom was the battle of Talikota (Rakshasi Tangadi) fought? Name the Kingdom defeated in this battle.
Or
What was the battle of ‘Rakshasi Tangadi’ (Talikota)? (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Or
Examine the outcome of the battle of Rakshasi – Tangadi (Talikota). (C.B.S.E. 2017 (O.D.))
Answer:
The battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the organization of Sultans of Deccan and ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. The Kingdom of Vijayanagara was defeated in this battle.

Question 16.
How did the name Hampi (another name for Vijayanagara) come into use? When and who discovered its ruins?
Answer:
Hampi was another name for Vijayanagara. This name was derived from the local mother goddess named Pampadevi. The ruins of Hampi were discovered in 1800 C.E. by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer, and antiquarian. In fact, Colin Mackenzie was an employee of the English East India Company.

Question 17.
Who was Amara-Nayakas? Identify any two works done by them.
Or
Who were the Amara-Nayakas under the Rayas in Vijayanagara? What did they do? (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
Amara-Nayakas were the military commanders of Vijayanagara. They performed the following works :

• They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, traders, and craft persons.
• They provided an effective fighting force to the rulers of Vijayanagara.

Question 18.
Give any two features of Mahanavami Dibba of Vijayanagara.
Answer:

1. Mahanavami Dibba is a massive platform located on one of the highest points in the city. It supported a wooden structure as well.
2. The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings.

Question 19.
Mention any two ceremonies performed on the occasion of Mahanavmi Dibba. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:

1. Worship of the image
2. Worship of the State horse

Question 20.
Mention the two most striking features about the geographical location of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:

1. The most striking feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in a northeasterly direction.
2. The huge fortification was another major feature of Vijayanagara.

Question 21.
Mention the rituals associated with Mahanavmi Dibba, situated in the Royal Centre of Vijayanagar. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:

• Worship of the image
• Worship of the State horse
• The sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.

Question 22.
What was the Battle of ‘Rakshasi Tangadi’ (Talikota)? How was this battle responsible for the decline of Vijayanagara?
Answer:
The Battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the combined forces of the Deccan Sultans and the ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. In this battle Vijayanagara was defeated which led to the decline of Vijayanagara.

Question 23.
Which dynasty did Krishna Deva Raya belong to? Mention any one of his expansion and consolidation (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Krishna Deva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty. Till 1512 C.E. he took control over the areas between Tungabhadra and Krishna river. Then he suppressed the rulers of Orissa (Odisha).

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
Give a brief description of ceremonies and special attractions related to Mahanavami Dibba of the city of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Rituals associated with this structure probably coincided with Mahanavami of the ten-day Hindu festival during the months of September and October, known variously as Dushera in northern India, Durga Pooja in Bengal and Navaratri in peninsular India. The rulers of Vijayanagara displayed their power, prestige and sovereignty on this occasion.

Main ceremonies associated with this occasion were the worship of the image, worship of the State horse, the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals, etc.

Main attractions of this occasion were

1. Dances,
2. Wrestling matches,
3. Procession of caparison horses, elephants and chariots and soldiers,
4. Ritual presentation by Nayaks and the subordinate kings before the king and his guests to mark the occasion. These ceremonies had great symbolic meaning. King used to inspect his army and armies of the Nayaks in a grand ceremony in an open field on the last day of the festival. Nayaks, on this occasion, used to bring rich gifts and stipulated tribute for the king.

Question 2.
Comment on the Lotus Mahal and Hazara Ram Temple of Vijayanagara.
Or
Give a brief description of Lotus Mahal, situated in the Royal Centre in the Vijayanagara empire. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Lotus Mahal: The royal centre of Vijayanagara had a very beautiful building. It was named as the Lotus Mahal by a British traveller in the nineteenth century. It seems to be a romantic name. However, it is still not clear to many historians what the building was used for. Mackenzie considered it to be a council chamber, a place where the king used to meet his advisers.

Hazara Rama Temple: This temple had a spectacular architecture. It was probably used only by the king and his family. No image has been found in this temple. But it had sculpted panels on the walls. These included the scenes from the Ramayana on the inner walls.

Question 3.
For what purpose were the halls of the Virupaksha temple used? What were the features of the chariot streets that existed in the temple complexes?
Or
How were the halls in Virupaksha Temple used? Mention any two purposes, (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Or
“The Virupaksha Temple developed as significant architectural, religions and cultural centre.” Explain the statement with suitable examples. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (D))
Answer:
The Virupaksha Temple was built in the ninth-tenth centuries. It had a hall in front of the main shrine. This hall was constructed by Krishna Deva Raya to mark his accession to the throne. Such halls were used for a variety of purposes. In some of these halls, the images of gods were placed. In a few other halls, special programmes of music, dance and drama were held. Few other halls were used to celebrate the marriages of deities. In some other halls, the swings of the deities were installed.

The chariot streets extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line. They were paved with slabs of stone. They had lines of pillared pavilions wherein the merchants set up their shops.

Question 4.
Who were Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas? Describe their role in the administration of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas were the military chiefs and military commanders respectively of Vijayanagara kingdom.

Role of Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas in Administration:

Nayaks: Nayakas generally controlled the forts and had armed supporters with them. They moved from one place to another and were sometimes accompanied by peasants in search of fertile land. They generally spoke Telugu and Kannada languages. Many Nayakas surrendered to the authority of the rulers of Vijayanagara. But they often rebelled and had to be suppressed by military actions.

Amara-Nayakas: The Amara-Nayakas were military commanders. They were given territories by Rayas to govern. They used to collect taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons and traders. They used to keep some portion of the revenue with them for their personal use and for maintaining a fixed number of horses and elephants.

They used to submit the rest of the revenue in the state treasury. Their contingents used to provide military help to Vijayanagara rulers if any need arose. Through their help, rulers controlled the whole of the southern peninsula. Some portion of revenue was spent on temple and maintenance of the means of irrigation.

Question 5.
Explain the reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Answer:
The following are the reasons for the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire :

1. All the power of the state was vested in the hands of the king. The people had no role in the administration of the state. So they did not help the king at the time of crisis.
2. The successors of Krishna Deva Raya were troubled by rebellious Nayakas or military chiefs. These rebellions weakened the position of the king.
3. All the successors of Krishna Deva Raya were very weak. They had to fight many wars against the Deccan Sultanates. All these harmed the Vijayanagara Empire.
4. There was an alliance of the Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
5. The central control had shifted to another ruling lineage, that of the Aravidu in the 17th century.
6. In 1565 C.E., Rama Raya, the Chief Minister of Vijayanagara, fought a war against the combined armies of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda at Talikota. He lost this war and was also killed. After his defeat, the victorious armies ransacked the whole city of Vijayanagara and the city was totally abandoned within a year.

Question 6.
Explain the administration of the rulers of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
The main features of the administration of Vijayanagara were as follows :

1. The chief of the central administration in Vijayanagara was the king. He held all the powers of administration. There was also a provision of the council to help the king.
2. The state of Vijayanagara was divided into 200 provinces. The chief of the province was called the Prantpati who belonged to the royal family and at times too powerful and wealthy families.
3. For the convenience of the Prantpatis, every province was divided into districts and the districts were divided into Parganas which were further divided into villages.
4. There was a provision for a powerful army for the protection of the state. It had horses and soldiers.
5. The chief judge of the state was the king himself. In provinces, the Prantpati or subedar delivered justice. The punishments were very severe.
6. The land revenue was the main source of income of the state. The farmers had to pay 1/6 to l/4th of the produce of the crop as the land revenue. The economic condition of the farmers was good. They enjoyed all the comforts of life.

Question 7.
Explain how Krishan Deva ‘Raya’s death affected the Vijayanagar empire. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Or
“Strain began to show within the imperial structure following Krishna Deva Raya’s death in 1529.” Critically •
examine the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Or
Why did strain begin to show within; ‘ the imperial structure after the death • of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529? (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Or
Why did the imperial power of Vijayanagara decline after the death of Krishna Deva Raya?
Answer:
After the death of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529, the royal structure witnessed tensions. The royal inheritors had to face opposition from rebellious heroes and commanders. As a result, the control of Aravidu Dynasty was established over Vijayanagara by 1524 C.E. It held its control over the royal authority till the 17th century. Even during this period, the relations between the rulers of Vijayanagara and the Sultans of the Deccan remained strained because they nurtured ambitions which vacillated balance between the two times and again.

At last, friendship was established between the rulers of Vijayanagara and the Sultans of the Deccan. In 1565, the army of Vijayanagara, under the leadership of Prime Minister Rama Raya fought at Talikota. Here it was defeated by the armies of the Sultans of Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Golconda. The victorious soldiers attacked Vijayanagara and plundered it. The city was completely destroyed in a few years. Now the centre of empire moved towards the East. Here, the Aravidu Dynasty ruled from Penunkonda and after it Chandragiri near Tirupati.

Question 8.
Describe the significance of temple building in the Sacred Centre of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Temple building in the region had a long history going back to dynasties like Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Hoysalas. Rulers generally encouraged temple building to associate themselves with the divine. Often the deity was implicitly or explicitly identified with the king. Temples also functioned as centres of learning. Rulers often granted land or money for the maintenance of temples. As a result, temples developed as important social, religious, cultural and economic centres. For rulers, construction, repair and maintenance of temples were important means of winning support and recognition for their power, wealth and piety.

It is quite possible that the choice of Vijayanagara site was encouraged by the existence of the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. In fact, the Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha.

Many new elements were innovated in temple building. These include making of large structures. These structures were symbols of royal authority.

Question 9.
Describe briefly what the buildings that survived tell us about the way, spaces were organised and used in Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Buildings which survived tell us about the way spaces were organised and used in Vijayanagara. For example, we can assess the defence requirements and military preparedness of a city by studying its fortifications. Buildings also tell us about the spread of ideas and cultural influences if we compare them with buildings in other places. They convey ideas which the builders or their patrons wished to project. They are often suffused with symbols which are a product of their cultural context. These we can understand when we combine information from other sources like literature, inscriptions and popular traditions.

Question 10.
Explain briefly any five striking features about the location of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D))
Answer:

1. The natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in a northeasterly direction.
2. The surrounding landscape is characterised by stunning granite hills that seem to form a girdle around the city.
3. A number of streams and rivers flow down from these rocky outcrops.
4. In almost all cases embankments were built along these streams to create reservoirs of varying sizes.
5. As this is one of the aridest zones of the peninsula, elaborate arrangements had to be made to store rainwater and conduct it to the city.

Question 11.
“The rulers of Vijayanagara innovated and developed new traditions in the Virupaksha Temple”. Elaborate. (C.B.S.E. 2015 (D))
Answer:

1. The site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the existence of the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. The Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha.
2. All royal orders were signed in the name of “Shri Virupaksha” usually in Kannada script.
3. Rulers also indicated their close links with the gods by using the title ‘Hindu Suratrana’. It was a Sanskritisation of the Arabic term Sultan, meaning Hindu Sultan or King.
4. Royal portrait sculpture was displayed in temples, and the king’s visits to temples were treated as important state occasions on which he was accompanied by the important Nayakas of the empire.

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Give a brief description of emergence and destruction of the Vijayanagara empire.
Answer:
Members of ruling lineage and military commanders were among the claimants of power of the Vijayanagara empire.
Initial Three Dynasties: The first dynasty that ruled over Vijayanagara was Sangama dynasty. This dynasty ruled till 1485 C.E. They were supplanted by the Saluvas, who were the military commanders. They remained in power till 1503 C.E. and were replaced by Tuluvas. Krishna Deva Raya was the most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty.

The main feature of the rule of Krishna Deva Raya was his expansion and consolidation. Till 1512 C.E. he took control over the areas between Tungabhadra and Krishna river (Raichur Doab). Then he suppressed the rulers of Orissa. He also defeated the Sultan of Bijapur in 1520 C.E. Although the kingdom always remained in the state of military preparedness still it flourished under the atmosphere of peace and prosperity. Krishna Deva is also credited with the construction of few splendid temples and impressive gopurams in many important temples. He also founded a suburban town of Nagalapuram after the name of his mother.

Aravind Dynasty and Decline of Vijayanagara Empire: Strains came in the imperial structure after the death of Krishna Deva Raya in 1529 C.E. His successors had to face the challenge of rebel Nayaks or Commanders. In the end, the centre came under the control of Aravidu dynasty in 1542 C.E. This dynasty remained in power till 17th century. During this period, like earlier one, alignments kept on shifting due to military ambitions of Vijayanagara rulers and Deccan Sultanates.

These ambitions led to an alliance of Deccan Sultanates against the Vijayanagara. In 1565 C.E., the chief minister of Vijayanagara, Rama Raya, led the army against the Sultanates army in the battle of Rakshasi-Tangradi. There his forces were routed by the combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda. Afterwards, the city was plundered by the victorious army. Within a few years, this city was totally abandoned. Now the entire focus of the empire was shifted to the east where the Aravidu dynasty ruled from Penukonda and later from Chandragiri.

Question 2.
What was the role of Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas in the administration of Vijayanagara?
Or
Explain how the Amara-Nayakas system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire? (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.)), (2015, (D))
Or
“Arnar Nayakas system was a major political innovation of Vijayanagara empire,” Justify. (C.B.S.E. 2014 (O.D.))
Or
Why was Amar Nayakas system considered as a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara empire? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (Comp.))
Answer:
The Nayakas and the Amara-Nayakas exercised considerable power in the Vijayanagara Empire.

Nayakas: They were the military chiefs in the Vijayanagara Empire and usually controlled forts. They had armed supporters and often moved from one area to another. In many cases, they were accompanied by peasants who looked for fertile land for their settlement. They were called Nayakas as their role was quite significant. They usually spoke in Telugu or Kannada language. They were mostly submissive to the authority of the kings of Vijayanagara. But sometimes they also rose in rebellion and had to be controlled by military action.

Amara-Nayakas: The Amara-Nayakas were a major political innovation of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. They were the military commanders who governed the territories given by the kings of Vijayanagara. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, traders and craft-persons in their areas. A part of the revenue was kept for their personal use and maintaining their horses and elephants. They provided an effective fighting force to the rulers of Vijayanagara. They also kept some of the collected revenue for the maintenance of temples and irrigation works.

The Royal Control over the Amara-Nayakas: At times when Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas revolted, the kings asserted their control on them and made them submit to the royal authority. The kings adopted the following means to control them :

• They transferred Amara-Nayakas from one place to another.
• They accepted an annual tribute from the Amara-Nayakas.
• All the Amara-Nayakas had to appear in the royal court personally. They had to present gifts to the king to express their loyalty.

Question 3.
Discuss the water resources, fortification and roads of Vijayanagara.
Or
Explain how the fortification and roads in the city of Vijayanagara were unique and impressive.
Or
Explain the striking features about the location of Vijayanagara, its water resources and its fortification. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Or
Explain why Abdur Razzaq, a Persian Ambassador, was greatly impressed by the fortification of Vijayanagara Empire during the 15th century. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Or
“Domingo Paes and Abdur Razzaq I were highly impressed with the fortification of the Vijayanagara empire.” Justify the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2014, 2019 (D))
Or
Highlight any four aspects observed by Abdur Razzak on the fortification of the Vijayanagara Empire. (C.B.S.E. 2016 (D))
Or
Explain the significance of enclosing of agricultural land within the fortified area of the city of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (O.D.))
Answer:
Water Resources: To fulfil their water requirements, the rulers of Vijayanagara, built reservoirs of varying sizes. As this city was in the aridest zones of the peninsula, the rulers made elaborate arrangements to store rainwater and take it to the city. They built a very large tank in the early years of the fifteenth century.

It is now called Kamalapuram Tank. This water not only irrigated the fields but also served the royal centre. The water of the river Tungabhadra was also fully utilised. Besides, there was the Hiriya Canal which drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra river. This canal, built by kings of the Sangama Dynasty irrigated the cultivated valley.

Fortifications: Different parts of the city of Vijayanagara were enclosed with the great fortress walls. There were seven lines of forts which not only encircled the city of Vijayanagara but also its agricultural land and forests. The outer-most wall linked the hills surrounding the city. This wall was built with wedge-shaped blocks of stone. They fixed well into each other and did not require mortar or any cementing agent. The inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble.

This fortification enclosed agricultural tracts like cultivated fields, gardens and forests. The modern archaeologists have found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core. To irrigate this tract, there was an elaborate canal system which drew water from the Tungabhadra.

The agricultural tracts were incorporated within the fortified area with a purpose. In the medieval periods, sieges were laid to starve the defenders into submission. These sieges could last even for months and years. So the rulers built large granaries within the fortified areas. Therefore the rulers of Vijayanagara adopted an elaborate strategy to protect their agricultural belt.

However, the second line of fortification surrounded the inner core of the urban complex and the third line of fortification went round the royal centre. There were well-guarded gates to enter the fort which led to the major roads. They had distinctive architectural features. There was an arch on the gateway and a dome over the gate.

Roads: The roads linked different parts of the city of Vijayanagara. They also led out of the city, went through the whole valley and avoided rocky terrain. Many important roads started from temple gateways and were lined by bazaars.

Question 4.
Explain the main features of the Sacred Centre.
Answer:
The site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. The northern end of the city touched the banks of the Tungabhadra. It was a rocky and hilly area. According to a local tradition, the kingdoms of Bali and Sugriva, mentioned in the Ramayana, existed in these hills. There is another tradition that Pampadevi, the local mother goddess, did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom. The marriage is annually celebrated in the Virupaksha temple. Besides, there were Jaina temples in the pre- Vijayanagara period. In other words, this area was associated with many sacred traditions. Hence it is called the Sacred Centre.

The very choice of the site of Vijayanagara was inspired by these sacred traditions and temples. The kings of Vijayanagara claimed to rule on behalf of the god, Virupaksha. They signed all royal orders as ‘Shri Virupaksha’. They often signed in the Kannad script. However, the rulers of Vijayanagara not only developed but also innovated the earlier traditions. They displayed royal portrait sculpture in the temples. The visit of the kings to temples was treated as an important occasion. So he was accompanied by Important Nayakas.

Question 5.
Give a brief description of the rule of Krishna Deva Raya.
Or
“Krishna Deva Raya’s rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation.” Justify the statement on the bases of evidence. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (D))
Or
Highlight the contribution of Krishnadeva Raya in the expansion of the Vijayanagara Empire. (C.B.S.E. 2016 (D))
Or
Why the Krishna Deva Raya considered as the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire? Explain. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (Comp.))
Answer:
There prevailed chaos in the Vijayanagara Kingdom after the death of Deva Raya II. Gradually the old Sangam Dynasty came to an end. Under these circumstances, Krishna Deva Raya founded the Tuluva Dynasty and himself began to rule over Vijayanagara. He ruled from 1509 till 1529 C.E. Following were his main achievements:

Expansion of the Kingdom: Krishna Deva Raya had to compete with old enemies of Vijayanagara, i.e., successors of the Bahmani Kingdom and Orissa. After fighting many battles for seven years, he forced Orissa to return the conquered areas of Vijayanagara up to Krishna river. Then he consolidated his position and began his earlier battle for Tungabhadra Doab. As a result, two of his enemies, Orissa and Bijapur, came in an alliance with each other. Krishna Deva had also made enough preparations and attacked Raipur and Mudhkal.

Sultan of Bijapur lost in the battle in 1520 C.E. Krishna Deva forced him to move back beyond Krishna river. Then his army reached Belgium. He conquered Bijapur and plundered the whole city and also destroyed Gulbarga. In this way, during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya, the Vijayanagara kingdom became one of the strongest kingdoms of Deccan.

Great Architect and Scholar: Krishna Deva Raya himself was a great scholar. He built a new suburban town near Vijayanagara and built a large tank which was used for irrigation purposes. He was a very good scholar of Telugu and Sanskrit. Out of a number of texts written by him, only a book on politics in Telugu and a Sanskrit play is available these days. A new era of Telugu literature began during his reign and scholars started to write in Telugu instead of translating from Sanskrit. He was very fond of poetry and used to patronage Telugu as well as Kannada and Tamil poets.

Good Administrator: Many foreign travellers like Barbosa, Paes and Fernao Nuniz wrote about his good administration and prosperity of the kingdom during his reign. One of the major achievements of Krishna Deva Raya was the emergence of a sense of tolerance as everyone was free to move anywhere. No one was asked about his religion and was free to adopt one’s religious practices. Barbosa also praised Krishna Deva Raya for his justice and equality in the kingdom.

In the end, it is clear that Krishna Deva Raya was the greatest of all the rulers of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

Question 6.
Describe the administrative system of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.
Answer:
The administrative system of the Vijayanagara Kingdom is given below :

1. King: Head of the central administration in Vijayanagara was himself the king. He had unlimited powers and rights. He had made a system of the council of ministers for his help. But its only function was to provide advice to the king.
2. Council of Ministers: A system of the council of ministers was made to give help and advice to the king. It included the ministers, purohita, military commander, etc. All of these were appointed by the king himself.
3. Provincial Administration: Vijayanagara was divided into 200 provinces. Every province was administered by a Prantpati (Governor) and these were either related with the royal family or were powerful nobles. They were also appointed by the king himself.
4.  Local Administration: While keeping in mind the convenience of administration, every province was divided into districts. The district was further divided into Parganas and it was further divided into villages. Administration of the village was given to gram panchayat. Major officer of all these institutions was known as Iyengar.
5. Military Organisation: Vijayanagara was engaged in constant conflict with Bahmani SultAnswer: As a result, local rulers had to give special attention to their military organisation. Military of Vijayanagara kingdom was of two types-provincial military and central army. The army included elephants, horses and infantry. Cavalry was a major part of the army.
6. Judicial System: King himself used to perform the function of Chief Justice in the Vijayanagara kingdom. Iyengar in villages, prantpati in provinces used to perform this work. Very strict punishments were there. Punishment of amputating the limb of the body was given for serious crimes but people were only fined for minor crimes.
7. Land Revenue System: King himself was the owner of the whole of the land in the Vijayanagara kingdom. He used to divide this land to the landlord who used to further divide among farmers. Farmers had to pay 1/ 6th or l/4th of produce to the landlord as land revenue. The economic condition of farmers was the very good end they had every available comfort in life.

Question 7.
Explain the social and economic conditions of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
The social and economic condition of Vijayanagara is as follows :
Social Condition :
1.Respect for Brahnlans: The Brahmans were greatly respected in the state of Vijayanagara. They attained a supreme position in the state. Even when they committed a crime, they were not given the punishment of death. They led a pious life and were vegetarians were: They never touched meat and wine. They were an ideal and role model for others.

2. Place of Women: The women were given a lot of respect in Vijayanagara. They could even get higher education. They had no purdah system. They were also educated in warfare and fine arts.

3. Malpractices: The society of Vijayanagara had many malpractices. The animals were sacrificed to please gods and goddesses. The practice of Sati was very popular in society. Even the Telugu women were buried alive after the deaths of their husbands. Besides, there was an evil of prostitution. Deva Raya II had twelve thousand queens. He had married three thousand queens on the condition that they would perform Sati after his death.

Economic Condition: The economic condition of Vijayanagara was prosperous. Its land was fertile and there was enough trading activity. The rulers of Vijayanagara had good relations with the Portuguese. There was trading of Arabian horses. The sea coasts of Vijayanagara had many ports. Calicut was a famous sea-port during those days. It was used to trade with Burma, China, Iran, Arabia, Portugal and South Africa.

It was used to export cloth, rice, sugar, iron and spices and import horses, elephants, copper, silk and diamond jewellery. The merchants had established their trade centres. There was a currency of gold and silver. It facilitated the exchange of goods. Besides the trade, there was great progress in industry and agriculture. The main occupation of the people was weaving cloth, mining of minerals and to prepare metal goods.

Question 8.
In which circumstances was Vijayanagara kingdom founded? Who were its famous rulers and to which dynasties did they belong?
Or
Describe the stages by which the Vijayanagara empire was built. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
Vijayanagara was founded in 1336 C.E. Its founders were two brothers called Harihara and Bukka Raya. They founded a city called Vijayanagara on the banks of river Tungabhadra. Gradually, this city was transformed into the large Hindu Kingdom. This kingdom was ruled over by three dynasties:

1. Sangama dynasty
2. Saluva dynasty
3. Tuluva dynasty

Rulers: Some of the famous rulers of Vijayanagara kingdom are given below:

1. Harihara I: Harihara I himself founded the Vijayanagara with the help of his brother Bukka Raya. He belonged to Sangama dynasty. He expanded the frontiers of his kingdom from Krishna river till Kaveri river and from eastern ghats till western ghats.
2. Bakka Raya I: After Harihara I, Bukka Raya became the next king. He also belonged to Sangama dynasty. He beautified the city of Vijayanagara and fought wars with Bahmani rulers.
3. Harihara II and Devaraya II: These two were the last famous rulers of Sangama dynasty. Devaraya appointed Muslims in his army. He greatly increased the prestige of Vijayanagara.
4. Krishna Deva Raya: Krishna Deva Raya was the most famous ruler of Tuluva dynasty. He ruled from 1509 till 1530 C.E. First of all, he suppressed the revolts of Nayakas. Then he conquered the region of Raichur Doab. Under his reign, the prestige of Vijayanagara spread everywhere.
5. Sadashiv Raya: He was the last ruler of Tuluva dynasty. During his reign, rulers of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar made an alliance and attacked Vijayanagara. Army of Vijayanagara was defeated in 1565 C.E. in the battle of Talikota. The victorious army sacked the city of Vijayanagara and conquered its area. In this way, Vijayanagara kingdom completely came to an end.

Question 9.
Explain the importance of the Sacred Centre in Vijayanagara with special emphasis on Gopurams and Mandapas. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
The rulers of Vijayanagara incorporated many new elements in the establishment of temples.

1. They include extensive structures. These structures stood for royal authority. The best examples of these structures were Rai Gopuram and State Entrance Gates. The minarets of Central Devalayas seemed quite tiny before these Entrance Gates. One could, from a long distance, visualise the existence of a temple from these minarets which also reminded of the royal authority. In fact, the rulers of Vijayanagara were competent to provide means, technology and technique to build such huge structures.

2. Another main characteristic of these temples was big porches, long pillars and vast spaces. These porches were made around all the sides of the temples.

3. Hundreds of years were spent in the construction of the Virupaksha temple. Many carved stones depict that many of the temples were built in the 9th and the 10th centuries. But there was a great expansion in the construction of many temples after the establishment of the Vijayanagara empire.

There was a great porch in front of the main temple. It was built by Krishna Dev Raya regarding his coronation. It was decorated with beautifully engraved pillars. Krishna Deva Raya is also credited with the construction of Eastern Gopuram. It meant that the Central Devalaya was confined to a limited part of the whole complex.

4. The temple had many conference halls which were used for different purposes. Some meeting halls had idols of gods and goddesses so that they may have a glimpse of music, dance and plays. Another conference hall was used to enjoy festive marriages of gods and goddesses. In many other halls, the gods and goddesses were placed on the swings. There were special idols for such purposes which were different from those placed in the Central Devalayas.

Another famous devotional place is the Vitthala Temple. The main god of this temple was Vitthala. He was the incarnation of Vishnu who is mostly worshipped in Maharashtra. The worship of this god was started in Karnataka by the rulers of Vijayanagara. It symbolised the emergence of empirical culture. Like other temples, this temple also had many conference halls. It also had a beautiful temple which was in the shape of a chariot.

5. Another characteristic of the temple premises was that they had chariot lanes. They were in straight lines just as in the temple of Gopuram. They had a floor made of stone. On both sides, it had a pillared porch. The traders set up their shops in these porches. Some of the north-facing Gopurams were built by the local heroes.

6. Besides the establishment of temples, the kingdom had fortifications, water-reservoirs, canals and roads. The architects made use of Islamic architecture in the erection of pillars and tombs. Thus, an Indo-Islamic style developed in the field of architecture.

Question 10.
Describe the main features of the temples of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
The city of Vijayanagara was developed on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Its northern part was mountainous. According to local beliefs, these mountains belonged to the Ramayana period. They saved the Kingdom of Sughreev. There are a few other beliefs among the local people. Some believe that the local deity Pampa Devi had meditated amidst these mountains to marry Virupaksha. The patron of Virupaksha were Gods. He was considered a form of Lord Shiva. Till today their marriage is celebrated with great pomp and show in the Virupaksha Temple. These mountains of Vijayanagara also have an ancient Jain Temple. In fact, this city is associated with many religious beliefs.

The region has a long history of temple construction. It goes up to the extent of Pallav, Chalukya, Hoysala and Chaul Dynasties. The rulers constructed temples to seek divine blessings. The god was directly or indirectly linked to the king. These temples also served as educational centres. The rulers donated land or money for these temples. Thus, the temples became important religious, social, cultural and economic centres. The rulers had abundant resources to make and maintain these temples.

There were many new innovations in the domain of temple construction. They had huge structures. These structures were the symbol of royal authority. The best examples of these structures included gopurams and Royal Entrance Gate. Due to these huge entrance gate, the minarets of the Central Devalayas seemed quite small. These minarets show the existence of temples from the very distance. They also reminded about the royal authority which had resources, skill and technology to construct them. These temples also had mandapas and Porches with long pillars.

Question 11.
Outline the distinctive features of the Virupaksha temple and the Vitthala temple in the Royal Centre of Vijayanagara Empire. (C.B.S.E. 2017 (D.))
Answer:
The city of Vijayanagara was developed on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. Its northern part was mountainous. According to local beliefs, these mountains belonged to the Ramayana period. They saved the Kingdom of Sughreev. There are a few other beliefs among the local people. Some believe that the local deity Pampa Devi had meditated amidst these mountains to marry Virupaksha. The patron of Virupaksha were Gods. He was considered a form of Lord Shiva. Till today their marriage is celebrated with great pomp and show in the Virupaksha Temple. These mountains of Vijayanagara also have an ancient Jain Temple. In fact, this city is associated with many religious beliefs.

The region has a long history of temple construction, It goes up to the extend of Pallav Chalukya, Hoysala and Chaul Dynasties. The rulers constructed temples to seek divine blessings. The god was directly or indirectly linked to the king. These temples also served as educational centres. The rulers donated land or money for these temples. Thus, the temples became important religious, social, cultural and economic centres. The rulers had abundant resources to make and maintain these temples.

There were many new innovations to the domain to temple construction. They had huge structures. These structures were the symbol of royal authority. The best examples of these structures included gopurams and Royal Entrance Gate. Due to these huge entrance gate, the minarets of the Central Devalayas seemed quite small. These minerals show the existence of temples from the very distance. They also reminded about to royal authority which had resources, skill and technology to construct them. These temples also had mandapas and Porches with long pillars.

The Virupaksha Temple was built in the ninth- tenth centuries. It had a hall in front of the main shrine. This hall was constructed by Krishna Deva Raya to mark his accession to the throne. Such halls were used for a variety of purposes. In some of these halls, the images of gods were placed. In a few other halls, special programmes of music, dance and drama were held. Few other halls were used to celebrate the marriages of parties. In some other halls, the swings of the deities were installed.

The chariot streets extended from the temple Gopuram in a straight line. They were served with slabs of stone. They had lines of pillared pavilions wherein the merchants set up their shops.

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
Mention any two features about the location of the city of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Answer:

1. Vijayanagara had an impressive fortification. This fortification enclosed agricultural tracts, like cultivated fields, gardens and houses.
2. The second line of fortification encircled the inner core of the urban complex whereas the third fortification surrounded the royal centre.

Question 2.
Who was Colin Mackenzie? On which things was his initial information on Hampi based?
Answer:
Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and antiquarian. He prepared the first survey of Hampi. His initial information about this city was based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the Shrine of Pampadevi.

Question 3.
Which policy did rulers of Vijayanagara adopt to control Amara-Nayakas? Did this policy succeed?
Answer:
The rulers of Vijayanagara controlled the Amara-Nayakas by adopting the following policy :

1. The king transferred Amara-Nayakas from one place to another.
2. The kings got an annual tribute from them. All the Amara-Nayakas had to personally appear in the royal court to offer gifts and express their loyalty for the king.

However, this policy did not succeed. By the 17th century, many Amara-Nayakas had established their own independent states. This hastened the collapse of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Question 4.
What was the importance of Kamala- Puram Tank?
Answer:
Kamalapuram tank was one of the most important tanks of Vijayanagara. Water from this tank was not only used to irrigate nearby fields but its water was also taken to the royal centre through a channel.

Question 5.
Explain any two features that were imbibed in the temple architecture under the rulers of Vijayanagara.
Or
Mention two characteristic features of the temple complexes in Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:

1. The temples had large establishments. They had gopurams and royal gateways.
2. The temples also had mandaps, pavilions besides long and pillared corridors. These corridors often ran around the shrines.

Question 6.
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E.? Mention any one reason for their competition with contemporary rulers. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Two brothers namely Harihara and Bukka Raya laid the foundation of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336. One reason for their competition with contemporary rulers was to control the fertile river valleys and the resources generated by lucrative overseas trade.

Question 7.
Describe which factor was mainly responsible for the destruction of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
Although armies of Sultan were mainly responsible for the destruction of Vijayanagara city, even in spite of the religious differences, relations between Rayas and the Sultans were not always hostile. For example, Krishna Deva Raya supported some of the claimants of power in Sultanates and took pride in obtaining the title of ‘Establisher of the Yavana kingdom.

In the same way, after the death of Krishna Deva Raya, Sultan of Bijapur also intervened to resolve succession disputes in Vijayanagara. Actually, both Vijayanagara kings and Sultanates were been to ensure the stability of each other. As Rama Raya tried to play off one Sultan against the other but it led the Sultans to combine together. They defeated Rama Raya in a decisive battle.

Question 8.
Describe the various efforts made by the scholars to produce the wealth of information of Vijayanagara after Mackenzie’s time. (C.B.S.E. 2008 (D))
Answer:
To get information about the Vijayanagara, initial efforts were made by Mackenzie. Thereafter, stone-edicts and travel descriptions were added to it. This place came under the control of Archaeological Survey of India and Karnataka Antique Museum in the 20th century. In 1976 C.E., Hampi was accepted as a place of national importance. Thereafter, on the basis of the information and edicts available, a detailed programme was chalked out to explore the remnants of Vijayanagara.

For about 20 years, a dozen scholars of the world gathered every information and conserved it. The preparation of an outline map of the area is part of this project. In the first phase, the whole of the area was divided into 25 square parts. Every part was given a letter from an alphabet to name it. Then they were further divided into different sub-parts. The smaller parts were further divided into a single unit.

All these surveys were made after thorough scrutiny and a lot of hard work. It led to the study of thousands of structures of small devotional places, residence and big temples. The details about them were also penned down. With these works, the roads, paths and bazaars of Vijayanagara can be enlivened. Their position has been determined on the basis of pillars and porches.

Question 9.
Why was Vitthala temple of the Vijayanagara unique? (C.B.S.E. 2015 (O.D.))
Or
Why was the Vitthala temple of Vijayanagara considered unique and interesting? Explain with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2019 (O.D.))
Answer:
In Vijayanagara famous devotional place is Vitthala Temple. The main god of this temple is Vitthala. He is the incarnation of Vishnu worshipped in Maharashtra. The worship of this god was started in Karnataka by the rulers of Vijayanagara. It symbolised the emergence of imperial culture. Like other temples, this temple has many conference halls. It has also a beautiful temple which is in the shape of a chariot.

Another characteristic of the temple premises is that there are chariot streets. They are in straight lines just as in the temple of Gopuram. The streets are paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared paviliAnswer: The traders set up their shops in this paviliAnswer: Some of the unique Gopurams were built by the local Nayaks.

An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara Important Extra Questions Source-Based

Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow :

Question 1.
The Bazaar

Paes gives a vivid description of the bazaar: Going forward, you have a broad and beautiful
street In this street live many merchants,
and there you will find all sorts of rubies, and diamonds, and emeralds, and pearls, and seed- pearls, and cloths, and every other sort of thing there is on earth and that you may wish to buy. Then you have there every evening a fair where they sell many common horses and nags, and also many citrons, and limes, and oranges, and grapes, and every other kind of garden stuff, and wood; you have all in this street.

More generally, he described the city as being “the best provided city in the world” with the markets “stocked with provisions such as rice, wheat, grains, Indian corn and a certain amount of barley and beans, moong, pulses and horse-gram” all of which were cheaply and abundantly available. According to Fernao Nuniz, the Vijayanagara markets were “overflowing with an abundance of fruits, grapes and oranges, limes, pomegranates, jackfruit and mangoes and all very cheap.”

Meat too was sold in abundance in the marketplaces. Nuniz describes “mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves, quail and all kinds of birds, sparrows, rats and cats and lizards” as being sold in the market of Bisnaga (Vijayanagara).
(i) In which city was this bazaar found?
Answer:
This bazaar was in Vijayanagara.

(ii) Where did it exist? According to Paes, what can be purchased from there? Name any six things.
Answer:
It was situated on a broad and beautiful street. It had all kinds of things such as rubies, diamonds, emeralds, pearls, seed-pearls and cloth. One could also find common horses, citrons, limes, oranges and grapes. They had every kind of wood and garden-stuff.

(iii) According to Fernao Nuniz, what were the features of the bazaars of Vijaya¬nagara?
Answer:
According to Fernao Nuniz, the markets of Vijaynagara had an abundance of fruits, grapes, oranges, limes, pomegranates and mangoes. All these things were sold at cheap rates. The meat was also available. It included mutton, pork, venison, partridges, hares, doves and quails. It also had all kinds of birds, sparrows, rats, cats and lizards.

Question 2.
A Sprawling City

This is an excerpt from Domingo Paes’s description of Vijayanagara:

The size of this city I do not write here, because it cannot all be seen from any one spot, but I climbed a hill whence I could see a great part of it; I could not see it all because it lies between several ranges of hills. What I saw from thence seemed to be as large as Rome, and very beautiful to the sight; there are many groves of trees within it, in the gardens of the houses, and many conduits of water which flow into the midst of it, and in places there are lakes; and the king has close to his palace a palm-grove and other rich fruit-bearing trees.
(i) From where has this excerpt been taken?
Answer:
This excerpt has been taken from Domingo Paes’s description of Vijayanagara.

(ii) Where did the writer see Vijayanagara? Why could he not see it completely?
Answer:
The author saw the city of Vijayanagara from a hill. He climbed the hill so that he might see most of the city. However, he could not see it completely as it lay between several ranges of hills.

(iii) How did he like that part of the city which he saw?
Answer:
Whatever the author had seen in the city of Vijayanagara, he liked it very much. He found that it was a very big city, as large as Rome. It had many groves of trees. It had also many gardens and lakes. Besides many conduits of water flowed in the city. There were many palms and other fruit-bearing trees near the palace of the king.

(iv) Why did the writer not see the size of the city of Vijayanagara?
Answer:
The writer could not guess the size of the city as it was not visible from any one spot. First of all, it was a very big city, as big as Rome. Secondly, a wide range of hills hindered the full view of the city.

Question 3.
Kings and Traders

Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509-29), the famous ruler of Vijayanagara, composed a work on statecraft in Telugu known as the Amuktamalyada. About traders he wrote :

A king should improve the harbours of his country and so encourage its commerce that horses, elephants, precious gems, sandalwood, pearls and other articles are freely imported…

He should arrange that the foreign sailors who land in his country on account of storms, illness and exhaustion are looked after in a suitable manner….. Make the merchants of distant foreign countries who import elephants and good horses are attached to yourself by providing them with the daily audience, presents and allowing decent profits. Then those articles will never go to your enemies.
(i) Explain why a king should improve the harbours of his kingdom?
Answer:
A king should improve the harbours of his kingdom to encourage its commerce, import-export, etc. He should make arrangements for proper care for foreign sailors who land in his country.

(ii) Explain why the foreign sailors, who land in his country for various reasons, should be looked after in a suitable manner.
Answer:
Foreign sailors should be looked after in a suitable manner because they help in maintaining foreign trade. This trade can allow decent profits for the state with which state can become prosperous. It can also help in arranging elephants and good horses for the army.

(iii) Examine the consequences of such an attitude towards the sailors. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
One of the major consequence of such an attitude towards the sailors is that the valuable items like gems, pearls and other articles will never go to your enemies.

Question 4.
Colin Mackenzie

Born in 1754, Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer. In 1815, he was appointed the first Surveyor General of India, a post he held till his death in 1821. He embarked on collecting local histories and surveying k y historic sites in order to better understand India’s past and make the governance of the colony easier. He says that “it struggled long under the miseries of bad management … before the South came under the benign influence of the British government”. By studying Vijayanagara, Mackenzie believed that the East India Company could gain “much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still prevails among the various Tribes of Natives forming the general mass of the population to this day.”
(i) Who was Colin Mackenzie? Give his introduction.
Answer:
Colin Mackenzie was an engineer and antiquarian. He was an employee of the East India Company. He prepared the first survey of the Hampi. His initial information about the city was based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi.

(ii) Mention what Mackenzie did to make the governance of the colony easier.
Answer:
He collected local histories and surveyed historic sites in order to get a better understanding of India’s past. It helped to make the governance of the colony easier.

(iii) According to him, what benefits would the East India Company gain after studying Vijayanagara? Explain in brief. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Answer:
According to him, the East India Company could gain much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still prevails among the various tribes of natives. These natives form the general mass of the population. It can help the East India Company in ruling the country in a better way.

Question 5.
How Tanks were Built?

About a tank constructed in Vijayanagara, Paes wrote:

The king made a tank… at the mouth of two hills so that all the water which comes from either one side or the other collects there, and, besides this, water comes to it from more than three leagues (approximately 15 kilometres) by pipes which run along with 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 handsomely carved with figures; these connect above with certain pipes by which they get water when they have 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 at work that there must have been fifteen or twenty thousand men, looking like ants …
(i) Explain briefly where the tank was constructed.
Answer:
The tank was built at the mouth of two hills.

(ii) Explain briefly the sources of water for the tanks.
Answer:
(a) The water could have come from either of the two hills.
(b) The water reservoir was built where the two mountains met. It helped in the accumulation of water from whichever hill it came. Besides, water was brought from a distance through pipes.

(iii) Explain briefly the advantages of constructing tanks. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Water was supplied from the reservoir to Hampinagar. Except this, water was used to irrigate their gardens and rice fields.

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 11 Rebels and the Raj: The Revolt of 1857 and its Representations are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 11 Rebels and the Raj: The Revolt of 1857 and its Representations

Question 1.
Who was the last Mughal emperor?
Answer:
Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Question 2.
Who started Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer:
Lord Dalhouse.

Question 3.
Which state was captured by the British on the issue of misgovernance?
Answer:
Awadh.

Question 4.
Who was Nawab of Awadh when it was captured in 1850 A.D.?
Answer:
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.

Question 5.
Who led the revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?
Answer:
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II.

Question 6.
Who led the revolt of 1857 in Awadh?
Answer:
Begum Hazrat Mahal and her son Birjis Qadr.

Question 7.
Name the famous state captured under Doctrine of Lapse?
Answer:
Jhansi.

Question 8.
What was the immediate cause of the revolt of 1857?
Answer:
The issue of greased cartridges.

Question 9.
Who said that ‘Awadh is just like a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day’?
Answer:
Lord Dalhousie.

Question 10.
When and who started Subsidiary Alliance?
Answer:
Subsidiary Alliance was started by Lord Wellesley in 1798 A.D.

Question 11.
Where was Nawab Wajid Ali Shah exiled?
Answer:
He was exiled to Calcutta.

Question 12.
Name the major centres of the revolt of 1857.
Answer:
Merrut, Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi etc.

Question 13.
Who painted ‘In Memoriam’?
Answer:
Joseph Noel Paton.

Question 14.
Who said, “Khoob Lari mardani woh to Jhansi Wali Rani thi”?
Answer:
Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.

Question 15.
What was the role of cartridges covered with fat of animals in the mutiny of 1857 ?
Or
What was the immediate cause for the mutiny of 1857? ,
Answer:
In 1857, the soldiers were given new cartridges coated with the fat of cows and pigs. The soldiers had to peel them out with their teeth before using them. It corrupted their caste and religious norms. Therefore, the Hindu and the Muslim soldiers refused to use these cartridges. They revolted against the British to preserve their faith.

Question 16.
Give an example of a revolt by a famous tribe before the mutiny of 1857.
Answer:
Many peasant revolts were witnessed in different parts of the country before the rebellion of 1857. For example, Fraizies revolted against the oppression of farmers by the Zamindars of the Britishers. They were from a Muslim community.

Question 17.
Where was the fight for freedom fought in India ? How did the Britishers crush it ?
Answer:
The struggle for the freedom of India was fought in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab. The British crushed it with the help of their ewn power and the cooperation of a few kings of the Indian states.

Question 18.
How the revolt of 1857 acquired legitimacy ?
Answer:
Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah accepted to become the leader of revolt. Now revolt could be carried on in the name of Mughal emperor. In this way, Revolt of 1857 acquired legitimacy.

Question 19.
How events moved swiftly after 13th May in the mutiny of 1857 ?
Answer:
(i) Delhi was captured by rebels.
(ii) Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah gave his support to the mutiny.

Question 20.
“Rebel Sepoys (1857) began their actions with any signal.” Give any two signals in this regard.
Answer:
(i) At many places it was the firing of the evening gun.
(ii) At few other places this signal was the sounding of the bugle.

Question 21.
“Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving people to action before the Revolt of 1857.” Write any of the two rumours or prophecies in this regard.
Answer:
(i) There spread a rumour that the British had mixed bonedust of cows and pigs into the flour which was sold in the market.
(ii) A prophecy was made that on the centenary of the Battle of Plassey, on 23th June 1857, the British rule would come to an end.

Question 22.
Why did the British become increasingly interested in acquiring the territory of Awadh ?
Answer:
(i) The Britishers felt that the soil of Awadh was very good for cultivation of indigo and cotton.
(ii) They also thought that this state could be developed into a principal market of North India.

Question 23.
When and who annexed Awadh into the British empire ?
Answer:
Awadh was conquered and annexed into the British empire by Lord Dalhousie in 1856.

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 10 Colonialism and the Countryside: Exploring Official Archives are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 10 Colonialism and the Countryside: Exploring Official Archives

Question 1.
When and who started permanent settlement of land?
Answer:
It was started by Lojrji Cornwallis in 1793 A.D.

Question 2.
How much of the Zamindaries changed lands after the introduction of permanent settlement of land?
Answer:
Around 75% of the total Zamindaries.

Question 3.
Why did Zamindars default on payments?
Answer:
Because of high revenue demand and accumulation of unpaid balance.

Question 4.
What was sunset law?
Answer:
If payment was not paid before the sunset of the fixed date, land will be confiscated.

Question 5.
Who were the most powerful in North Bengal?
Answer:
The Jotedars were the most powerful in North Bengal.

Question 6.
When was the fifth report submitted to the British Parliament? .
Answer:
In 1813 A.D.

Question 7.
Where did Francis Buchanan travel?
Answer:
Buchanan travelled through the Rajmahal hills.

Question 8.
What work did Paharias do?
Answer:
They were hunters, shifting cultivaters, food gatherors, charcoal producers, silkworm rearers etc.

Question 9.
Why did the British encouraged clearing of forests?
Answer:
Because they wanted to bring more land under cultivation to get more taxes.

Question 10.
What was Damin-i-Koh?
Answer:
This was a land demarcated for Santhals in 1832.

Question 11.
Who were called Dikus?
Answer:
Moneylenders were called Dikus.

Question 12.
Who was David Ricardo?
Answer:
He was an Economist who gave certain ideas to the British government about land rent.

Question 13.
When was Cotton Supply Association founded?
Answer:
In 1857 A.D.

Question 14.
What was the objefetive of Cotton Supply Association?
Answer:
To encourage cotton production in every part of the world.

Question 15.
Why were the estates of the Zamindars auctioned in the colonial Bengal ?
Or
Why were many Zamindars .auctioned after the permanent sattlement in Bengal ? Give two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2017 (D))
Answer:
(i) Sometimes the big Zamindars were unable to pay the revenue. The amount of unpaid revenue went on accumulating year after year.
(ii) So the government often auctioned the estates of those Zamindars who failed to pay the due revenue.

Question 16.
When was the Fifth Report submitted to the British Parliament ? What was its objective ?
Answer:
The Fifth Report was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813. It was about the administration and activities of the East India Company in India and proved helpful in regulating and controlling their rule.

Question 17.
What was Sunset Law of revenue ?
Answer:
According to Permanent Settlement of Land, it was necessary for the Zamindars to pay the revenue punctually. But according to Sunset Law, if any Zamindar was unable to pay the revenue by sunset of the specified date, then the Zamindari was bound to be auctioned by the government to recover the dues.

Question 18.
Why the Jotedars were more powerful in villages than that of the Zamindars ? Give two reasons.
Answer:
(i) The Zamindars lived in urban areas and Jotedars were located in villages with poor villagers. They had direct control over large section of villagers.
(ii) Jotedars were often amongst the purchasers in case of auction of the Zamindaris.

Question 19.
Why ryots (peasants) remained loyal to the former zamindar instead of the new Zamindars ? Give two reasons.
Answer:
(i) The ryots considered themselves bound to the former Zamindar through a sense of loyalty and saw the former Zamindar as a figure of authority.
(ii) The sale of Zamindari disturbed their pride and their sense of identity.

Question 20.
Which two factors helped the Zamindars to consolidate their power in the beginning of 19th century ?
Answer:
(i) In the beginning of the 19th century, the depression in prices remained no more and prices of agriculture produce became high.
(ii) Government made rules of revenue payments flexible which helped the Zamindars to consolidate their power.

Question 21.
When Cotton Supply Association and the Manchester Cotton Company were founded in Britain? What was their objective ?
Answer:
Cotton Supply Association in Britain, was founded in 1857 and Manchester Cotton Company was formed in 1859. Their objective was to encourage production of cotton in every part of the world so that their Company could grow.

Question 22.
Tell any two drawbacks of the RyotWari system of revenue introduced in the Bombay Deccan in 1920.
Answer:
(i) At many places, the amount of revenue was very high. Therefore, many peasants deserted their villages and migrated to new regions.
(ii) Many areas had poor soil and fluctuating rainfall. When the rains failed, the peasants had bad crop due to which they found it impossible to pay the revenue.

Question 23.
India was seen as a country that could supply cotton to Lancashire if the American supply dried up. Why was it so ?
Answer:
The land of India was suitable for the cultivation of cotton.

Question 24.
Examine the impact of limitation law passed by the British in 1859 ? (CBSE 2018)
Answer:
This law was meant to chack the accumulation of interest one time and three years validity of the bonds sighed between money lenders and reyots. Consequently the money lenders manipulated and forced the people to sign the deeds after 3 years.

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 8 Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 8 Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire

Question 1.
Who was Abul Fazl?
Answer:
Abul Fazl was the court historian of Akbar.

Question 2.
Who wrote Ain-i-Akbari ?
Answer:
Abul Fazl wrote Ain-i-Akbari.

Question 3.
Which different names were used for peasants during the Mughal Empire?
Answer:
Raiyat, Kisan, Asami etc.

Question 4.
What are Rabi and Kharif crops?
Answer:
Autumn crops are Kharif crops and Spring crops are Rabi crops.

Question 5.
What was Jins-i-Kamil?
Answer:
Jins-i-Kamil means the perfect crops.

Question 6.
Who headed the Panchayat in the Mughal Empire?
Answer:
The Panchayat was headed by a headman or muqaddam or mandal.

Question 7.
Give one important fuction of Panchayats during the Mughal Empire.
Answer:
To ensure that caste boundaries among the various communities living in the village were upheld.

Question 8.
What was begar?
Answer:
Unpaid labour done by the peasants.

Question 9.
Name few artisans lived in the villages.
Answer:
Potters, Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Barbers, Goldsmiths etc. /

Question 10.
What work did women do in the fields during the Mughal Empire?
Answer:
Sowing, weeding, thrashing and winnowing the harvest.

Question 11.
Who were called Jangli in the Mughal Empire?
Answer:
Forest dwellers were called Jangli in the Mughal Empire. ,

Question 12.
What peshkash was expected from the forest people?
Answer:
They were expected to supply elephants to the empire.

Question 13.
What was a Pargana?
Answer:
Pargana was an administrative subdivision of a Mughal province.

Question 14.
On the basis of which relations, the rural society of 16th and 17th century was organised ?
Answer:
Rural society of 16th and 17th century was made up of small peasants and rich landlords. Both of these were involved in agricultural production and had their right over the share of the produce. As a result, the relationship of cooperation, conflict and competition was created among them. These relationships were the base of organising rural society.

Question 15.
Discuss the four factors that helped in the continuous development of agriculture in India of the Mughal period.
Or
Mention the factors that accounted for the constant expansion of agriculture during 16th and 17th centuries. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
These factors were :
(i) Excess of land
(ii) Availability of workers
(iii) Dynamism of farmers
(iv) Development of artificial means of irrigation.

Question 16.
With which community the social existence of peasant was associated during 16th and 17th centuries ? Which were three other constituents of this community ?
Answer:
Social existence of peasant, during 16th and 17th centuries was associated with collective village community. Its three other constituents were—the cultivators, the’ Panchayat and the village headman.

Question 17.
Which people were included in the village Panchayat of the Mughal period ? With which name was the head of Panchayat known ?
Answer:
Village,Panchayat during the Mughal period was an assembly of elders of the village. They were generally important persons of village who had’ hereditary rights over their property.

Question 18.
What does Jins-i-Kamil mean ? Why did the Mughal rule encourage it ?
Answer:
Literally, Jins-i-Kamil means perfect crops. Such crops included cotton and sugarcane besides oilseeds and lentils. The Mughal state encouraged -all the peasants to’grow and cultivate only those crops which brought in more revenue.

Question 19.
Deserting village was considered as an aggressive method in case of no justice given by Panchayat. Why ?
Answer:
In case of conflict between lower caste peasants and state officials or local zamindars, compromises were used. In cases where reconciliation failed, peasants took more drastic form of resistance and that was deserting the village.

Question 20.
Which type of region was Jungle (forest) from the point of view of Mughal empire ?
Answer:
For the Mughal state, the forest or Jungle was a subversive place, a place of refuge or shelter for trouble makers. Once Babur said that “Jungles were those defences behind which the people of the pargana became stubbornly rebellious and; paid no taxes.” v

Question 21.
What were the four means by which the people belonging«*to weaker* sections of society could attain the status of zamihdars ?
Answer:
These means were as follows :
(i) By settlements On new lands
(ii) By transfering of the land ownership
(iii) By the royal orders
(iv) By purchasing the land

Question 22.
Name those four large territorial empires in Asia which had managed to consolidate power and resources during 16th and 17th centuries.
Answer:
(i) The Mughal empire in India
(ii) Ming empire in China
(iii) Safavid empire of Iran
(iv) Ottoman empire in Turkey.

Question 23.
Abul Fazl, the writer of Ain-i-Akbari, had a high degree of caution in writing his book. Give two arguments.
Answer:
(i) He revised the manuscript five times.
(ii) He verified the oral testimonies and verified as well as cross-checked them from various facts and sources. He left no stone unturned to check the authenticity of the oral testimonies.

Question 24.
Discuss any two limitations of Ain-i- Akbari.
Answer:
These limitations are as follows :
(i) There were errors in totalling. They might be due to slips of arithmetic or transcription.
(ii) There was no uniform collection of data from all the provinces.

Question 25.
Why were women considered an important resource in agrarian society? Mention two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
(i) Women worked shoulder to shoulder with men in the fields.
(ii) Men tilled and ploughed the fields and on the other hand, women sowed, weeded, threshed and winnowed the harvest.

Question 26.
Mention two factors for enjoying social and economic privileges by the Zamindars in the Mughal India. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
(i) Caste was one of the factors that accounted for elevated status of Zamindars.
(ii) Zamindars performed certain services (Khidmat) for the State.
Banjar Land : It was also a type of land which was uncultivated for five years and more.

Question 27.
Mention two main purposes of Ain-i- Akbari. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) The main purpose of Ain-i-Akbari was to record information about the people and society during the Mughal regime.
(ii) Another purpose of Ain-i-Akbari was to give detailed accounts of the organisation of the court, administration and army.

Question 28.
Who headed the Panchayats during seventeenth century ? How was he chosen ? (C.B.S.E. 2008 (O.D.))
Answer:
The panchayats during seventeenth century were headed by a head man known as muquaddam or mandal. Some sources suggest that the headman was chosen through the consensus of the village elders and that this choice had to be ratified by the zamindars.

Question 29.
Mention the major crop of Western India during 17th century. How did it come to India ? (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Maize (makka) was the major crop of Western India during 17th century. During the 17th century, several new crops from different parts of the world reached the Indian sub-continent via Africa and Spain.

Question 30.
Why were the forest dwellers termed Jungli ? Give any two reasons ? (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) This word was used for the people whose livelihood came from forest products. Forests were the means of their livelihood.
(ii) These people moved from one place to another.

Question 31.
What does the third part of the Ain, ‘Mulk Abadi’ deal with ? (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
Mulk Abadi gives detailed information about fiscal aspects and revenue rates of centre and states. Twelve provinces are also mentioned in it. It shows a very detailed and interesting picture of the agrarian society of north India.

Question 32.
How were the village artisans compensated by the villagers for their services ? Write about any one. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
Village artisans were compensated by the villagers by giving them one part of their produce or were given one piece of waste land kept with them.

Question 33.
How did the Zamindars derive their power during the Mughal period ? Mention any two ways. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
(i) Caste was one factor which accounted for the higher status of Zamindars. Another factor was that they performed certain services for the state.
(ii) The Zamindars held extensive personal lands termed milkiyat meaning property.

Question 34.
Mention any two steps taken by the Mughals to create the revenue as an administrative apparatus. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) This apparatus included the office of the diwan who was responsible for supervising the fiscal system of the empire.
(ii) Revenue officials and record keepers penetrated the agricultural domain and became a decisive agent in shaping agrarian relations.

Question 35.
Mention two factors that brought a stability in the silver currency during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. (C.B.S.E.2013 (O.D.))
Answer:
An expanding trade of Asia with other regions brought in huge amounts of silver bullion into Asia to pay for goods procured from India. A large part of that bullion gravitated towards India. As a result, this period saw a great stability in the silver currency.

Question 36.
Explain the sources of revenue of village Panchayats during the Mughal rule in India. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
Answer:
During the Mughal rule in India, the Panchayati derived its funds from contributions made by individuals to’ a common financial base, levying fines, agricultural taxes etc.

 

 

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

Question 1.
Who founded the ruins of Hampi?
Answer:
Colonel Colin MacKenzie founded the ruins of Hampi.

Question 2.
Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E.?
Answer:
Two brothers Harihara and Bukka founded the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 A.D.

Question 3.
Which European company arrived on the Indian scene in 1498 A.D.?
Answer:
The Portugues.

Question 4.
Who was the most powerful ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Answer:
Krishnadeva Raya.

Question 5.
When did Krishnadeva Raya die?
Answer:
In 1529 A.D.

Question 6.
Between whom the battle of Rakshasi- Tangadi was fought?
Answer:
Between Vijayanagara and the combined forces of Bijapur Ahmadnagar and Gulconda.

Question 7.
Name the major political innovation of the Vijayanagara empire.
Answer:
The system of Amara-Nayakas.

Question 8.
Who were the Amara-Nayakas?
Answer:
They were the military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya or the Kings.

Question 9.
What is Mahanavami dibba?
Answer:
It was the massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 feet to a height of 40 feet.

Question 10.
Where did kings met advisers?
Answer:
At Lotus Mahal.

Question 11.
Which temple was used by the King and his family?
Answer:
Hazara Rama Temple.

Question 12.
When and by whom was the ‘ Vijayanagara Empire founded ? Also explain its expansion.
Or
Who founded the Vijayanagara ‘.Empire in 1336 C.E. ? (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Two brothers namely Harihara and Bukka laid the foundation of Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 C.E. It stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

Question 13.
Name different dynasties which ruled over Vijayanagara.
Answer:
(i) Sangam dynasty
(ii) Saluva dynasty
(iii) Tuluva dynasty
(iv) Aravidu dynasty.

Question 14.
What was the period of rule by Krishna Deva Raya ? Which two cities of Bahmani Kingdom were controlled by him ?
Answer:
Krishna Deva Raya ruled from 1509 to 1529 C.E. He had controlled both Gulbarga and Bidar.

Question 15.
Between whom was the battle of Talikota (Rakshasi Tangadi) fought ? Name the Kingdom defeated in this battle.
Or
What was the battle of ‘Rakshasi Tangadi’ (Talikota) ? (C.B.S.E. 2013 (O.D.))
Or
Examine the outcome of the battle of Rakshasi – Tangadi (Talikota) (C.B.S.E. 2017 (O.D.))
Answer:
The battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the organisation of Sultans of Deccan and ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. The Kingdom of Vijayanagara was defeated in this battle.

Question 16.
How did the name Hampi (another name for Vijayanagara) come into use ? When and who discovered its ruins ?
Answer:
Hampi was another name for Vijayanagara. This name was derived from the local mother goddess named Pampadevi. The ruins of Hampi were discovered in 1800 C.E. by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and antiquarian. In fact, Colin Mackenzie was an employee of the English East India Company.

Question 17.
Who were Amara-Nayakas ? Identify any two works done by them.
Or
Who were the Amara-Nayakas under the Rayas in Vijayanagara? What did they do ? (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
Amara-Nayakas were the military commanders of Vijayanagara. They performed the following works :
(i) They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, traders and craft persons.
(ii) They provided an effective fighting force to the rulers of Vijayanagara.

Question 18.
Give any two features of Mahanavami Dibba of Vijayanagara.
Answer:
(i) Mahanavami Dibba is a massive platform located on one of the highest points in the city. It supported a wooden structure as well.
(ii) The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings.

Question 19.
Mention any two ceremonies performed on the occasion of Mahanavmi Dibba. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Worship of the image
(ii) Worship of the State horse

Question 20.
Mention the two most striking features about the geographical location of Vijayanagara. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
(i) The most striking feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in a north easterly direction.
(ii) Huge fortification was another major feature of Vijayanagara.

Question 21.
Mention the rituals associated with Mahanavmi Dibba, situated in the Royal Centre of Vijayanagar. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
(i) Worship of the image
(ii) Worship of the State horse
(iii) The sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.

Question 22.
What was the Battle of ‘Rakshasi Tangadi’ (Talikota) ? How was this battle responsible for the decline of Vijayanagara ?
Answer:
The Battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the combined forces of the Deccan Sultans and ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. In this battle Vijayanagara was defeated which led to the decline of Vijayanagara.

Question 23.
Which dynasty did Krishna Deva Raya belong to? Mention any one of his expansion and consolidation policies. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
Krishna Deva Raya belonged to Tuluva dynasty. Till 1512 C.E. he took control over the areas between Tungabhadra and Krishna river. Then he suppressed the rulers of Orissa (Odisha).

Here we are providing Class 12 Geography Important Extra Questions and Answers Chapter 5 Primary Activities. Geography Class 12 Important Questions are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 5 Important Extra Questions Primary Activities

Primary Activities Important Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What are economic activities ?
Answer:
Activities which generate income are called economic activities.

Question 2.
Name any four primary activities ?
Answer:
Hunting, fishing, forestry and agriculture.

Question 3.
Name two activities of, the 1 earliest man. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Answer:
Hunting and gathering.

Question 4.
What is Chickle ?
Answer:
It is made from the milky juice of zapota tree.

Question 5.
Name the tree whose bark is used for quinine.
Answer:
Cinchona.

Question 6.
Name three products obtained from gathering for commercial uses.
Answer:
Quinine, Rubber, Balata and Gum.

Question 7.
Which animals are reared in Sahara ?
Answer:
Sheep, Goats and Camel.

Question 8.
Which animals are reared in mountainous and Tundra regions ?
Answer:
Yak in Tibet, Llamas in Andes and Reindeer in Tundra.

Question 9.
Which tribes practise seasonal Transhumance in Himalayas ?
Answer:
Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis and Bhotiyqs.

Question 10.
Who introduced plantation agriculture ?
Answer:
It was introduced by Europeans in colonies.

Primary Activities Important Extra Questions Short Answer Type

Question 1.
What are economic activities ? How are these grouped into different types ? (C.B.S.E. 2015)
Answer:
Man adopts some activities for his livelihood. Human activities which generate income are called economic activities. These are, broadly grouped into following types :
(a) Primary
(b) Secondary
(c) Tertiary
(d) Quarternary.

Question 2.
What were the two sources of sustenance of earliest man ?
Answer:
The earliest human beings depended on environment sustenance. Environment provided two foods:
(a) Animals which he hunted.
(b) Edible plants which he gathered from forests.

Question 3.
Name three areas where gathering is still practised.
Answer:
Gathering is practised in :

• High latitude zone of Canada, Northern Eurasia and Southern Chile.
• Low latitude zone of Amazon Basin and tropical Africa.
• Northern Australia and interior parts of S.E. Asia.

Question 4.
What is Nomadic Herding ? How ; do they meet their basic needs ? (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Answer:
Nomadic herding is a primitive subsistence activity. People move from one place to another along with their livestock in search of grass and water. These animals provide clothing, shelter, tools and transport.

Question 5.
Mention any two main regions of commercial dairy farming.
Answer:
Two main region of commercial farming are:

• North-West Europe region (Denmark and Netherlands)
• North-East American region (USA and Canada)
• Temperate grasslands Australia and Newzeland.

Question 6.
What is Commercial grazing ? What are its characteristics ?
Answer:
Commercial grazing is a large scale organised livestock farming. Sheep, cattle, goats and horses provide meat, wool, hide and skin.
(i) It is capital intensive and organised on scientific basis.
(ii) Livestock is reared on ranches.
(iii) Main emphasis is on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care.
(iv) Products are exported to world markets.

Question 7.
Name some important plantation crops.
Answer:
Important plantation crops are tea, coffee, cocoa, rubber, cotton, oil palm, sugarcane, bananas and pineapple.

Question 8.
What do you mean by ‘Bush fallow’ ?
Answer:
Bush fallow is the other name given to shifting cultivation. The forests are cleared by cutting or by burning the bushes and trees. The land cleared is used for cultivation of crops. It is known as ‘Slash and Burn’ or ‘Bush fallow’ agriculture.

Question 9.
What do you mean by ‘Jhumming’ ?
Answer:
It is a type of shifting cultivation practised in hilly regions of N.E. India. In the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram, the primitive tribes follow Jhumming. They cut down trees, clear the undergrowth and burn the field of wood and shrubs. After some years when the fertility of this land is reduced, new areas are cleared for cultivation of crops in the same manner.

Question 10.
“Dairy farming has developed due to urbanisation.” Explain with examples. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
Or
Mention any two regions of commercial dairy farming. (C.B.S.E. Outside Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Dairy farming is developed near urban centres. It is located near industrial and commercial towns which provide a market for dairy products. It is closely related to urbanisation. There is a great demand for milk products in towns due to increasing population. In Europe, N.E. American region and temperate grass lands Australia and New Zealand most of dairy centres are organised near big towns.

Question 11.
What is the importance of ‘dairy farming’ ? Why is it mainly practised near urban and industrial centres of the world ? Explain any two reasons. (C.B.S.E. 2011)
Answer:
Dairy farming is the most advanced and efficient type of rearing of milch animals. Cattles are kept to provide milk. Milk is used to form many products like butter, cheese, condensed milk, etc.
It is practised mainly near urban and industrial centres due to the following reasons :
(i) These provide neighbourhood market for fresh milk and dairy products.
(ii) These provide means of transportation, refrigeration, pasteurization and preservation processes.

Question 12.
“Extensive agriculture is generally done by machines.” Why ?
Answer:
Extensive agriculture is large scale farming on large holdings with the help of machines. These areas have low population density. Man-land ratio is high and labour is costly. Therefore, it is necessary to use large farm machinery for extensive farming.

Question 13.
On what factors does mining depend ?
Or
State the two groups of factors which affect the profitability of mining. (C.B.S.E. Outside Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Factors Affecting Mining Activity
The profitability of mining operations thus, depends on two main factors :
(i) Physical factors include the size, grade and the mode of occurrence of the deposits.
(ii) Economic factors such as the demand for the mineral, technology available and used, capital to develop infrastructure and the labour and transport costs.

Question 14.
Distinguish between open cast mining and underground mining.
Or
Describe any three features of open-cast mining. (C.B.S.E. Outside Delhi Set-Ill 2017)
Answer:
Open cast Mining
Depending on the mode of occurrence and the nature of the ore, mining is of two types : Surface and Underground mining. The surface mining also known as open-cast mining. It is the easiest and the cheapest way of mining minerals that occur close to the surface. Overhead costs such as safety precautions and equipment is relatively low in this method. The output is both large and rapid.

Underground Mining
When the ore lies deep below the surface, underground mining method (shaft method) has to be used. In this method, vertical shafts have to be sunk, from where underground galleries radiate to reach the minerals. Minerals are extracted and transported to the surface through these passages. It requires specially designed lifts, drills, haulage vehicles, ventilation system for safe and efficient movement of people and material. This method is risky. Poisonous gases, fires, floods and caving can lead to fatal accidents.

Question 15.
Mention any six characteristics of plantation agriculture. (C.B.S.E. 2009)
Answer:
Characteristics of Plantation Agriculture :
(i) Plantation farms are generally large (more than 40 hectares) and known as estates or plantations.
(ii) The European skill, organisation and large capital are used on plantations.
(iiii) These use scientific methods of cultivation and a single crop specialisation.
(iv) Local or migrated labour is used on plantation such as Negroes in the cotton belt of U.S.A. and Tamils in tea plantations of Sri Lanka. The plantation system depends on the exploitation of cheap labour.
(v) It aims at high yield, high quality production and a large output for export.
(vi) Plantations are located in coastal areas with developed network of roads, railways, harbours and navigable rivers.

Question 16.
Mention any six char- I acteristics of ‘commercial livestock rearing’ in the world. (C.B.S.E. 2009, 2014)
Answer :
Main characteristics :

• It is capital intensive and is organised on scientific basis.
• Livestock is reared on large farms called ranches.
• Main emphasis is on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care.
• The products like meat, wool, hides and skins are exported.
• It is a commercial form of grazing.
• It is practised in temperate and tropical grasslands where fodder crops are also grown.

Question 17.
What are primary activities ? Why are these dependent on environment ? Give some examples.
Answer:
The primary activities are those activities in which man obtains products directly from nature. These are directly dependent upon environment as these refer to utilisation of earth’s resources such as land, water, vegetation, building materials and minerals.
Examples : These include hunting and gathering, pastoral activities, fishing, forestry, agriculture and mining.

Question 18.
‘Primitive Societies depended on wild animals’ Explain with examples.
Answer:
(i) The people located in very cold and extremely hot climate survived on hunting. They used primitive tools made of stones, twigs or arrows. So the number of animals killed was limited.
(ii) The people in coastal areas still catch fish. Fishing has experienced modernisation due to technological progress. Many species now have become extinct.

Question 19.
What is primitive subsistence or shifting farming ? Describe its different types. (C.B.S.E. Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Primitive Subsistence farming or Shifting Agriculture. Shifting agriculture is practised by many primitive tribes of forests in tropics. People keep on shifting from one part of the forest to another. A patch of land is cleared through fire. It is cultivated for a short period. When the fertility of the soil is exhausted, the fields are abandoned. New areas are cleared. This is also called ‘slash-and-burn’ agriculture.

The cultivated patches are small. Tool like stick and hoe are primitive. Yields are low. Loss of fertility is a great problem. Areas and Crops. Fields are scattered; Primitive tools are used; Rice, millets, yams, beans and cassava are grown. Jhumming in N.E. States of India (Nagaland), Milpa in Central America, Ladang in Indonesia and Malaysia are the popular names given to shifting agriculutre.

Question 20.
What is intensive subsistence farming ? Describe its two types.(C.B.S.E. 2011)
Or
Classify intensive subsistence agriculture into two categories practised in the world. How are they different from each other? Exlain. (C.B.S.E. Outside Delhi 2017)
Answer:
Intensive subsistence farming is practised in densely populated area of Monsoon region. In it, large labour is applied to small farms to obtain high yield, and to produce many crops a year.

(i) Intensive subsistence agriculture dominated by wet paddy cultivation. This type of agriculture is characterised by dominance of the rice crop. Land holdings are very small due to the high density of population. Farmers work with the help of family labour leading to intensive use of land.

Use of machinery is limited and most of the agricultural operations are done by manual labour. Farm yard manure is used to maintain the fertility of the soil. In this type of agriculture, the yield per unit area is high but per labour productivity is low.

(ii) Intensive subsidence agriculture dominated by crops other than paddy. It is not practical to grow paddy in many parts of monsoon Asia. Wheat, soyabean, barley and sorghum are grown in northern China, Manchuria, North Korea and North Japan. In India, wheat is grown in the western parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Question 21.
Write notes on :
(a) Market gardening
(b) Truck farming
(c) Flower culture
(d) Fruit culture (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
Horticulture. The specialised cultivation of fruit and vegetables and flowers solely for the urban markets is known as horticulture.

Area. It is well developed in the densely populated industrial and urban centres where demand is large. The main areas are N.W. Europe and N.E. parts of U.S.A.

Types of Horticulture :
(a) Market Gardening.
Vegetables are grown in sub-urban areas to meet the daily demand. London, Moscow and California are important centres.

(b) Truck Farming. Areas having favourable climate and so it grows fruits and vegetables for distant markets. It involves movement by trucks and is thus known as truck farming. California is the greatest vegetable growing state.

(c) Flower Culture. Netherlands specializes in the cultivation of spring flowers such as Tulips which are flown to all the major cities of Europe.

(d) Fruit Culture. In warm and sunny climate a variety of fruits are grown such as mangoes, apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, etc. Mangoes are exported from India to foreign markets of Russia, Middle East and Southern continents supply fruit in winter.

Question 22.
Differentiate between co-operative farming and collective farming stating any five points of distinction. (CBSE 2016)
Or
Define the term ‘Co-operative farmings.(Out side Delhi 2011)
Or
What is the basic principle of Collective farming ? (Outside Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Co-operative Farming
(i) A group of farmers form a co-operative society by pooling in their resources voluntarily for more efficient and profitable farming.

(ii) Individual farms remain intact and farming is a matter of cooperative initiative.

(iii) Co-operative societies help farmers, to procure all important inputs of farming, sell the products at the most favourable terms and help in processing of quality products at cheaper rates.

(iv) Co-operative movement originated over a century ago and has been successful in many western European countries like Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Italy etc.

(v) In Denmark, the movement has been so successful that practically every farmer is a member of a co-operative.

Collective Farming
(i) Collective farming or the model of Kolkhoz was introduced in erstwhile Soviet Union to improve the inefficiency of the previous methods of agriculture and to boost agricultural production for self-sufficiency.

(ii) The farmers pool in all their resources like land, livestock and labour.

(iii) However, they are allowed to retain very small plots to grow crops in order to meet their daily requirements.

(iv) Yearly targets are set by the government and the produce is also sold to the state at fixed prices. Produce in excess of the fixed amount is distributed among the members or sold in the market.

(a) The farmers have to pay taxes on the farm produces, hired machinery, etc. Members are paid according to the nature of the work allotted to them by the farm management.

Question 23.
Explain any five characteristics ‘ of extensive ‘commercial grain cultivation’ practised in the World. (CBSE 2014)
Answer:
(i) It is practised in Temperate grasslands.
(ii) Wheat is the main crop grown.
(iii) The size of farm is very large.
(iv) Mechanised agriculture is practised.
(v) Yield per hectare is low.
(vi) Field per person is high.

Question 24.
Define the term “mixed farming9. Explain any four characteristics of mixed farming practised in the world.
(CBSE – 2014)
Answer:
Mixed farming involves the growing of crops and raising of livestock on the same farm. Cattle rearing, poultry farming, and dairy farming are also practised.

Characteristics :

• Wheat, barley, oat and fodder crops are grown.
• It involves high capital expenditure and machinery.
• It makes extensive use of chemical fertilisers.
• Crop rotation and inter-cropping is practised to retain soil fertility.

Question 25.
Distinguish between the following :
Or
Describe any five characteristics of ‘subsistence agriculture’ practised in the world. (Delhi 2019)
(i) Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture.
(ii) Intensive and Extensive Agriculture.
Answer:
(i) Subsistence Agriculture and Commercial Agriculture

Subsistence Agriculture

Commercial Agriculture

1. Subsist ence a griculture is the type of farming in which crops are grown for local consumption. 2. Sedentary agriculture and intensive agriculture are its main types. 3. It is practised in densely populated areas of monsoon region like India. China. Indonesia. Bangladesh, etc. 4. Rice is the main crop in S E. Asia. Other cereals are grown in dry areas. 5. Size of the land holding is small. 6. Simple implements, with large human labour, are used. 7. Green manures and fertilizers are used to increase the fertility

1. Commercial agriculture includes the growing of crops for market. 2. Plantation farming and extensive farming are its main types. 3. It is practised in sparsely populated areas of temperate grasslands. Tropical regions have plantations. Mixed farming and dairy farming in Europe are other forms of it. 4. Wheat is grown in temperate regions. Tea, coffee, sugarcane are grown in tropical region. 5. Size of the land holding is large. 6. Lt is highly mechanised farming. 7. Chemical fertilizers are widely used.

(ii) Intensive and Extensive Agriculture (CBSE Output Delhi 2017)

Intensive Agriculture

Extensive Agriculture

1. Intensive agriculture means the application of large amount of labour and capital to small fields to obtain high yield per unit area of land and to produce many crops a year. 2. It is carried on in densely populated areas like China. India. N.W. Europe etc. where availability of per capita land is low. 3. It is practised in old world countries and is known as oriental agriculture also. 4. It is of two types. In wet areas, it is intensive subsistence dominated by wet paddy. In other areas, it is dominated by other food crops. 5. The size of land holdings is small. 6. Much human labour is used. Machinery is not so widely used. 7. Livestock farming is little developed due 1o poor pastures.

1. Extensive agriculture means highly mechanised farming on large holdings, employing little labour to get a large total yield. But it is a capital intensive farming. 2. It is best developed in sparsely populated areas like Steppes, Prairies, the Pampas and Downs (Temperate Grasslands) where large land holdings are available. 3. It is a new development and is carried out- in new world countries. 4. It has a marked speci-alisation of wheat monoculture. It is a type of plantation agriculture in mid-latitudes 5. The size of land holdings is very large (16,000 Hectares). 6. It is highly mechanised farming. A small labour force is used. 7. Livestock farming supplements agriculture due to availability of grasslands.

Primary Activities Important Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1.
(a) What is Gathering ? What are its main characteristics ?
(b) In which areas, is it still practised ?
(c) What products are gathered from it ?
(d) Examine the future of gathering in the world.
Or
Why has gathering little chance of becoming important at the global land? Explain one reason. (C.B.S.E. Set-III outside 2017)
Or
Gathering and hunting are the primitive economic activities meant for the subsistance of tribal societies, but in modern times gathering is market oriented and has become commercial. Examine the statement. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
Answer:
Gathering is one of the oldest activity of man. Man survived on edible plants gathered from forests to meet food requirements.
(а) Characteristics.

• It is practised in regions with harsh climatic conditions
• It involves primitive societies who extract both plants and animals to satisfy their needs for food, shelter and clothing.
• This type of activity requires a small amount of capital investment.
• It operates at very low level of technology.
• The yield per person is very low and little or no surplus is produced.

(b) Areas. Gathering is practised in :

• high latitude zones which include northern Canada, northern Eurasia and southern Chile.
• Low latitude zones such as the Amazon Basin, tropical Africa, Northern fringe of Australia and the interior parts of Southeast Asia.

(c) Products
In modern times some gathering is market oriented and has become commercial.

• Gatherers collect valuable plants such as leaves, barks of trees and medicinal plants and after simple processing sell the products in the market.
• They use various parts of the plants, for example, the bark is used for quinine, tanin extract and cork
• leaves supply materials for beverages, drugs, cosmetics, fibres, thatch and fabrics; nuts for food and oils and tree trunk yield rubber, balata, gums and resins.

(d) Future of gathering
Gathering has little chance of becoming important at the global level. Products of such an activity cannot compete in the world market. Synthetic products often of better quality and at lower prices have replaced many items.

Question 2.
Describe the main features of Pastoral nomadism and the areas associated with it.
Answer:
Pastoralism. The domestication of animals was one of the early steps in the development of civilisation. People living in different climatic conditions selected and domesticated animals found in those regions e.g. cattle and horses in the grasslands, sheep and reindeer in the tundra regions, camel in the tropical deserts, and llama and yak in the high altitudes of the Andes and the Himalayas respectively.

These animals were the chief sources of milk, meat, wool and hides. In the tropical and temperate grasslands of the world, livestock, herding and rearing constitutes as pastoral nomadism.

Pastoral nomadism. It is a subsistence activity depending on animals. Since these people do not live a settled life, they are called nomads. Each nomadic community occupies a well-defined territory. The animals depend entirely on natural vegetation.

Cattle are reared in grasslands receiving more rain and having soft and long grasses. Sheep are reared in low rainfall areas with short grasses. Goats are common in the rugged terrain with scanty grasses. There are six widely distributed species reared by pastoral nomads : sheep, goats, camels, cattle, horses and donkeys.

Transhumance. In some parts of the world, the movement of herders follows the change in seasons. For example, in the mountainous regions such as the Himalayas, Gujars, Bakarwals, Gaddis and Bhotiyas migrate from the plains to the mountains in summers and from mountains to the plains in winters. Similarly, in the tundra region, the nomadic herders move from south to north in summers and from north to south in winters. Such seasonal migration of people with their animals is known as transhumance.

Areas. Pastoral nomadism is associated with seven distinct areas—high latitude sub-Arctic, Eurasian Steppe, mountainous south-west Asia. Saharan and Arabian deserts, sub-Saharan Savannas, the Andes and the Asian high altitude plateaus. These may broadly be grouped under three broad regions.

(i) Sahara, the largest region extends over nearly 13,000 km., from the Sahel and Sahara in Africa to Mongolia and Central China.
(ii) Tundra, the second region includes the southern border of the tundra region in Eurasia.
(iii) S.W. Africa, the third region comprises of south-west Africa. These areas are either too hot and dry or too cold. Today, nomadic herding supports only 15 to 20 million people in the world.

Question 3.
Describe the development of commercial grazing in different types of grasslands.
Answer:
Commercial Grazing. Commercial grazing is a large scale domestication of animals, on permanent ranches, with scientific methods and fodder crops. It is practised in temperate grasslands. These areas with moderate rain, mild temperature and large surplus land favour the commercial form of grazing. Cattle are kept to produce the products of meat, wool, dairy products for export.

(a) Temperate Grasslands
(i) Prairies. The Prairies grasslands of North America have many large ranches. Better breeds of cattle like Hereford, Friesian and Jersey cow are kept. Merino sheep are grazed on Edward and Mexico plateau. Cattle are fattened on corn for sending to slaughter houses. It is said in the U.S.A., ‘corn goes to market on hoofs’.

(ii) Pampas. S.E. South America includes the grazing lands of Pampas, Patagonia, Uruguay and southern Brazil. The Pampas with 50 to 100 cms rain, cool climate, Alfa-Alfa grass have helped commercial grazing of cattle for beef and wool. Uruguay and Brazil with green grasses are leading exporters of cattle products.

(iii) Australia. Temperate grasslands of Australia include ‘Downs’ grasslands over large areas of Victoria, N.S. Wales, and South Australia. Australia is the leading commercial grazing country of the world. Natural pastures, cool climate, artesian wells, large ranches favour commercial grazing.

(iv) New Zealand. The economic development of New Zealand depends upon sheep and cattle grazing. New Zealand is the leading exporter of beef, wool, butter. Sheep and dairy cattle are kept on small farms.

(v) South Africa. The veld region of South Africa plateau is a region of temperate grasslands. Sheep and Angora goats are grazed for beef and wool.

Question 4.
What is plantation Agriculture ? What are its characteristics ? Name the areas and crops grown there.
Or
Describe any five features of plantation agriculture practised in different regions of the world? (C.B.S.E. Delhi 2017, Delhi 2019)
Answer:
Plantation Agriculture :
Plantation agriculture is a large scale specialised commercial farm of a single cash crop on estates or plantations. Some of the main crops are rubber, oil palm, cotton, tea, cocoa, bananas, pineapples, coffee and sugarcane. The plantations were established by the Europeans during the colonial period in tropics.

Areas. Plantations are found in many parts of tropical regions of Asia, Africa and America.
(i) West Indies, Cuba and Jamaica.
(ii) Guinea and west coast of Africa.
(iii) India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia, Phillipines.

Characteristics :
(i) Plantation farms are generally large (more than 40 hectares) and known as estates or plantations.
(ii) The European skill, organisation and large capital are used on plantations. These use scientific methods of cultivation and a single crop specialisation.
(iii) Local or migrated labour is used on plantation such as Negroes in cotton belt of the U.S.A. and Tamils in tea plantations of Sri Lanka. The plantation system depends on the exploitation of cheap labour.
(iv) It aims at high yields, high quality production and a large output for export.
(v) Plantations are located in coastal areas with developed network of roads, railways, harbours and navigable rivers.

Areas :
(a) Most of the estates are owned by Europeans. British companies own rubber plantations of Malaysia, Tea estates of India and Sri Lanka and Banana plantations in West Indies.
(b) The French established cocoa and coffee plantation in west Africa.
(c) The British established sugarcane and banana plantations in West Indies.
(d) Spanish and Americans established coconut and sugarcane plantation in Phillipines.

Question 5.
Write detailed notes on :
Or
(a) Compare the features of Mixed farming and Diary farming in five points? (Sample Paper 2018-19)
(a) Mixed Farming
(b) Dairy Farming
Answer:
(a) Mixed Farming: Mixed farming involves the growing of crops and raising of animals on the same farm. Besides cultivation, other subsidiary occupations like cattle rearing, poultry farming, dairy farming etc. are practised.

Livestock is fed on fodder crops in winter. In summer, cattle graze on pastures. Many factors have favoured the development of mixed farming :

• Urban and industrial population.
• Facilities of transport.
• Nearness to market.
• Certain rainfall.
• Intensive methods.

Areas. It is practised in highly developed parts of the world. Mixed farming is found through- out Europe, Eastern and Northern America, Pampas, S.E. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Characteristics :
(i) This type of farming is highly intensive, scientific and specialised.
(ii) Mixed farms are moderate in size.
(iii) It represents truly mixed economy because crops and livestocks are equally integrated.
(iv) Cereals are grown with other crops practising crop rotation, inter cropping and crop-combination.
(v) Mixed farming is characterised by high capital expenditure on machinery and farm building.
(vi) Chemical fertilizers are extensively used to maintain the fertility of the soils.
(vii) The labour is skilled and expert in farming.

(viii) Mixed farming has threefold advantages:

• It protects the farmers against the risk of poor prices, crop failure and diseases.
• Labour is evenly spread throughout the year.
• Soil fertility is maintained by crop rotation.

(ix) Livestock is fed on fodder crop, pastures and other crops.
(x) The farmers have a higher standard of living.

(b) Dairy Farming: Dairy farming is an advanced type of farming. Cattle are kept to produce milk. Milk is a highly nutritious food. Milk is used to form many products like butter, cheese, condensed milk, etc. Dairy cattle include many breeds of cows and buffaloes.

Geographical factors favouring dairy farming :

• A cool-temperate climate
• Moderate temperatures
• Sufficient rainfall
• Rich pastures
• Nearness to markets
• Skilled labour
• Capital
• Developed means of transport.
• Technical knowledge.

Modern methods of refrigeration, cold storage, milking and preparing dairy products need technical and scientific knowledge.

Major Dairy Regions. The major dairy regions of the world are found in the cool-temperate regions of the world.

1. N.W. Europe. This dairy region extends from Atlanic coast to Moscow for a distance of 3000 kms. This industry is highly developed in Denmark and the Netherlands. Denmark has 9000 co-operative societies engaged in dairy farming.

2. N.E. American Region. This dairy region extends from Atlantic coast to great lakes of North America. The U.S.A. and Canada are among the leading dairy countries of the world. St. Lawrence valley and Wisconsin states are the main area of dairy region.

3. Australia-New Zealand (Tasmania) Region. New Zealand and Australia have well developed dairy farming. Cattle are reared in North Iceland, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales. New Zealand is the largest exporter of butter and cheese in the world.

Primary Activities Important Extra Questions HOTS

Question 1.
Large scale mechanised grain cultivation results in low yield per acre, but High yield per man.” Discuss.
Answer:
Extensive agriculture is practised in temperate grasslands. It is a large scale mechanised farming on large farms. It results in low yield per acre but high yield per man.

(i) Wheat is the main cereal grown. The average yield is 20 Bushels per acre. It is low as compared to yield of wheat in countries having intensive cultivation, for example in Belgium it is 60 Bushels per acre.

(ii) The farms are highly mechanised. A single machine can do the work of 50 to 100 labourers. Labour force is small and the yield per man is high.

(iii) It is practised in sparsely populated areas. Therefore production per man is high.

(iv) The size of the farms is very large. The methods are not intensive. The total output is large but the yield per acre is low.

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 6 Bhakti-Sufi Traditions: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 6 Bhakti-Sufi Traditions: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts

Question 1.
Name the principal deity followed at Puri, Orissa.
Answer:
Jagannatha, a form of Lord Vishnu.

Question 2.
Who were Alvars?
Answer:
Alvars were those who immersed in the devotion of Lord Vishnu.

Question 3.
Who were Nayanars?
Answer:
Devotes of Lord Shiva were called Nayanars.

Question 4.
Name a composition written by Alvars.
Answer:
Nalayira Divyapradandham.

Question 5.
Name a woman devotee each of Alvars and Nayanars?
Ans.
Andal (Alvar) and Karaikkal Ammaiyar (Nayanar).

Question 6.
Who were Virashaivas?
Answer:
The followers of Basavanna in Karnataka were called Virashaivas or Lingayats.

Question 7.
Who challanged the idea of caste and the pollution attributed to certain groups by Brahmanas?
Answer:
Lingayats.

Question 8.
Who conquared Sindh in 711 A.D.?
Answer:
Muhammad Qasim, an Arab General Conquered Sindh in 711 A.D.

Question 9.
Who were Ulamas?
Answer:
Religious scholars of Muslims were called ulamas. They guided the rulers to rule according to the Sharia.

Question 10.
Which branch of the Ismailis developed new modes of communication, dissemination ideas derived from the Quran?
Answer:
The Khojahs.

Question 11.
What is Ziyarat?
Answer:
Practice of visiting tomb shrine of Sufi Shaikh was called Ziyarat.

Question 12.
Who composed Padmavat?
Answer:
Malik Muhammad Jayasi composed Padmavat.

Question 13.
Who preserved the Kabir Bijak?
Answer:
The Kabirpanth preserved the Kabir Bijak in Varanasi.

Question 14.
What was the most striking feature of sculpture as well as of texts of phase of 8th to 18th century ?
Answer:
Probably the most striking feature of sculpture as well as of texts was the increasing visibility of different gods and goddesses. This indicates toward continuation and extension of worship of major deities, i.e., Vishnu, Shiva and the Goddess. Each of these deities were visualised in a number of forms.

Question 15.
Who were the Jogis ?
Answer:
The Jogis were the disciples of Gorakh Nath and Aughur Nath. They were very popular in the North India and influenced the Sufi saints.

Question 16.
Who brought up Saint Kabir and what are his followers known as ?
Answer:
Saint Kabir was brought-up by a weaver Niru and his wife Nima. Followers of Kabir are known as Kabirpanthi.

Question 17.
What is the position of Bhakti in Indian tradition ?
Answer:
Bhakti is considered as a part of devotion in Indian tradition. One can attain God through this. Lord Krishna himself told about this in Bhagwat Gita.

Question 18.
Name the two Sufi Shaikhs during the period of Delhi Sultanate.
Answer:
During the period of Delhi Sultanate, there were two Shaikhs namely Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti and Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya.

Question 19.
Why did the Nayanar saints express their opposition towards Jainism and Buddhism ?
Answer:
The compositions of the Nayanars were marked for their opposition to Buddhism and Jainism. The historians believe that this hostility was due to competition for seeking the royal patronage. The Nayanars were inspired by this feeling.

Question 20.
Explain two religious beliefs and behaviours of Lingayats.
Answer:
(i) Lingayats believed that once , a devotee dies, he will be united with Shiva and will not return to this world.
(ii) They do not practice funerally rites instead they ceremonially bury their dead.

Question 21.
Why and which changes came in status of Brahmanas in North India in 13th century ?
Answer:
During last years of 12th century, Brahmanas had a very important place in Rajput kingdoms and they performed a number of secular and ritual functions. No one tried to challenge their position directly. But when Turks established Delhi Sultanate in 13th century, this condition changed. This undermined the power of many Rajput kingdoms and the Brahmanas associated with these kingdoms.

Question 22.
What do you mean by Zimmi ?
Or
Give the meaning of Zirnrna. Who were Zimmis ? (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Answer:
The word ‘Zimmi’ was derived from the Arabic word ‘Zimma’ which meant ‘protection’. In other words, the Zimmis were the protected people. They were non-Muslims and included Hindus, Jains, Jews and Christians. They lived under Muslim rulership and paid a tax called ‘Jaziya’. So they were entitled for protection by the Muslims.

Question 23.
By giving example clarify that Muslim rulers often adopted a fairly flexible policy towards their subjects.
Answer:
There is no denying the fact that Muslim rulers often adopted a fairly flexible policy towards their subjects. For example, many rulers gave land grants and tax exemptions to Jaina, Hindu, Christian, Zoroastrian and Jewish religious institutions. They also expressed their respect and devotion towards non- Muslim religious leaders. These grants were given by rulers like Akbar, Aurangzeb, etc.

Question 24.
Who were Mlechchhas ?
Answer:
‘Mlechchha’ word is used for migrating communities. This name indicates that they did not believe and observe the norms of caste, society and spoke those languages which were not derived from Sanskrit.

Question 25.
Write two rituals of initiation into ‘Silsila’.
Answer:
There were special rituals of initiation into Silsila and these were:
(i) One has to take an oath of allegiance.
(ii) He should wear a patched garment and shave his hair.

Question 26.
Where was the dargah of Shaikh Nizam- ud-din Aulia situated ? What was the feature of its open kitchen (langar) ?
Answer:
Dargah of Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Aulia was situated on the banks of the river Yamuna in Ghiyaspur, on the outskirts of the then city of Delhi. The main feature of its open kitchen was that it was run on unasked-for charity or ‘futuh’.

Question 27.
Name those three poets or historians who visited Shaikh Nizam-ud-din and wrote about the Shaikh ?
Answer:
Amir Hasan Sijzi, Amir Khusro and the court historian Ziya-ud-din Barani were poets or historians who visited Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Aulia and wrote about the Shaikh.

Question 28.
Name four practices adopted by Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Auliya which represent that he tried to assimilate love traditions.
Answer:
(i) Bowing before the Shaikh.
(ii) Offering water to visitors.
(iii) Shaving the heads of inmates.
(iv) Yogic exercise.

Question 29.
What are Kabir’s Ulatbansi compositions ?
Answer:
The Ulatbansi compositions of Kabir are intrinsically upside-down sayings. They are written in a form in which everyday meanings are inverted. They express difficulty in capturing the nature of the ultimate reality. They express Kabir’s mystical experiences.

Question 30.
Name two compositions of Kabir which convey a sense of Kabir’s mystical experiences.
Answer:
Kabir’s compositions like “the lotus which blooms without flower” and the “fire raging in the ocean” conveys a sense of Kabir’s mystical experiences.

Question 31.
What is written about religion of Kabir in Vaishnav traditions? Who was his Guru ?
Answer:
Hagiographies within the Vaishnava tradition suggest that Kabir was born a Hindu (Kabirdas) but was brought up by a poor Muslim family who belonged to the weaver community. Vaishnava traditions also suggest that Kabir was initiated into Bhakti by a Guru Ramananda.

Question 32.
Who was Mirabai ? Discuss any of her two works.
Answer:
Mirabai was the most famous poetess of the Bhakti tradition. She composed many bhajans in praise of Lord Krishna whom she considered as her lover. Her songs are very popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan. She was against caste system and stood in defiance to the norms of the caste society.

Question 33.
Mention the two earliest Bhakti Movements of Tamil Nadu, giving the main difference between them. (C.B.S.E. 2011 0))
Answer:
The two earliest Bhakti Movements of Tamil Nadu were started under Alvars and Nayanars. Alvars were disciples of Vishnu and Nayanars were disciples of Lord Shiva.

Question 34.
Name the two women poet saints of Tamil Nadu. Whom did they ‘ worship ? (C.B.S.E. 2011 (D))
Answer:
Andal and Karaikkal Ammaiyar were the two women poet saints of Tamil Nadu. Andal was the devotee of Vishnu and Karaikkal was the devotee of Lord Shiva.

Question 35.
Mention two features of the protest movement started by Nayanars and Alvars ? (C.B.S.E. 2011 (D))
Or
Point out similarity between Lingayats and Nayanars. (C.B.S.E. 2008, 2016 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Both Alvars and Nayanars started a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmanas.
(ii) They even opposed Buddhism and Jainism.

Question 36.
Kabir Bijak and Kabir Granthavali are the two distinct but overlapping traditions. How are they preserved ? (C.B.S.E. 2015 (O.D.))
Answer:
The Kabir Bijak has been preserved by the Kabirpanth in Varanasi and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh. The Kabir Granthavali is associated with Dadupanth in Rajasthan. Many of his compositions are found in the Adi Granth Sahib.

Question 37.
“The message of Guru Nanak Devji was based on divinity.” Mention any two aspects of it.
Answer:
(i) According to Guru Nanak Devji, there is no gender or form of the ‘Absolute’ or rab.
(ii) He proposed a simple way to connect to the Divine by remembering and repeating the Divine Name expressing his ideas through hymns called ‘shabad in Punjabi’.

 

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 5 Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 5 Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society

Question 1.
When and where was Al-Biruni born?
Answer:
A1 Biruni was born in 973 AD, in Khwarizm in present day Uzbekistan.

Question 2.
What did Al-Biruni do when he spend many years in India?
Answer:
Al-Biruni spent many years in the company of brahamana, priests and scholars, learning Sanskrit and studying religious and philosphical texts.

Question 3.
Name the book written by Al-Biruni.
Answer:
Al-Biruni wrote the ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’.

Question 4.
Name the book written by Ibn Battuta.
Answer:
Rihla, in Arabic language, was written by Ibn-Battuta.

Question 5.
When did Ibn-Battuta visit Mecca ?
Answer:
In 1332-33 CE.

Question 6.
Who was known as the inveterate traveller?
Answer:
Ibn Battuta was known as the inveterate traveller.

Question 7.
Who was Duarte Barbosa?
Answer:
He was a Portuguese writer who created a detailed account of trade and society in south India.

Question 8.
Who was Francois Bernier?
Answer:
He was a French man, a doctor, political philosophers and historian who remained in India for 12 years between 1656-1668 CE.

Question 9.
Who gave a detailed description of Caste system in India?
Answer:
Al-Biruni

Question 10.
Who disapproved the nation of pollution?
Answer:
Al-Biruni.

Question 11.
Who described Delhi as a vast city with a great population?
Answer:
Ibn-Battuta.

Question 12.
With which purpose did the people travel ? Write any four objectives.
Answer:
The people used to travel:
(i) In search of work.
(ii) To escape from natural disasters.
(iii) To satisfy their sense of adventure.
(iv) With multi-purpose objectives as traders, merchants, soldiers, priests and pilgrims.

Question 13.
Where did Al-Biruni live ? How did he reach Ghazni ?
Answer:
Al-Biruni lived in Khwarizm in present day Uzbekistan. Ghazni’s Sultan Mahmud attacked Khwarizm in 1017 C.E. and took back many poets and scholars to Ghazni. Al-Biruni was one of them.

Question 14.
Give any two characteristics of the writings of Al-Biruni.
Answer:
(i) Al-Biruni wrote in Arabic language.
(ii) He adopted a critical approach in his writings. In each chapter, he began with a question. Then he gave a detailed description. He concluded with a comparison with other culture.

Question 15.
“Al-Biruni w as capable of translating different texts in other languages.” Give example.
Answer:
Al-Biruni was well-versed in many languages which is why he was capable of translating different texts in other languages. He translated many Sanskrit texts in Arabic language including grammar of Patanjali. He even translated accounts of a Greek mathematician for his Brahmana friends.

Question 16.
How did Al-Biruni know about the works of the Greek philosophers ?
Answer:
Al-Biruni did not know the Greek language. Even then he was familiar with the works of the Greek philosophers. He had read their translations in Arabic.

Question 17.
Name the book written by Ibn-Battuta. What was his observation about female slaves in the sub-continent ? (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
Answer:
Ibn-Battuta’s book was entitled ‘Rihla’. According to it, the slaves were engaged to do domestic work. He wrote in his book that not only male slaves but the Sultan also employed female slaves to keep a watch on his nobles.

Question 18.
Give a brief introduction of ; Francois Bernier. How long did he remain in India ? (C.B.S.E. 2011 (D))
Answer:
Francois Bernier was a French traveller. He himself was a doctor, political philosopher and a historian. He remained in India for 12 years from 1656 till 1668 C.E. and was closely associated with the Mughal court.

Question 19.
Mention any two characteristics of the cities in the Indian sub-continent, as described by Ibn-Battuta. (C.B.S.E. 2011 (O.D.))
Answer:
According to Ibn-Buttuta:
(i) Indian cities were very prosperous.
(ii) Indian cities were densely populated.

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments

Question 1.
Name the Begum of Bhopal who provided manely for the preservation of Sachi Stupa?
Answer:
Shahjehan Begum and her successor Sultan Jahan Begum.

Question 2.
Which thinkers emerged in the world during the mid-first millennium BCE ?
Answer:
Zarathustra in Iran, Kong Zi in China, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Greece and Mahavira and Gautam Budha in India.

Question 3.
When was Rigveda compiled?
Answer:
Between C. 1500 and 1000 BCE.

Question 4.
What is Rigveda consist of ?
Answer:
Rigveda consists of hymns in praise of many deities such as Indra and Soma.

Question 5.
Who performed rajasuya and ashvamedha sacrifices?
Answer:
They were performed by Chiefs and Kings with the help of Brahmins.

Question 6.
What is meant by Kutagarashala?
Answer:
A hut with a pointed roof.

Question 7.
Who questioned the authority of the Vedas ?
Answer:
Mahavira and the Buddha questioned the authority of the Vedas.

Question 8.
Who started Jainism?
Answer:
Rishabdev was first Tirthankar and Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankar of Jainism.

Question 9.
Name the religious texts of Jainism.
Answer:
Angas are the religious texts of Jainism.

Question 10.
Where did Buddhism spread?
Answer:
India, China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thiland and Indonesia.

Question 11.
What was the name given to Buddha at the time of his birth?
Answer:
Siddhartha.

Question 12.
Who was called the Enlightened one?
Answer:
Gautama Buddha was called the Enlightened one.

Question 13.
What is world according to the Buddhist philosophy?
Answer:
The world is transient and constantly changing.

Question 14.
What was Sangha?
Answer:
Sangha was an organisation of monks of Buddhism who became teachers of Dhamma.

Question 15.
What names were given to males and females who entered Sanghas?
Answer:
Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis.

Question 16.
Except Sanchi, where was another stupa of Buddhism?
Answer:
At Amravati.

Question 17.
Which sources are used by the historians to reconstruct the exciting world of ideas and believes from 600 B.C.E. up to 600 C.E. ?
Answer:
(i) Buddhist, Jaina and Brahmanical texts.
(ii) Large and impressive body of material remains including monuments and inscriptions.

Question 18.
Where is the stupa of Sanchi situated ? Explain any one of its feature.
Answer:
The Sanchi stupa is a wonderful ancient building in the state of Bhopal. It is situated in a village named Sanchi Kanakhera. This village is on the top of a hill. In fact, the stupa is nearly twenty miles north-east of Bhopal and looks like a crown.

Question 19.
What was the daily routine of the Buddhist monks ?
Answer:
(i) The Buddhist monks led a simple life.
(ii) They depended on offerings and alms. They kept only a bowl with them to accept food.

Question 20.
Why did Siddhartha adopt the path of Sanyas or renunciation ?
Answer:
Having seen an old man, a sick man and a dead man, Siddhartha (Buddha) realised that this world was a home of sorrows and sufferings. He realised that decay and destruction of the human body was inevitable. However, he felt relieved when he saw a homeless mendicant. He decided that he would also adopt the same path. So, he left his palace and set out in search of truth and enlightenment.

Question 21.
How was the internal functioning of the Buddhist sangha ?
Or
Mention the internal functioning of the Buddhist sanghas. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
The internal functioning of the Buddhist sangha was based on the traditions of ganas and sanghas. According to this, consensus was arrived at through mutual discussions. If they were unable to reach consensus then decisions were taken by a vote on the subject.

Question 22.
In the primitive times, what places were considered sacred by the people ? Give three points.
Answer:
From the earliest times, people regarded those places as sacred that had the following features:
(i) The sites with special trees.
(ii) The sites with unique rocks.
(iii) The sites having awe-inspiring beauty.

Question 23.
What are stupas ?
Answer:
The stupas are the sacred mounds associated with Buddha. It is a Sanskrit word, which means a heap. It is a simple semi-circular mound of Earth. Later on, it was called anda.

Question 24.
Name any two features of the stupa at Amaravati.
Answer:
(i) The stupa at Amaravati was the largest and the most magnificent stupa of the Buddhists.
(ii) It had high gateways and beautiful statues.

Question 25.
What is meant by Hagiography ?
Answer:
Hagiography is a biography of a saint or religious leader. It generally praises the saint’s achievement and may not always be literally accurate. They are important because they tell us about the beliefs of the follwers of that particular tradition.

Question 26.
What type of thinking did archaeologist H.H. Cole had about shifting of ancient monuments ?
Answer:
Cole was totally against taking away of ancient monuments. He considered this loot as suicidal. He was of the view that museums should have plaster- caste facsimiles of the sculpture whereas the originals should remain at their actual place.

Question 27.
When was the stupa of Sanchi discovered ? What was the condtion of its gateways at that time ?
Answer:
Stupa of Sanchi was discovered in 1818 C.E. It had four gateways. Three of these gateways were in good condition but the fourth gateway was lying scattered at its actual place.

Question 28.
What differences of opinions were there among the historians regarding the sculpture of a woman surrounded by the lotuses and the elephants found at Sanchi ?
Answer:
Some historians believed that this is the figure of Maya, the mother of Buddha, while some identify her with a popular goddess, Gaja Lakshmi. Gaja Lakshmi was the goddess of good fortune who is associated with elephants.

Question 29.
Define garbhagriha and Shikhar.
Answer:
Garbhagriha : It was an early temple (small square room) where the image of deity was kept. Worshippers entered from its single doorway to offer worship to the image.
Shikhar: A tall structure built over the central shrine was known as Shikhar.

Question 30.
What were Upanishads ? Which ideas were found in them to show that people were curious ?
Answer:
Upanishads were texts of deep ideas associated with life, death and almighty. They tell us that people were curious about the meaning of life, the possibility of life after death and rebirth. They also wanted to know what is the relation between rebirth and past actions.

Question 31.
How Buddha’s and Mahavira’s ideas about trials and tribulations of worldly existence were in contrast from that of Brahmanical ideas ?
Answer:
According to Brahmanism, an individual’s existence was determined by his or her birth in a specific caste or gender. His trials and tribulations were associated with it. On contrary to it, Buddha and Mahavira suggested that men and women themselves should try to attain liberation from trials and tribulations of worldly existence.

Question 32.
Who were Tirthankaras ?
Answer:
According to Jaina traditions, there were twenty three other teachers, before Mahavira, which were known as Tirthankaras. It literally means those who guide individuals across the river of existence.

Question 33.
How did Buddha attain true enlightenment ?
Answer:
Buddha left pleasures of life at a young age in search of true enlightenment. He wandered about for years and kept discussing with different thinkers. In the end he himself decided to find his way. He meditated for several days under a Banyan tree at Bodh Gaya. In the end, he attained enlightenment and came to be known as the Buddha.

Question 34.
Who was Vardhman Mahavira ? How was he enlightened ?
Answer:
Vardhman Mahavira was the most important teacher of Jainism. He was a Kshatriya prince. He was related to Licchavi clan of Vajji sangha. He left his home at the age of 30, started to live in forests and meditated for 12 years. Then, he got enlightened.

Question 35.
What do you mean by the concept of Trideva’s or three deities in Hinduism ?
Answer:
The meaning of Trideva in Hinduism is by three dieties out of which the first one is the creator, the second one is sustainer and the third one is the destroyer. These three are the natural rules of the whole universe. Brahma is the creator of the universe, Vishnu takes care of it and Mahesha is the destoyer of evil.

Question 36.
Why European scholars considered the images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas as the best examples of Indian art of sculptures ?
Answer:
Buddha and Bodhisatta images were very much similar to Greek images. European scholars were very much familiar with Greek traditions which is why they considered these images as the best example of the Indian art of sculpture.

Question 37.
Why Buddhism became popular ?
Answer:
(i) Buddhism was a simple religion which had no place for superstitions and other rituals.
(ii) Buddhism was propagated in Prakrit language used by common masses.
(iii) Many kings became patrons of Buddhism.
(iv) Buddhist Bhikkhus were individuals with great character.

Question 38.
Who were Ajivikas ?
Answer:
Ajivikas were the supporters of materialism. They started fatalism in Buddhism and were given financial help by Ashoka the Great.

Question 39.
Mention how, according to Jainism, one can free himself from the cycle of Karma. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (O.D.))
Answer:
According to Jainism, the cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through Karma. If one is to escape this cycle of Karma, one must practise asceticism and penance. It is only possible if one renounces the world. So, one has to live in a monastry to attain salvation.

Question 40.
Mention any four social groups from which the followers of Buddha came. (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
(i) Kings
(ii) Wealthy men
(iii) Grihapatis
(iv) Humbler folk: workers, slaves, crafts people.

Question 41.
Mention the contents of Jatakas. What do they depict? (C.B.S.E. 2010 (D))
Answer:
Jatakas contain several animal stories. These were used as symbols of human attributes. Actually, Jatakas are the stories of earlier birth (Boddhitsava) of Mahatma Buddha.

Question 42.
Mention any two ways through which the Gandatindu Jatakas describe the political relations between the King and his subjects. (C.B.S.E. 2013 (D))
Answer:
(i) The story indicates that the relations between the King and his subjects could often be strained due to demand of high taxes from them.
(ii) Escaping into the forest by the subjects remained an option as reflected in the Tataka story.

Here we are providing 1 Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 3 Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies are the best resource for students which helps in class 12 board exams.

One Mark Questions for History Class 12 Chapter 3 Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies

Question 1.
Under whose leadership the process of preparing critical edition of Mahabharata started?
Answer:
Under the leadership of V.S. Sakhankar.

Question 2.
How many years did it take to complete the critical edition of Mahabharata?
Answer:
47 years.

Question 3.
What is Kinfolk?
Answer:
Larger network of families is called Kinjolk.

Question 4.
Which system of lineage was followed by most of the ruling dynasties?
Answer:
They followed the system of patriliny.

Question 5.
Who did not have any claim to the resources of the household?
Answer:
Daughters did not have any such claim.

Question 6.
When was Manusmriti compiled?
Answer:
Manusmriti was complied between C. 200 BCE and 200 C.E.

Question 7.
How many forms of marriage were recognised in Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras?
Answer:
Eight forms of marriage.

Question 8.
On what basis Brahmanas were classified from 100 BCE onwards ?
Answer:
They were classified on the basis of their gotras.

Question 9.
Where did Satavahanas rule?
Answer:
Satavahanas ruled over parts of western India and the Deccan.

Question 10.
What is polygynous?
Answer:
When a male marries with more than one female, it is called polygynous.

Question 11.
Through which side the Satavahana rullers were identified?
Answer:
They were identified through metronymics or through mother side.

Question 12.
From where did Shakas Came?
Answer:
Shakas came from Central Asia.

Question 13.
Who were regarded as Mlechchhas?
Answer:
Shakas were regarded as Mlechchhas.

Question 14.
Where did the duties of the Chandalas lay down?
Answer:
The Manusmriti laid down the duties of the Chandalas.

Question 15.
Which Chines monk come to India during fifth century CE?
Answer:
Fa Xian.

Question 16.
With whom is the central story of Mahabharata associated ?
Answer:
The central story of Mahabharata is about two sets of warring cousins. This text also contains sections laying down norms of behaviour for different social groups. The principal characters, occasionally, seem to follow these norms.

Question 17.
Why and among whom, the war of Mahabharata was fought ? What was its result ?
Answer:
The war of Mahabharata was fought between Kauravas and Pandavas. It was fought to acquire land and authority. Both the parties were related to the Kuru clan. The war was won by the Pandavas.

Question 18.
Distinguish between Patriliny and Matriliny.
Answer:
Patriliny means to trace descent from father to son, grandson and so on. On the other hand, matriliny means to trace the descent through the mother.

Question 19.
What were Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras ?
Answer:
Brahmanas layed down codes of social behaviour in great detail. They were supposed to be followed by Brahmanas in particular and by rest of society in general. From 50 BCE, these norms were compiled in Sanskrit texts which were known as Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras.

Question 20.
What were the two most important rules about the gotrak ? Mention two rules about gotra, particularly of women, according to Brahmanical practice after 1000 B.C.E. I I (C.B.S.E. 2009 (O.D.))
or
Mention the two rules about classification of people in terms of gotra under Brahmanical practice around 1000 BCE onwards. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) After marriage, every woman gave up the gotra of her father and adopted the gotra of her husband.
(ii) Members of the same gotra could not marry.

Question 21.
Who was Gandhari ? What advice had she given to Duryodhna ? What was its impact on Duryodhna ?
Answer:
Gandhari was the mother of the Kauravas. She had advised her eldest son Duryodhna not to wage a war against the Pandavas. But it had no effect on Duryodhna. He fought against the Pandavas and was defeated.

Question 22.
Who were Gotama and Vashishtha ? Which earlier rulers gotra’s names were taken by their names ? Give examples.
Answer:
Gotama and Vashishtha were Vedic seers. Gotras of Satvahana kings were taken by their names like :
(i) Raja Gotami-puta Siri-Satakani.
(ii) Raja Vasithi-puta (Sami) Siri Pulumayi.

Question 23.
Where did endogamy prevail in India during 600 B.C.E.—600 C.E. ? What was its importance ?
Answer:
Endogamy existed in certain South Indiafi communities between 600 BCE—600 CE and it still exists. Such marriages among kinfolk ensured a close knit community.

Question 24.
What does the names of Satavahana rulers indicate towards status of mothers in the society ? Is this thing applicable on succession to the throne ?
or
How were mothers important under the Satavahana rule ? Give an example to support your answer.(C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
Satavahana rulers were identified through metronymics which means that names were derived from that of the mother. It indicates that mothers had an important place in the society. This thing is not applicable on succession to the throne as it was generally patrilineal.

Question 25.
According to the Purusha Sukta of the Rig Veda, how did the four Varnas emerge under the Varna system ?
Answer:
According to the Purusha Sukta of the Rig Veda, the four Varnas emerged from the sacrifice of the Purusha, the primeval man. All the four social categories emanated from his body. His mouth became the Brahmanas and the arms came out to be Kshatriyas. His thighs became the Vaishya and from his feet, the fourth Varna was born.

Question 26.
Who were designated as Chandalas by Brahamanas ? What was their place in society ?
Answer:
Some people were engaged in occupations like handling corpses and dead animals. These occupations were considered as impure. Those who performed such tasks were designated as Chandalas. They were placed at the very bottom of the hierarchy.

Question 27.
What has been said about the right on paternal property in the Manusmriti ?
Or
How was paternal estate to be I ’ divided after the death of the parents, I according to Manusmriti ? (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
According to the Manusmriti, the paternal property should be equally divided among all the sons after the death of their parents. However the eldest son is entitled to a special share. The women were not allowed to demand any share in this property.

Question 28.
Tell any two evidences to show that the people were linked to matriliny.
Answer:
(i) Many inscriptions of the powerful Satavahanas have been found. They tell us that many rulers had their lineage from matriliny.
(ii) There is a list of hierarchy of ancestors in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. It contains a list of successive generations of teachers and students. Most of them were designated as metronymics.

Question 29.
What is the Bhagavad Gita ?
Answer:
The Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the most important didactic section of the Mahabharata. It contains the advice offered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Question 30.
Who, according to traditions, is considered as the author of Mahabharata ? From whom did he scribe the epic ?
Answer:
According to literary traditions, Maharishi Ved Vyasa is considered as the author of Mahabharata. He scribed this epic from the Lord Ganesha.

Question 31.
Mention two ideal occupations of Brahmanas according to Dharmashastras. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
According to Dharmashastras, two ideal occupations of Brahmanas are:
(i) Study and teach the Vedas.
(ii) Perform sacrifices and get sacrifices performed as well as give and receive gifts.

Question 32.
How were the Shakas, who came from Central Asia, regarded by the Brahmanas ? Name their best known ruler and one of his contributions. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
Shakas, who came from Central Asia were regarded as Mlechchhas or the barbarians or outsiders by the Brahmanas. Rudradaman was their best known ruler and one of the major contributions of Rudradaman was that he rebuilt Sudarshana lake.

Question 33.
Mention any two ideal occupations of Kshatriyas according to Dharma-shastras. (C.B.S.E. 2009 (D))
Answer:
(i) Kshatriyas were expected to engage in warfare, protect people and administer justice.
(ii) They were expected to study the Vedas, get sacrifices performed and give gifts.

Question 34.
Mention two such population which were beyond the four varnas and I) were viewed with suspicion. Give one characteristic of each. (C.B.S.E. 2012 (O.D.))
Answer:
(i) Forest dwellers for whom hunting and gathering remained an important means of subsistence.
(ii) Mlechchhas who spoke non-Sanskritic languages.