History: 2015: CBSE: [All India]: Set – III
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Q1
How did Kushana rulers exemplify themselves with the high status?
Marks:2View AnswerAnswer:
- Kushanas identified themselves with various deities to claim high status.
- Colossal statues of Kushana rulers, found in Mathura and Afghanistan, indicate that they projected themselves as god-like.
- Many also adopted title Devaputra (Son of God).
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Q2
‘The message of Guru Nanak Devji was based on divinity.’ Mention any two aspects of it.
Marks:2View AnswerAnswer:
- Guru Nanak Devji rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities; as well as Hindu and Muslim scriptures.
- He proposed a simple way to connect to the Divine, by remembering and repeating the Divine name.
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Q3
Name the region where the Lottery Committee initiated town planning during the 18th century. Mention any one feature of it.
Marks:2View AnswerAnswer:
- The Lottery Committee initiated town planning in areas in and around Calcutta.
- Clearing the river bank of “encroachments” was a major feature of their planning.
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Q4
Why did the imperial power of Vijayanagara decline after the death of Krishnadeva Raya?
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- After Krishnadeva Raya’s death (1529), his successors were troubled by the rebellious Nayakas (military chiefs).
- Simultaneously, the military ambitions of Vijayanagara, and of Deccan Sultanates, resulted in shifting alignments.
- This ultimately led to an alliance of the Deccan Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
- In 1565, Rama Raya, the chief minister of Vijayanagara, led the army into the battle at Rakshasi-Tangadi (Talikota), where he was defeated by the combined army of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda Sultanates.
- After the defeat of Vijayanagara, during the 17th century, many Nayaka chiefs established their own independent kingdoms, hastening the collapse of the Vijayanagara Empire.
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Q5
Analyse the impact of cotton boom in India during the American Civil War.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- When American Civil War broke out in 1861, cotton prices soared.
- Export merchants in Bombay, eager to meet the British demand, gave advances to urban sahukars.
- The latter, in turn, extended credit to rural moneylenders who promised to secure produce.
- During this period, Deccan ryots were given Rs. 100 as credit for every acre of land that they planted with cotton.
- While American crisis continued, cotton production in Bombay Deccan extended. By 1862, over 90 percent of cotton imports into Britain arrived from India.
- As the Civil war ended, cotton production in America revitalized and Indian cotton exports declined.
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Q6
Explain the exclusive features of the craft production in Chanhudaro.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- Chanhudaro, a tiny settlement in Indus Valley, was almost totally devoted to craft production, including bead-making, shell-cutting, metal-working, seal-making and weight-making.
- Various materials were used to make beads – stones like carnelian, jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite, metals like copper, bronze and gold, faience and terracotta or burnt clay.
- Techniques for making beads differed according to the material. Steatite, a very soft stone, was easily worked, while carnelian was obtained by firing raw material and beads at various stages of production.
- Finished products, like beads from Chanhudaro, were taken to large urban centres, like Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
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Q7
‘Historians have provided accounts of diplomatic relationships and conflicts with the neighbouring political powers of the Mughal Empire.’ Elaborate.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- Tension and political enmity between Mughals and neighbouring powers was due to regional interests.
- For instance, relations between Mughals and Iran and Turan hinged on control of Hindukush Mountains.
- Qandahar, coveted by Mughals and Safavids of Iran, was reconquered by Akbar in 1595, although Safavids still lay claim to it.
- In 1613, Jahangir sent a diplomatic envoy to Shah Abbas’ court to plead for retaining Qandahar, but it failed. In 1622, Persia captured Qandahar.
- Relations between Mughals and Ottomans was marked by concern to ensure free movement for merchants and pilgrims to important pilgrim centres of Mecca and Medina, both part of Ottoman Empire.
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Q8
Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of Mauryan Empire. State any four such sources.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- Various sources have been used by historians to reconstruct Mauryan history, including archaeological finds, especially sculptures.
- Also valuable are contemporary works, like the account of Megasthenes (Greek ambassador to Chandragupta Maurya’s court), which survives in fragments. Another source that is often used is the Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Chanakya, traditionally believed to be Chandragupta’s minister.
- The Mauryas are also mentioned in later Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic literature, as well as in Sanskrit literary works.
- While these are useful, Asokan inscriptions, on rocks and pillars, are often considered the most valuable sources on Mauryas.
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Q9
Examine the repressive measures adopted by the British to subdue the rebels of 1857.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- Firstly, before sending troops to reconquer lost territories, the British passed several Acts, around May-June 1857, to place entire North India under Martial Law.
- British officers and civilians were empowered to try and punish ‘rebellious’ Indians.
- Ordinary processes of law and trial were suspended and anyone suspected of rebellion were sentenced to death.
- The British also used reinforcements from Britain to reconquer Delhi and other regions in Gangetic plain.
- Apart from this, the British also tried to break up unity by promising to return estates to landholders who defected to British. Rebel landholders were dispossessed, while loyal ones were rewarded.
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Q10
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Dr. Khushdeva Singh describes his work as “humble efforts I made to discharge my duty as a human being to fellow human beings.”
“Love is stronger than hate.” How true is this value which was proved at the time of the partition of India? What are the values one needs to instill and nurture to avoid hatred? Explain.
Marks:4View AnswerAnswer:
- “Love is stronger than hate” was proved by Dr. Khushdeva Singh’s service to humanity. Khushdeva Singh was a Sikh doctor specialising in the treatment of tuberculosis, posted at Dharampur in present-day Himachal Pradesh.
- He dedicated his life for the service of all communities – Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
- He provided the rare healing touch, food, shelter, love and security to numerous migrants.
- The values one needs to instill and nurture to avoid hatred are:
