Journey Through Time Class 7 History Textbook
1. Choose the appropriate option.
a) Why did the medieval period witness the rise and fall of several dynasties?
- i) due to foreign invasions
- ii) due to the rise of feudalism
- iii) due to the flourishing of trade and commerce
- iv) all of the above
- Answer: iv) all of the above
b) The present-day name, India, was given to the country by the ________________________.
- i) Greeks
- ii) Americans
- iii) Germans
- iv) Europeans
- Answer: i) Greeks
c) The scientific study of material remains of the past is known as ________________________.
- i) anthropology
- ii) archaeology
- iii) biology
- iv) psychology Answer: ii) archaeology
d) The Ain-i-Akbari was written by ________________________.
- i) Gulbadan Begum
- ii) Emperor Babur
- iii) Abul Fazl
- iv) Chand Bardai
- Answer: iii) Abul Fazl
e) Which technological innovation changed agricultural practices in medieval India?
- i) growth of hybrid seeds
- ii) use of the plough
- iii) introduction of the Persian wheel
- iv) better storage facilities
- Answer: iii) introduction of the Persian wheel
2. Match the columns.
| Column A | Column B |
| a) Tabaqat-i-Nasiri | i) Ziauddin Barani |
| b) Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi | ii) Abd al-Qadir Badauni |
| c) Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh | iii) Mirza Muhammad Kazim |
| d) Alamgirnamah | iv) Minhaj-us-Siraj |
Answer:-
| Column A | Correct Match (Column B) |
| a) Tabaqat-i-Nasiri | iv) Minhaj-us-Siraj |
| b) Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi | i) Ziauddin Barani |
| c) Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh | ii) Abd al-Qadir Badauni |
| d) Alamgirnamah | iii) Mirza Muhammad Kazim |
Q: Trace the evolution of the name India.
A: Long ago, India was called Bharatvarsha, meaning the land of the Bharatas. Another ancient name was Jambudvipa. Around the 11th century, Persians and Arabs called it Hind or Hindustan. In the medieval period, the term Hindustan was used by Minhaj-i-Siraj to describe Punjab and Haryana.
Q: Describe the importance of coins as a source of history.
A: Coins are of great help in studying the medieval period. The writings on coins inform us about the language and script, names of kings, titles, dates, places of issue, and dynastic emblems. The depiction of deities on coins tells us about the religious policies and personal faith of kings. They are also used to study the types of metals used, artistic skills, economic prosperity, trade, and the financial condition of a period.
Q: What information is obtained from the study of sculpture and paintings?
A: Sculptures are another important archaeological source. A critical analysis of sculptures helps us learn about the growth and development of the socio-cultural history of a period. Painting was another art form that was encouraged by medieval kings. The paintings exhibit various aspects of medieval life, including prevalent customs, traditions, food habits, jewelry, dresses, etc.
Q: Define a chronicle.
A: A chronicle is a historical record of events arranged in chronological order.
Q: Which practices worsened the life of women during the medieval period?
A: The position of women deteriorated during the medieval period due to inhuman practices such as child marriage, polygamy, sati, etc.
Q: Why are more literary sources available for the study of the medieval period?
A: There is no dearth of historical records on medieval India because paper gradually became cheaper and easily available during this period. Literary sources include court chronicles, biographies, autobiographies, accounts of foreign travelers, correspondence of kings, and other court records. Many of these records are placed in libraries and archives.
Q: Name any two new elements introduced in the field of technology during the medieval period.
A: The Persian wheel in irrigation and the spinning wheel in weaving.
Q: What are the different archaeological sources for medieval Indian history?
A: Archaeological sources include inscriptions and coins. Painting was another art form that was encouraged by medieval kings.
Q: Describe the role of religion in medieval India.
A: Religion played a dominant role in the medieval period. The period witnessed the advent of Islam, the revival of Hinduism, and many religious reforms in the form of the Bhakti and Sufi movements. Furthermore, the birth of Sikhism was another major development of the period.
Q: Briefly describe the indigenous literature of the medieval period.
A: Noteworthy indigenous literature was written in different languages like Sanskrit, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, etc. The literature composed by Bhakti and Sufi saints was primarily in local languages, providing ample scope for historians to understand the existing society and religion. They are important literary works depicting the cultural history of the medieval period.
Q: Write a note on the various travelogues composed during the medieval period in India.
A: Ibn Battuta wrote detailed information about his travels under the title Rihla (The Travelogue). It contains very useful accounts of geographical, judicial, political, and military institutions, as well as social and economic conditions. Domingo Paes and Duarte Barbosa (both Portuguese), who visited Vijayanagara, left eyewitness accounts of the splendor of the city, the king, the common people, and trade and commerce. Abdur Razzak’s travel accounts are also very useful for studying the history of Vijayanagara.
Q: How are the accounts of foreign travelers useful to historians?
A:
- Foreign travelers’ accounts give information about the political conditions of India in the past.
- They help historians understand the social life and culture of the people.
- They provide details about economic activities like trade and commerce.
- These accounts describe important institutions such as the judicial and military systems.
- They give first-hand (eyewitness) descriptions of cities, kings, and daily life, which makes history more reliable.
Q: Give reason: Inscriptions are a treasure house of historical data.
A: Inscriptions are written records found on walls, stones, and copper plates, which give important historical information. They include details about royal orders, religious practices, and grants given by kings. Since they are original records from the past, they help historians understand and reconstruct history accurately.
Q: Give reason: The medieval period of Indian history witnessed the rise and fall of several dynasties.
A: During the medieval period, many dynasties like the Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Cholas rose and later declined. There were constant struggles for power between different regional kingdoms. New dynasties like the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire emerged after the fall of earlier ones.
Q: How did Dantidurga lay the foundation of the Rashtrakuta kingdom?
A: The Rashtrakutas were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka. Dantivarman I, or Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew the rule of Kirtivarma, a Chalukyan king, and laid the foundation of the Rashtrakuta kingdom in the Deccan.
Q: Write about Amoghavarsha I of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
A: Amoghavarsha I was an exceptional king of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. During his 64 years of rule, there were many rebellions in the empire. Instead of war, he was more inclined toward peace, religion, and literature. He was a great builder who founded the Rashtrakuta capital, Manyakhet or Malkhed, near present-day Solapur in Maharashtra. The Rashtrakutas dominated the Deccan for almost 200 years; they left a mark not only in the political field but also in the fields of administration, art, and culture.
Q: Discuss the tripartite struggle.
A: Kanauj was the symbol of sovereignty and a center of political developments in North India. Due to its location, Kanauj was an important center of trade and commerce. The fertile region of the Gangetic Valley fostered agriculture. For these reasons, the new kingdoms were equally interested in acquiring control over Kanauj. The struggle between three major empires to establish their supremacy over Kanauj is known as the tripartite struggle in history. The three empires were the Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Pratiharas. However, the prolonged struggle weakened the three dynasties and led to their ultimate decline.
Q: Describe the general features of administration of the Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Pratiharas.
A: Many kings of newly formed kingdoms adopted elaborate titles such as Maharaja-adhiraja and Tribhuvana-chakravartin. Despite such claims, the new kings often shared their power not only with the samantas but also with associations of Brahmanas, peasants, and even traders. In each of these states, resources were obtained from the producers. Revenue was also collected from traders.
Q: Give reason: The art of sculpture achieved a high standard in South India during the Chola period.
A: The Chola craftsmen were highly skilled in making bronze statues. The bronze figure of Lord Shiva as Nataraja shows their excellent talent. Sculptures in temples like the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur were very detailed and beautifully made, showing advanced workmanship. Chola artists were experts in bronze casting and idol-making, which helped them create lifelike and expressive sculptures.
Q: Rajendra I’s greatest achievement was his naval expedition to Srivijaya.
A: It helped remove obstacles created by Srivijaya for Indian traders. It allowed the Cholas to increase trade with China. The expedition showed the strong naval power of the Cholas and their control over sea routes.
Q: A system of local self-government flourished during the Chola period.
A: The Cholas had village assemblies like Ur, Sabha, and Nagaram to manage local affairs. These assemblies included people from different groups, showing the participation of locals. Villages enjoyed a good level of independence and autonomy in administration.
Q: Dantidurga had to undergo a change of caste to be accepted as the ruler of his kingdom.
A: Dantidurga was not a Kshatriya by birth, which was necessary to be a ruler. Society believed that only Kshatriyas could rule kingdoms, so he needed acceptance. He performed the Hiranya-garbha rituals with Brahmanas to gain a Kshatriya identity and legitimacy as a king.
Q: What is a nagaram?
A: A nagaram was a merchant or trading town in the Chola period.
Q: Who was popularly known as Rai Pithora?
A: Prithviraj Chauhan was popularly known as Rai Pithora.
Q: What information do we get from the inscription of Uttaramerur?
A: They describe village administration, elections, and the functioning of local self-government.
Q: How did the decentralization of regional political authority give rise to regional kingdoms?
A: Local chiefs gained land through grants and became independent rulers, forming regional kingdoms.
Q: Briefly describe the temple architecture of the Chola empire.
A: The period of the Cholas marks a glorious era in the history of Indian temple architecture.
Q: How did the South kingdom decline?
A: The successors of Rajendra I tried to preserve the Chola Empire, but they continuously fought against each other and weakened themselves. Subsequently, under King Jatavarman Sundara Pandya II, the Chola Empire merged into the Pandya kingdom.