Journey Through Time Class 7 A History Textbook
1. Choose the appropriate option.
a) The ______________ were the first Muslim rulers of the Caliphate Empire.
- i) Umayyads
- ii) Abbasids
- iii) Samanids
- iv) Chauhans
- Answer: i) Umayyads
b) Mahmud won his initial battle against ______________.
- i) Masud
- ii) Jaypala
- iii) Devapala
- iv) Prithviraj
- Answer: ii) Jaypala
c) ______________ attacked and sacked the famous city of Somnath.
- i) Mahmud of Ghazni
- ii) Muhammad Ghori
- iii) Prithviraj
- iv) Jaypala
- Answer: i) Mahmud of Ghazni
d) The Ghorids were vassals of ______________.
- i) Chauhans
- ii) Palas
- iii) Abbasids
- iv) Ghazni
- Answer: iv) Ghazni
2. State whether True or False
a) The birth of Prophet Muhammad marks the advent of Islam in history.
Answer: False (The advent of Islam is marked by the first revelations he received, not his birth.)
b) Mahmud of Ghazni intended to capture the wealth and resources in the Indian subcontinent to replenish the treasury of Ghazni.
Answer: True
c) The Ghaznavids joined forces with the Ghoris to plunder the Gangetic plains.
Answer: False (The Ghorids were rivals who eventually overthrew the Ghaznavid Empire.)
d) Prithviraj Chauhan, in his campaign against Muhammad Ghori, was supported by many kings, except Jaichandra of Kanauj.
Answer: True
3. Match the columns.
| Column A | Column B |
| a) 1025 CE | i) Battle of Tarain |
| b) 1178 CE | ii) Attack on the Somnath Temple |
| c) 1191 CE | iii) Expedition against Anhilwara |
| d) 1194 CE | iv) Attack on Kanauj |
Answer:-
| Column A | Correct Match (Column B) |
| a) 1025 CE | ii) Attack on the Somnath Temple |
| b) 1178 CE | iii) Expedition against Anhilwara |
| c) 1191 CE | i) Battle of Tarain |
| d) 1194 CE | iv) Attack on Kanauj |
Q: Describe the Arab conquest of Sind.
A: The advent of Islam in South Asia was brought about by the Arabs under the Umayyads. In 711 CE, an Arab expedition led by Muhammad bin Qasim captured Sind. He later extended his conquest into Multan. However, the occupation of Sind ended with the death of Muhammad bin Qasim. The Arabs were prevented from further expansion in the Indian subcontinent by the Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas.
Q: Give an account of the Somnath Temple expedition led by Mahmud of Ghazni.
A: In 1025 CE, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat. The temple was one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and was known for its rich treasures. The Indians put up a stiff resistance to protect the sacred temple. Mahmud seized the temple’s treasures, including idols of gold and silver, jewels, and other valuable objects. He returned to Ghazni with immense booty and wealth, which were used to develop his capital.
Q: Give three reasons why the Ghaznavids were no longer in a position to pose a serious threat to India.
A:
- Mahmud died in 1030 CE, and his son Masud was an inefficient and weak ruler.
- After Mahmud’s death, the Ghaznavid Empire disintegrated rapidly and was restricted to Ghazni and Punjab.
- Although the Ghaznavids continued to plunder the Gangetic Valley and Rajasthan, they were no longer strong enough to pose a serious threat to India.
Q: Why was Mahmud of Ghazni interested in conquering India?
A: Mahmud ascended the throne of Ghazni in Afghanistan in 998 CE. He was a powerful and ambitious ruler who wanted to expand his kingdom. He needed money to build a strong, large, and well-equipped army. India, at that time, was noted for its wealth and the fertility of the Punjab plains. Mahmud’s campaigns were aimed primarily at seizing India’s treasures and replenishing the Ghazni treasury.
Q: What was the chief reason for the success of Muhammad Ghori?
A: Political disunity among the Indian kings and a lack of effective leadership were among the main reasons for the success of Muhammad Ghori. The Indian kings fought for their own kingdoms, not for the country as a whole.
Q: Define Iqta and Khalisa.
A: Iqta was a piece of land assigned to Turkish chiefs for the purpose of collecting land revenue and taxes. Khalisa was a system in which the Sultan collected revenue directly from the land.
Q: Write a brief note on Prithviraj Chauhan.
A: Prithviraj Chauhan, the prince of Ajmer who ruled the territory between Ajmer and Delhi, was alarmed by the rapid success of Muhammad Ghori. In 1191 CE, a battle was fought at Tarain near Thanesar, in which Prithviraj’s forces routed the Ghori army, and Muhammad was grievously wounded.
Q: How did the officers help Muhammad Ghori in his territorial expansion?
A: His slave, Qutb-ud-din Aibak, played a crucial role. In 1194 CE, Muhammad returned to India, and Qutb-ud-din helped his master attack Kanauj and territories such as Bayana, Gwalior, Kalinjar, Mahoba, Khajuraho, and Anhilwara.
Q: How did feudalism affect military organization?
A: The king had to depend on his feudatory chiefs for military and administrative services. The feudatory chiefs rarely acted in coordination with one another. This weakened the administration and military of the Indian states.
Q: The Second Battle of Tarain was a decisive battle in Indian History.
A: Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 CE. Consequently, Ajmer, Delhi, and Eastern Rajasthan came under Turkish rule. This battle paved the way for Turkish rule in the Indian subcontinent.
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