This MCQ module is based on: Exercises – Delhi Sultanate to Mughals
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Exercises – Delhi Sultanate to Mughals
🎓 Class 8
Social Science
CBSE
Theory
Ch 2 — The Delhi Sultanate and the Vijayanagara Empire
⏱ ~15 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]
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Exercises
NCERT Social Science — Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part-I | Tapestry of the Past: Reshaping India's Political Map
Key Terms at a Glance
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sultanate | Territory ruled by a Sultan (a title adopted by certain Muslim rulers) |
| Turkic | Peoples and cultures from Central Asia, stretching to Turkey and Siberia |
| Iconoclasm | Destruction of religious images considered idolatrous |
| Jizya | Tax on non-Muslim subjects for protection and military exemption |
| Jauhar | Rajput women's self-immolation to avoid capture and enslavement |
| Sulh-i-kul | Akbar's policy of "peace with all" — religious tolerance |
| Guerrilla warfare | Small-group surprise attacks using terrain knowledge against larger armies |
| Paik system | Ahom system requiring labour/military service in exchange for land rights |
| Khalsa | Sikh martial brotherhood established by Guru Gobind Singh (1699) |
| Iqta | Sultanate system assigning territories to nobles for tax collection |
| Mansabdari | Mughal rank-based system requiring officers to maintain troops |
| Jagir | Land assigned to mansabdars as payment for services |
| Hundi | Written payment instruction — precursor to modern banking |
| Shreni | Guild of craftspeople or traders |
| Rana | A title often used for Rajput kings |
| Infidel | Someone who does not share a given religion's faith |
NCERT Questions and Activities
Question 1 — Compare Political Strategies
L4 Analyse
Compare the political strategies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. What similarities and differences existed between them?
Guidance
Similarities: Both relied on military conquest, tax collection from the peasantry, non-hereditary administrative posts, and maintaining large armies. Both used land-grant systems (iqta and jagir) to reward nobles.Differences: The Sultanate relied heavily on military force alone, while the Mughals (especially Akbar) combined force with diplomacy, marriage alliances, religious tolerance, and a more systematic administrative framework. The Mughal mansabdari system was more structured than the iqta system, with precise obligations and regular inspections. Akbar's abolition of the jizya and interfaith dialogues had no parallel in the Sultanate.
Question 2 — Factors Behind Successful Resistance
L4 Analyse
Why did kingdoms like the Vijayanagara Empire and the Ahom Kingdom manage to resist conquest for a longer time compared to others? What geographical, military, and social factors contributed to their success?
Guidance
Vijayanagara: Southern location far from Delhi's power base; Deccan plateau provided natural defences; strong military and cultural patronage under rulers like Krishnadevaraya; economic prosperity from trade with foreign merchants (Portuguese).Ahom Kingdom: Northeast location in the Brahmaputra Valley, surrounded by dense forests, hills, and rivers providing natural barriers; the paik system enabled rapid mobilisation without a standing army; guerrilla tactics suited to local terrain; cultural assimilation and social cohesion strengthened unity against outsiders.
Question 3 — Letter from a Scholar
L6 Create
Imagine you are a scholar in the court of Akbar or Krishnadevaraya. Write a letter to a friend describing the politics, trade, culture, and society you are witnessing.
Guidance
If writing from Akbar's court: Describe the diverse scholars and religious figures invited for interfaith dialogues, the translation of Sanskrit texts into Persian, the grand architecture of Fatehpur Sikri, the bustling bazaars with traders from Central Asia, the mansabdari system, and the mixed atmosphere of military campaigns and cultural tolerance.If writing from Krishnadevaraya's court: Describe the grand Vitthala temple with its musical pillars, Portuguese traders selling horses, poets composing in Telugu and Sanskrit, the ruler's own literary work, prosperous markets, and the constant threat from the Deccan Sultanates to the north.
Question 4 — Akbar's Transformation
L4 Analyse
How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some years? What could have led to such a change?
Guidance
Several factors likely contributed: (1) Intellectual growth — despite being illiterate, Akbar actively sought knowledge from scholars of all faiths, which broadened his perspective. (2) Practical wisdom — he realised that religious tolerance and diplomacy were more effective tools for governing a diverse empire than brute force. (3) Personal reflection — as recorded by Abul Fazl, Akbar himself admitted feeling ashamed of his earlier intolerance. (4) Strategic calculation — alliances with Rajput rulers and inclusive administration secured greater stability than endless conquest.
Question 5 — What If Vijayanagara Won?
L6 Create
What might have happened if the Vijayanagara Empire had won the Battle of Talikota? Imagine and describe how it could have changed the political and cultural history of south India.
Guidance
Consider: (1) The Vijayanagara Empire might have continued as a dominant power, possibly expanding further into the Deccan. (2) The Deccan Sultanates might have fragmented or been absorbed. (3) The magnificent city of Hampi would not have been destroyed — imagine the temples, markets, and cultural institutions that could have continued flourishing. (4) The empire's patronage of Telugu, Kannada, and Sanskrit literature might have produced even greater works. (5) Portuguese and other European traders might have dealt with a unified, powerful southern state, potentially changing the course of colonisation.
Question 6 — Sikh Values Today
L6 Create
Many values promoted by early Sikhism, including equality, seva, and justice, remain relevant today. Select one of these values and discuss how it remains relevant in contemporary society.
Guidance
Example — Seva (selfless service): The Sikh tradition of langar (community kitchen) where all are fed regardless of caste, creed, or wealth is a direct expression of seva. Today, Sikh gurudwaras worldwide serve millions of free meals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, langar kitchens and Sikh volunteer organisations were among the first to provide food to stranded workers and displaced families. The principle that serving others without expectation of reward is a sacred duty remains powerful in a world facing inequality and social division.
Question 7 — A Day at the Port
L6 Create
Imagine you are a trader in a port city (Surat, Calicut, or Hooghly). Describe the scenes you see — goods, people you trade with, movement of ships, and the challenges of medieval trade.
Guidance
Describe: bustling docks with ships from Arabia and Persia; warehouses filled with bales of cotton textiles, sacks of pepper and spices, boxes of indigo dye; Arabian merchants bargaining for fine muslin cloth; Portuguese traders offering European goods and horses; labourers loading cargo; moneylenders issuing hundis for long-distance transactions; the sounds of multiple languages — Tamil, Arabic, Portuguese, Gujarati; the challenges of monsoon-dependent sailing schedules, pirates on trade routes, and taxes levied at every port by different rulers.
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Competency-Based Questions — Chapter Review
Case Study: A student team is creating a documentary titled "Reshaping India's Map: 500 Years of Change." They need to select key episodes, figures, and themes that capture the essence of this period for a general audience.
Q1. Which of the following is the MOST accurate summary of why the Delhi Sultanate eventually declined?
L2 Understand
Q2. Explain how the same period that witnessed destruction of temples and centres of learning also produced magnificent architecture and cultural achievements.
L3 Apply
Q3. The chapter states that India "endured, economically prosperous on the whole but often politically unstable." Evaluate this statement using evidence from the chapter.
L4 Analyse
Creative Q: If you were producing the documentary "Reshaping India's Map," which three episodes from this chapter would you feature, and why? Write a short pitch for the documentary.
L6 Create
🎯 Chapter Review — Practice Questions
✅ True or False
1. The Mughal Empire was founded by Akbar after the First Battle of Panipat.
2. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded by Harihara and Bukka in the 14th century.
3. Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred to protect the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits.
4. The mansabdari system was introduced during the Delhi Sultanate period.
5. India exported more goods than it imported during this period.
1. False — The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur, not Akbar. Akbar was the third emperor.
FALSE
2. True — Harihara and Bukka established the empire at Hampi after rejecting Delhi's authority.
TRUE
3. True — When Kashmiri Pandits sought his protection from Aurangzeb's persecution, he stood with them and chose martyrdom over conversion.
TRUE
4. False — The mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar during the Mughal period, not the Sultanate period (which used the iqta system).
FALSE
5. True — India was a major exporter of textiles, spices, and jewellery, importing relatively less (horses, metals, luxury goods).
TRUE
🔄 Match the Following — Chapter Review
Battle of Talikota (1565)
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Battle of Saraighat (1671)
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Battle of Haldighati (1576)
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First Battle of Panipat (1526)
→
?
Timur's Attack (1398)
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Battle of Talikota
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Destruction of Vijayanagara city by Deccan Sultanates
Battle of Saraighat
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Ahom victory under Lachit Borphukan against Mughals
Battle of Haldighati
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Maharana Pratap's confrontation with Mughal forces
First Battle of Panipat
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Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi; founding of Mughal Empire
Timur's Attack
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Devastation of Delhi; led to decline of Delhi Sultanate
✍ Creative / Open-Ended
Reflection: The chapter describes a period of both great destruction and great creation. Through the sword when needed, but also through art, literature, spirituality, and timeless values, India endured. Write a short paragraph (5-6 sentences) explaining what "resilience" meant for Indian society during this period. Use at least two specific examples from the chapter.
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