Fill in the Blanks (Q2) + Very Short Answer Questions (Q3)
Q2 — Fill in the Blanks
Q2 (i)
The growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the ______ Empire.
Answer: Mauryan Empire
Explanation:
Magadha’s political expansion ultimately led to the rise of the powerful Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya.
Q2 (ii)
The Manusmriti laid down the ‘duties’ of the ________.
Answer: Varna (social classes)
Explanation:
Manusmriti specifies duties and responsibilities of different varnas like Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.
Q2 (iii)
Al-Biruni was born in ________, in Khwarizm in present-day Uzbekistan.
Answer: Russia
Explanation:
Although Khwarizm is now in Uzbekistan, in historical sources it is referred to as a region influenced by Central Asian territories including early Russian boundaries.
Q2 (iv)
The ‘Amara-nayaka’ system was a major political innovation of the ______ Empire.
Answer: Vijayanagara Empire
Explanation:
The Vijayanagara rulers distributed land and military responsibilities to Amara-nayakas, similar to feudal chiefs.
Q2 (v)
_______ was grown over a great swathe of territory spread over central India and the Deccan plateau.
Answer: Cotton
Explanation:
Cotton was one of the most extensively cultivated crops across central India and the Deccan.
Q2 (vi)
In the early nineteenth century, ______ travelled through the Rajmahal hills.
Answer: Francis Buchanan
Explanation:
Francis Buchanan surveyed eastern India and documented conditions of the Rajmahal hills and their inhabitants.
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Q3 — Very Short Answer Questions
Q3 (i)
In which state is ‘Banawali’, the site of the Indus Valley Civilization, located at present?
Answer: Haryana
Explanation:
Banawali is an important Harappan site situated in the Fatehabad district of Haryana.
Q3 (ii)
Who was the first ruler to inscribe his messages on rocks and pillars for his subjects and officials?
Answer: Ashoka
Explanation:
Ashoka used inscriptions on pillars and rocks to spread his dhamma and administrative directives.
Q3 (iii)
In the early Sanskrit tradition, in which category is the Mahabharata placed?
Answer: Itihasa
Explanation:
Mahabharata, along with Ramayana, is classified as Itihasa (historical narrative).
Q3 (iv)
How can you say that Buddhism expanded rapidly during and after the Buddha’s life?
Answer:
Because monasteries increased, monks travelled widely, and royal patronage (especially by Ashoka) helped spread Buddhism.
Explanation:
Buddhist monks preached across regions, and after Buddha’s death, organized councils strengthened the religion.
Q3 (v)
Jean-Baptiste Tavernier belonged to which country?
Answer: France
Explanation:
Tavernier was a 17th-century French traveller who documented the Mughal Empire’s trade and society.
Q3 (vi)
What do you understand by the Saguna Bhakti tradition?
Answer:
Devotion to a personal god with form and attributes.
Explanation:
Saguna Bhakti focuses on gods like Rama, Krishna, or Shiva, believed to have human-like qualities.
Q3 (vii)
In which year did the battle of Rakshasi–Tangadi take place?
Answer: 1565
Explanation:
The battle (also called the Battle of Talikota) was fought in 1565, leading to the fall of Vijayanagara.
Q3 (viii)
What do you understand by ‘Khud-Kashta’?
Answer:
A cultivator who tilled land in his own village.
Explanation:
Khud-kashta peasants had stable residence and stronger rights compared to migrant cultivators.
Q3 (ix)
Mention any one feature of Permanent Settlement.
Answer:
Zamindars were made hereditary owners of land.
Explanation:
Under Permanent Settlement (1793), revenue demand was fixed permanently, and zamindars collected rent from peasants.
Q3 (x)
How can you say that South Africa was the making of the ‘Mahatma’?
Answer:
Because Gandhi developed Satyagraha, leadership skills, and political identity in South Africa.
Explanation:
His struggles against racial discrimination shaped his philosophy and prepared him for India’s freedom movement.
Q3 (xi)
How was the Constituent Assembly formed?
Answer:
It was formed through indirect elections by the provincial assemblies.
Explanation:
The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed a Constituent Assembly whose members were elected by the provincial legislatures and nominated by princely states.