Medieval History (Part-II)

Total Questions: 57

21. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times? [2010]

1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism.

2. Invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.

3. Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:Buddha was considered 9th incarnation of Vishnu. No tribe from Central Asia persecuted Buddhists. Gupta dynasty did not oppose Buddhism. However, they did not give them patronage.
Buddhism arose in the 6th century BCE in the Gangetic plain during a time of second urbanisation and social changes in India. As Buddha’s teachings resonated with people discontented with Vedic rituals and caste system, Buddhism quickly spread across northern India. Political and economic support by merchants and artisans fostered Buddhist growth. Further, under the Mauryas, Buddhism expanded both in India and outside. Doctrinal debates within Buddhism led to the emergence of major schools like Theravada and Mahayana.

Buddhism started to decline due to many socio-political factors. Its decline started with the Gupta dynasty, and by the 12th century CE, it almost disappeared in India; however, it continued to thrive in other Asian countries..

22. With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, which of the following statements are correct? [2012-11]

1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal period.

2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and spiritual music.

3. Dhrupad Alap uses Sanskrit syllables from Mantras.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Solution:Dhrupad is primarily a spiritual and devotional music and it uses Sanskrit syllables from mantras.

Dhrupad is a chanting or worshipping style in which a vocalist prays to the Lord using Nada or sounds. Dhrupad music uses sound to highlight the raga’s purity. The preferred language for this music style, Brij Bhasha, was replaced by Sanskrit in the middle of the 12th through the 16th centuries.
This type of devotional music has its roots in the old Sama Vedic literature. Sagmaa, a rhythm and melody, was used to chant this book. From the same root, vocal genres like Prabandha and Chhanda evolved. Drupad emerged because of the powerful metre and verse of these vocal styles.
Dhrupad is monophonic and modal, having a single melodic line and no harmonic elements, like other classical Indian vocal music. Raga is the name given to the modes, and each raga is a complex system of melodic laws.
Dhrupad music is sung by a single vocalist or a small group of singers in unison to the beat of a mridangam, pakhawaj, or barrel drum. A sitar may also be used as an accompaniment. The majority of the songs are religious adorations of Hindu deities.

23. With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? [2012-1]

1. Meditation and control of breath

2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place

3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution:All statements are correct, hence the option (d) is correct.

• Sufism was a liberal reform movement within Islam. It had its origin in Persia and spread into India in the 11th century. Most of the Sufis (mystics) were persons of deep devotion who disliked the display of wealth and degeneration of morals following the establishment of the Islamic empire. They laid great emphasis on love as the bond between God and the individual soul. Love of God meant love of humanity and therefore, Sufis believed service to humanity was tantamount to service to God. In Sufism, self-discipline was considered an essential condition to gain knowledge of God by a sense of perception. While the orthodox Muslims emphasise external conduct, the Sufis lay stress on inner purity. The orthodox Muslims believe in the blind observance of rituals, the Sufis consider love and devotion as the only means of attaining salvation. Sufism also laid stress on meditation, good actions, repentance for sins, prayers, pilgrimage, fasting, charity and controlling of passion by ascetic practices.

24. Consider the following Bhakti Saints: [2013-1]

1. Dadu Dayal

2. Guru Nanak

3. Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in 1526. When Babur took over and established the Mughal dynasty, Nanak was travelling to different parts of India and preaching Sikhism. Babur once met Guru Nanak during one of his travel.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–1539), the founder of Sikhism, was a spiritual leader, philosopher, and social reformer. His teachings laid the foundation for a religion that emphasizes equality, selfless service, and devotion to one God. Guru Nanak’s life and legacy continue to inspire millions worldwide. His teachings were preserved through 974 hymns, which were later compiled into the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism. With over 25 million adherents, Sikhism remains one of the major religions in India.
Dadu Dayal was a 16th-century poet-saint and prominent figure in the Bhakti movement who emphasized devotion to a formless God (Nirguna Bhakti), promoting religious harmony, and social equality during the era of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He founded the Dadu Panth, a spiritual sect that rejected the caste system and external religious rituals, and whose teachings are compiled in his works like Dadu Anubhava Vani and the Panchvani.
Tyagaraja is a saint-composer of the 18th century and one of the "Trinity of Carnatic music," a major classical music tradition of India. He is known for his devotional compositions, primarily praising Lord Rama in Telugu, and for introducing and popularizing several ragas.

25. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was [2014-11]

Correct Answer: (c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
Solution:Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions on every Thursday to debate on religious issues raised by Akbar.

About Akbar
• Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, reigned from 1556 to 1605 and is often celebrated as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.
• Ascending to the throne at a young age, he rapidly expanded the Mughal Empire to encompass much of the Indian subcontinent.
• Renowned for his visionary policies, Akbar implemented administrative reforms promoting religious tolerance and cultural integration, establishing a legacy of pluralism and governance resonating throughout the empire.
• His commitment to fostering dialogue between different faiths and his patronage of the arts laid the foundation for a vibrant cultural renaissance.

26. In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for [2014-1]

Correct Answer: (b) village headmen
Solution:In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for village headmen

• Mahattara: This term, derived from Sanskrit, generally means 'elder' or 'great one'. In administrative contexts, especially in northern India and the Deccan, it often referred to prominent individuals or village elders who were part of the village assembly or council, or sometimes even the village headman himself.
• Pattakila: This term is more specifically associated with village headmen, particularly in regions like the Deccan and parts of Maharashtra. The Pattakila was typically the chief resident of the village and served as the primary link between the village community and the central or regional state authorities. They were responsible for crucial tasks like land revenue collection and maintaining law and order at the village level.

27. Consider the following pairs: [2015-1]

Medieval Indian State Present Region
1. ChampakaCentral India
2. DurgaraJammu
3. KulutaMalabar

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:States such as Champaka (Chamba), Durgara (Jammu), Trigarta (Jalandhar), Kuluta (Kulu), Kumaon and Garhwal managed to remain outside the main areas of conflict in the northern plains.

28. Consider the following: [2015-1]

The arrival of Babur into India led to the

1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent

2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture

3. establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Correct Answer: (b) 3 only
Solution:

In the fourteenth and fifteenth century gun powder was used for military purpose in India and even artillery in its rudimentary form was known. The Babur's first real expedition took place in India in 1519 when he captured Bhera.

The Delhi Sultanate's greatest contribution to Indian fine arts was the introduction of Islamic architectural features, including true domes and arches, and the integration of Indian and Islamic styles of architecture. The Timurid dynasty was a Sunni Muslim dynasty.

Members of the Timurid dynasty were strongly influenced by the Persian culture and had established two well-known empires in history, namely the Timurid Empire (1370-1507) in Persia and Central Asia and the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) in the Indian subcontinent.

29. Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong? [2015-1]

Correct Answer: (c) Harihara I
Solution:Vijayanagara or "city of victory" was the name of both a city and an empire. The empire was founded in the fourteenth century. In its heyday it stretched from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula, (Krishna-Tungabhadra doab). It was founded by Harihara 1 and Bukka, in 1336.

30. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (d) traders
Solution:In India, Banjara people were transporters of goods from one place to another and the goods they transported included salt, grains, firewood and cattle. Thus, Banjaras were trader-nomads.

Banjara is made of various groups found throughout India and most of them are found in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states in South India.
This community settled across the country with different names, have permanently abandoned their nomadic lifestyle and settled in their settlements called Tandas.
Language: They speak Gor Boli also called Lambadi which belongs to the Indo-Aryan Group of Languages. Lambadi has no script.
The majority of Banjara in India are Hindu; some have combined Hindu practices with their own animistic beliefs.