In-Text Questions (Let’s Explore & Think About It)
Q – Looking at Fig. 2.6, why do you think Ala-ud-din Khilji called himself ‘the second Alexander’? A – Ala-ud-din Khilji called himself ‘the second Alexander’ because he had great territorial ambitions. Just like Alexander the Great, he conducted many military campaigns over large areas of north and central India and conquered many cities. He also successfully repelled invasions by the powerful Mongol forces.
Q – What kind of resources do you think were needed to maintain an army and wage war in those days? Discuss in groups the various types of expenditure involved, from weapons or food for soldiers to animals used in warfare, road construction, etc. A – Maintaining an army and fighting wars required a huge amount of wealth. Rulers had to spend money on making weapons, feeding thousands of soldiers, and maintaining animals like horses and elephants used in battles. They also needed resources to build roads and forts. To fund all these expenses, the rulers often relied on plundering other kingdoms, taxing the common people, and trading in slaves.
Q – Why do we use the term ‘image’ rather than common terms like ‘idol’ or ‘icon’?
A – We use the term ‘image’ because words like ‘idol’ or ‘icon’ can be seen as insulting or negative in religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which condemn ‘idolatry’ (worshipping idols). India’s classical texts use words like mūrti, vigraha, or pratimā for statues used for worship. In English, ‘image’ is a neutral and respectful word to use for these statues.
Q – During the time of the Tughlaqs, the Musunuri Nayakas, Telugu chieftains, rallied over 75 more chieftains of the region, formed a confederacy that defeated the Delhi Sultanate forces, and expelled Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s army from Warangal (present-day Telangana) around 1330-1336. Do you think it would have been an easy task to bring together 75 leaders in those days? A – No, bringing together 75 different leaders would not have been an easy task. In those days, kingdoms and chieftains often fought amongst themselves. It would have required a lot of unity, communication, and a shared strong desire to push out the Delhi Sultanate’s army to make all 75 chieftains fight together as one group.
Q – Why do you think such locations were chosen for many of the medieval forts? Discuss pros and cons. (Hint: think of issues of strategy, security, vulnerability, etc.) A – Medieval forts, like the Kumbhalgarh Fort, were built on high hills and surrounded by forests and steep slopes.
- Pros (Advantages): The high location made it very secure because it was hard for enemies to climb up and attack. The people inside the fort could see enemies coming from far away.
- Cons (Disadvantages): It was difficult to carry building materials, food, and water up the steep hills. If the fort was surrounded by enemies for many months, the people inside could run out of supplies.
Q – Have you noticed the term pati in titles like ‘Gajapati’? Pati means ‘lord’ or ‘master’ and was commonly used by many ruling dynasties of this period to signify power and stature. The Vijayanagara kings were called ‘Narapati’, the Bahmani Sultanate rulers ‘Ashwapati’, and the Maratha rulers ‘Chhatrapati’ – each title reflecting different aspects of kingship and power. Can you guess what these three terms might mean?
A –
- Gajapati: Master or Lord of elephants (Gaja means elephant).
- Narapati: Master or Lord of men (Nara means man).
- Ashwapati: Master or Lord of horses (Ashwa means horse).
- Chhatrapati: Lord of the umbrella (Chhatra means umbrella, which is a symbol of protection and royal power).
Q – In Fig. 2.14, what elements do you observe? What do they tell you about life then? (Hint: observe the weapons, the animals, the activities.) A – The stone panel shows horses, elephants, camels, and foot soldiers carrying weapons like swords, shields, and bows. This tells us that the rulers had a strong military force with different types of animals and weapons, and that warfare and hunting were important parts of life during that time.
Q – What strikes you in Babur’s impressions of India? Discuss in groups. A – What is striking is that Babur had mixed feelings about India. On one hand, he missed Central Asia and called India a ‘country of few charms’. But on the other hand, he was amazed by India’s massive wealth of gold and silver, the fine air during the rainy season, and the countless skilled artisans and workmen. This immense wealth is why he decided to stay and build his empire in India.
Q – Compare the maps in Figs. 2.3, 2.12 and 2.16. What differences do you notice? What is the ‘reshaping’ that has occurred? A – The maps show how the political borders of India changed constantly. In Fig 2.3, the Delhi Sultanate controlled the north, while regional powers like the Hoysalas ruled the south. In Fig 2.12, the southern map shifted to show the large Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahmani Sultanate. In Fig 2.16, the massive Mughal Empire has expanded across almost the whole country under Aurangzeb, changing the map entirely once again.
Q – Why do you think Akbar employed different strategies to expand his empire, while the earlier rulers of Delhi relied mostly on military might? A – Akbar realized that only using military force would cause enemies to constantly rise against him. To make his empire stable and long-lasting, he used new strategies like making marriage alliances with neighbouring kingdoms, welcoming Rajput leaders into his court, removing the jizya tax on non-Muslims, and promoting a policy of tolerance for all faiths.
Q – We saw above that Delhi sultans’ average reign lasted about nine years. This figure becomes 27 years in the case of Mughal emperors up to Aurangzeb; and 16 years if we consider all Mughal rulers, up to the end of the empire in the 19th century. What do you make of these numbers of years of reign? A – The short nine-year reign of the Delhi sultans shows that their period was very unstable and full of violent successions, where rulers were often killed by their successors. The longer 27-year average for the early Mughal emperors shows that their empire was much more stable, well-organized, and politically strong.
Q – Discuss in class how the paik system affected the daily lives of the people in the Ahom kingdom, both in terms of challenges and benefits, and helped the king manage both the army and the economy. A – Under the paik system, every able-bodied man had to work for the state or serve in the army in exchange for land.
- Benefits: It allowed the king to build public infrastructure like roads and canals and maintain a large army without spending a lot of money. The people got land to farm in return.
- Challenges: It must have been hard for the men to leave their homes and families to do forced labour or fight in wars.
Q – How did the Ahoms use the rivers, hills and forests of Assam to their advantage? Can you think of ways in which the geography helped them build defences and fight wars? A – The Ahoms used Assam’s difficult geography—dense forests, hills, and rivers—to their great advantage by using guerrilla warfare. Since they knew the local land well, they could launch surprise attacks from the forests and use expert boatmen to fight battles on the rivers, just like they did in the Battle of Saraighat on the Brahmaputra River to defeat the much larger Mughal army.
Q – Why do you think Guru Tegh Bahadur endured torture rather than convert? Why did he think his sacrifice would make a difference? A – Guru Tegh Bahadur endured torture because he believed strongly in the freedom of religion and standing up against cruelty. He chose to be a martyr to protect Kashmiri Pandits and show that one should never give up their faith out of fear. He believed his sacrifice would inspire others to be brave and fight for justice and truth.
Q – What values did the Sikh Gurus and the Khalsa embody? A – The Sikh Gurus and the Khalsa embodied values like equality, compassion, the oneness of God, truthfulness, humility, self-control, and fighting for justice. The Khalsa specifically stood for a martial brotherhood committed to defending their faith and protecting the weak.
Q – How are they relevant in today’s world? A – These values are very important today because our world still needs equality, compassion, and people who will bravely stand up against unfairness and protect those who cannot protect themselves. Living a truthful life and helping others makes society better for everyone.
Questions and Activities (End of Chapter)
Q – 1. Compare the political strategies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. What similarities and differences existed between them?
A –
- Similarities: Both the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals used military campaigns to expand their territories and gained wealth through plundering other kingdoms. Both used tax systems on land and trade to collect revenue from the common people to maintain their huge armies.
- Differences: The Delhi Sultanate had short, unstable reigns and relied heavily on the iqta system, where officials collected taxes for the state. The Mughals were more stable. Emperors like Akbar used clever strategies like marriage alliances and religious tolerance (abolishing the jizya tax) to make peace with local rulers like the Rajputs. The Mughals also had a more organized system called the mansabdari system to maintain their army.
Q – 2. 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?
A –
- Vijayanagara Empire: They were located far south, which made it harder for northern armies to reach them. They had strong rulers like Krishnadevaraya, a very wealthy economy based on trade, and a powerful military.
- Ahom Kingdom: Geographically, they were protected by dense forests, hills, and the Brahmaputra river. Socially and militarily, they used the paik system, where every able man served in the army, and they were experts in guerrilla warfare, boat rowing, and using the local terrain to launch surprise attacks on invaders.
Q – 3. 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. A – Dear Friend, Life in the court of Emperor Akbar is wonderful. Our Emperor has stopped the jizya tax and believes in peace with all religions (sulh-i-kul). He even built a ‘house of translation’ where great Sanskrit texts like the Mahabharata are being translated into Persian. The markets are full of merchants, and trade is booming because of safe roads. The farmers grow many crops, but they still have to pay heavy taxes. The architecture here is beautiful, and artists are constantly painting miniature artworks. It is a time of great learning and wealth! Your friend.
Q – 4. 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? A – As a young man, Akbar was a ruthless conqueror because he thought it was his duty to expand his empire using a “bloodthirsty sword”. However, as he grew older and gained more knowledge, he felt ashamed of forcing his beliefs on others. He realized that to have a stable and peaceful empire, he needed the love and support of all his people, which led him to respect other religions and make alliances with Hindu rulers.
Q – 5. 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. A – If the Vijayanagara Empire had won the Battle of Talikota in 1565, their beautiful capital city of Hampi would not have been destroyed and massacred. The empire would have remained the most powerful force in southern India, and they might have expanded their territory further. Art, literature in Sanskrit, Telugu, and Kannada, and the building of grand temples would have continued to flourish under their kings for many more centuries.
Q – 6. 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. A – The value of equality is very relevant today. Guru Nanak taught that God is one and all humans are equal. In today’s world, treating everyone with respect, no matter their religion, gender, or background, helps create a peaceful and fair society. When we practice equality, everyone gets a fair chance to learn, work, and be happy without facing discrimination.