Important Questions: Delhi: 12th to 15th Century | Social Studies (SST) Class 7 PDF Download

Q1: Why do you think Barani criticised the Sultan?
Ans: Sultan Muhammad Tughluq appointed Aziz Khummar, a wine distiller, Firuz Hajjam, a barber, Mank a Tabbakh, a cook, and two gardeners, Ladha and Pira, to high administrative posts. Ziyauddin Barani, a midfourteenth century-chronicler, reported their appointments as a sign of the Sultan’s loss of political judgement and his incapacity to rule.

Q2: How did Delhi become an important city in the twelfth century?
Ans: Delhi first became the capital of a kingdom under the Tomara Rajputs, who were defeated in the middle of the twelfth century by the Chauhans (also referred to as Chahamanas) of Ajmer. It was under the Tomaras and Chauhans that Delhi became an important commercial centre. Many rich Jaina merchants lived in the city and constructed several temples. Coins minted here, called dehliwal, had a wide circulation.

Q3: Who was Raziyya? Why was she removed from the throne?
Ans: Raziyya was Sultan Iltutmish’s daughter. In 1236 she became Sultan. The chronicler of the age, Minhaj-i Siraj, recognised that she was more able and qualified than all her brothers. But he was not comfortable at having a queen as ruler. Nor were the nobles happy at her attempts to rule independently. So, she was removed from the throne in 1240.

Q4: Discuss the importance of constructing mosque by the rulers of Delhi sultanate.
Ans: The Delhi Sultans built several mosques in cities all over the subcontinent. These demonstrated their claims to be protectors of Islam and Muslims. Mosques also helped to create the sense of a community of believers who shared a belief system and a code of conduct. It was necessary to reinforce this idea of a community because Muslims came from a variety of backgrounds.

Q5: Why were the Delhi Sultans interested in cutting down forests? Does deforestation occur for the same reasons today?
Ans:

• Forests were cleared in the Ganga-Yamuna doab and hunter gatherers and pastoralists expelled from their habitat. These lands were given to peasants and agriculture was encouraged. New fortresses and towns were established to protect trade routes and to promote regional trade.
• No, deforestation does not occur for the same reasons today. Today forests are cleared due to overpopulation, urbanization and commercialization.

Q6: Raziyya Sultan was unique in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. Do you think women leaders are accepted more readily today?
Ans: Yes, I think that as today scenario has changed. Due to spread of education, women leaders are accepted more readily today.

Q7: What do gender distinctions mean? How was it used?
Ans: Gender distinctions mean social and biological differences between women and men. Usually, these differences are used to argue that men are superior to women.

Q8: What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: The impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate

• Alauddin constructed a new garrison town named Siri for his soldiers. He imposed taxes at 50 per cent of the peasant’s yield to feed the army. He began to pay his soldiers salaries in cash rather than iqtas.
• Muhammad Tughluq shifted residents of Delhi to the new capital of Daulatabad in the south and converted Delhi into garrison town.

Q9: Why did the rulers of the Delhi Sultanate fail to control the hinterlands initially?
Ans: The Sultans seldom controlled the hinterland of the cities and were therefore dependent upon trade, tribute or plunder for supplies. Controlling garrison towns in distant Bengal and Sind from Delhi was extremely difficult. Rebellion, war, even bad weather could snap fragile communication routes. The state was also challenged by Mongol invasions from Afghanistan and by governors who rebelled at any sign of the Sultan’s weakness.

Q10: Write a short note on idea of “Three orders” formulated in France in the early eleventh century.
Ans:  The idea of the “Three Orders” was first formulated in France in the early eleventh century. It divided society into three classes: those who prayed, those who fought, and those who tilled the land. This division of society into “Three Orders” was supported by the Church to consolidate its dominant role in society. This helped the emergence of a new warrior group called knights.

Q11: What do you know about Quwwat al-Islam mosque?
Ans: Quwwat al-Islam mosque and minaret built during the last decade of the twelfth century. This was the congregational mosque of the first city built by the Delhi Sultans, described in the chronicles as Dehli-I kuhna (the old city). The mosque was enlarged by Iltutmish and Alauddin Khalji. The minar was built by three Sultans– Qutbuddin Aybak, Iltutmish and Firuz Shah Tughluq.

Q12: What were the two reasons that prompted Muhammad-bin- Tughluq to shift the capital to Daulatabad?
Ans: The two reasons that prompted Muhammad-bin- Tughluq to shift the capital to Daulatabad were:

• The king felt that he would be able to control and administer the empire better from Daulatabad since it was located in the centre of empire.
• The Mongols were a constant threat to Delhi. Daulatabad would be safe from Mongol attacks.

Q13: Name the famous traveler who came from Morocco, Africa in the fourteenth century.
Ans: Ibn Battuta was the famous traveler who came from Morocco, Africa in the fourteenth century.

Q14: When was Begumpuri mosque built?
Ans: Begumpuri mosque, built in the reign of Muhammad Tughluq, was the main mosque of Jahanpanah, the “Sanctuary of the World”, his new capital in Delhi.

Q15: What do you mean by birthright?
Ans: Birthright means privileges claimed on account of birth. For example, people believed that nobles inherited their rights to govern, because they were born in certain families.