Rulers and Buildings Class 7 Worksheet History

Q.1. How did king win the praise of their subjects?

Kings were expected to care for their subjects, and by making structures such as temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais, and bazaars for public activity, rulers hoped to win their praise.

Q.2. Why was limestone used in the construction of large structures?

Limestone was very high-quality cement, which, when mixed with stone chips hardened into concrete. This made the construction of large structures easier and faster.

Q.3. Where is Harmandar Sahib?

The Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandar Sahib ("abode of God") or Darbar Sahib, is a Gurdwara located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Q.4. How much labor and materials were used to build the Agra Fort?

Built by Akbar, the Agra Fort required 2,000 stone-cutters, 2,000 cement, and lime-makers, and 8,000 labourers.

Q.5. What is the special feature of Akbar’s capital at Fatehpur Sikri?

In Akbar’s capital Fatehpur Sikri, many of the buildings show the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.

Q.6. What is pietra-dura? 

Pietra-dura refers to colored, hard stones placed in depressions carved into marble or sandstone creating beautiful, ornate patterns.

Q.7. Write a short note on the Chahar bagh constructed by the Mughals rulers.

In his autobiography, Babur described his interest in planning and laying out formal gardens, placed within rectangular walled enclosures and divided into four quarters by artificial channels. These gardens were called chahar bagh, four gardens, because of their symmetrical division into quarters. Beginning with Akbar, some of the most beautiful chahar baghs were constructed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan in Kashmir, Agra and Delhi.

Q.8. Write a short note on Qutb Minar.

Qutbuddin Aybak had this constructed around 1199. The Qutb Minar is five stories high. There is a pattern created under the balcony by the small arches and geometrical designs. The surface of the minar is curved and angular. Placing an inscription on such a surface required great precision. Only the most skilled craftsperson could perform this task.

Q.9. Write a short note on the architecture of the Taj Mahal.

Shah Jahan adapted the river-front garden to the layout of the Taj Mahal, the grandest architectural accomplishment of his reign. Here the white marble mausoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south. Shah Jahan develop this architectural form as a means to control the access that nobles had to the river.

Q.10. What types of architects found between the seventh and tenth centuries?

Between the seventh and tenth centuries, architects started adding more rooms, doors, and windows to buildings. Roofs, doors, and windows were still made by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns, a style of architecture called “trabeate” or “corbelled”.

Q.11. Why were temples destroyed?

Temples were destroyed because kings built temples to demonstrate their devotion to God and their power and wealth. It is not surprising that when they attacked one another’s kingdoms they often targeted these buildings.

Q.12. What is gothic architecture? 

From the twelfth century onwards, attempts began in France to build churches that were taller and lighter than earlier buildings. This architectural style, known as Gothic, was distinguished by high pointed arches, and the use of stained glass, often painted with scenes drawn from the Bible and flying buttresses. Tall spires and bell towers that were visible from a distance were added to the church. One of the best-known examples of this architectural style is the church of Notre Dame in Paris, which was constructed through several decades in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

Q.13. Mughal rulers were particularly skilled in adapting regional architectural styles in the construction of their own buildings. Explain.

Mughal rulers were particularly skilled in adapting regional architectural styles in the construction of their own buildings. In Bengal, for example, the local rulers had developed a roof that was designed to resemble a thatched hut. The Mughals liked this “Bangla dome” so much that they used it in their architecture. The impact of other regions was also evident. In Akbar’s capital at Fatehpur Sikri many of the buildings show the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.

Q.14. Write about shah Jahan audience hall. 

Shah Jahan’s audience halls were specially constructed to resemble a mosque. The pedestal on which his throne was placed was frequently described as the qibla, the direction faced by Muslims at prayer since everybody faced that direction when the court was in session. The idea of the king as a representative of God on earth was suggested by these architectural features. The construction of Shah Jahan’s audience hall aimed to communicate that the king’s justice would treat the high and the low as equals creating a world where all could live together in harmony.

Q.15. The construction of the Rajarajeshvara temple was not easy. Give reason.

The Rajarajeshvara temple at Thanjavur had the tallest shikhara amongst temples of its time. Constructing it was not easy because there were no cranes in those days and the 90 tonne stone for the top of the shikhara was too heavy to lift manually. So the architects built an inclined path to the top of the temple, placed the boulder on rollers and rolled it all the way to the top. The path started more than 4 km away so that it would not be too steep. This was dismantled after the temple was constructed.