Source Based Questions: Peasants, Zamindars And The State | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Q1: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Peasants, who made up the majority of rural society, engaged in a variety of seasonal tasks, such as tilling the soil, sowing seeds, and harvesting crops. They were also involved in the production of agro-based goods like sugar and oil. Despite being integral to agricultural production, peasants were not always the sole producers, as land in arid and hilly regions was not suitable for cultivation in the same way as fertile areas.

i. What were the primary tasks performed by peasants in agricultural production? (1 mark)
ii. How did land quality affect agricultural practices in different regions? (2 marks)
iii. How did peasants' roles in agro-based goods production complement their farming activities? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. Peasants performed tasks such as tilling the soil, sowing seeds, and harvesting crops throughout the agricultural cycle.
ii. Land quality affected agricultural practices because fertile lands supported regular crop cultivation, while arid and hilly regions had limited agricultural production. These areas either required different farming techniques or were left uncultivated.
iii. Peasants also produced agro-based goods like sugar and oil, complementing their agricultural activities by using farm produce to create additional marketable products.

Q2: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

In Babur’s memoirs, he describes the rapid transformation of villages and towns in northern India. He notes how people would leave a town, leaving no trace within a day and a half. When they chose a new place to settle, they would quickly establish water systems and shelter, making a new village or town.

i. How did Babur describe the rapid depopulation and settlement in villages and towns in northern India? (1 mark)
ii. What did Babur observe about the establishment of new settlements in terms of infrastructure? (2 marks)
iii. How do Babur's observations reflect the mobility and adaptability of rural populations in northern India? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. Babur described how villages and towns could be depopulated in a very short time, with no trace of the inhabitants left within a day and a half.
ii. Babur observed that when people settled in a new place, they quickly established water systems and shelter, making a new village or town within a short period.
iii. Babur’s observations highlight the mobility and adaptability of the rural populations, showing that they could easily move and quickly adapt to new locations by setting up the necessary infrastructure.

Q3: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Babur describes irrigation devices used in northern India, including a wooden wheel with buckets for watering fields. The bullock would turn the wheel to raise water from wells for irrigation purposes.

i. What irrigation system was described by Babur in northern India? (1 mark)
ii. How did the use of cattle energy contribute to irrigation practices in the region? (2 marks)
iii. How might this irrigation system have supported agricultural productivity? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. Babur described a wooden wheel with buckets that was powered by bullocks to raise water from wells for irrigation.
ii. The use of cattle energy allowed bullocks to turn the wheel, lifting water to irrigate fields without requiring additional human labor, making irrigation more efficient.
iii. This system helped increase agricultural productivity by ensuring a reliable water source for crops, especially in regions where rainfall alone was insufficient.

Q4: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Forests in India, such as dense jungles and scrublands, provided a livelihood for forest dwellers. These tribes were involved in gathering forest produce, hunting, and shifting agriculture, which required mobility and adaptability.

i. What activities were forest dwellers involved in, as described in the text? (1 mark)
ii. How did the state view forests in relation to governance and control? (2 marks)
iii. How did mobility play a role in the lives of forest dwellers in India? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. Forest dwellers were involved in gathering forest produce, hunting, and shifting agriculture, depending on the season.
ii. The state viewed forests as a subversive place, often associating them with rebellion and refuge for troublemakers, making them a focal point for control.
iii. Mobility allowed forest dwellers to adapt to different activities according to the season, moving between hunting, gathering, and agriculture, which was essential for their survival.

Q5: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The village panchayat was a body of elders that decided various matters in the village, including the oversight of caste boundaries and the allocation of funds for community welfare.

i. What functions did the village panchayat serve in rural society? (1 mark)
ii. How did the panchayat manage financial resources for the village community? (2 marks)
iii. How did the panchayat influence social norms within the village? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. The village panchayat managed decisions on caste boundaries, community welfare, and resource distribution.
ii. The panchayat managed financial resources by collecting contributions from village members, which were used for community welfare activities like entertaining revenue officials and supporting during calamities.
iii. The panchayat upheld caste norms by ensuring that marriages and community practices were in line with the village's social structure.

Q6: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The agrarian society in Mughal India had deeply rooted caste-based inequities. Certain caste groups were relegated to menial tasks, contributing to widespread poverty among these groups.

i. How were caste-based distinctions reflected in the rural workforce? (1 mark)
ii. What impact did caste distinctions have on the economic status of cultivators? (2 marks)
iii. How did these caste distinctions influence social and economic relations in rural India? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. Caste-based distinctions were reflected in the workforce by assigning certain groups to menial and agricultural labor, while others held higher status and performed less labor-intensive work.
ii. Caste distinctions contributed to poverty for lower-caste cultivators, as they were often relegated to menial tasks, limiting their economic opportunities and resources.
iii. These distinctions led to inequalities in wealth and social status, influencing the overall structure of rural society and reinforcing hierarchical social relations.

Q7: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Zamindars were landed proprietors who played a significant role in rural India. They were responsible for collecting revenue on behalf of the state and often controlled military resources, including cavalry and artillery.

i. What role did zamindars play in the Mughal agrarian system? (1 mark)
ii. How did zamindars derive their power within rural society? (2 marks)
iii. How did the relationship between zamindars and peasants affect rural society? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. Zamindars were responsible for collecting revenue on behalf of the state and managing the agricultural production on their lands.
ii. Zamindars derived power from controlling extensive land holdings, collecting revenue, and maintaining military resources like cavalry and artillery to assert authority.
iii. The relationship between zamindars and peasants was often exploitative, but it had elements of patronage and reciprocity, with zamindars providing protection and resources to peasants in exchange for revenue.

Q8: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

Peasants in Mughal India used various forms of agricultural technology, including the wooden plough and irrigation systems powered by cattle, which helped improve farming efficiency.

i. What types of agricultural technology were used in Mughal India? (1 mark)
ii. How did the use of cattle in farming contribute to agricultural production? (2 marks)
iii. Why was the wooden plough preferred in certain regions of Mughal India? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. The types of agricultural technology used included the wooden plough and cattle-powered irrigation systems.
ii. The use of cattle in farming allowed peasants to harness animal power for tasks like turning irrigation wheels and ploughing fields, making the farming process more efficient.
iii. The wooden plough was preferred as it was light, easily assembled, and preserved moisture in the soil, especially during the hot months.

Q9: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The Mughal state established a detailed land revenue system, with taxes collected from both cultivators and cultivable lands. Revenue was assessed and collected in both cash and kind.

i. How did the Mughal state organize land revenue collection? (1 mark)
ii. What was the significance of revenue collection for the Mughal fiscal system? (2 marks)
iii. How did the revenue system impact the lives of peasants in Mughal India? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. The Mughal state organized land revenue collection by assessing and collecting taxes on cultivable lands, with payments made in both cash and kind.
ii. Revenue collection was essential for the Mughal fiscal system for several reasons:

• It supported the economy of the Mughal Empire.
• It ensured the stability of the state.
• It financed military and administrative operations.

iii. The revenue system placed a financial burden on peasants, often leading to hardship, especially during famines or poor harvests.

Q10: Read the source below and answer the questions that follow:

The expansion of the Mughal Empire, especially under Akbar, created a need for detailed records and assessments of land and revenue to maintain control over newly acquired territories.

i. How did the expansion of the Mughal Empire impact land revenue collection? (1 mark)
ii. What steps did the Mughal state take to assess and collect revenue from agricultural lands? (2 marks)
iii. How might the expansion of the empire have influenced agrarian relations in newly annexed regions? (1 mark)

Ans:
i. The expansion of the Mughal Empire necessitated a more detailed and systematic approach to land revenue collection to ensure control over new territories.
ii. The Mughal state conducted detailed land surveys, classified lands, and assessed revenue based on these surveys, using both cash and kind for payment.
iii. The expansion likely led to the imposition of new revenue systems in annexed regions, altering agrarian relations by integrating them into the Mughal fiscal framework.