Textbook Solutions: When, Where and How | Window on the Word Class 7: Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

A. Choose the correct answer

1.
Ans: (a)
The main event which marked the end of the ancient period of Indian history was the death of Harsha

2.
Ans: (c)
The Turks and Afghans arrived in India through the mountain passes in the north-west of the country

3.
Ans: (d)
The Indian subcontinent was referred to as Bharatvarsha in the Puranas

4.
Ans: (d)
The study of coins is called numismatics

5.
Ans: (d)
Abu'l-FazI was the author of Akbarnama

6.
Ans: (c)
The Travels of Marco Polo was originally written in French

B. Fill in the blanks

1.
Ans: The medieval period of Indian history stretches from around 700 CE to 1700 CE.

2.  
Ans: When events are arranged in chronological order, they are arranged in the order in which they happened over time.

3. 
Ans: In Persian and Arabic literature, the Indian subcontinent is referred to as Hind or Hindustan.

4. 
Ans: Bilhana is the author of Vikramankadevacharita.

5. 
Ans: The bronze statues created during the rule of the Cholas are some of the best examples of medieval Indian sculpture.

C. Differentiate between the following

1. 
Ans: Biographies are accounts of a person's life written by someone else, while autobiographies are life stories written by the person themselves.

2.
Ans: Chronicles are written records of historical events often written by court historians, while travelogues are accounts of a person's travels and experiences, often written by foreign travellers.

D. Answer in one or two sentences

1. 
Ans: 'Bharatavarsha' was first mentioned in the Puranas.

2. 
Ans:  Rajatarangini was a historical account of Kashmir.

3. 
Ans: Al-Biruni was an Arabic scholar who visited India and wrote an in-depth study of life in India, including religion, history, geography, geology, science, and mathematics.

4. 
Ans: Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan scholar and explorer. He wrote the travelogue 'Rihla' which provides an account of his travels through the Islamic world.

5.
Ans: Manuscripts in medieval India were written on materials like rock, metal plates, palm leaves, birch tree bark, cloth, bamboo leaves, and paper. They covered a wide range of topics including religion, philosophy, medicine, science, law, and history.

6. 
Ans: Chronicles written by court historians are not considered to be reliable sources of history because they often noted only the positive aspects of the ruler's reign and overlooked the negatives.

E. Answer in a paragraph

1. 
Ans: The ancient period of history in India stretches from around 3500 BCE to 700 CE, marked by the emergence of writing and ending with the death of Harshavardhana. The medieval period of history spans from 700 CE to 1700 CE, characterized by political instability, the arrival of Turks, Mongols, Afghans, and the establishment of Mughal rule. The modern period begins from 1700 CE and ends in 1947, with the onset of British rule and ending with India's independence.

2. 
Ans: The significant events that shaped the medieval period of Indian history include the emergence of regional kingdoms after the death of Harshavardhana, the arrival of the Turks and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, the rise and spread of religious movements like Bhakti and Sufi, the arrival of Babur and the establishment of Mughal rule, and the decline of Mughal power and the rise of regional powers like the Sikhs and Marathas.

3. 
Ans: The Indian subcontinent has been known by different names over the centuries. In the Puranas and Mahabharata, it was known as 'Bharatavarsha'. Classical Sanskrit texts referred to it as 'Aryavarta'. In Persian and Arabic literature, it was known as 'Hind' or 'Hindustan'. In the ancient Greek historian Ctesias's book 'Indica', it was mentioned in reference to the river Indus and surrounding areas.

4. 
Ans: Archaeological sources are physical remains of the past that help historians reconstruct that period. They include coins, monuments, buildings, sculptures, paintings, tools, and musical instruments. Coins provide information about rulers, their reign, economy, and symbols of their dynasties. Monuments and buildings provide information about the social, political and economic conditions of that time. Paintings and sculptures offer insights into the life and culture of the people.

5. 
Ans: The travelogues of foreign travellers have helped historians study medieval Indian history by providing firsthand accounts of the kingdoms, administrative systems, and lives of common people. These travelogues offer detailed descriptions of the customs, traditions, social and political structures, and economic conditions of the regions visited by the travellers. They provide a different perspective and help validate or challenge the information obtained from other sources.