Important Questions Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years - Class 7

Q1: Why do you think that there were many literary sources of medieval period?
Ans: The number and variety of textual records increased dramatically during this period. They slowly displaced other types of available information. Through this period paper gradually became cheaper and more widely available. People used it to write holy texts, chronicles of rulers, letters and teachings of saints, petitions and judicial records, and for registers of accounts and taxes. Manuscripts were collected by wealthy people, rulers, monasteries and temples. They were placed in libraries and archives.

Q2: List some of the technological changes associated with this period.
Ans: Some of the technological changes associated with this period were the Persian wheel in irrigation, the spinning wheel in weaving, and firearms in combat.

Q3: Our information about the medieval period is much more than the ancient period. Give reason.
Ans: Our information about the medieval period is much more than the ancient period because:

• More Written Records - In the medieval period, people wrote more books, documents, and official records compared to the ancient period. These help historians understand events better.
• Improved Preservation - Many medieval records, such as manuscripts and inscriptions, were written on durable materials like paper and stone, making them easier to preserve.
• Better Historical Documentation - Medieval rulers kept records of their laws, battles, and administration, which provide valuable details about their times.
• Foreign Accounts - Many travelers from other countries visited medieval kingdoms and wrote about their experiences, giving additional information.
• Archaeological Evidence - More medieval buildings, forts, coins, and paintings have survived compared to ancient ones, helping historians learn about the period.

Because of these reasons, we know much more about the medieval period than the ancient period.

Q4: Which century marked the beginning of the medieval period? Why?
Ans: The eighth century is taken as the beginning of the medieval period because society, economy, politics, religion and culture underwent many changes during this century.

Q5: What are the difficulties historians face in using manuscripts?
Ans: The difficulties historians face in using manuscripts:

• There was no printing press in those days so scribes copied manuscripts by hand which was sometime difficult to read and understand.
• As scribes copied manuscripts, they also introduced small changes - a word here, a sentence there. These small differences grew over centuries of copying.
• Original manuscript of the author is rarely found today. So, they have to depend upon the copies made by later scribes. As a result historians have to read different manuscript versions of the same text to guess what the author had originally written.

Q6: What was the extent of Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban's empire?
Ans: Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban's empire stretched from Bengal (Gauda) in the east to Ghazni (Gajjana) in Afghanistan in the west and included all of south India (Dravida).

Q7: Why are coins and inscriptions important for the study of medieval period?
Ans: Coins are important for study as -

• It tells us about the reigning periods of kings and gives us dates of important political events.
• It tells us about the economy of the kingdom and trade with other regions.

Inscriptions are useful source of history because -

• They record royal proclamations, religious instruction and gifts given by rulers to temples and villages.
• It tells us about the important events in the king's life, about the people of particular time and even narrates the achievement of king.

Q8: How do Sunni and Shia Muslims differ?
Ans: Sunni and Shia Muslims differ primarily in their beliefs about leadership in the Muslim community:

• Shia Muslims believe that Ali, the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, was the rightful leader.
• Sunni Muslims accept the authority of the early leaders, known as Khalifas, who succeeded Muhammad.

Additionally, there are differences in:

• Schools of law, such as Hanafi and Shafi'i.
• Theological beliefs and mystic traditions.

Q9: How were the affairs of jatis regulated?
Ans: The affairs of jatis were regulated in several ways:

• As society became more complex, people were organised into jatis or sub-castes, ranked by their backgrounds and occupations.
• Ranks were not permanent; they varied based on the power, influence, and resources of jati members, and could differ from one area to another.
• Each jati created its own rules and regulations to govern the behaviour of its members. These were enforced by a council of elders, known in some regions as the jati panchayat. However, jatis also had to adhere to the rules of their respective villages.
• Multiple villages were often overseen by a chieftain, forming a small unit within a larger state.

Q10: Mention the manner in which history was divided by historians during the middle of the 19^th century.
Ans: In the middle of the nineteenth century British historians divided the history of India into three periods: "Hindu", "Muslim" and "British". This division was based on the idea that the religion of rulers was the only important historical change, and that there were no other significant developments - in the economy, society or culture.

Q11: Which group became important during medieval period? Enumerate various changes which this group has undergone.
Ans: One group of people who became important in this period were the Rajputs, a name derived from "Rajaputra", the son of a ruler. Between the eighth and fourteenth centuries the term was applied more generally to a group of warriors who claimed Kshatriya caste status. The term included not just rulers and chieftains but also soldiers and commanders who served in the armies of different monarchs all over the subcontinent.

Q12: What do you know about chronicles?
Ans: A chronicle is a detailed record of the reigns of kings and life at their courts. Many kings employed court chroniclers to document significant events during their rule. 
Notable medieval chronicles include:

• Rajatarangini by Kalhana: A history of the kings of Kashmir.
• Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi by Zia-ud-din Barani: Chronicles the history of the Sultans of Delhi up to Firoz Shah Tughluq.
• Tarikh-e-Ferishta by Ferishta: Records the history of the Delhi Sultans from the Turkish period to the seventeenth century.

Q13: What are the archaeological sources of the medieval period?
Ans: Archaeological sources of the medieval period include:

• Inscriptions - These are writings or drawings found on stones, pillars, clay, or copper tablets, as well as on the walls of caves, temples, and monuments.
• Archaeological remains and monuments - This category includes ancient ruins and structures uncovered through excavation and exploration.
• Coins - Ancient coins, typically made of gold, silver, copper, or lead, often feature religious and legendary symbols. They provide insights into the culture of the time and may display images of kings and gods.

Q14: What were some of the major religious developments during this period?
Ans: Some of the major religious developments during this period were:

• It was during this period that important changes occurred in Hinduism. These included the worship of new deities, the construction of temples by royalty and the growing importance of Brahmanas, the priests, as dominant groups in society.
• There was emergence of the idea of bhakti among the people.
• This was also the period when new religions appeared in the subcontinent. Merchants and migrants first brought the teachings of the holy Quran to India in the seventh century.
• Many rulers were patrons of Islam and the ulama - learned theologians and jurists.

Q15: Write a short note on foreign travellers who visited India during Medieval Period.
Ans: Foreign travellers who visited India during the Medieval Period:

• Ibn Batuta - A Moroccan traveller from the 14th century who documented the reign of Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq.
• Niccolò Conti - A Venetian explorer who provided insights into the Vijayanagar kingdom and its conflicts with the Bahmani kings.
• Abdur Razzaq - A Persian visitor who explored the Vijayanagar kingdom.
• William Hawkins - An Englishman who visited the court of Jahangir, describing the splendour of the Mughal court.
• Al-Beruni - A Central Asian scholar from the 11th century who wrote Tahqiq-i-Hind, offering valuable insights into the culture and economy of medieval India.