Reshaping India’s Political Map NCERT Solutions | Social Science Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

The Big Questions (Page 21)

1. How did foreign invasions and the rise of new dynasties reshape India’s political boundaries during this period? 

Ans: 

• Foreign Invasions: Turkic, Afghan, and Mughal invaders attacked India from the 11th century, drawn by its wealth and to spread their religion, often using force.
• Delhi Sultanate (1206): Formed after Prithviraj Chauhan’s defeat, it ruled northern India under five dynasties (Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, Lodis), expanding through wars.
• Key Campaigns: Ala-ud-din Khilji conquered parts of central and south India; Muhammad bin Tughlaq briefly united most of India but faced instability.
• Timur’s Attack (1398): His invasion weakened the Delhi Sultanate, reducing its territory.
• Vijayanagara Empire (14th century): Founded by Harihara and Bukka, it became a major southern power until its defeat at Talikota (1565).
• Mughal Empire (1526): Babur’s victory at Panipat ended the Sultanate, and Akbar and Aurangzeb expanded Mughal rule across most of India by 1700.
• Regional Resistance: Rajputs, Ahoms, and Sikhs maintained independent territories, limiting Sultanate and Mughal control.
• Outcome: Boundaries kept changing due to wars, alliances, and new kingdoms, creating a shifting political map.

2. How did Indian society respond to invasions? How did India’s economy adapt during times of political instability? 
​Ans: 

Society’s Response:

• Resistance: Kingdoms like Eastern Gangas (Narasimhadeva I), Rajputs (Maharana Pratap), and Ahoms (Lachit Borphukan) fought invaders, e.g., at Haldighati (1576) and Saraighat (1671).
• Sikh Resistance: Guru Gobind Singh formed the Khalsa (1699) to oppose Mughal persecution after Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom.
• Cultural Preservation: Communities rebuilt towns and temples, blending Indian and foreign traditions, like Persian translations of the Mahabharata under Akbar.

Economic Adaptation:

• Agriculture: Irrigation systems increased crop production (rice, cotton), but high taxes burdened peasants.
• Trade: Ports like Calicut and Surat exported textiles; the hundi system ensured safe transactions.
• Temples: Acted as economic hubs, funding markets and infrastructure.
• Resilience: Despite warfare, decentralized systems like guilds and merchant networks kept India prosperous.

3. What impact did this period have on the lives of the people?
​Ans: 
​Challenges:

• Warfare: Invasions (e.g., Timur’s attack on Delhi, 1398) and wars (e.g., Talikota, 1565) caused destruction, displacement, and massacres.
• Taxes: High land taxes (up to half the produce) and famines made life tough for peasants, some becoming bonded laborers.
• Persecution: Some rulers, like Aurangzeb, destroyed temples and imposed jizya, targeting Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs.

Positive Aspects:

• Economic Activity: Agriculture and trade (textiles, spices) made India wealthy; temples supported community life.
• Cultural Growth: Art, architecture (e.g., Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar), and literature flourished under rulers like Krishnadevaraya and Akbar.
• Coexistence: People of different faiths lived together peacefully, relying on each other for trade and daily life.

Resilience: Despite hardships, communities rebuilt and preserved traditions, showing strength and adaptability.

Questions and activities (Page 59)

1. Compare the political strategies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. What similarities and differences existed between them?

Answer:
The Delhi Sultanate and Mughals used different strategies to rule India, but they also shared some ideas.
Similarities:

• Both relied on strong military power to expand their empires, like the Sultanate’s raids and Mughal battles at Panipat.
• Both used loyal nobles to collect taxes, like the Sultanate’s iqtadars and Mughal jagirdars.
• Both had a central ruler (sultan or emperor) with absolute power, supported by ministers.

Differences:

• The Sultanate was unstable with violent successions (2 out of 3 sultans killed their predecessors), while Mughals, like Akbar, used marriage alliances and tolerance (sulh-i-kul) to stabilize rule.
• The Sultanate’s iqta system gave land to nobles temporarily, but Akbar’s mansabdari system required officers to maintain troops and animals for quick army assembly.
• Mughals, under Akbar, abolished the jizya tax to include all faiths, but some sultans imposed it, causing tension.
• Akbar welcomed Rajputs into his court, unlike the Sultanate’s focus on Muslim nobles.

2. Why did kingdoms like the Vijayanagara Empire and the Ahom Kingdom manage to resist conquest for a longer time compared to others? What geographical, military, and social factors contributed to their success?

Answer:
The Vijayanagara Empire and Ahom Kingdom resisted conquest longer due to their geography, strong armies, and united societies.
Geographical Factors:

• Vijayanagara’s capital was surrounded by hills and rivers, making it hard for enemies to attack.
• The Ahom Kingdom’s hilly, forested terrain in Assam slowed down Mughal invasions.

Military Factors:

• Vijayanagara had a powerful army under rulers like Krishnadevaraya, winning battles against Deccan Sultanates.
• The Ahoms used guerrilla warfare and knowledge of their terrain to fight off Mughal armies.

Social Factors:

• Vijayanagara’s rulers, like Harihara and Bukka, united people with cultural pride, building grand temples like Vitthala.
• The Ahoms had strong community bonds, with tribal support helping them resist outsiders.
• Vijayanagara lasted until the Battle of Talikota (1565), and the Ahoms stayed independent longer than many northern kingdoms.

3. Imagine you are a scholar in the court of Akbar or Krishnadevaraya. Write a letter to a friend describing the politics, trade, culture, and society you are witnessing.

Answer:
Dear Friend,
I’m a scholar in Akbar’s court at Fatehpur Sikri, and life here is amazing! Politics is clever—Akbar marries Rajput princesses and welcomes their leaders to keep peace. He abolished the jizya tax, so Hindus and Muslims work together, following his idea of sulh-i-kul (peace with all). Trade is bustling; merchants from Surat bring cotton and spices, using hundis to send money safely. Our culture shines—Akbar loves Persian and Indian books, and we’re translating the Mahābhārata into Persian! Society is lively, with Hindus, Muslims, and Jains living side by side. Art and music fill the court, and the city is full of grand buildings. I wish you could see this vibrant empire!
Your friend,
[Your Name]

4. How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some years? What could have led to such a change?

Answer:
As a young ruler, Akbar was ruthless, like when he massacred 30,000 civilians at Chittorgarh at age 25. But as he grew older, he became tolerant and kind. Several reasons caused this change:

• Experience: Ruling a diverse empire taught him that force alone couldn’t unite people.
• Interfaith Dialogues: Talking with scholars of different faiths, like Hindus and Jains, made him respect all religions.
• Political Strategy: To stabilize his empire, he needed support from Rajputs and others, so he married their princesses and abolished the jizya tax.
• Personal Growth: His court historian Abul Fazl wrote that Akbar felt ashamed of forcing people to follow Islam, realizing tolerance was better.
• By promoting sulh-i-kul (peace with all), Akbar won the loyalty of many communities.

5. What might have happened if the Vijayanagara Empire had won the Battle of Talikota? Imagine and describe how it could have changed the political and cultural history of south India.

Answer:
If the Vijayanagara Empire had won the Battle of Talikota in 1565, south India’s history would have been different.
Politically:

• Vijayanagara would have stayed strong, possibly uniting southern kingdoms against the Deccan Sultanates.
• It could have resisted Mughal expansion, keeping south India independent longer.
• Nayakas (local governors) wouldn’t have taken over, maintaining a centralized empire.

Culturally:

• Vijayanagara’s grand temples, like Vitthala, and Telugu and Kannada literature would have thrived further.
• Krishnadevaraya’s legacy, like his poem Āmuktamālyada, would inspire more art and learning.
• The empire’s Hindu traditions would blend with local cultures, creating a richer heritage.
• South India might have remained a cultural hub, with Vijayanagara’s capital bustling, not ruined.

6. Many values promoted by early Sikhism, including equality, seva, and justice, remain relevant today. Select one of these values and discuss how it remains relevant in contemporary society.

Answer:
The Sikh value of seva (selfless service) is very relevant today. Seva means helping others without expecting rewards, like serving food at langars (community kitchens). In modern society:

• People volunteer at shelters or donate to charities, showing seva by helping the needy.
• During crises, like floods, communities provide food and supplies, reflecting Sikh selfless service.
• Seva promotes unity, as everyone works together regardless of religion or status.
• Langars today feed thousands daily, inspiring people to serve others in schools, hospitals, or neighborhoods.

7. Imagine you are a trader in a port city (Surat, Calicut, or Hooghly). Describe the scenes you see as regards goods, people you trade with, movement of ships, etc.

Answer:
I’m a trader in Surat, and the port is full of life! Ships from Arabia and Persia dock daily, their sails flapping in the breeze. I see piles of colorful goods—cotton textiles, spices like pepper, and silk ready for export. I trade with Arab merchants who bring horses and metals, and Persian traders who love our dyes. Local Marwari traders use hundis to pay safely. Ships creak as workers load heavy crates, while others unload luxury goods like gold ornaments. The market buzzes with people bargaining in different languages, and the air smells of spices and sea. It’s a busy, exciting place connecting India to the world!