Short and Long Answer Questions: Reshaping India’s Political Map | Social Science Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What were the main reasons behind foreign invasions of India during the 11th to 17th centuries?
​Ans: Foreign invasions by Turkic, Afghan, and Mughal forces were driven by India’s reputed wealth, territorial ambitions, and the invaders’ desire to spread their religion, often through violence. For example, Timur invaded Delhi in 1398 to plunder its riches and wage war against "infidels."

Q2. How did the Delhi Sultanate’s iqta system function, and what was its purpose?
​Ans: The iqta system assigned territories to nobles (iqtadars) who collected taxes, which, after expenses, went to the Sultan’s treasury to maintain the army. It created a network of loyal local administrators, ensuring revenue collection and military support for the Sultanate.

Q3. Why was the Vijayanagara Empire’s capital at Hampi considered significant?
​Ans: Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was chosen after Harihara and Bukka witnessed a hare chasing hounds, symbolizing resilience. Its strategic location, grand temples like Vitthala, and bustling markets made it a center of military power and cultural renaissance, as noted by traveler Domingo Paes.

Q4. How did Akbar’s administrative reforms differ from those of the Delhi Sultanate?
​Ans: Akbar’s Mughal administration was more structured, with specialized ministers like the Diwan (finances), Mir Bakhshi (military), and Khan-i-Saman (public works). The mansabdari system assigned ranks to officers to maintain troops, unlike the Sultanate’s iqta system, which focused on tax collection by nobles.

Q5. What role did geography play in the Ahom kingdom’s resistance to Mughal forces?
​Ans: The Ahoms used Assam’s dense forests, hills, and rivers to their advantage, employing guerrilla tactics and their knowledge of the terrain. In the Battle of Saraighat (1671), Lachit Borphukan’s forces leveraged the Brahmaputra River to defeat a larger Mughal army.

Q6. How did the jizya tax impact non-Muslims during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods?
​Ans: The jizya, a tax on non-Muslims, was a financial burden and source of humiliation under some Delhi sultans and Aurangzeb, incentivizing conversion to Islam. Akbar abolished it to promote tolerance, but Aurangzeb reimposed it, increasing tensions with non-Muslims.

Q7. What was the significance of the Battle of Haldighati in the context of Rajput resistance?
​Ans: The Battle of Haldighati (1576) saw Maharana Pratap of Mewar resist Mughal dominance under Akbar. Despite the Mughal victory, Pratap’s escape and subsequent guerrilla warfare, supported by Bhil archers, symbolized Rajput defiance and independence.

Q8. How did temples contribute to economic activity during this period?
​Ans: Temples were economic hubs, managing donated land and wealth to fund markets, irrigation systems, and pilgrim accommodations. They provided credit to merchants and supported maritime trade, fostering community infrastructure and economic activity.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. How did Aurangzeb's religious policies affect the Mughal Empire?
Ans:
Aurangzeb, unlike his predecessor Akbar, adopted strict Islamic policies which negatively impacted the Mughal Empire:

• He reintroduced the jizya tax on non-Muslims, increasing their economic burden and resentment.
• Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of Hindu, Jain, and Sikh temples, causing unrest among these communities.
• He banned music and dance in his court, enforcing a rigid religious rule.
• His harsh policies led to widespread rebellions by groups such as the Rajputs, Jats, and Sikhs.
• These uprisings drained the empire’s resources and weakened its stability.
  Aurangzeb’s religious intolerance significantly contributed to the decline of Mughal power after his death.

Q2. Who were the Rajputs, and what role did they play during the Mughal period?
Ans: The Rajputs were warrior clans from northwest India known for their bravery and strong sense of independence. They played a significant role during the medieval period by resisting various foreign invaders and maintaining their regional power.

• They rebuilt kingdoms in areas like Mewar and Marwar after earlier invasions by the Khiljis.
• Rana Sanga was a great leader who united several Rajput clans and fought many battles to defend their lands, although he was defeated by Babur at the Battle of Khanwa.
• Maharana Pratap, another famous Rajput king, refused to accept Mughal rule and engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Mughals after his defeat at the Battle of Haldighati.
• Rajputs maintained their independence with help from tribal allies, including the Bhils, who provided archers and terrain knowledge.
• Even as some Rajput states allied with Mughals, many continued resisting, limiting Mughal control in Rajasthan.

This constant resistance helped preserve Rajput culture and autonomy during the Mughal era.

Q3. Describe the Ahom kingdom and their resistance against Mughal invasions.
Ans: The Ahom kingdom was established in the 13th century in the Brahmaputra Valley of present-day Assam by migrants from Myanmar. They created a unique social and military system called the paik, where every able-bodied man was required to contribute labor or military service. This system helped build public infrastructure and maintain a large fighting force without a standing army.

• Ahoms used their knowledge of the difficult terrain—including forests, rivers, and hills—to resist Mughal and Sultanate attempts at expansion.
• One of their greatest military successes was the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, where the Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan led 10,000 Ahom soldiers to defeat a much larger Mughal army.
• Their victory preserved the independence of the Ahom kingdom and helped nurture Assam’s unique cultural identity.
• The Ahoms also promoted local agriculture, assimilated diverse cultures, and supported religious tolerance.

Their effective resistance made them one of the few kingdoms in medieval India to successfully resist Mughal domination.

Q4. How did Sikhism evolve into a martial community during Mughal rule?
Ans: Sikhism began as a spiritual and peaceful movement founded by Guru Nanak in the 15th century, focusing on equality and devotion to one God. However, during Mughal rule, especially under emperors like Jahangir and Aurangzeb, Sikhs faced persecution, prompting a transformation into a martial community.

• The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, was executed for supporting Mughal rebels, increasing hostility towards Sikhs.
• His son, Guru Hargobind, introduced martial training and formed a Sikh army to defend the community.
• Later, Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699, a brotherhood of warrior Sikhs committed to justice and protecting their faith.
• The Khalsa faced frequent battles against Mughal forces and strengthened Sikh identity through discipline and unity.
• This martial tradition ultimately helped the Sikhs establish a powerful empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century.

Thus, Sikhism evolved from spiritual teachings to include military resistance to protect their community’s rights.

Q5. What was the iqta system of administration under the Delhi Sultanate?
Ans: The iqta system was a form of administrative and fiscal control used by the Delhi Sultanate to govern its vast territories.

• The sultan granted land (iqtas) to nobles called iqtadars, who collected taxes from the people living on that land.
• The collected revenue was mainly used to maintain the Sultan’s army and fund government expenses.
• Positions of iqtadars were not hereditary; they were appointed by the Sultan and could be replaced.
• While this system allowed the Sultanate to extend control over different areas, it often led to high tax burdens on peasants.
• The harsh tax collection, at times enforced by cruelty, caused hardship among the common people.

The iqta system was effective for managing the empire but also contributed to social and economic difficulties during the Sultanate period.

Q6. Explain Akbar’s mansabdari system and land revenue reforms.
Ans: Akbar introduced the mansabdari system to organize the Mughal administrative and military framework efficiently.

• Mansabdars were ranked officers responsible for maintaining troops, horses, elephants, and camels as per their rank (mansab).
• They were paid through the assignment of jagirs, land revenues from certain areas, instead of direct salaries.
• This system allowed quick assembly of armies without a permanent standing military, improving flexibility and control.
• Akbar’s finance minister, Todar Mal, implemented land revenue reforms by conducting detailed land surveys and crop assessments.
• These reforms standardized revenue collection, set fair crop prices, and reduced corruption, resulting in a reliable income for the empire.
• Akbar also divided the empire into provinces called subahs, each managed by appointed officials overseeing finance, military, public works, and justice.
• Village-level governance continued with minimal interference, maintaining local stability.

The mansabdari and revenue systems strengthened the Mughal state, supporting territorial expansion and effective administration.