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

Q1. India attracted many foreign invaders during the medieval period. Which of the following was the most important reason?
(a) Lack of strong rulers
(b) Rich natural resources and wealth
(c) Geographical isolation
(d) Small population  

Ans: (b) Rich natural resources and wealth
India’s wealth, including gold, silver, and thriving trade (e.g., textiles), made it a prime target for invaders like the Turks, Afghans, and Mughals. While weak rulers and political instability contributed, the primary lure was India’s immense economic prosperity.

Q2. Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. Which skill of governance was most tested by this decision?
(a) Military strength
(b) Administrative planning
(c) Trade control
(d) Religious tolerance 

Ans: (b) Administrative planning
The shift to Daulatabad required extensive logistical planning to relocate people and resources over 1,000 km. This was a poorly executed reform, causing hardship, testing Tughlaq’s administrative capabilities, not military strength, trade, or religious policy.

Q3. The Battle of Talikota (1565) was a turning point in South Indian history. If Vijayanagara had won, which of the following might have happened?
(a) The Deccan Sultanates would have united
(b) Vijayanagara’s cultural patronage might have continued longer
(c) The Mughal Empire would not expand in North India
(d) British trade would have ended 

Ans: (b) Vijayanagara’s cultural patronage might have continued longer
Krishnadevaraya’s reign saw a cultural renaissance with the patronage of arts, literature, and temples. A victory at Talikota could have sustained Vijayanagara’s dominance and cultural contributions. The other options are less plausible: the Deccan Sultanates united against Vijayanagara, Mughal expansion was unrelated to Talikota, and British trade was not yet significant.

Q4. Which of these best explains why Akbar’s rule is often called a “golden age” of the Mughal Empire?
(a) Constant military conquests
(b) Harsh tax collection system
(c) Policies of tolerance and inclusion
(d) Aurangzeb’s religious reforms 

Ans: (c) Policies of tolerance and inclusion
Akbar’s policies, like abolishing the jizya tax, promoting sulh-i-kul (peace with all), and integrating Rajputs through marriage alliances and appointments, fostered stability and cultural growth, marking his reign as a golden age, unlike the other options.

Q5. Which of these groups used their geographical advantage most effectively to resist powerful empires?
(a) Rajputs of Mewar
(b) Portuguese in Goa
(c) Mughals in Delhi
(d) British in Bengal 

Ans: (a) Rajputs of Mewar
The Rajputs, particularly under Maharana Pratap, used the Aravalli hills for guerrilla warfare to resist Mughal control. The rugged terrain and support from the Bhil tribes made Mewar a stronghold. The Portuguese relied on naval power, the Mughals were invaders, and the British used political strategies, not geography, in Bengal.

Q6. Ala-ud-din Khilji introduced price control measures. Do you think these policies would work in today’s world? Why or why not?  
Ans: Ala-ud-din Khilji’s price control measures aimed to regulate markets by setting fixed prices for goods to support his military and ensure affordability. In today’s complex, globalized economy, such policies would likely face challenges:  

• Modern economies are driven by supply and demand, with global trade and inflation affecting prices. Fixed prices could lead to shortages, black markets, or reduced production.  
• Today’s interconnected markets, with millions of goods and services, make centralized price controls impractical and prone to inefficiencies.  
• Modern economies involve private corporations and international trade agreements, limiting the government's ability to enforce such policies without resistance.

Potential for Limited Success: In specific contexts, like wartime or crisis, price controls can stabilize markets temporarily, but sustained controls often distort markets.

Q7. “Muhammad bin Tughlaq was ahead of his time, yet unsuccessful.” Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons.  
Ans: I partially agree. Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reforms were visionary but poorly executed:  
Ahead of His Time:  

• His token currency (copper coins equal to silver or gold) resembled modern fiat currency, an innovative idea.  
• Moving the capital to Daulatabad aimed to centralize control, a forward-thinking administrative idea.  
• Uniting most of the subcontinent was ambitious and rare for his era.

Reasons for Unsuccess:  

• The capital shift caused hardship due to poor planning, forcing people to travel 1,000 km, only to be reversed.  
• The token currency led to counterfeiting, collapsing trade, and the economy.  
• His grand ideas outpaced the administrative and technological capabilities of the time, alienating subjects.

Q8. Compare the resistance strategies of the Ahoms in Assam and the Rajputs in Rajasthan. What made them successful in protecting their independence?  
Ans: Both the Ahoms and Rajputs resisted powerful empires (Mughals and Delhi Sultanate) effectively, leveraging geography, military tactics, and cultural unity, but their strategies differed:  
Ahom Resistance Strategies:  

• Used Assam’s dense forests, hills, and Brahmaputra River to hinder Mughal advances (e.g., Battle of Saraighat, 1671).  
• Employed guerrilla tactics and river-based warfare under Lachit Borphukan.  
• The paik system ensured a flexible, large force without a standing army.  
• Integrated local cultures, strengthening community support.

Rajput Resistance Strategies:  

• Used forts like Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh in the Aravalli hills for defense.  
• Maharana Pratap employed guerrilla tactics with Bhil tribal support post-Haldighati (1576).  
• Leaders like Rana Sanga unified Rajput clans for collective resistance.  
• Warrior traditions and jauhar fueled their resolve.

What Made Them Successful:  

• Terrain knowledge (Assam’s rivers, Rajasthan’s hills) offset numerical disadvantages.  
• Community support (Ahom’s paik system, Rajput clan unity) strengthened resolve.  
• Adaptive guerrilla tactics suited smaller forces against empires.  
• Strong leadership (Lachit Borphukan, Maharana Pratap) inspired innovation.

Q9. If you were an artisan in the Vijayanagara Empire, how would wars and invasions have affected your life and work?  
Ans: As an artisan in Vijayanagara, wars and invasions would profoundly impact my life:  

• Economic Disruption: Frequent wars with the Deccan Sultanates and Gajapatis disrupted trade routes and markets, reducing demand for goods (e.g., jewelry, temple carvings). The sack of Vijayanagara post-Talikota (1565) would destroy workshops and markets.  
• Personal Safety and Displacement: The sacking of Hampi destroyed homes and shops, forcing me to flee, face enslavement, or die. Constant conflicts would create fear, disrupting craftsmanship.  
• Patronage Loss: Krishnadevaraya’s patronage supported artisans through temple endowments. Wars and the empire’s decline would reduce funding, limiting projects like temple sculptures.  
• Cultural Impact: I might adapt by incorporating new styles from invaders or traders, but temple destruction would limit religious art, forcing a shift to secular crafts.

Q10. Akbar and Aurangzeb followed very different religious policies. Analyse how these differences affected the stability of the Mughal Empire.  
Ans: Akbar and Aurangzeb’s contrasting religious policies impacted Mughal stability:  
Akbar’s Policies (Tolerance and Inclusion):  

• Abolished jizya, promoted sulh-i-kul, and integrated Rajputs through marriages and appointments.  
• Fostered unity, reduced rebellions, and ensured a peaceful middle period (1556–1605), strengthening the empire.

Aurangzeb’s Policies (Orthodox and Intolerant):  

• Reimposed jizya, banned music, and destroyed Hindu, Jain, and Sikh temples (e.g., Banaras, Mathura).  
• Sparked rebellions (Rajputs, Sikhs, Jats) and drained resources through Deccan campaigns, leading to decline post-1707.
  

Comparative Impact: Akbar’s tolerance built alliances and stability; Aurangzeb’s intolerance alienated groups and overextended the empire, weakening governance.

Q11. Imagine you are a court historian in Vijayanagara. How would you record the destruction of Hampi after the Battle of Talikota?  
Ans: Chronicle of Vijayanagara, Year 1565
In the year of our Lord Vitthala, tragedy befell our radiant capital, Hampi. Under Ramaraya, our forces met the Deccan Sultanates at Talikota. Despite courage, treachery, and numbers overwhelmed us. The Sultanate armies ravaged Hampi for months, reducing palaces and temples to rubble. The Vitthala temple’s sanctuaries were defiled, markets plundered, and thousands perished. Hampi lies in ruins, but Vijayanagara’s spirit endures in its scattered Nayakas, who vow to rebuild. I weep for Hampi but record its legacy of art, faith, and valor.

Q12. Many rulers destroyed the temples of their rivals during the medieval period. Do you think these actions were more political or religious? Support your view.  
Ans: Temple destruction was primarily political:  

• Political Motives: Rulers like Ala-ud-din Khilji and Timur plundered temples for wealth to fund campaigns and assert dominance. Destroying temples undermined rivals’ cultural legitimacy.  
• Religious Motives: Some, like Aurangzeb, destroyed temples due to iconoclasm, pressuring conversions via jizya.  
• Why Political Dominates: Looting for wealth and targeting temples to weaken rivals were primary, with religious motives as justification.

Q13. “Trade and commerce continued to flourish even during political instability.” Explain this statement concerning the hundi system.  
Ans: India’s economy thrived despite instability due to agriculture, crafts, and trade. The hundi system, a written order to pay money, enabled merchants to transfer funds safely across kingdoms, operating independently of rulers. Coastal towns like Calicut exported textiles, and temples facilitated trade. The hundi’s flexibility ensured commerce persisted, supporting merchants like Marwaris across regimes.  

Q14. Evaluate the contributions of regional kingdoms like the Hoysalas, Eastern Gangas, and Mewar to India’s cultural and political history.  
Ans: The Hoysalas, Eastern Gangas, and Mewar enriched India:  

• Hoysalas: Built intricate temples (Belur, Halebid), resisted the Delhi Sultanate, preserving southern autonomy.  
• Eastern Gangas: Constructed Konark’s Sūrya temple, repelled Sultanate invasions, and enriched Odisha’s heritage.  
• Mewar: Built Kumbhalgarh Fort, resisted Mughals under Rana Kumbha and Maharana Pratap, maintaining Rajput independence.

Q15. Imagine that the Delhi Sultanate had successfully unified all of India. How might India’s cultural and political landscape look different today?  
Ans: If the Delhi Sultanate unified India:  

• Cultural Landscape: Stronger Islamic influence with more Indo-Islamic architecture, but reduced regional diversity (e.g., fewer Hoysala or Konark temples). Syncretism might increase, but Hindu/Jain texts could diminish.  
• Political Landscape: Centralized governance might reduce regional autonomy, delaying Sikh or Maratha powers. A stronger military could have resisted British colonization, altering modern boundaries.  
• Modern Implications: A less pluralistic India with fewer linguistic states, though rebellions might still fragment the state.