TS SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 10 (History) - TS TET MCQ

The republican state of Sakya was situated near the border of Nepal. Mahatma Buddha belonged to the family of the Sakyas. The republican state of the Sakyas had a federal constitution. Its capital was Kapilavastu.

A common feature of all Bhakti Saints was that all of them wrote their verses were written in the same language as of the devotees as all devout saints came out of lower classes. Therefore, they used their own language to spread their teachings to the general public.

Among the given options, A.R. Desai is a 'leftist' historian.

Key Points

• The two books which heralded the beginning of Marxist historiography in India were India Today by R. Palme Dutt and Social Background of Indian Nationalism by A.R. Desai.
• A.R. Desai’s book, Social Background of Indian Nationalism, has been a very popular book and several editions and reprints of this book have been published since its first publication on 1948.
• It has also been translated into many Indian languages.
• It is another thoroughgoing account of the colonial period and the rise of nationalism from a Marxist perspective.
• Akshay Ramanlal Desai was an Indian sociologist, Marxist and a social activist and was a 'leftist' historian.

• He makes an attempt to understand a political and economic history of Indian society.

Hence, we can conclude that among the given options, A.R. Desai is a 'leftist' historian.

All of the above statements are correct.Key Points

• Historical research in organization and management studies continues to be described as a type of inductive theory building from cases.
• But historical epistemology and methodological practices are better understood as a form of situated scholarly inquiry in which the researcher interprets or analyzes the past from a position in the present.
• Historical research mainly relies on first-hand information sources such as historical records, books, photographs, letters, and evidence that belongs to the time the research focuses on.
• Historical research represents a systematic enquiry into a new area in the past and an attempt to separate true from fictionalized accounts of historical events, based upon the examination of a wide range of relevant source material.
• This is an important task because history is the source of many of our ideas, beliefs and customs, it depends upon new interpretations of data.

• A better understanding of the past places us in a more advantageous position to appreciate change in the present and to try and learn from past mistakes and rewrite the principle.

Hence, we can conclude that all of the above statements are correct.

We know about the Delhi Sultanate because of its architecture, inscriptions, coins, and Tarikh/Tawarikh (histories written in Persian, the official language of the Delhi Sultanate).

Key Points

Tawarikhs:

• The authors of Tawarikh lived in cities (mainly Delhi) and hardly ever in villages.
• They often wrote their histories for Sultans in the hope of rich rewards.
• These authors advised rulers on the need to preserve an “ideal” social order based on birthright.
• Their ideas were not shared by everybody. Common mass had nothing to do with their ideas.

Hence, we can conclude that the statement A) is true but B) is false

From the early nineteenth century, we find debates and discussions about social customs and practices taking on a new character.

• One important reason for this was the development of new forms of communication.
• For the first time, books, newspapers, magazines, leaflets, and pamphlets were printed.
• Therefore ordinary people could read these, and many of them could also write and express their ideas in their own languages.
• All kinds of issues – social, political, economic, and religious – could now be debated and discussed by men (and sometimes by women as well) in the new cities.
• The discussions could reach out to a wider public and could become linked to movements for social change.
• These debates were often initiated by Indian reformers and reform groups.

Important Points By the second half of the nineteenth century, the movement in favor of widow remarriage spread to other parts of the country. Social reformers supported widow remarriage are as follows:

• Famous reformers, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, used the ancient texts to suggest that widows could remarry.
  • His suggestion was adopted by British officials, and a law was passed in 1856 permitting widow remarriage.
  • Those who were against the remarriage of widows opposed Vidyasagar and even boycotted him.
• In the Telugu-speaking areas of the Madras Presidency, Veerasalingam Pantulu formed an association for widow remarriage.
• Around the same time, young intellectuals and reformers in Bombay pledged themselves to work for the same cause.
• In the north, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, who founded the reform association called Arya Samaj, also supported widow remarriage.

Thus, we can conclude that Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Veerasalingam Pantulu, and Swami Dayanand Saraswati were social reformers who supported widow remarriage.

Additional Information

• Rammohun Roy was particularly moved by the problems widows faced in their lives. He began a campaign against the practice of sati.

Every Veda consists of four parts which are:

1. Samhita,

2. Brahmana,

3. Aranyaka

4. Upanishad.

The word Veda has been derived from the word ‘vid’, which means to know/knowledge.

Alauddin Khalji gave enormous gifts to the hostile nobles and Amirs of Delhi to win them over to his side. Those who still opposed his accession were punished severely. He framed regulations to control the nobles. He was convinced that the general prosperity of the nobles, intermarriages between noble families, inefficient spy-system and drinking liquor were the basic reasons for the rebellions. Therefore, he passed four ordinances. He confiscated the properties of the nobles. The intelligence system was reorganized and all the secret activities of the nobles were immediately reported to the Sultan. The public sale of liquor and drugs was totally stopped. Social gatherings and festivities without the permission of Sultan were forbidden. By such harsh measures, his reign was free from rebellions.

Prince of Wales (Albert Edward), the eldest son of Queen Victoria came to India in the year 1875 (October) during the viceroyship of Lord Northbrook.

The correct matching of the 'Historian' with their respective 'School of History' is: (a) - i, (b) - ii, (c) - iii, (d) - iv

Key Points

• Tara Chand:
  • ​Tara Chand was an Indian archaeologist and nationalist historian specialising in the ancient history and culture of India.
  • Tara Chand held the view that India has been a nation-in-the-making since the 19th century.
• Dipesh Chakrabarty:
  • ​Dipesh Chakrabarty is an Indian historian, who has made contributions to postcolonial theory and subaltern studies.
  • He argues that from the very beginning, the Subaltern Studies was different and ‘raised questions about history writing that made a radical departure from English Marxist historiographical tradition inescapable’.
• Rajani Palm Dutt:
  • ​Rajani Palme Dutt, generally known as R. P. Dutt, was a leading journalist and theoretician in the Communist Party of Great Britain.
  • His classic book India Today heralded the Marxist approach in Indian historiography.
• Mountstuart Elphinstone:
  • ​Mountstuart Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman and colonial historian, associated with the government of British India.
  • His work History of Hindu and Muhammedan India (1841) became a standard text in Indian universities (founded from 1857 onwards) and was reprinted up to the early years of the next century.

  • Elphinstone followed this up with History of British Power in the East, a book that traced fairly systematically the expansion and consolidation of British rule till Hastings’ administration.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that the correct matching of the 'Historian' with their respective 'School of History' is:

Surkotada has not yielded evidence of fire - worship. Key Points

• The archaeological site of Surkotada in Gujarat has not yielded any evidence of fire worship.
• However, the sites of Kalibangan, Banawali, and Lothal in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat, respectively, have all provided substantial evidence of fire worship through the discovery of fire altars.
• These altars, constructed from brick or stone, are frequently located at the centre of houses or in communal spaces.
• They are believed to have served ritualistic purposes, possibly as a means of venerating fire deities or seeking divine favour.
• The identification of fire altars at these locations is of considerable importance as it furnishes insights into the religious practices of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Fire held profound sacred significance in various ancient cultures, often symbolizing fertility, purification, and safeguarding.
• The existence of fire altars at these sites implies that the inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization also esteemed fire as a divine element.
• Alongside fire altars, the archaeological sites of Kalibangan, Banawali, and Lothal have unveiled other artefacts indicative of religious activities.
• These include depictions of deities in the form of figurines, seals engraved with religious motifs, and remnants of ceremonial baths.
• These findings propose that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization adhered to an intricate and refined system of religious beliefs.
• The absence of fire altars at Surkotada should not be hastily construed as an absence of fire worship among its inhabitants.
• It is plausible that they indeed engaged in fire worship, albeit without currently discernible evidence.
• The potential for future excavations at Surkotada to shed light on the religious practices of this significant site remains promising.

The Prarthana Samaj:

• Founded in 1867.
• Founded by Dr. Atmaram Pandurang, Mahadev Govind Ranade & Ramakrishna Bhandarkar.
• It is one of the prominent social reform & social work movements in India.
• The leaders of the Prathana Samaj were influenced by the Brahmo Samaj.
• It is believed that true love for God lies in the service of people with any differentiation.
• The Prarthana Samaj adhered to the tradition of Bhakti that believed in spiritual equality of all castes.
• In Bombay, the Paramhans Mandali was founded in 1840 to work for the abolition of caste
• It had faith in a single, almighty God i.e: Monotheism.
• It didn't reject the Vedas but emphasized Bhakti towards God.
• Subodh Patrika was regulated to propagate the ideas & views of the Prarthana Samaj in society.

Additional Information

Features:

• They emphasized Widow remarriage & Women education. (Hence, statement 3rd is incorrect)
• They were against the caste system and the practice of untouchability.
• They showed discontent towards the caste system.
• They fought for the increase in the marriage age of both males & females.
• They opened night schools & reading rooms.​

The correct answer is 1,2,3 and 4.

Important Points

• During the Chalcolithic period, both metal and stone were used to make tools in daily life.
• The Chalcolithic cultures followed the Harappan culture of the Bronze Age.
• It spanned from about 2500 BCE to 700 BCE.
• Most of the people were rural and lived in hills and near rivers.
• The people of the Chalcolithic age depended on hunting, fishing and agriculture.
• Migration and dispersal of population groups are often cited as reasons for the origin of the different cultures of the Chalcolithic.
• Since this was the beginning of the first metal age in India, during this period copper and its alloy bronze, which melts at a lower temperature, were used in the manufacture of various objects.

• Rajasthan, Malwa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and northern Deccan were the main areas of this period.

Thus 1,2,3 and 4 are correct.

The entry of women as Bhikshuni into the sangha was allowed by the Buddha at Vaishali on the request of his disciple Anand. The first woman who was admitted to sangha was Mahaprajapati Gautami.

Many steps that were in the interest of the people were taken by the Mughal ruler, Akbar; one of them was the end of pilgrimage tax.

• In 1441, Shah Rukh of Persia sent Kamal-ud-din AbdurRazzaq as an emissary to Vijayanagar.
• AbdurRazzaq wrote his travels in the
  • Malta-us-Sadain(The Rise of Two Auspicious Constellations) and
  • Majma-ul-Bahrain(The Confluence of Two Oceans)
• He visited India during the reign of Devi Rai II, the emperor of Vijayanagara Empire.

the East India Company became the real master of Bengal at least from 1765. Its army was in sole control of its defence and the supreme political power was in its hands. The Nawab depended for its internal and external security on the British.

1) The Dual System of Government in Bengal was the brainchild of Lord Clive in 1765.

2) The Diwani was carried out by the company so Company was Diwan. Hence, they directly collected its revenues, while,

3) The Nizamat jurisdiction was carried out by these decrepit Indians so they were Nizam. And controlled the police and judicial powers.

This arrangement is known in history as the Dual or the Double Government. It held a great advantage for the British: they had power without responsibility.

The government of India Act was passed on 2nd August 1858. Indigo revolt took place in the year 1859. In 1860, the Indigo commission was appointed. Indian Council Act was passed in 1861 and received Royal Assent on 1st August. The famine of North-Western provinces Agra, Oudh, Punjab took place in 1861.

All the given statements about the characteristics of the Christian view of history are correct.

Important Points

• The important characteristics of Christian historiography are:
  • Universal History: Christian historiographers composed universal history. They portrayed the history of the universe from the genesis to the last judgement. It was the Biblical version of history.
  • Chronological Organisation of History: Christian historiographers brought the chronological organisation of historical events. All the events were brought within a single chronological framework. The events were arranged in chronological sequence.
  • Periodisation in History: Christian historiographers brought periodisation into history. They divided the historic period into two parts with Christ as the centre. The various events are dated backwards and forward from the birth of Christ. They also divided history into two – the period of light and the period of darkness and further subdivided it into several periods.
  • Established a relationship between the Church and the State: Christian historiography brought the first effort to establish a relationship between the church and the state. Through his work City of God, St. Augustine represented the church and the state as the two intermingled cities. This shaped the attitude of the church towards the state and politics.
  • The Providential Philosophy of History: Christian historiography attributed the historical development to the will of God. This idea of providence constituted the Christian historical approach and shaped the course of Christian historical thought.
  • The idea of the Conflict of Two: Christian historiography brought out the idea that the conflict of two is the moving force behind the course of history. St. Augustine argued that the task of the historical study is to trace the step by step development of the conflict between the church and the state.

  • Apocalypticism: Apocalypticism is the religious belief that the end of the world is imminent, even within one's own lifetime. This belief is usually accompanied by the idea that civilization will soon come to a tumultuous end due to some sort of catastrophic global event. So, the Christian view is that the history is apocalyptic.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that all the given statements about the characteristics of the Christian view of history are correct.

Three different schools of Art represent Buddhism to a large extent. Mathura school of Buddhist art was developed by the Sunga dynasty. It comprises of images of Buddha in sitting postures, in deep meditation with Gyan Chakra (Wisdom Wheel) behind his head. Gandhara school of Art was developed by Kushan dynasty. It is representative of the influence of Greek and Roman traditions. Buddha is shown with thick curly hair, drapes, greek-like, masculine physique modeled on Apollo, always in standing posture and preaching like a teacher. Amravati School was developed by the Satvahana dynasty. It is the most decorative form. The at is depicted on white limestone slabs where the theme of Buddha’s life is engraved in all kinds of postures.

The correct answer is (c), (b), (a), (d)

Key Points

• The signs of the decline of the Mughal Empire had started to appear after the death of Aurangzeb yet the Mughal authority was all-powerful from Kashmir up to the far south.
• The later Mughal emperors from Bahadur Shah, to Muhammad Shah, tried to maintain the Mughal authority. The later Mughals adopted a policy of reconciliation compromise and tolerance towards their subjects. They maintained relations with the religious divines of the time and also patronized most of them by granting revenue-free land grants and other concessions.

Additional Information

• Bahadur Shah (also known as Shah Alam-I ) was the seventh Mughal emperor of India, ruled from 1707 until his death in 1712. By the time Bahadur Shah Zafar ascended the throne, the area under the Mughal rule was drastically reduced, as were the emperor’s powers, symbolic and otherwise. He was ultimately known only as the ‘King of Delhi’.
• Jahandar Shah (1712–1713) reign was barely one year. He always took part in non-Muslim religious festivals. On the occasion of the ‘Dussehra’ festival he used to see the burning of the effigy of Rawan, and the festival of ‘Basant’ was regularly celebrated at his court. He also used to compose Hindi poems.
• Farrukhsiyar (1713 to 1719) owed his elevation to the throne to two Sayyid brothers, who were the real power in the state. During his first regnal year, he abolished Jizya. He granted a Farman to the English East India Company granting them duty-free trading rights for Bengal.
• Muḥammad Shah (1719 to 1748) was the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I. He ruled for about 30 years. He was a great patron of art and culture. The art of music developed, and new trends in music were innovated at his court like ‘Khayal’ and ‘Tappa’.

Goswami Tulsidasji was one of the greatest saints of medieval India. He, through the Ramcharitmanas, immortalized his devotion to Lord Ram. He gave such an epic to people, which is perhaps the most popular epic of all times. It has even laid down the ideals for them to guide them through their lives. He spent all his life in promoting and preaching Ram-bhakti. Gitawali, Kavitawali and Vinay Patrika are composed by Tulsidas.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Key Points

• The Gupta Empire (320-550 AD):
  • Srigupta founded the Gupta Dynasty in the 3rd century AD.
    • He took the title of Maharaja.
    • He was the first Gupta king whose name got mentioned in the Allahabad Pillar inscription. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
    • The Poona Copper Plate inscription of Prabhavati Gupta described Srigupta as the Adiraja of the Gupta dynasty.
  • Chandragupta II:
    • ​The Devichandraguptam by Vishakadatta mentioned the surrender of Queen Dhurvadevi to the Shaka ruler by Ramagupta.
      • In opposition to this move, Chandragupta II killed the Shaka ruler as well as Ramagupta.
      • It also mentioned his accession to the throne & marriage to Durvadevi.
        • Hence, statement 2 is correct.
    • Titles adopted: Vikramaditya, Sakari Devagupta, Devaraja, Devashri.
    • Kalidasa, Dhanvantri, Amasimha, Varahmihir, Vararuchi, Shanku, Kshapanak & Ghapkarpar were the Navratnas in his court.
  • Skandagupta (455-467 AD):
    • His Girnar Inscription mentioned the breach at Sudarshana Lake in 455 AD & its repair within 2 months.
    • The Bhittari Stone Inscription mentioned the defeat of Hunas by the Skandagupta.
      • Hence, statement 3 is correct.
    • Titles adopted: Karamaditya, Parama Bhagavat, Shakropama, Devaraja, Vikramaditya.

Additional Information

• Other sources of the Gupta Empire are the following:
  • The Allahabad Inscription: It mentioned an assembly or council known as the Sabha.
    • Samudragupta is compared to Purusha (Supreme Being) in the Allahabad inscription.
    • It refers to three mahadandanayakas (these posts were hereditary by nature.)
  • The Damodarpur Copper Plates:
    • It mentioned Uparikas had high status & rank in the administrative machinery.
    • It mentioned the presence of an Ashtakula-Adhikarana (a board of eight members).
  • The Sanchi Inscription: It mentions the panchmandali, a corporate body.
  • The Vayu Purana, Matasya Purana, Vishnu Purana & Bhagavata Purana give detailed accounts of the Gupta empire.

The correct answer is Option 4.

Key Points

• Alauddin Khilji’s market reforms were oriented more towards administrative and military necessities than internal restructuring.
  • He adopted a holistic approach to see the reform working properly.
  • Hence, statement I is false.
• That's why he did not control the price of essential commodities only, for those meant for direct use by the military.
  • Instead, he tried to control the price of everything from caps to socks, from combs to needles, vegetables, sweetmeats to chapatis etc.
  • Hence, statement II is true.
• Such widespread centralised control was found to influence every section of the society.
• The rule was enforced so rigidly that no farmer or anyone else could hold back secretly a mound or half a mound of grain and sell it far above the fixed price.
• The Sultan fixed the prices of all commodities from grain to cloths, slaves, cattle etc.
• A controller of market (shahna-i-mandi) intelligence officers (barids) and secret spies (munhiyan) were appointed.

Additional Information

Domestic Policies of Alauddin Khilji:

• He followed the Divine Right Theory of Kingship.
• He impounded pious grants and free grants of lands
• He restructured the spy system.
• He banned social parties and wine.
• He introduced a permanent standing army.
• He started the system of branding of horses and a descriptive roster of individual soldiers to inhibit corruption.
• Revenue was collected in cash and not in kind.
• He followed discriminatory policies towards the Hindus and imposed the Jizya, a grazing tax and a house tax on the Hindu community.

Among the given statements about Annales historians, the statements A, C & D are true.

Important Points

• The Annales School of historiography, widely considered as one of the most important developments in the twentieth-century history-writing, formally emerged with the foundation of the journal Annales d’histoire economique et sociale (Annales of Economic and Social History) in 1929 by Marc Bloch and Lucien Febvre.
• In terms of thematic range and methodological innovations, this School remained foremost in France and influenced history-writing in many other countries for decades and had followers all over the world including India.
• Annales historians insist that they do not represent a school.

• History of economic structures, of long-term developments, of mentalities, micro-history and cultural history have all benefited by significant contribution from the historians of this School.

Thus, we can conclude that among the given statements about Annales historians, the statements A, C & D are true.

The correct answer is 1 only.

Key Points

• The ryots of the Deccan region of western India suffered heavy taxation under the Ryotwari system.
• Here again, the peasants found themselves trapped in a vicious network with the moneylender as the exploiter and the main beneficiary.
• These moneylenders were mostly outsiders- Marwaris and Gujaratis. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• In 1874, the growing tension between the moneylenders and the peasants resulted in a social boycott movement organized by the ryots
  against the "outsider" moneylenders.
• The ryots refused to buy from their shops. No peasant would cultivate their fields. The barbers, washermen, and shoemakers would not serve them.
• This social boycott spread rapidly to the villages of Poona, Ahmednagar, Solapur, and Satara. Soon the social boycott was transformed into agrarian riots with systematic attacks on the moneylenders' houses and shops.
• The debt bonds and deeds were seized and publicly burnt.
• The Government succeeded in repressing the movement.
• As a conciliatory measure, the Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act was passed in 1879.
• This time also, the modern nationalist intelligentsia of Maharashtra supported the peasants' cause. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.

The correct answer is All of these.

Key Points

• The passage talks about the Aryan expansion in the 6th and 7th centuries BC.

• According to the Aitareya Brahmana, the Aryans spread from Punjab towards the East and South during this period.

• The cradle of Aryan civilization extended from Uttara Kurus and Uttara Madras beyond the Himalayas or Kashmir to that of the Prachyas of Magadha in the East.

• In the South, a stream of Aryan adventures crossed the Vindhyas and went as far as the Narmada valley.

• The Ganga-Yamuna plains became the pivot of the Aryan civilization.

The kingdoms of Agra, Kosala, Videha, and Magadha were the prominent Aryan kingdoms during this period. Therefore the correct answer is All of these.

The correct answer is Aitareya Brahmana

Key Points

• The passage mentions that the Aryan expansion of the 6th and 7th centuries BC is recorded in the Aitareya Brahmana.

• The Aitareya Brahmana is a text in Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism.

• The Rigveda is believed to have been composed between 1700–1100 BCE and contains hymns, prayers, and rituals that were important to the Vedic religion.

• The Aitareya Brahmana is a Vedic text that provides explanations and interpretations of the hymns in Rigveda.

• The passage suggests that the Aitareya Brahmana contains information about the Aryan expansion in the 6th and 7th centuries BC, which likely includes details about the areas they spread to and the kingdoms they encountered.

Therefore the correct answer is Aitareya Brahmana.

Non-Violence is not to be compromised within Jainism. It was Jainism who advocated ‘Gnana Marga’, where securing highest knowledge. Kaivalya is salvation. However, liberation from desires was taught in Buddhism, where Buddha advocated ‘Karma Marga’. Buddha remained silent and agnostic about the existence of God. He made no categorical statement regarding God. Mahavira declared that God exists but is not responsible for evolution of Universe. Universe according to him evolved on its own.

A Sahukar was someone who acted as both a moneylender and a trader. They were invariably attacked during the rebellion. Rentier is a term used to designate people who live on rental income from property. Jotedars were the rich peasants and ryots and not zamindars. They sometimes delayed payments to the Zamindars in order to troble them. The jotedars were most powerful in North Bengal. In some places they were called haotadars, elsewhere they were also known as gantidars or mandals. Their rise inevitably weakened zamindari authority.