NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 Reshaping India’s Political Map

The invaders, who were often Central Asian Turkic or Afghan, were drawn to India for a combination of reasons. These included the allure of India’s famed wealth, the ambition to expand their territories, and a religious zeal to spread their own faith, sometimes using force if they deemed it necessary.

The chapter’s narrative begins with the formation of the Delhi Sultanate after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192 , which was formally established in 1206. The other events happened much later in the 14th century: Mewar’s re-establishment was in 1326 , the Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 , and Timur’s invasion of Delhi took place in 1398.

An inscription at the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque site states that materials from 27 destroyed Hindu and Jain temples were utilized in its construction. This use of repurposed materials from previously existing religious structures was a feature of some of the buildings from this era, and remnants are still visible.

One of Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s poorly executed schemes was moving his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (formerly Devagiri). He believed its more central location would allow for better control over his vast empire. However, the plan misfired, and the forced relocation over 1,000 km, followed by a shift back to Delhi, resulted in a great loss of life.

The jizya was a specific tax that some sultans imposed on their non-Muslim subjects. In return for paying this tax, non-Muslims were supposed to be granted protection and were exempted from military service. In practice, this discriminatory tax was often an economic burden and served as a social incentive for people to convert to Islam.

As the Delhi Sultanate became politically unstable, a new power emerged in the south. In the 14th century, two brothers named Harihara and Bukka, who had previously served as governors for Muhammad bin Tughlaq, established an independent kingdom that grew into the powerful Vijayanagara Empire.

The Battle of Talikota was a turning point for the Vijayanagara Empire. In 1565, a coalition formed by the Deccan Sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara army, which was led by Ramaraya. Following the defeat, the city of Vijayanagara was sacked for several months, with its temples, palaces, and buildings destroyed and its civilian population massacred, leaving it in ruins.

Babur’s victory over Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat was significant for its military strategy. His success relied heavily on the use of gunpowder, field artillery, and matchlock guns. These technologies, which had been recently introduced to warfare in India, were instrumental in defeating the Delhi Sultanate’s forces and laying the foundation for the Mughal Empire.

As Akbar’s empire grew, he used political strategies to stabilize it. One of his most important policies was the promotion of sulh-i-kul, which literally means ‘peace with all’. This doctrine reflected his policy of tolerance towards different religions, which he reinforced by abolishing the jizya tax, holding interfaith dialogues, and welcoming Rajput leaders into his court.

While every Mughal emperor fought to expand the empire, it was under Aurangzeb that it reached its greatest physical size. He conducted many military campaigns, conquering parts of the South in particular. However, this vast empire was constantly challenged by significant rebellions throughout his reign.

The Ahom rulers resisted expansion from the Sultanate and Mughal empires using unique methods. Their paik system was a cornerstone of their strength, calling on every able-bodied man to provide service to the state, either as a labourer or a soldier, in exchange for land rights. This system allowed the rulers to maintain a large force and build public infrastructure without a permanent, paid army.

The Battle of Saraighat, fought on the Brahmaputra River, was a significant victory for the Ahoms. The Ahom military commander Lachit Borphukan, with his force of 10,000 men, successfully defeated a much larger Mughal force of 30,000 soldiers. This victory was a testament to Ahom military strategy and their effective use of the local geography

Guru Tegh Bahadur was approached by a group of Kashmiri Pandits seeking protection from religious persecution and decided to stand with them. This led to his arrest, after which Aurangzeb ordered him to convert to Islam. The Guru refused despite torture and was publicly beheaded in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk on Aurangzeb’s orders.

The iqta system was an important administrative tool for the Delhi Sultanate. Under this system, territories known as iqtas were assigned to nobles, or iqtadars. These nobles were responsible for collecting taxes from their assigned territory, which, after expenses, went to the Sultan’s treasury to maintain the army.

Akbar reorganized his administration for greater efficiency, appointing ministers for different departments. The Diwan handled finances, while the Khan-i-Saman was in charge of public works, trade, and industry. The Sadr oversaw justice and religious matters. The Mir Bakhshi was the specific minister who looked after all military affairs for the empire.

The mansabdari system was a key feature of Akbar’s administration. Officers, known as mansabdars, were assigned a rank called a mansab. Based on their rank, they were required to maintain a precise number of troops, horses, elephants, and camels for the state. This system allowed the empire to assemble a large army at short notice without the expense of a permanent, centralized force.

The hundi system was a crucial financial innovation that supported trade. A hundi was a written instruction, like a bill of exchange, to make a payment to a specific individual. This allowed merchants to transfer funds across different political territories without physically carrying large amounts of currency, which made them less vulnerable to being plundered during their travels.

Foreign travellers often visited Vijayanagara for trade, and the Portuguese, in particular, received good treatment. The primary reason for this was that they were sellers of precious war horses. The king wanted to ensure a steady supply of these important military assets and prevent the Portuguese from selling the horses to his rival enemy kingdoms instead.

Iconoclasm is defined as the rejection or destruction of icons or religious images. This practice is often motivated by the belief that such images are a form of idolatry, which is condemned by the orthodox sects of some religions. The destruction of temples and sacred images during the Sultanate period was motivated not only by the desire for plunder but also by iconoclasm.

Krishnadevaraya was the celebrated ruler under whom the Vijayanagara Empire reached its peak. He was known for fostering a cultural renaissance and patronized poets in Sanskrit, Telugu, and Kannada. He was himself a composer and wrote the Telugu epic poem Āmuktamālyada, which is based on the story of the Tamil poet-saint Āṇḍāl.

The Kumbhalgarh Fort, built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century, served as a key stronghold for the rulers of Mewar. It is famous for its massive wall, which is 36 kilometres long and is considered one of the longest continuous walls in the world. Its strategic location in the Aravalli hills made it a formidable defensive structure.

Despite the Mughal army having the upper hand at the Battle of Haldighati in 1576, Maharana Pratap refused to accept their dominance. He managed to escape and continued his resistance from the Aravalli hills, pursuing guerrilla warfare against the Mughals for years while living in harsh conditions to maintain his independence.

Todar Mal introduced a highly efficient revenue system to strengthen the state’s finances. He conducted detailed surveys to assess crop yields and market prices, using this information to determine fixed prices for each crop. He also began a systematic land survey across the entire empire, which greatly boosted and improved revenue collection for the state apparatus.

Maharana Pratap received crucial support from the Bhils during his resistance against the Mughals. The Bhils served as skilled archers and used their excellent knowledge of the local terrain to aid the Rajput forces. This valuable service earned them a respected place in Mewar’s military tradition, which was formally recognized on the kingdom’s emblem.

The execution of Guru Arjan was a pivotal moment for the Sikh community. This act of persecution prompted his son and successor, Guru Hargobind, to introduce a significant change by recognizing the need for self-defense. He began martial training for the Sikhs and formed an army, which would go on to fight several battles against Mughal forces.

The succession after Shah Jahan fell ill was violent. His son Aurangzeb defeated and executed his elder brother Dara Shikoh and removed his other two brothers. To prevent any future challenge to his rule, Aurangzeb imprisoned his own father, Shah Jahan, in the Agra Fort, where the former emperor remained until he died.

Despite the shifting political landscape, India’s economy was vibrant and robust. Thanks to its strong agrarian foundations, thriving artisanal industries, community-based economies like guilds (śreṇis), and vast trade networks, the subcontinent remained one of the world’s wealthiest regions during this period. However, this wealth was largely concentrated in the hands of the elite.

Rani Durgavati is remembered as a heroic queen of the Garha kingdom, one of the Gond kingdoms in central India. She was a wise ruler who made her kingdom prosperous and maintained a strong army. When a general sent by Akbar attacked her kingdom in 1564, she fought bravely against superior forces and, when wounded, took her own life to avoid capture, becoming a symbol of resistance.

Aurangzeb had to spend the last 25 years of his life fighting continuous wars in the Deccan. Maintaining large armies for these prolonged campaigns had a severe negative impact on the empire’s finances. They depleted the imperial treasury and placed an immense strain on the administration, which is often considered a key reason for the rapid decline of Mughal power after his death.

Despite being illiterate himself, Akbar showed a keen interest in classical Indian thought and established a ‘house of translation’. The primary purpose of this institution, located at Fatehpur Sikri, was to have major Sanskrit texts translated into Persian, the court language. Works translated included the Mahābhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Pañchatantra.