The Konark Sun temple was built by which ruler to commemorate victories against the Delhi Sultanate?

Narasimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga kingdom

What was the 'hundi' system used for?

Transferring funds across political boundaries without transporting currency

Recruiting soldiers for the army

Muhammad bin Tughlaq's decision to move his capital to Daulatabad was intended to achieve what goal?

Gain central control over a vast empire from a more central location

Escape Mongol invasions from the northwest

Establish a new centre of Islamic scholarship

Why did Timur's invasion of Delhi (late 14th century) leave the city devastated?

He planned to permanently settle in India

His stated objectives were religious war and plunder of wealth, leading to mass killing and enslavement

He was invited by the local population to end Sultanate rule

He was seeking to establish trade relations

What was the 'sulh-i-kul' doctrine promoted by Akbar?

Peace with all — tolerance of all faiths and interfaith harmony

Military expansion at all costs

Primacy of Persian culture in India

How did Krishnadevaraya demonstrate cultural patronage alongside military power?

He conquered the entire Deccan by force alone

He patronised poets in Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada, composed an epic poem himself, and provided grants to temples

He banned all foreign trade to protect Indian crafts

He established a centralised Persian-language administration

What was the 'mansabdari system' introduced by Akbar?

A land distribution system for peasants

A system of officer ranks determining the number of troops, elephants and horses an official must maintain

A judicial system for resolving disputes

What was the significance of the Ahom paik system?

It created a hereditary noble class

It required every able-bodied man to provide labour or military service in exchange for land rights, enabling infrastructure and large forces without a permanent army

It was a form of indirect taxation

It organised traders into guilds for revenue collection

What was jauhar as described in the chapter?

A form of Rajput coronation ritual

Mass self-immolation by Rajput women to avoid capture and enslavement when a fort fell to invaders

A Rajput military tactic of ambush

A treaty between Rajput clans and Mughal rulers

Why is 'Mir Jafar' still a synonym for traitor in India?

He betrayed Shivaji to the Mughals

He betrayed the Nawab of Bengal to the British by standing aside with his forces during the Battle of Plassey

He surrendered the Vijayanagara Empire to the Deccan Sultanates

He switched sides during the Battle of Haldighati

According to the chapter, why did Aurangzeb spend his last 25 years fighting in the Deccan?

To convert the population to Islam

To defeat the Marathas, which depleted the treasury and strained administration, contributing to the Mughal Empire's decline

To resist British colonial expansion into South India

How did Akbar's strategy differ from earlier Delhi Sultans in expanding and maintaining his empire?

He relied entirely on military campaigns

He combined military conquest with political strategies such as marriage alliances, appointment of Rajput officials, abolition of jizya, and promotion of sulh-i-kul

He focused solely on economic reforms

He delegated all military decisions to Rajput commanders

What does the presence of Bhil soldiers in Maharana Pratap's forces and their place on the Mewar emblem signify?

That Bhils were the rulers of Mewar

That alliances across communities, with Bhils contributing both military service and terrain knowledge, were integral to Mewar's resistance against the Mughals

That Maharana Pratap converted to tribal religion

That the Bhils single-handedly defeated the Mughal army

How did the Ahom kingdom successfully resist the superior Mughal forces in the Battle of Saraighat?

Through knowledge of local terrain, dense forests and rivers, and persistent guerrilla tactics despite having fewer men

Through a formal alliance with Rajput kingdoms

Through the use of advanced artillery technology

What was the broader consequence of the Battle of Talikota (1565) on the Vijayanagara Empire and south Indian culture?

It strengthened the empire under new leadership

The city was sacked and destroyed over months, the empire fragmented into Nayaka regions, representing a major cultural and architectural loss

It led to peaceful unification of south Indian kingdoms

The empire continued under Krishnadevaraya's successor with equal power

Analyse why violent successions were more common in the Delhi Sultanate than in the Mughal Empire, based on data given in the chapter.

The Sultanate had weaker military forces

Sultanate sultans averaged only 9 years of reign with ~2 out of 3 seizing power violently; Mughal emperors averaged 27 years, indicating more stable succession mechanisms

Mughal emperors were more religiously devout

Sultanate rulers were foreign whereas Mughals were Indian

What is the significance of Rani Durgavati's resistance against Akbar's forces in 1564?

She successfully defeated and expelled the Mughal forces

Though ultimately defeated and choosing death over capture, her bravery became a symbol of regional pride and resistance by a Gond queen against Mughal expansion

She established an independent kingdom that survived for a century

She negotiated a peace treaty with the Mughals

How did Todar Mal's revenue reforms under Akbar change the Mughal administration?

He replaced all Indian officials with Persian administrators

He conducted detailed surveys of crop yields and prices, introduced systematic land surveys across the empire, boosting revenue collection

He abolished land revenue entirely

He created the iqta system for revenue collection

The chapter describes India during this period as 'economically prosperous on the whole but often politically unstable.' What evidence supports this claim?

India had no trade with the outside world

Despite constant political change, India maintained thriving shrenis, jatis, temple economies, trade networks, and was one of the wealthiest regions globally, while warfare caused political instability

The economy declined because of political instability

India's prosperity came only from gold mining

Which of the following groups or kingdoms successfully resisted the Delhi Sultanate's expansion? (Select all that apply)

Eastern Ganga kingdom of Kalinga

Which of the following statements accurately describe Guru Gobind Singh's contributions? (Select all that apply)

He established the Khalsa, a martial brotherhood committed to justice and equality

He was the 10th and last Sikh Guru

He compiled the Guru Granth Sahib for the first time

His father Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb

Critically assess the claim that the Delhi Sultanate period was purely destructive for India, based on the chapter's evidence.

The claim is entirely true — the period saw only destruction

The claim is partially true — while there was widespread destruction of temples and cultural sites, the period also saw infrastructure development, trade expansion, new cities, and cultural blending

The claim is false — the period was entirely beneficial for India

The chapter does not provide enough evidence to assess this claim

The chapter notes that 'despite political chaos, communities of different faiths lived peacefully side by side, economically dependent on each other.' What does this reveal about the nature of historical communal relations?

That religious conflicts were entirely absent in this period

That economic interdependence and daily cooperation often coexisted alongside religious intolerance enforced by rulers, suggesting political narratives and social realities operated on different levels

That historical communal harmony was universal and unbroken

That economic relations had no connection to religious identity

Compare Akbar's and Aurangzeb's approaches to religion and empire. What does this comparison reveal about the relationship between religious policy and imperial stability?

Religious policy had no effect on imperial stability

Akbar's policy of sulh-i-kul and inclusion stabilised the empire, while Aurangzeb's reimposition of jizya and religious persecution fuelled rebellions that drained resources and hastened the empire's decline after his death

Aurangzeb's approach was more successful in maintaining the empire

Akbar's military campaigns were the only reason for his empire's stability

What does the example of the hundi system and the role of merchant communities like the Marwaris reveal about economic resilience during political instability?

That merchants always sided with ruling powers

That non-state, community-based financial systems created by merchants could function independently across political boundaries, providing economic continuity despite frequent political changes

That the Delhi Sultanate controlled all trade networks

That foreign merchants dominated Indian trade

Evaluate the significance of the Sikh Gurus' evolution from a spiritual to a martial identity in response to Mughal persecution.

The Sikh Gurus abandoned their spiritual mission entirely

Mughal persecution — including the execution of Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur — forced the Gurus to add a dimension of martial resistance to protect the community, leading to the establishment of the Khalsa while maintaining core spiritual values

The Khalsa was primarily an administrative institution

The martial tradition replaced spiritual values in Sikhism

What systemic lesson does the chapter offer about the relationship between military overextension and empire decline, drawing from the Mughal experience?

Military expansion always strengthens empires

Aurangzeb's prolonged Deccan campaigns depleted the treasury and administrative capacity, demonstrating that sustained military overextension undermines the economic foundations of empire

The Mughal Empire declined only because of British intervention

Empires decline only due to natural disasters

Which of the following accurately describe Muhammad bin Tughlaq's policies and their consequences? (Select all that apply)

He moved the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad causing great loss of life during forced migration

He introduced token currency that caused economic confusion and counterfeiting

He expanded Delhi Sultanate territory so that most of the Subcontinent came under one ruler for the first time since the Mauryas

He abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims

Which characteristics of Krishnadevaraya's rule made the Vijayanagara Empire reach its peak? (Select all that apply)

Military expansion and securing the empire's dominance over the Deccan

Patronage of poets and scholars in Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada

Composing an epic poem in Telugu himself

Providing grants to temples including Tirupati and the Vitthala temple

What were the multiple factors that contributed to the eventual decline of Mughal power after Aurangzeb's death? (Select all that apply)

Prolonged wars in the Deccan depleting the treasury

Rebellions from Jat peasantry, tribals, Rajputs, Sikhs and Marathas

Religious persecution fuelling widespread discontent

Lack of any capable successors to Aurangzeb

Which of the following statements accurately describe the Vijayanagara Empire's economic and cultural significance? (Select all that apply)

Foreign travellers described the capital as comparable to Rome in size and beauty

The empire patronised grand temples including the Vitthala temple with its famous musical pillars

Portuguese traders were welcomed as they sold horses that the king did not want enemies to acquire

The empire derived wealth primarily from slave trade

Which of the following groups resisted Mughal authority during Aurangzeb's reign? (Select all that apply)

Rajput nobles including Durga Das Rathore of Marwar

The Ahom kingdom under Lachit Borphukan

Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa

NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science - Exploring Society India and Beyond Chapter 2 – Reshaping India’s Political Map

Name: Reshaping India’s Political Map – Class 8 Social Science - Exploring Society India and Beyond
Uploaded: 2026-07-24T09:28:14+00:00
Description: From the 11th to 17th century, India witnessed foreign invasions, rise and fall of dynasties, and political instability. Despite wars and economic hardships, society adapted, preserving culture and flourishing in trade, art, and architecture.

Class 8 Social Science - Exploring Society India and Beyond

Last Updated: 24 July 2026

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Chapter Introduction

From the 11th to 17th century, India witnessed foreign invasions, rise and fall of dynasties, and political instability. Despite wars and economic hardships, society adapted, preserving culture and flourishing in trade, art, and architecture.

हिंदी में (Hindi)

11वीं से 17वीं सदी तक भारत में विदेशी आक्रमण, वंशों का उत्थान-पतन और राजनीतिक अस्थिरता देखने को मिली। युद्धों और आर्थिक कठिनाइयों के बावजूद समाज ने अनुकूलन किया और संस्कृति, व्यापार, कला और वास्तुकला में समृद्धि हासिल की।

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Practice MCQ Questions (46 questions)

Q1. What event in 1192 CE marked the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate?

Q2. How many successive dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate?

Q3. Which ruler is known for introducing the iqta system of administration?

Q4. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at which battle to establish the Mughal Empire?

Q5. Who was Akbar's court historian who wrote the Ain-i-Akbari?

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Tough Words (Glossary)

medieval

Meaning: Relating to the Middle Ages; roughly 11th–17th centuries in this chapter

अर्थ: मध्यकालीन

"Delhi saw many medieval rulers and wars."

invasion

Meaning: An attack by one country or group entering another’s land by force

अर्थ: आक्रमण

"The invasion changed the kingdom’s borders."

dynasty

Meaning: A line of rulers from the same family

अर्थ: वंश

"The Tughlaq dynasty ruled Delhi for several decades."

Renaissance

Meaning: A period of European cultural revival in the 14th–16th centuries

अर्थ: पुनर्जागरण

"The Renaissance inspired new art and learning."

transcribe

Meaning: To write something down from another script or form

अर्थ: लिप्यंतरण करना

"Names in Persian were hard to transcribe into Roman letters."

unprecedented

Meaning: Never done or known before

अर्थ: अभूतपूर्व

"The raids caused unprecedented damage to cities."

territorial

Meaning: Related to land or area under control

अर्थ: क्षेत्रीय

"Sultans fought for territorial expansion."

plunder

Meaning: To steal goods by force during war

अर्थ: लूट

"Armies took plunder from captured towns."

iconoclasm

Meaning: The destruction of religious images or symbols

अर्थ: मूर्तिभंजन

"Some attacks involved iconoclasm in temples."

succession

Meaning: The process of one ruler following another

अर्थ: उत्तराधिकार/ सिंहासन-परिवर्तन

"Succession struggles often turned violent."

apparatus

Meaning: The complex structure or system for a purpose

अर्थ: तंत्र/ व्यवस्था

"Plunder funded the military apparatus."

counterfeit

Meaning: Made in imitation to deceive; fake

अर्थ: नकली

"People made counterfeit copper coins."

token currency

Meaning: Coins or notes declared to have value greater than their material

अर्थ: प्रतीक मुद्रा

"Token currency confused traders at first."

memoir

Meaning: A historical account written from personal knowledge

अर्थ: संस्मरण

"Babur’s memoir describes early battles."

luxurious

Meaning: Very comfortable and costly

अर्थ: विलासपूर्ण

"Courtiers lived in luxurious palaces."

discriminatory

Meaning: Treating people unfairly based on group

अर्थ: भेदभावपूर्ण

"The jizya was seen as discriminatory by many."

jizya

Meaning: A tax on non-Muslims under some rulers

अर्थ: जिज़्या (गैर-मुसलमानों पर लगाया जाने वाला कर)

"Akbar abolished the jizya for a time."

coalition

Meaning: A temporary alliance for combined action

अर्थ: गठबंधन

"The Deccan Sultanates formed a coalition at Talikota."

autonomy

Meaning: Self-government or independence

अर्थ: स्वायत्तता

"Some governors declared autonomy from Delhi."

siege

Meaning: A military blockade to force a surrender

अर्थ: घेरा/ घेरेबंदी

"Chittor faced a long siege by Mughal forces."

massacre

Meaning: The killing of many people at once

अर्थ: नरसंहार

"The city suffered a terrible massacre."

nostalgic

Meaning: Feeling longing for the past

अर्थ: स्मृतिमुग्ध/ पुरानी यादों में डूबा

"Babur was nostalgic for Central Asia."

tolerance

Meaning: Willingness to allow others’ beliefs

अर्थ: सहनशीलता

"Akbar promoted religious tolerance."

doctrine

Meaning: A set of beliefs taught by a leader

अर्थ: सिद्धांत/ नीति

"He announced the doctrine of sulh-i kul."

translate

Meaning: To express words in another language

अर्थ: अनुवाद करना

"Scholars helped translate Sanskrit texts into Persian."

miniature painting

Meaning: A very detailed small painting

अर्थ: सूक्ष्म चित्रकला/ लघु चित्र

"Miniature paintings illustrated the Ramayana."

austere

Meaning: Simple and strict; not luxurious

अर्थ: संयमी/ सादा

"Aurangzeb lived an austere life."

edict

Meaning: An official order or command

अर्थ: फ़रमान

"The edict ordered certain temples demolished."

persecution

Meaning: Hostile treatment, especially for beliefs

अर्थ: उत्पीड़न

"Several groups faced persecution under some rulers."

martyrdom

Meaning: Dying for one’s beliefs or cause

अर्थ: शहादत

"Guru Tegh Bahadur chose martyrdom over conversion."

confederacy

Meaning: A union of groups for common action

अर्थ: संघ/ महासंघ

"Many chieftains formed a confederacy against Delhi."

guerrilla warfare

Meaning: Hit‑and‑run fighting by small groups

अर्थ: गुरिल्ला युद्ध

"Maharana Pratap used guerrilla warfare from the hills."

terrain

Meaning: The physical features of land

अर्थ: भू-आकृति/ स्थल-आकृति

"Knowledge of river terrain helped the Ahoms."

versatility

Meaning: Ability to do many different things well

अर्थ: बहु-कौशल/ बहुमुखी प्रतिभा

"Their versatility amazed the Mughal general."

administer

Meaning: To manage or govern

अर्थ: शासन करना/ प्रबंधन करना

"Officials administer provinces called subahs."

iqta

Meaning: Territory assigned to collect revenue for the state

अर्थ: इक़्ता (राजस्व हेतु दी गई जागीर जैसी व्यवस्था)

"Nobles held an iqta to fund troops."

mansabdari

Meaning: Akbar’s system of ranking officials by their posts and troop quotas

अर्थ: मनसबदारी व्यवस्था

"The mansabdari system allowed quick army musters."

jagir

Meaning: Land assigned for revenue to pay officials

अर्थ: जागीर

"Mansabdars were paid through jagirs."

subah

Meaning: A large province of the Mughal Empire

अर्थ: सूबह (प्रांत)

"Each subah had its own set of officers."

wazir

Meaning: A high minister; often the chief minister

अर्थ: वज़ीर/ प्रधान मंत्री

"Himu served as wazir before his brief rule."

Diwan

Meaning: Finance minister or office of revenue

अर्थ: दीवान (वित्त मंत्री/ विभाग)

"The Diwan supervised revenue collection."

revenue

Meaning: Money collected by the state, often as tax

अर्थ: राजस्व

"Land revenue supported the army."

denomination

Meaning: Face value or category of a coin or note

अर्थ: मूल्यवर्ग

"Coins of different denominations circulated."

agrarian

Meaning: Related to farming and land

अर्थ: कृषि‑संबंधी

"India’s agrarian economy was very productive."

hundi

Meaning: A traditional bill of exchange used by merchants

अर्थ: हुण्डी (विनिमय पत्र)

"Merchants used a hundi instead of carrying cash."

conflict

Meaning: A serious disagreement or fight

अर्थ: संघर्ष/ टकराव

"Conflicts often arose over sacred sites."

resilience

Meaning: Ability to recover from difficulties

अर्थ: लचीलापन/ पुनर्स्थापन क्षमता

"Towns showed resilience after wars."

patronage

Meaning: Support given by a ruler to arts or people

अर्थ: संरक्षण

"Artists flourished under royal patronage."

calligraphy

Meaning: Beautiful handwriting as an art

अर्थ: सुलेख कला

"Calligraphy decorated many manuscripts."

succumb

Meaning: To give in or be defeated

अर्थ: हार मानना/ परास्त होना

"Some forts refused to succumb for months."

NCERT Solutions Class 8 Social Science - Exploring Society India and Beyond Chapter 2 – Reshaping India’s Political Map

Chapter Introduction

Watch Video Lecture

Important Points

Practice MCQ Questions (46 questions)

Q1. What event in 1192 CE marked the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate?

Q2. How many successive dynasties ruled the Delhi Sultanate?

Q3. Which ruler is known for introducing the iqta system of administration?

Q4. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at which battle to establish the Mughal Empire?

Q5. Who was Akbar's court historian who wrote the Ain-i-Akbari?

Q6. The Konark Sun temple was built by which ruler to commemorate victories against the Delhi Sultanate?

Q7. Who established the Vijayanagara Empire?

Q8. At which battle in 1565 was the Vijayanagara Empire decisively defeated?

Q9. Guru Tegh Bahadur was publicly executed in which location?

Q10. The Battle of Saraighat in 1671 was fought between which two forces?

Q11. What was the 'hundi' system used for?

Q12. Who was the last Mughal emperor proclaimed leader by the 1857 rebels?

Q13. Muhammad bin Tughlaq's decision to move his capital to Daulatabad was intended to achieve what goal?

Q14. Why did Timur's invasion of Delhi (late 14th century) leave the city devastated?

Q15. What was the 'sulh-i-kul' doctrine promoted by Akbar?

Q16. How did Krishnadevaraya demonstrate cultural patronage alongside military power?

Q17. What was the 'mansabdari system' introduced by Akbar?

Q18. What was the significance of the Ahom paik system?

Q19. What was jauhar as described in the chapter?

Q20. Why is 'Mir Jafar' still a synonym for traitor in India?

Q21. The Vijayanagara capital Hampi is now located in which modern Indian state?

Q22. What does the term 'pati' in titles like 'Gajapati', 'Narapati', and 'Chhatrapati' mean?

Q23. Which Mughal emperor reimposed the jizya tax on non-Muslims after it had been abolished by Akbar?

Q24. According to the chapter, why did Aurangzeb spend his last 25 years fighting in the Deccan?

Q25. How did Akbar's strategy differ from earlier Delhi Sultans in expanding and maintaining his empire?

Q26. What does the presence of Bhil soldiers in Maharana Pratap's forces and their place on the Mewar emblem signify?

Q27. How did the Ahom kingdom successfully resist the superior Mughal forces in the Battle of Saraighat?

Q28. What was the broader consequence of the Battle of Talikota (1565) on the Vijayanagara Empire and south Indian culture?

Q29. Analyse why violent successions were more common in the Delhi Sultanate than in the Mughal Empire, based on data given in the chapter.

Q30. What is the significance of Rani Durgavati's resistance against Akbar's forces in 1564?

Q31. How did Todar Mal's revenue reforms under Akbar change the Mughal administration?

Q32. The chapter describes India during this period as 'economically prosperous on the whole but often politically unstable.' What evidence supports this claim?

Q33. Which of the following dynasties ruled as part of the Delhi Sultanate? (Select all that apply)

Q34. Which of the following groups or kingdoms successfully resisted the Delhi Sultanate's expansion? (Select all that apply)

Q35. Which of the following statements accurately describe Guru Gobind Singh's contributions? (Select all that apply)

Q36. Critically assess the claim that the Delhi Sultanate period was purely destructive for India, based on the chapter's evidence.

Q37. The chapter notes that 'despite political chaos, communities of different faiths lived peacefully side by side, economically dependent on each other.' What does this reveal about the nature of historical communal relations?

Q38. Compare Akbar's and Aurangzeb's approaches to religion and empire. What does this comparison reveal about the relationship between religious policy and imperial stability?

Q39. What does the example of the hundi system and the role of merchant communities like the Marwaris reveal about economic resilience during political instability?

Q40. Evaluate the significance of the Sikh Gurus' evolution from a spiritual to a martial identity in response to Mughal persecution.

Q41. What systemic lesson does the chapter offer about the relationship between military overextension and empire decline, drawing from the Mughal experience?

Q42. Which of the following accurately describe Muhammad bin Tughlaq's policies and their consequences? (Select all that apply)

Q43. Which characteristics of Krishnadevaraya's rule made the Vijayanagara Empire reach its peak? (Select all that apply)

Q44. What were the multiple factors that contributed to the eventual decline of Mughal power after Aurangzeb's death? (Select all that apply)

Q45. Which of the following statements accurately describe the Vijayanagara Empire's economic and cultural significance? (Select all that apply)

Q46. Which of the following groups resisted Mughal authority during Aurangzeb's reign? (Select all that apply)