In this chapter, the term 'medieval' simply refers to the period from the:
(a)1st to 5th centuries
(b)5th to 10th centuries
(c)11th to 17th centuries
(d)15th to 19th centuries
Reshaping India’s Political Map — Class 8 Social Science Practice Questions
Free practice questions for CBSE Class 8 Social Science, Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map, aligned with the NCERT textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Grade 8, Part 1). Pick the marks and difficulty you want and download a printable PDF worksheet with an answer key — free, with no login and no ads.
255 questions109 MCQs22 True/False8 Assertion–Reason10 Case-based36 × 2 marks30 × 3 marks15 × 4 marks15 × 5 marks
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Topics covered
- The Mughals (45)
- Delhi Sultanate (38)
- Vijayanagara Empire (34)
- People's Lives & Economy (26)
- Resistance to the Sultanate (22)
- Resistance to the Mughals (20)
- Administration (20)
- Ahoms (17)
- Sikhs (15)
- Medieval Period (8)
Sample questions with answers
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(c) 11th to 17th centuries
The term 'medieval' literally means:
(a)Modern
(b)Dark age
(c)Ancient
(d)Between two ages
Show answer
(d) Between two ages
State whether True or False: Historians always agree on which period 'medieval' covers in India.
Show answer
False. Historians do not always agree; the term is not ideal for India.
Assertion (A): Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency led to economic decline.
Reason (R): It created confusion in trade and encouraged people to counterfeit copper coins.
Reason (R): It created confusion in trade and encouraged people to counterfeit copper coins.
(a)Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b)Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c)Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(d)Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Show answer
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Why does the textbook prefer the word 'image' to 'idol'?
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'Idol' and 'icon' are considered pejorative (insulting) in the context of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, whose orthodox sects condemn idol worship. 'Image' is a neutral term, like the Indian words mūrti, vigraha or pratimā.
Why is the use of the term 'medieval' for Indian history not ideal?
Show answer
(1) 'Medieval' (between two ages) was originally used for European history — from the fall of Rome to the Renaissance.
(2) It was once thought to mark a dark age before modern science; but Europe's and India's histories are very different.
(3) Historians do not agree on which period it covers in India, so in this book it simply means the 11th to 17th centuries.
(2) It was once thought to mark a dark age before modern science; but Europe's and India's histories are very different.
(3) Historians do not agree on which period it covers in India, so in this book it simply means the 11th to 17th centuries.
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq had ambitious schemes, but they were often poorly executed. One such was moving his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. The people were forced to travel over 1,000 km, and a few years later, as his plan misfired, he shifted the capital back to Delhi. Another instance was the introduction of 'token currency', where cheap copper coins were declared to be tokens and have the value of silver or gold coins.
(i) What was the old name of Daulatabad? [1 mark]
(ii) Why might Tughlaq have chosen Daulatabad as capital? [1 mark]
(iii) Why did the token currency fail, even though the idea was progressive? [2 marks]
Muhammad bin Tughlaq had ambitious schemes, but they were often poorly executed. One such was moving his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad. The people were forced to travel over 1,000 km, and a few years later, as his plan misfired, he shifted the capital back to Delhi. Another instance was the introduction of 'token currency', where cheap copper coins were declared to be tokens and have the value of silver or gold coins.
(i) What was the old name of Daulatabad? [1 mark]
(ii) Why might Tughlaq have chosen Daulatabad as capital? [1 mark]
(iii) Why did the token currency fail, even though the idea was progressive? [2 marks]
Show answer
(i) Devagiri.
(ii) Its more central location might offer better control of the empire.
(iii) It created confusion in trade and encouraged people to counterfeit copper coins, which caused the economy to decline.
(ii) Its more central location might offer better control of the empire.
(iii) It created confusion in trade and encouraged people to counterfeit copper coins, which caused the economy to decline.
Describe the rise and fall of the Delhi Sultanate.
Show answer
(1) Formation: after Prithviraj Chauhan's defeat in 1192; five Turkic–Afghan dynasties ruled — Mamluks, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, Lodis.
(2) Expansion: Ala-ud-din Khilji campaigned widely, repelled Mongols; Malik Kafur pushed south; Muhammad bin Tughlaq ruled most of the Subcontinent.
(3) Instability: violent successions (average reign ~9 years); failed schemes like shifting capital and token currency.
(4) Weakening: resistance from Eastern Gangas, Hoysalas, Musunuri Nayakas, Mewar; regional Sultanates broke away; Timur sacked Delhi.
(5) End: the Lodis ruled a shrunken territory; Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat (1526), ending the Sultanate.
(2) Expansion: Ala-ud-din Khilji campaigned widely, repelled Mongols; Malik Kafur pushed south; Muhammad bin Tughlaq ruled most of the Subcontinent.
(3) Instability: violent successions (average reign ~9 years); failed schemes like shifting capital and token currency.
(4) Weakening: resistance from Eastern Gangas, Hoysalas, Musunuri Nayakas, Mewar; regional Sultanates broke away; Timur sacked Delhi.
(5) End: the Lodis ruled a shrunken territory; Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat (1526), ending the Sultanate.
All Class 8 Social Science chapters
- Ch 1Natural Resources and Their Use218 Qs
- Ch 2Reshaping India’s Political Map255 Qs
- Ch 3The Rise of the Marathas271 Qs
- Ch 4The Colonial Era in India265 Qs
- Ch 5Universal Franchise and India’s Electoral System241 Qs
- Ch 6The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive246 Qs
- Ch 7Factors of Production230 Qs
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