C.B.S.E. QUESTION PAPERS 2017 (SOLVED)

Transcription

1 C.B.S.E. QUESTION PAPERS 2017 (SOLVED) CLASS XII (OUTSIDE DELHI) HISTORY Time Allowed : 3 Hours Maximum Marks : 80 General Instructions : (i) Answer all the questions. Some question have internal choice Marks are indicated against each question. (ii) Answer to question no. 1 to 3 carrying 2 marks should not exceed 30 words each. (iii) Answer to question no. 4 to 9 carrying 4 marks should not exceed 100 words. Students should attempt only 5 question in this section. (iv) Question 10 (for 4 marks) is a value based question and compulsory question. (v) Answer to question nos. 11 to 13 carrying 8 marks should not exceed 350 word. (vi) Questions 14 to 16 are source based question and have no internal choice. (vii) Question 17 is a Map question that includes identification and location of significant test items. Attach the map with the answer sheet. PART A Answer all the question given below:- 2 x 3 = 6 Q.1. Identify any two strategies evolved by Brahmans to enforce the norms of Varna order from C. 600 BCE to 600 CE. 2 Ans. The Brahmans adopted the following policies for the obedience of the rules of Varna system: (i) They told the poeple that Varna system was a divine system. (ii) They advised the kings to ensure compliance of the rules of Varna system. (iii) They also tried to convince the people that their prestige depended on their birth. In other words, they persuaded the people that their status was determined by their birth. Q.2. Examine how the Amara-Nayaka system was a political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. 2 Ans. Nayakas and Amara-Nayakas were the military chiefs and military commanders of Vijayanagara kingdom. Nayakas generally controlled the forts and had armed supporters with them. The Amara Nayakas were military commanders. Vijayanagara kings controlled whole of southern peninsula with their help. In this way we can say this system was a political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. Q.3. The relationship between India and Pakistan has been profoundly shaped by the legacy of partition. Explain any two consequence of it. 2 1

2 2 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) Ans. (i) Even today, there are Hindu-Muslim Communal clashes on the basis of different religions. (ii) Kashmir issue is major bone of contention between the two countries which started during the partion process. PART B SECTION I Answer any five of the following question. 4 x 5 = 20 Q.4. Describe the distinctive features of domestic architecture of Mohenjodaro? 4 Ans. Residence or Domestic Architecture: The Lower Town of Kohenjodaro had an expansion of residential buildings. All these buildings had a courtyard. The rooms were on all the sides of the courtyard. In the hot and dry weather, this courtyard was perhaps the centre of activities like cooking and weaving. While constructing residential buildings, the people had full concern for their privacy. These buildings did not have any windows in the walls along the ground level. Besides this, the main entrance does not give a direct view of the interior or the courtyard. Every house had its own bathroom. It was floored with bricks. Its gutter was connected to the street drain through the wall. Some houses also had a staircase to reach a second storey or the roof. Many houses had wells. These wells were in a room which was easily approachable from outside and any body could reach it. It was perhaps built to be used by travellers. Many scholars believe that there were about 700 such wells in Hohenjadaro. Q.5. Explain the language and content of Mahabharata. Ans. Language: The epic called Mahabharata is available in many languages but was actually written in Sanskrit. Sanskrit used in this epic is far simpler than the Sanskrit used in Vedas or Prashastis. That is why we can say that it was probably widely understood. Content: Content of this epic is generally classified under two heads narrative and didactic. Narrative section contains stories and didactic section contains prescriptions about social norms. But this division is not clear in itself because didactic section includes stories and narrative contains a social message. However, generally, historians agree to the fact that this epic was meant to a dramatic, moving story. Didactic portions could have been added later. This epic is described as an itihasa within early Sanskritic tradition. Literal meaning of this term is thus it was. Historians have different views about war of Mahabharata. Some historians believe that memory of an actual conflict among kinfolk was preserved in the narrative. While some historians believe that there is no other corroborative evidence of the battle.

3 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 3 Q.6. Explain the causes that made Al-Biruni visit India. 4 Ans. In 1017, when Sultan Mahmud invaded Khwarizm, he took meny scholars and poets back to his capital Ghazni Al Biruni was one of them. At Ghazni, Al-Biruni developed an interest in India. This was not unusual. Sanskrit books on astronomy, mathematics and medicine had been translated into Arabic from the eighth century onwards. When the Punjab became a part of the Ghazanvid empire, contact with the local population helped create on environment of mutual trust and understanding. These were the reasons that made Al-Biruni visit India. Q.7. How do you think that the chronicles commissioned by the Mughal Emperors are an important source for studying Mughal history? 4 Ans. The genre of texts written by modern historians in English is called a chronicle. These chronicles present a continuous chronological record of events and are an indispensable source for any scholar who wanted to write about Mughal history. On one side, these chronicles given us information about institutions of Mughal empire and on the other side, they convey the meaning of those objectives which Mughal rulers wanted to impose on their domain. In this way these chronicles give us a glimpse that how imperial ideologies were created and disseminated. Q.8. Examine the events that took place during 1920s and 1930s which consolidated the communal identities in the country. 4 Ans. Many events in the decades of 1920 and 1930s led to the emergence of tension between Hindus and Muslims due to which the partition of the country took place. (i) Muslims were angered by music before mosque by the cow protection movement and by the efforts of the Arya Samaj to being back to the Hindu fold those who had recently connected to Islam. (ii) Hindus were angered by the rapid spread of tabligh and tanzim after (iii) As middle class publicists and communal activists sought to build greater soliderity within their communities, mobilising people against the other community, riots spread in different parts of the country. Q.9. Describe the different arguments made in favour of protection of depressed classes in the constituent Assembly. 4 Ans. During the freedom struggle, Dr. Ambedkar demanded separate constituencies for the backward classes. Mahatma Gandhi opposed it by saying that it will segregate them from the mainstream of the society. The issue was much debated in the Constituent Assembly. (i) The members of the backward classes stated that the society made use of their labour and services but kept them away from social mainstream. The people of upper castes avoided to meet them. They neither eat with them nor allow the people belonging to backward classes to visit temples. (ii) Nagappa stated that numerically the backward class people were not a minority. They constitute 20 to 25% of the total population. But they have been kept away from society. They have neither education nor participation in administration.

4 4 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) (iii) Sh. K. J. Khandelkar, addressing the Constituent Assembly dominated by members of upper castes, stated: We have been crushed for centuries. We have been so crushed that our brain and body do not work. Our heart has become feelingless. Now we are not able to move ahead. This is our plight. SECTION II Value Based Question (Compulsory) Q.10. Gandhiji was as much a social reformer as he was a politician. He believed that in order to be worthy of freedom, Indians had to get rid of social evils such as child marriage and untouchability. Indian of one faith lad also to cultivate a genuine tolerance for Indians of another religion hence his emphasis on Hindu-Muslim Harmony. In the light of the above statement, highlight the value upheld by Mahatma Gandhi. 4 Ans. (i) Freedom:- Gandhi was a firm believer of freedom of individuals. He believed that freedom is the basic right of everyone which should be given to all. (ii) Gandhi was of the view that the Indians must get rid of their social evils such as child marriage and untouchability if they want to get the real taste of freedom. (iii) Gandhi also believed that Indians must have tolerance among them for different religions. (iv) He also emphasised on Hindu-Muslim unity. He was of the view that both the community should live in peace and harmony with each other. PART C [Long Answer Questions] 8 x 3 = 24 Q.11. Explain the agricultural practices followed by the cultivators to increase productivity from C. 600 BCE to 600 CE. 8 Ans. The demand for taxes by the kings had considerably increased during the period from 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. To fulfil this demand for more taxes, the farmers started finding all new means to increase the production of their crops. Consequently following changes took place in the means and method of agriculture: (i) Prevalence of Ploughs: One method that helped in increasing the production was the popularity of plough. The use of a plough started in 6th century B.C.E. in the valleys of Ganga and Cauveri. The plough with an iron tip was used in areas which received ample rainfall. It was used in fertile land which resulted in increasing the production of paddy. No doubt the farmers had to work a lot to achieve this target. (ii) Use of Spade: Though plough helped in increasing the production yet its use was limited to only some areas. In Punjab and Rajasthan, which had less rainfall, the plough was used in the early period of the 20th century. Those

5 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 5 farmers who lived in the north-east and mid-mountaineous regions, used spade to dig the fields. The spade was quite useful in such areas. (iii) Artificial Irrigation: Another method to increase the production was artificial irrigation. For this purpose, the wells, tanks and canals were used. These were developed by the people individually. At some places, farmers also joined hands and worked collectively to develop these means of irrigation. However, kings and other dominating elite people developed wells, ponds and canals individually for irrigation of land. or Explain the main features of the Mauryan administration. 8 Ans. Asokan inscriptions mention all the main features of the Mauryan administration life king-subjects relationships, political centres, important officers and their duties, etc. Same sort of messages were engraved on inscriptions found in western frontier province of modern Pakistan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttrakhand and other places. Some of the main features evident in the Asokan inscriptions and few others are given below: (i) Five main Political Centres: Largest political centre of the Mauryan empire was its capital, i.e., Pataliputra. Apart from this, there is a mention of four provincial centres in Asokan inscriptions. These four centres were Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri. (ii) Unequal Administrative System: The Mauryan empire was quite large and included areas in the empire that were of different types like mountainous region of Afghanistan and coastal areas of Odisha. It was not possible to establish an equal or same administrative system in such a diverse empire. But probably strict administrative control could have been there in capital of empire and other provincial centres. (iii) Selection of Provincial Centres: Provincial centres were selected very carefully. Taxila and Ujjayini were situated on important trading routes of long journey. Suvarnagiri was important for the gold mines of Karnataka. (iv) Providing Easy Communication: Communication along both land and riverine routes was vital for the existence of empire. It took weeks or months to reach provinces from the capital. It is obvious that arrangement of diet and protection of people moving through the routes could have been an important issue. (v) Committee and Sub-Committees: Megasthenes mentioned about one committee and six sub-committees for coordinating the military activities. (a) First sub-committee looked after the navy. (b) The second managed transport and provisions. (c) The third sub-committee was responsible for infantry. (d) The fourth was responsible for horses, the fifth for chariots and sixth for elephants. Activities of second sub-committee were little bit varied. It arranged for bullockcarts to carry equipments, procuring fodder for animals and food for soldiers and recruiting artisans and servants to look after the soldiers.

6 6 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) (vi) Appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras: Asoka tried to maintain unity within his empire. He did this by propagating Dhamma. Concepts of Dhamma were very simple and universal. He was of the view that obeying the Dhamma will be good for people in this world and beyond this world. That is why special officers called Dhamma Mahamatras were appointed. This activity is also mentioned in his inscriptions. Q.12. Identify the relationship between Sufis and the State from the eighth to the eighteenth century. 8 Ans. Relation between Sufi Saints and State (i) Major characteristic of the Chishti community was its simple and disciplined. They emphasised to remain away from the mundane authority. But it did not mean a keep aloof from the political power. The Chishtis accepted all the donations made by the royal rulers. However they themselves never demanded such gifts or donations. The Sultans gave Khanqahs land in donation. Many trusts were set up regarding grants and donations. (ii) The Chishtis accepted donation both in cash and kind. But they never accumulation donations. They spent them on immediate requirements like food, clothes, living quarrel and ritual necessities. It enhanced the moral authority of the Shaikhs who attracted people from all walks of life. They because very popular as they possessed piety, scholarship miraculous powers and royal patronage. That is why, all the rulers tried to secure they support. (iii) The Sultans knew that most of their subjects did not follow Islam. So when Truks set up the Delhi Sultanate, they rejected the wish of the Ulema to impose as state law. They expected opposition from their subjects as majority of them were Muslims. They depended on the Sufis who derived their authority directly from They did not depend on jurists to interpret the Shariat. (iv) There are many examples of conflict between the Sultans and the Sufis. Both to assert their authority. Both emphasised the prostration and kissing of the feet. of the moral authority of the Chishtis, the kings often wanted their tombs to be vicinity of Sufi shrines. On the other hand, the Sufi Shaiksh were also addressed high-sounding titles. For example, the disciples of Nizam-ud-din Auliya addressed Sultan-ul-Mashaikh which meant Sultan amongst Shaikhs. The other Sufis like wardi (under the Delhi Sultans) and Naqashbandi (under the Mughals) were also ted with state. But their association was different from those of the Chishtis. They accepted courtly offices whereas the Chishtis never accepted them. or Identify the relationship of the Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu with eight to the eighteenth Century. 8 Ans. (i) The initial Bhakti movement was launched uder the leadership of Alvars and nayanars i.e., the Shiva Bhaktas. The Alvars were the disciples of Loard Vishnu whereas the Nayanars were the devotees of Lord Shiva. They settled at one place and roamed in the nearby areas. They recited hymns in praise of their idol in Tamil language.

7 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 7 (ii) During their travels, the Alvars and Nayanars declared some sacred places as the adobe of their respective deities. Later on, large temples were constructed on these places which became the centres of pilgrimage. (iii) The central point of the Tamil devotional creations was their opposition to Buddhism and Jainism. This feeling of opposition is more distinct in the creation of the saints belonging to the Nayanar saints. According to the historians, the main reason for their opposition was that there was a competition between different religious communities to seek state patronage. (iv) The powerful Chola rulers supported the Brahmanical and Bhakti tradition. They donated land for the construction of temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. (v) The vast and imposing temples of Lord Shiva in Chidambram, Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram were built with the help of the Chola rulers. (vi) The Alvar and Nayanar saints were honoured by the Vallal peasants. Even the rurlers tried to seek their help and patronage. For example, the Chola rulers claimed a get the divine support. They also got built vast and magnificent temples to expose the grandeur and authority. These temples had statues made of stone and metal. (vii) An edict of 945 C.E. mentioned that a Chola ruler Parantak-I got built the statues of Saint poet Sambandar and Sundrar. He got them installed in the Shiva temple. (viii) The temples of North India especially emphasise the whorship of Vishu are Shiva. All these temples were basically built with the help of the rulers. Q.13. After introducing the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, the Zamindars regularly failed to pay the land revenue demand. Examine the causes and consequences of it. Ans. The British introduced the system of Permanent Settlement in Bengal. The though that the fixed revenue would imbibe a sense of security among the Zamindar. But contrary to this perception, the Zamindars regularly failed to pay the revenue. The resulted in the accumulation of unpaid balances. Important Reasons: The Zamindars failed to make regular payments of revenue due to the following reasons: (i) The initial rate of revenue was very high. It was fixed for all time to come. The East India Company had thought that it would never be able to claim a share in the increase income from land if at any stage, the prices rose and the cultivation expanded. The Company also regued that the burden on the Zamindars would slowly come down were increase in agricultural production and the prices of agricultural products. (ii) The amount of revenue was fixed during the period of economic depression. They found it difficult to pay their dues to the Zamindars. As such the Zamindars were to pay the revenue to the East India Company. (iii) The revenue was invariable. It had to be paid punctually even if the harvest was. There was the enforcement of Sun-Set law. If an Zamindar did not make the before the sun-set on the specific day, his estate was auctioned.

8 8 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) (v) The Permanent Settlement had reduced the power of the Zamindars to collect from the ryot. The Permanent Settlement of revenue was introduced in Bengal by Lord Charles Cornwallis in 1793 C.E. Under this system, the East India Company had fixed the amount of revenue to be paid by each Zamindar. Those who failed to pay the revenue were divested of their estates. These estates were later on auctioned to recover the revenue. They were sold to the highest bidder. or A chain of grievances in Awadh linked the prince, Taluqdar, peasants and sepoys to join hands in the revolt of 1857 against the British. Examine the statement. 8 Ans. There was a widespread discontentment among the people of various regions and princely states because of the policies of Lord Dalhousie. The disgust and angar that revailed in Awadh was no where to be seen in the whole of India. Here, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was removed on the charges of misgovernance and was sent to Calcutta. In 1851, Governor General Lord Dalhousie had described the kingdom of Awadh as a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day. In fact, the British had concluded that Wajid Ali Shah was not very popular among the people. But the reality was that he was the beloved of the local people. When the Nawab was leaving Awadh, a large number of people were weeping. They followed him till Kanpur. When the Nawab was removed, it brought an end to court and its culture. This emotional upheaval was aggravated by immediate material losses. It rendered many musicians, dancers, poets, artisans, cooks and administrative officials jobless. All the people lost their means of livelihood because the Nawab, who patronised them was dethroned. As a historian said at the loss of Awadh: The life was gone out of the body and the body of this town had been left lifeless. The Role of Peasants, Taluqdar and Zamindar: The Revolt of 1857 was an expression of popular resistance of foreign rule. All the peasants taluqdars and Zamindars participated in it. It is evident from the following points: (i) The annexation of Awadh to the British Empire not only displaced Nawab Wajid Ali Shah but also dispossessed the taluqdars of the region. Earlier, the taluqdars controlled land, forts and power in the countryside. They also enjoyed autonomy as long as they accepted the suzerainty of the Nawab and paid the due revenue. The big taluqdar had about twelve thousand foot soldiers but the small taluqdars had about two hundred foot-soldiers. The British disarmed the taluqdars and destroyed their forts. They undermined their position and authority by adopting a new land revenue policy which was unfavourable to the taluqdars. For example, before the annexation of Awadh, the taluqdars held 67% villages of Awadh under their control. But after the introduction of the British Policy of Summary Settlement, this number had come down to 38%. (ii) Most of the peasants were not happy as most of them were over-assessed. At some places, the increase in revenue was from 30 to 70%. It resulted in the breakdown of the entire social system. (iii) Before the arrival of the British, the taluqdars were oppressors. They got a variety of dues from the peasants but they also posed themselves as if they

9 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 9 were fatherly-figures. They seemed considerate in times of need. But under the British rule, the peasants were over-assessed regarding the payment of due. They also had to follow inflexible methods of collection. As all the taluqdars and peasants were loyal to the Nawab, they fought against the British. So there was an intense and long-lasting revolt against the British in Award. (iv) The grievances of the peasants also had an effect on the role of sepoys as most of the sepoys were from rural areas. They got very low salaries and faced difficulty in getting leaves. So they were also discontent and dissatisfied. This aggravated they already tense situation in Awadh. (v) Whole of the social order was broken down with the dispossession of the taluqdars. The ties of patronage and loyalty were disrupted that had bound the peasants to the taluqdars. Before the Britishers, these taluqdars were oppressors but some of them were seemed to be generous fatherly figures. They extracted a number of dues from the peasants but they also helped them during their bad times. Now, during the British rule, the peasants were directly exposed to over-assessment of revenue and non-flexible methods of revenue collection. Now there was no guarantee that the revenue demand of the store would be reduced or collection postponed in case of crop failure or in the times of hardship. Peasants also had no guarantee that they would get the loan and support in times a festivities which the taluqdars had earlier provided. (ii) The resistance was intense and long lasting in the areas like Awadh during the revolt of Here the fighting was carried on for long by taluqdars and their peasants. Some of these taluqdars were loyal to the Nawab. That is why they joined the wife of the Nawab Begum Hazrat Mahal. Few of them remained with her even in defeat. PART D [Source Based Questions] 7 x 3 = 21 Q.14. Read the following extract carefully and answer the question that follows : Buddhism in practice This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given by the Buddha to a wealthy householder named Sigala: In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees... by assigning them work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness; by sharing delicacies with them and by granting leave at times... In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and Brahmans: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them and supplying their worldly needs. There are similar instructions to Singala about how to behave with his parents, teachers and wife.

10 10 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) (14.1) In what ways should a master look after his servants and employees. 2 (14.2) In what ways should the clansmen look after the needs of Samanas. 2 (14.3) Explain the main aspects of Buddhist philosophy. 3 Ans. (14.1) A master can look after his servant and employees in following ways: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) He should assign them work according to their ability. They should be given food and wages. He should help them in their sickness. He should share delicacies with them. They should be granted leaves. (14.2) The clansmen must look after the needs of Samanas in the following ways:- (i) (ii) (iii) By having affection in act and speech and mind. By keeping open house to them. By supplying their worldly needs. (14.3) The major aspects of Buddhist philosophy are:- (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) The world is transient. It is constantly changing. It is also without any soul. There is nothing eternal or permanent in it. Sorrow is intrinsic to human existence. Human beings can get rid of all worldly troubles by following the path of moderation between severed penance and self-indulgence. The existence of God whether it is or not was irrelevant in the earliest forms of Buddhism. Buddha believed that the decay and the destruction of human body was inevitable. Buddha believed that the social world was the creation of humans. It had no divine origin. So, he advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical. Buddha emphasised that the individual effort could transform social relations. Q.15. Read the following extract carefully and answer the question that follows : The Ain on land revenue collections : Let him (the amil-guzar) not make it a practice of taking only in cash but also in kind. The latter is effected in several ways. First, kankut: in the Hindi language kan signifies grain, and kut, estimates... If any doubts arise, the crops should be cut and estimated... In three lots, the good, the middling and the inferior, and the hesitation should be removed. Often, too, the land taken by appeasement, gives a sufficiently accurate return. Secondly, batai, also called bhaoli, the crops are reaped and stacked and divided by agreement in the presence of the parties. But in this case several intelligent inspectors are required; otherwise, the evilminded and false are given to deception. Thirdly, khet-batai, when they divide

11 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 11 the fields after they are sown. Fourthly, lang batai, after cutting the grain, they form it in heaps and divide it among themselves, and each takes his share home and turns it to profit. (15.1) Explain the kankut system of land revenue. 2 (15.2) How was the land revenue assessed in the case of batai or bhaoli? 2 (15.3) Do you think that the land revenue system of the Mughals was flexible? 3 Ans. (15.1) In kankut system, land was measured with a proper method with this, state and the peasant came to know about how much peasants will have to pay and how much revenue will be collected for the state. (15.2) In batai system, after cutting the grain; heaps of grains were farmed and were divided for the state and for the farmer. In this may each of them takes his share home and turns it to profit. (15.3) Yes, there is no doubt that the land revenue system of the Mughals was flexible. Actually this was dependent upon the area and the fertility of soil. If land was of most fertile type, more revenue was fixed and if land was not fertile, less revenue was fixed. In this may, it way quite flexible in nature. Q.16. Read the following extract carefully and answer the question that follows : A rural city? Read this excerpt on Madras from the Imperial Gazetteer, 1908:... the better European residence are built in the midst of compounds which almost attain the dignity of parks; and rice-fields frequently wind in and out between these in almost rural fashion. Even in the most thickly peopled native quarters such as Black Town and Triplicane, there is little of the crowding found in many other towns... (16.1) Where and why were better European residences built? 3 (16.2) Explain the condition of black towns. 2 (16.3) State the meaning of gradual urbanisation of Madras. 2 Ans. (16.1) The European residence were built in the white areas which they built for themselves away from the places were the Indians lived. These were built because it was not possible for the Europeans to live in the areas where Indian lived because the Europeans thought that the Indians live in the filthy areas. (16.2) The black towns were the areas where Indians lived. The condition of black towns was not good. These were crowded and congested areas. Filth was there everywhere and air was always polluted. (16.3) The meaning of gradual urbanisation of Madras is the development of a small city into a major city of India. This process took a very long time. It took decades to develop a small village into a larger city.

12 12 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) PART E [Map Question] 5 x 1 = 5 Q.(17.1). On the given political outline map of India, locate and label the following with appropriate: (a) Masulipatnam a territory under British Control during x 2 = 2 (b) Goa a territory under the Mughals. (17.2) On the same outline map of India, three places which are major Buddhist sites have been marked as A, B, C. Identify them and write their names correct on the lines drawn near them. 3

13 13 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) Gaya B A Sanchi Ajanta C Goa Masulipatham

14 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 14 SET 2 Note:- Only those questions are given here which are not given in Set -1. Q.1. Identify any two occupations to be performed by Kshtriyas as per varna order. 2 Ans. (i) Engage in way are and protect people and administer justice. (ii) Study the Vedas, get sacrifices performed and receive gifts. Q.2. Examine the outcome of the battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi (Talikota). 2 Ans. The battle of Talikota was fought in 1565 C.E. between the organisation of Sultans of Deccan and ruler of Vijayanagara Sadashiva Raya. The kingdom of Vijayanagara was defeated in this battle. The victorious armies backed the city completely. So, all the people abandoned the city within few years. Q.5. What do you know about the authors and the period when Mahabharata was compiled? Explain. 4 Ans. The Following suggestions are given regarding the authors and the period of Mahabharata: (i) The original story of Mahabharata was written by Bhatt-Sarthis. They were called as Sutas. They generally accompanied Kshatriya warriors to the battlefield. So they composed poems to celebrate the victories and achievements of various warriors. These compositions were circulated through oral method. (ii) From the 5th century B.C.E. the Brahmanas took over the story and began to write it in the form of an epic. The story moved around the Kurus. As the Kurus and Panchalas had attained kingdom from chief dom, it is possible that these new kings might have wanted their history to be recorded and preserved in a more systematic way. Besides, old social values were replaced by new norms. So it is possible that such upheavals might have necessitated the re-writing of the epic story. (iii) Another phase in the composition of the epic task of Mahabharata started between 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E. This was the time when the worship of Vishnu was becoming quite important. Krishna who was one of the most important characters in the epic, was identified with Vishnu. (iv) Therefore between 200 and 400 C.E., many didactic sections resembling the Manusmriti were added in the main story. Originally the text of Mahabharata had 10,000 verses. But after addition of didactic section, it comprised of 1,00,000 verses. (v) However the enormous composition of Mahabharata is traditionally attributed in Vyasa, a famous sage. Q.6. India had a unique system of communication during the fourteenth century. Examine the statement of Ibn-e-Batuta. 4 Ans. State took special steps to encourage merchants. Inns and rest houses were built on almost all the trading routes. Ibn-Battuta was amazed by observing the postal system. Merchants were not only able to send information to a long

15 15 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) distance but also to dispatch goods required at short notice. Postal system was so efficient that while it took 50 days for traders to reach Delhi from Sindh but the news, reports of spies would reach the king in only 5 days. Q.7. The granting of titles to the men of merit was an important aspect of Mughal policy. Explain. Ans. Giving titles to able persons was an important aspect of the Mughal Promotion of any person in court hierarchy was known only by titles he held. One of the title of Asaf Khan for one of the top most minister was originated with Asaf, the legending minister of the prophet king Sulaiman. Auranzeb gave the title of Mirza Raja topmost nobles Jai Singh and Jaswant Singh. Titles could either be earned or were Mir Khan offered ` 1 Lakh to emperor Aurangzeb for the letter Alif means A, to be to his name to change it to Amir Khan. Q.13. Examine the land revenue system that was introduced in Bombay Deccan. How did the peasants fall into the debt trap of the money lenders? Explain. Ans. The British introduced a new revenue system in Bombay Deccan. It was known as the Ryotwari Settlement. It had the following features: (i) The revenue was settled directly with the ryot. (ii) Taking into consideration all types of soil, the average income of the harvest was estimated. (iii) It was assessed how much revenue a ryot could pay. (iv) The share of State was fixed in proportion to the income of the ryot. (v) After every thirty years, the lands were re-surveyed and the rates of revenue were increased accordingly. (v) The demand for revenue was not permanent but temporary. There were special signs of an economic recovery of sorts during the decades A number of British officials realised that the land settlements of the 1820s were quite harsh. Demanded revenue was too much or exorbitant. The system was so that it led to the collapse of peasant economy. Therefore revenue demand was modern to encourage peasants to expand cultivation. Prices of agricultural products showed recovery after Peasants began to expand their areas, were migrating to new and were changing the pasture land into agricultural fields. But peasants required plough and cattles to expand cultivation and required money to buy new lands seeds to sow on that land. For all this, they once again had to turn to moneylenders loans. or Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving the people into action during the revolt of Examine the statement with rumours and reasons for the belief. 8 Ans. Rumours and prophecies played a significant role in the Revolt of It is clear from the following examples: Rumours about Cartridges: There was a rumour that the new cartridges of Enfiles Rifles were greased with the fat of cows and pigs. This rumour spread like a wild across the sepoy-lines of North India.

16 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 16 Rumours about Flour Mixed withe Bone Dust: There was a rumour that the British had conspired to destroy the caste and religion of both the Hindus and the Muslims. Some people spread the rumour that the British had mixed bone dust of cows and into the flour that was sold in the market. So the common people as well as the sepoys various cantonments refused to touch and eat this flour. Some people considered it as British attempt to convert Indians to Christianity. The British contradicted these rumour but nobody believed them. Distribution of Chapattis: Another thing that defined any explanation was the distribution of chapattis from village to village. At night, a person gave five chapatis the watchman of the village. He asked him to make five more chapattis and distribute them in the next village. The meaning and purpose of such distribution of the chapatis remained an enigma to most of the people. Why were the Rumours Believed by the People? The rumours reflect the mind of the people who were agitated against the British. They brought out the fear an apprehensions, faiths and convictions of the people. They exposed the fears and suspicions of the people. It can be understood from the following points: (i) Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General of the British Empire in India, produced certain reforms in the Indian society. He introduced western education, western and western institutions. He set up English-medium institutions. But the Hindus considered his attempts as the methods of westernisation of Indian society. (ii) Lord William Bentinck abolished customs like Sati and child-marriage. British permitted the remarriage of Hindu windows. But the traditional Hindus took these as an interference in their religious affairs. They felt as if the British were bent to destroy all those sacred ideas that the Indians had long cherished. (i) As the people considered the alien rule as impersonal and oppressive, they believed to all rumours and prophecies about the British rule. SET 3 Note:- Only those questions are given here which are not given in Set -1 or Set -2. Q.1. State whether gender differences were really important in the early societies from C. 600 BCE to 600 CE. 2 Ans. Earlier societies were male dominated and run according to the patrilineal system. That s why male child was desired in enemy type of family as sons were important for the continuity of patrilineage. Daughters has no right over ancestral resources. They were expected to merely out of their gotras i.e. exogamy. Q.2. Examine the significance of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city of Vijayanagara 2

17 17 MBD SURE SHOT C.B.S.E. SAMPLE PAPERS (XII) Ans. (i). Vijayanagara had an impressive fortifications. This fortification enclosed agricultural tracts, like cultivated fields, gardens and houses. (ii) A second line of fortification encircled the inner core of the urban complex whereas the third fortification surrounded the royal centre. Q.5. Explain how you will prove that the text of Mahabharata was a dynamic one. 4 Ans. The Mahabharata is a great dynamic epic. It contains vivid description of battles, forests, palaces and settlements. Its growth was not hindered by its language, that is Sanskrit. Over the centuries, it has been written in many languages of the world. It depicts an on-going dialogue between the people and communities on the one hand and the authors on the other hand. As it incorporated many stories that originated in different regions, the Mahabharata became an epical text. At the same time, the main story of the epic was often retold in different ways. Many episodes of this text had been depicted in sculptures and paintings. They also provide a wide range of themes and performing arts like plays, dances and narratives. Q.6. Examine why Bernier described the Mughal towns as the Camp Towns. 4 Ans. Around 15% population in 17th century lived in towns. This ratio was more than the ratio of urban population of Europe. Then he described Mughal towns as camp towns which he meant by those towns which were dependent upon imperial camps for their existence. He believed that these towns came into existence when the imperial court moved in and declined very quickly when it moved out. He also wrote that they did not have viable social and economic foundations and they were dependent upon imperial patronage. But this things is oversimplified as all kinds of towns existed at that time like manufacturing towns, trading towns, port towns, sacred or religious centres, pilgrimage towns, etc. Prosperous trading communities and professional classes were indicators of their existence. Q.7. How do you think that Qandhar remained a bone of contention between the Mughals and the Safavids? Explain. 4 Ans. Qandhar was a bone of contention between Safavids (Iran) and the Mughals. This fort city was initially under the control of Humayun. Akbar reconquered it in 1595 C.E. Although Safavids maintained their diplomatic relations with the Mughals but they continued to stake claim over Qandhar. Jahangir, in 1613, sent a diplomatic envoy to the court of Irani ruler Abbas Shah. His objective was to plead the Mughal right over Qandhar but this envoy failed to meet its objective. Safavid army besieged Qandhar in 1622 C.E. The Mughal army was not fully prepared for this. As a result it was defeated and had to surrender fort and city to the Safavids. Q.13. Examine the main aspects of the fifth report which was submitted to the British Parliament in Ans. The Fifth Report was submitted to the British Parliament in It was called the Fifth Report as it was the fifth in a series of reports about the working of the

18 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 18 East India Company. The core issue of the Fifth Report was the administration and activity of the East India Company. This report had 1002 pages out of which 800 pages were the form of appendices which included the petitions of Zamindars and ryots, reports of Collectors, statistical tables on revenue returns and the official notes on the revenue and judicial administration of Bengal and Madras. Objectives of the Report: Many groups of people in Britain were not happy with the working of East India Company in India. They opposed the monopoly enjoyed by the East India Company over trade with India and China. Many of the British traders wanted share in Company s trade in India. They emphasises that the Indian market should be opened for the British manufacturers. Many political groups even argued that the conquest of Bengal benefitted only the East India Company and not the British nation as a whole. They highlighted the misrule and maladministration by East India Company. As a result the British Parliament passed several Acts in the late 18th century to regulate and control the rule of East India Company in India. It even asked the Company to submit regular reports on its administrative activities in India. The Fifth Report was such a report. It was produced by a select committee. It was concerned with the nature of Company s rule in India. It contained an invaluable evidence against the rule of East India Company in India. It brings out the pitiable condition in rural Bengal in the late 18th century. Basis of Criticism: The Fifth Report has been carefully examined by the critics. They find the following limitations in it: (i) It has many unconvincing arguments and evidences. (ii) Its purpose was only to criticise the maladministration of the East India Company. (iii) It exaggerated the collapse of traditional Zamindari power. (iv) It stated in hyperbolic words that the Zamindars were losing their land. The land of most of the farmers was auctioned. (v) The Company did not collect revenue with punctuality. or Examine the visual representation of the revolt of 1857 that provoked a range of different emotions and reactions. 8 Ans. One of the important record of the mutiny of 1857 is the pictorial images prepared by the British and Indians. Paintings, pencil drawings, posters, etchings, cartoons, bazam prints, etc., about this revolt are available. The available information in these pictures and their description given by historians is given below: I. Pictorials prepared by the British: British pictures offer a number of images which were prepared to provoke different emotions and reactions. 1. In some of the pictures made by the British, the British heroes were commemorate who saved the Engligh and repressed the rebels. One of the painting Relief of Lucknow was painted by Thomas Jones Barker in 1859, is an example of this type. When the Lucknow was besieged by the rebel

19 HISTORY 2017 PAPERS 19 forces, the commissioner of Lucknow, Henry Lawrence, collected whole of the Christian population and took shelter in the heavily fortified residence. Later on, Lawrence was killed but the residency remained protected under the command of Colonal Inglis. On September 25, Henry Havelock and James Outram reached over there and cut through the rebel forces. They even reinforced the British troops. After 20 ways, a new commander of British forces in India, Colin Campbell, came over there with his forces and saved the besieged British forces. The British historians described the siege of Lucknow and their survival as the ultimate victory of the British power. The painting of Barker shows the moment of Campbell s entry. It created a sense that the troubled times and the rebellion was over. The British emerged victorious. 2. Joseph Noel Paton painted a picture In Memorium two years after the mutiny. In this picture, English women and children huddled in a circle. They are looking helpless and innocent, seemingly waiting for the inevitableviolence, dishonour and death. This painting stirs up the imagination of spectators. It also tries to provoke anger and fury. This painting also represents the rebels as violent and brutish. 3. In few other paintings and sketches, women are shown in a different light. Women in these pictures appear heroic, defending themselves against the attack of rebels. In a picture, Miss Wheeler stands firmly in the centre and is shown defending her honour, single handedly killing the attacking rebels. In all the British pictures, the rebels are represented as demons. 4. With the waves of shock and anger spread in England, demands of retribution grew very strongly. Pictures and news about the revolt created an atmosphere in which vengeance and violent repression was seen as necessary and just. It was as if demand of justice was a challenge to the British honour and power to meet ruthlessly. An allegorical female figure of justice is shown with a sword in one of her hand and a shield in the other hand. Her face expresses rage and her desire to take the revenge. Under her feet, she is trampling sepoys which a crowd of Indian women and children watch with fear. Except these there were numerous pictures and cartoons in the British press which were giving stress on the need of brutal repression and violent revenge.