What are the difficulties historians face in using manuscripts?
The historians faced the various difficulties in using manuscripts that are as follows:
- Manuscripts are in dilapidated conditions sometimes even too bad to touch.
- Their copies have been destroyed by the scribes – sentences and words here and there.
- Some of these are written in shikaste (illegible) script.
What changes took place in varna-based society?
In what ways has the meaning of the term “Hindustan” changed over the centuries?
Do you think merchants and bankers today have the kind of influence they had in the eighteenth century?
What were the policies adopted by Asaf Jah to strengthen his position?
What was the impact of the Mongol invasions on the Delhi Sultanate?
How were the Sikhs organised in the eighteenth century?
How do historians divide the past into periods? Do they face any problems in doing so?
How was the administration of the Ahom state organised?
Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Why do you think towns grew around temples?
How did a temple communicate the importance of a king?
How is the “trabeate” principle of architecture different from the “arcuate”?
In what ways has the meaning of the term “Hindustan” changed over the centuries?
Do you think the authors of tawarikh would provide information about the lives of ordinary men and women?
Which ruler first established his or her capital at Delhi?
What was the relationship between the mansabdar and the jagir?
State whether true or false:
(a) Tribal societies had rich oral traditions.
(b) There were no tribal communities in the north- western part of the subcontinent.
(c) The chaurasi in Gond states contained several cities.
(d) The Bhils lived in the north-eastern part of the subcontinent.
What were the central provinces under the control of the Mughals?
For either the Virashaivas or the sants of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Match the following:
garh khel
tanda chaurasi
labourer caravan
clan Garha Katanga
Sib Singh Ahom state
Durgawati paik