History – GK Questions

Answer: Battle of Saraighat

The Battle of Saraighat (1671) on the Brahmaputra River saw Ahom forces under Lachit Borphukan defeat the Mughal navy. It is considered one of the greatest naval battles in Indian history and preserved Ahom independence. [[1]]

Answer: Paik

The Paik system was the backbone of Ahom administration. Every able-bodied male (Paik) owed labor or military service to the state in rotation, ensuring both revenue collection and defense readiness. [[30]]

Answer: True

The Treaty of Yandabo (1826) ended the First Anglo-Burmese War. Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, and Arakan to the British, marking the beginning of colonial rule in North-East India. [[1]]

Answer: Assam

The Ahom dynasty ruled Assam from 1228 to 1826 CE. They successfully resisted Mughal invasions (notably at Saraighat, 1671) and developed a unique administrative system called the Paik system. [[30]]

Answer: True

While railways facilitated internal connectivity, their primary purpose was economic exploitation: transporting cotton, jute, and minerals to ports for export to Britain, and distributing British manufactured goods inland. [[1]]

Answer: Famine Commission (1880)

The Famine Commission under Richard Strachey (1880) investigated the Great Famine of 1876-78. It recommended famine codes, relief works, and irrigation projects, though implementation remained inadequate. [[30]]

Answer: 1879

The Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act 1879 was enacted after peasant riots against moneylenders. It aimed to regulate moneylending practices and protect cultivators from exploitative interest rates. [[1]]

Answer: True

The Permanent Settlement (1793) recognized zamindars as landowners who paid fixed revenue to the British. Many zamindars lived in cities, collecting rent without investing in agriculture, leading to rural impoverishment. [[30]]

Answer: Growth of cash crops for export

British policies promoted cash crops like indigo, cotton, and jute for export, reducing food grain cultivation. This made Indian agriculture vulnerable to global price fluctuations and contributed to famines. [[1]]

Answer: True

Deccan painting (Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar) blended Persian elegance with vibrant Indian colors and local themes. It is known for rich landscapes, romantic themes, and distinctive facial types. [[30]]

Answer: Humayun

Humayun brought Persian painters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abdus Samad from Tabriz during his exile, establishing the imperial atelier. Akbar expanded it significantly, employing over 100 artists for manuscript illustrations. [[1]]

Answer: Rajput

Rajput painting (16th-19th century) flourished in Rajput kingdoms like Mewar, Marwar, and Bundi. It depicts royal portraits, hunting scenes, and Hindu epics with vibrant colors and flat perspective. [[30]]

Answer: True

The Pahari school (17th-19th century) developed in hill states like Basohli, Guler, and Kangra. It is known for delicate brushwork, vibrant colors, and themes from Krishna bhakti and Ragamala series. [[1]]

Answer: All of the above

Mughal painting blended Persian miniature traditions with Indian themes, Chinese landscape techniques, and later European perspective and shading. Akbar's atelier produced illustrated manuscripts like Hamzanama and Akbarnama. [[30]]

Answer: True

Large hoards of Roman gold and silver coins found in Tamil Nadu and Kerala confirm flourishing trade between South India and the Roman Empire. Pliny the Elder complained about the drain of Roman gold to India for spices. [[1]]

Answer: Manigramam

Manigramam and Ainnurruvar were powerful merchant guilds in ancient South India that controlled maritime trade with Southeast Asia. They had settlements in Sri Lanka, Sumatra, and other regions. [[30]]

Answer: Silk Road

The Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange between India, Central Asia, China, and the Mediterranean. Indian spices, textiles, and ivory were exchanged for Chinese silk, Central Asian horses, and Roman gold. [[1]]

Answer: True

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE) is a Greek navigation guide describing trade routes, ports, and commodities of the Indian Ocean, including Indian ports like Barbaricum, Barygaza, and Muziris. [[30]]

Answer: Muziris

Muziris (modern Kodungallur, Kerala) was the most important port for Indo-Roman trade in ancient times. Roman coins, amphorae, and artifacts found here confirm extensive maritime commerce with the Mediterranean world. [[1]]

Answer: True

Purandara Dasa (1484-1564) is called the 'Father of Carnatic Music' for systematizing music education through graded exercises (sarali varisai, jantai varisai). He composed thousands of devotional songs in Kannada. [[30]]