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Which battle in 1671 saw the Ahoms decisively defeat the Mughal forces?
- Battle of Dharmat
- Battle of Saraighat
- Battle of Samugarh
- Battle of Khajwa
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]]
The ______ system was the traditional land revenue and military organization of the Ahom kingdom.
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]]
The Treaty of Yandabo (1826) ended the First Anglo-Burmese War and brought Assam under British control.
- True
- False
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]]
The Ahom kingdom ruled which present-day state for nearly 600 years?
- Manipur
- Assam
- Meghalaya
- Tripura
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]]
The construction of railways in India primarily served to transport raw materials to ports for export.
- True
- False
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]]
Which commission investigated the causes of famines in India and recommended preventive measures?
- Hunter Commission
- Famine Commission (1880)
- Royal Commission on Labour
- Indian Statutory Commission
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]]
The 'Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act' was passed in the year ______ to protect peasants from moneylenders.
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]]
The 'Permanent Settlement' created a class of absentee landlords in Bengal.
- True
- False
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]]
The 'Commercialization of Agriculture' under British rule led to:
- Increased food security
- Growth of cash crops for export
- Self-sufficient village economies
- Decline in peasant indebtedness
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]]
The Deccan school of painting shows influences from Persian, Turkish, and local Indian traditions.
- True
- False
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]]
Which Mughal emperor established the first imperial painting atelier (kitabkhana)?
- Babur
- Humayun
- Akbar
- Jahangir
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]]
The ______ school of painting is known for its bold colors and stylized figures from Rajasthan.
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]]
The Pahari school of painting flourished in the Himalayan foothills of North India.
- True
- False
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]]
The Mughal school of painting was heavily influenced by:
- Chinese art
- Persian miniature painting
- European Renaissance
- All of the above
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]]
The discovery of Roman gold coins in South India indicates extensive trade with the Roman Empire.
- True
- False
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]]
Which guild was primarily responsible for maritime trade in ancient South India?
- Sreni
- Nagaram
- Manigramam
- Gana
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]]
The ancient trade route connecting India with Central Asia and China was known as the ______.
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]]
The 'Periplus of the Erythraean Sea' provides information about ancient Indian ports and trade.
- True
- False
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]]
Which ancient port was known as the 'Gateway of South India' for Roman trade?
- Tamralipti
- Arikamedu
- Muziris
- Bharuch
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]]
Purandara Dasa is known as the 'Father of Carnatic Music'.
- True
- False
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]]