[Topic wise IAS Medieval Indian History Question Bank (1979-2015)]: (5) Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate
Culture: Persian literature, literature in the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture
Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and non-agricultural production, trade and commerce
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Society

1. Analyse the social composition and the role of mobility under the successors of Iltutmish. How did it affect the contemporary politics? [2012, 30m]

Culture

1. Where, when and how did Urdu originate? [1985, 20m]

2. “The period of Delhi Sultans witnessed the emergence of Indo-Persian culture.”  Discuss the statement with reference to developments m the fields of language. [1986, 60m]

3. Write a short essay on: “Indo-Islamic architecture during the Khalji and Tughluq period.” [1992, 20m]

4. Write a short essay on: “Ziauddin Barani as a historian.” [1994, 20m]

5. Comment on: “Growth of regional languages and literature during the medieval period.” [1995, 20m]

6. Write a short essay on: “Amir Khusrau was an eminent poet not a historian.” [2000, 20m]

7. Give a critical assessment of the contributions of Amir Khusarau and Barani to Indo – Persian Literature. [2009, 30m]

8. Critically evaluate the educational development during Sultanate period. [2013, 15m]

9. Trace the technological and stylistic development in the architecture of the Sultanate period. [2014, 15m]

Economy

1. Make a comparative review of the agrarian reforms of Alau-ud-Din Khalji and Sher Shah  Suri. [1995, 60m]

2. Throw light on the Land Revenue System of Sultanate period. [1998, 60m]

3. Identify the main factors that sustained the expansion of urban economy in the Delhi Sultanate. [2009, 30m]

4. Examine the increasing importance of maritime trade of India during thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. [2010, 30m]

5. Evaluate the conditions of industries in India from 1200 to 1500 CE. [2013, 20m]

6. Evaluate critically the conditions of labour from 1200 to 1500 CE on the basis of historical sources. [2013, 15m]

7. Discuss in brief the land-revenue system and judicial administration of the Delhi Sultanate. [2015, 15m]