[Topic wise IAS Medieval Indian History Question Bank (1979-2015)]: (6) The Fifteenth and Early Sixteenth Century

Political Developments and Economy: – Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids!
The Vijayanagra Empire; Lodis;
Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun;
The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration;
Portuguese Colonial enterprise;
Bhakti and Sufi.
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Political Developments and Economy: – Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal, Kashmir (Zainul Abedin), Gujarat, Malwa, Bahmanids

1. Write a short essay on: “The Bahmani kingdom” [2005, 20m]

2. Write a short essay on: “The Bahmani Kingdom” [2007, 20m]

3. Assess the Lekhapaddhati as an important source for evaluating the society and economy of the thirteenth century CE with special reference to Gujarat. [2013, 15m]

4. Discuss  the  state  of  society  and  economy  of  the  Bahmani  kingdom  as  gleaned  from historical sources. [2013, 10m]

The Vijayanagra Empire

1. Give an account of the polity and society of Vijayanagara empire under Krishnadevaraya. [1979, 60m]

2. Discuss the origin of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Do you agree with the view that Krishnadevaraya was an ideal ruler of this dynasty? [1980, 60m]

3. Do you think that the reign of Krishnadevaraya inaugurated a new epoch in the history of Vijayanagar? [1983, 20m]

4. What light do inscriptions and accounts of European travelers throw on the antecedents and legacy of the administrative structure of the Vijayanagar Empire? [1994, 60m]

5. Discuss the social dynamics in the Vijayanagara Empire. [2010, 20m]

6. On  the  basis  of  contemporary  sources  evaluate  the  system  of  agriculture  and irrigation of the Vijayanagar kingdom. [2013, 15m]

7. To what extent is ‘Segmentary State’ model relevant for defining the Vijayanagar  State? Critically examine. [2014, 20m]

8. Mention the salient features of the polity of Vijayanagara Empire under Krishnadevaraya. [2015, 10m]

Mughal Empire, First phase: Babur and Humayun

1. Write a short essay on: “The empire-builder in North India of the sixteenth century.” [1989, 20m]

2. Comment on the Turko-Mongol theory of sovereignty. To what extent was it adopted by Babur and Humayun? [2010, 30m]

The Sur Empire: Sher Shah’s administration

1. Examine the major contributions of the Sur rulers to the administrative system. [1981, 20m]

2. Bring out the significance of the reign of Sher Shah in the history of India. [1986, 60m]

3. Make a comparative review of the agrarian reforms of Alauud-Din Khalji and Sher Shah Suri. [1995, 60m] 4. Write a short essay on: “Sher Shah combined in himself qualities of lion and fox.” [1999, 20m]

Portuguese Colonial enterprise

1. Write a short essay on: “Portuguese control of the Indian Ocean and its impact.” [1992, 20m]

2. Write a short essay on: “Significance of the arrival of the Portuguese in India.” [2008, 20m]

3. How was cartaz system used by the Portuguese to maintain their control over the oceanic trade? [2014, 10m]

Bhakti and Sufi

1. What was the most significant contribution of Kabir and Guru Nanakdev to Bhakti movement? [1983, 20m]

2. Discuss briefly the causes that contributed to the religious movements of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Analyze their approach to the realities of contemporary life. [1985, 60m]

3. Write a short essay on: “Significance of the Bhakti Movement.” [1987, 20m]

4. Write a short essay on: “The Sufi Movement and its role in promoting communal harmony.” [2000, 20m]

5. Evaluate the impact of the Sufi and Bhakti Movements on vernacular languages and life and thought of the common people. [2001, 60m]

6. Write a short essay on: “Origin of the Bhakti Movement” [2002, 20m]

7. Write a short essay on: “Sufi Movements” [2003, 20m]

8. What impact did Kabir and Nanak leave on Indian Society and Culture? [2003, 60m]

9. Discuss the growth of the Niguna School of Bhakti Movement emphasising the contribution of Kabir and Nanak to it. [2004, 60m]

10. “The tenets of Hindu and Muslim mystics were similar enough that the ground was ripe for syncretic movements involving adherents of both religious.” Elucidate. [2005, 60m]

11. Write a short essay on: “Chaitanyadeva and Vaishnavism” [2005, 20m]

12. Write a short essay on: “Sufism in North India” [2006, 20m]

13. “The tenets of Hindu and Muslim mystics were similar enough that the ground was ripe for syncretic movements involving adherents of both religious.” Elucidate. [2007, 60m]

14. Assess the contribution of the Acharyas in the development of the ideological basis of Bhakti. [2012, 10m]

15. Discuss and evaluate critically various trends in the historiography of Bhakti. [2013, 15m]

16. Evaluate the Malfuzat texts sources of medieval history. [2013, 10m]

17. Bhakti and mysticism of Lal Ded emerged as a social force in Kashmir. Comment. [2013, 10m]

18. Evaluate the contribution of Vaishnava saints to the growth of medieval Bhakti literature. [2014, 10m]

19. “Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Islamic/Hindu societies to any appreciable extent.” Comment for/against. [2015, 10m]

20.  “Tantrism, if not in practice, at last on conception level challenged patriarchy.” Examine Tantrism specially keeping in mind the above context. [2015, 10m]

21. Why should the sixteenth century be regarded as the period of Indian Renaissance? [2015, 15m]