Day: June 1, 2020

Assess the statement that ‘the philosophy of Shankaracharya revolutionised religious thoughts in India’. [UPSC, 2019]  ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: Adi Shankaracharya was an early 8th century Indian philosopher and social reformer who had lived during 8th century AD.  He was born in Kerala in a devout Brahman family. His philosophy had revolutionised religious thoughts in early Medieval […]

Q. Delineate the state of agriculture during Sultanate period. [UPSC, 2019]  ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: Sultanate period didn’t bring any radical change in the system of agriculture production. But coming of some new technology seem to have helped irrigation.There was spread of some market crops such as indigo and grapes. During 13-14th century Land-man ratio was very favourable. […]

Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in the better understanding of literary sources? Comment. [UPSC, 2019]  ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: Archaeology usually provides an anonymous history, one that sheds light on cultural processes rather than events. An ancient text does not necessarily offer a simple or direct reflection of the society of its time. Information […]

Q. Did the mastery over agriculture act as a leverage for the rise of Harappan towns and cities? Discuss. [UPSC, 2019]  ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: Harappans had agriculture including animal husbandry, hunting, fishing as its subsistence base which helped in its rise. (1) Agriculture It was the mainstay of the subsistence base. Given the area covered by […]

“There is no literary sources for the Harappan culture and no archaeological evidence for the Vedic period.” Comment. [UPSC, 2019]  ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: The Harappan Civilization emerged in northwestern regions of Indian subcontinent and lasted from about 2500 BCE to 1700 BCE. The Vedic Civilization is said to have started after a gap of few centuries […]

Q. The flourishing international trade during the Kushana period gave tremendous impetus to the development of art. Discuss. [UPSC, 2019]  ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: Kushana Period : Includes Rule of the Kushanas Rule of the Satavahanas Flourishing International trade : 2 parts Overland trade : India’s north-western borders connected to “Great Silk Road”. Trans-Oceanic trade : Indo […]

Q. “The effectiveness of the League of Nations to prevent or to check Japanese aggression against China was the first serious blow to its prestige as an agency for providing security.” Critically examine. [UPSC, 2019] ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organisation founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the […]

Is it justified to say that the Government of India Act of 1935 had all brakes, but no engine? [UPSC, 2019] ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: The Act of 1935 was condemned by nearly all sections of Indian opinion and was unanimously rejected by the Congress. The Congress demanded instead, the convening of a Constituent Assembly elected on […]

How would you explain the major trends of the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal? [UPSC, 2019] ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: The agitation against the partition had started in 1903, but became stronger and more organised after the scheme was finally announced and implemented in 1905. The initial aim was to secure the annulment of partition, but it soon […]

“The Cripps Mission was plagued throughout, and ultimately torpedoed.” Critically examine. [UPSC, 2019] ©selfstudyhistory.com Ans: As the war situation worsened during the second world war, President Roosevelt of the USA and President Chiang Kai-Shek of China as also the Labour Party leaders of Britain put pressure on Churchill to seek the active cooperation of Indians […]