Class 12 History 2018 Board Exam

Describe the basis on which archaeologists identified the centres of craft production in the Harappan culture.

"There are indications of complex decisions being taken and implemented in the Harappan society." In light of this statement, explain whether there may have been rulers to rule over the Harappan society.

Describe the economic and social conditions of the people living in rural areas from c. 600 BCE to 600 CE.

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
"Proper" Social Roles
Here is a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata :
Once Drona, a Brahmana who taught archery to the Kuru princes, was approached by Ekalavya, a forest-dwelling nishada (a hunting community). When Drona, who knew the dharma, refused to have him as his pupil, Ekalavya returned to the forest, prepared an image of Drona out of clay, and treating it as his teacher, began to practise on his own. In due course, he acquired great skill in archery. One day, the Kuru princes went hunting and their dog, wandering in the woods, came upon Ekalavya. When the dog smelt the dark nishada wrapped in black deer skin, his body caked with dirt, it began to bark. Annoyed, Ekalavya shot seven arrows into its mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery. They tracked down Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of Drona.
Drona had once told his favourite student Arjuna, that he would be unrivalled amongst his pupils. Arjuna now reminded Drona about this. Drona approached Ekalavya, who immediately acknowledged and honoured him as his teacher. When Drona demanded his right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before. Thus, Drona kept his word : no one was better than Arjuna.
(14.1) Why did Drona refuse to have Ekalavya as his pupil ?
(14.2) How had Drona kept his word given to Arjuna ?
(14.3) Do you think Drona's behaviour with Ekalavya was justified ? If so, give reason.

Trace out the growth of Buddhism. Explain the main teachings of Buddha.
OR
Trace out how stupas were built. Explain why the stupa at Sanchi survived, but not at Amravati.

"Ibn Battuta found cities in the Indian subcontinent full of exciting opportunities." Explain the statement with reference to the city of Delhi.

"Sufism evolved as a reaction to the growing materialism of the Caliphate as a religious and political institution." Elucidate.

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow :
Colin Mackenzie
Born in 1754, Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer. In 1815 he was appointed the first Surveyor General of India, a post he held till his death in 1821. He embarked on collecting local histories and surveying historic sites in order to better understand India's past and make governance of the colony easier. He says that "it struggled long under the miseries of bad management ... before the South came under the benign influence of the British government." By studying Vijayanagara, Mackenzie believed that the East India Company could gain "much useful information on many of these institutions, laws and customs whose influence still prevails among the various Tribes of Natives forming the general mass of the population to this day."
(15.1) Who was Colin Mackenzie ?
(15.2) How did Mackenzie try to rediscover the Vijayanagara Empire ?
(15.3) How was the study of the Vijayanagara Empire useful to the East India Company ?

Explain the sources of revenue of Village Panchayats during the Mughal rule in India.

Explain why the nobility was recruited from different races and religious groups by the Mughal rulers in India.
OR
Explain the role played by women of the imperial household in the Mughal Empire.