Reviewing the Class 8 SST Extra Questions and Class 8 SST Chapter 2 Reshaping India’s Political Map Extra Questions before exams can boost your confidence.
Reshaping India’s Political Map Class 8 Extra Question Answer
Extra Questions of Reshaping India’s Political Map Class 8
Reshaping India’s Political Map Class 8 Very Short Question Answer
Question 1.
What was Akbar’s sulh-i-kul policy?
Answer:
Akbar’s sulh-i-kul, meaning “peace with all,” promoted tolerance and equal respect for all faiths. Through this policy, he abolished the jizya tax, welcomed Hindus into administration and encouraged interfaith dialogue, helping to stabilise his diverse empire through inclusiveness.
Question 2.
What was the paik system of the Ahoms?
Answer:
The paik system was an arrangement where every able-bodied man in the Ahom kingdom served the state through labour or military duty in exchange for land rights. This enabled the construction of roads and forts and maintenance of a large force without a permanent salaried army.
Question 3.
Why is the Battle of Saraighat (1671) considered significant?
Answer:
The Battle of Saraighat is significant because the Ahom commander Lachit Borphukan, with approximately 10,000 soldiers, defeated a Mughal force of nearly 30,000 on the Brahmaputra River near Guwahati. It demonstrated that regional powers could successfully resist Mughal expansion through strategic use of terrain and guerrilla tactics.
Reshaping India’s Political Map Class 8 Short Question Answer
Question 1.
Describe Krishnadevaraya’s achievements as a ruler.
Answer:
Krishnadevaraya was the most celebrated Vijayanagara ruler who expanded the empire’s control over the Deccan through successful military campaigns. He patronised scholars and poets in Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada and authored the Telugu literary work Amuktamalyada. He made grants to temples including the Tirupati Temple and the Vitthala Temple, whose famous musical pillars reflect the empire’s architectural achievements. The Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes described his capital as one of the most prosperous cities in the world. His reign marked the peak of the Vijayanagara Empire’s power and cultural achievement.
Question 2.
How did the rise of Sikhism respond to Mughal persecution?
Answer:
Sikhism began as a peaceful spiritual movement under Guru Nanak in the 15th century. However, growing Mughal intolerance forced the community towards militarisation. After Guru Arjan was executed under Jahangir, his son Guru Hargobind introduced martial training and formed a Sikh army. When Guru Tegh Bahadur was publicly beheaded by Aurangzeb in 1675 for defending Kashmiri Pandits’ religious freedom, his son Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa in 1699 as a disciplined warrior community. Eventually, Maharaja Ranjit Singh unified the Sikh confederacies into a powerful empire in the early 19th century.
Reshaping India’s Political Map Class 8 Long Question Answer
Question 1.
How did the Mughal emperors maintain control over their vast empire? Explain with reference to Akbar’s administrative reforms.
Answer:
The Mughal emperors developed a strong administrative system supported by effective political strategies to govern their vast and diverse empire.
- The empire was divided into twelve provinces called subahs, each managed by key officers such as the Diwan (finance), Mir Bakhshi (military), Khan-i-Saman (public works) and Sadr (justice).
- Akbar introduced the mansabdari system in which officers were assigned ranks and required to maintain a fixed number of soldiers and animals. They were paid through jagirs (land grants), enabling a large army without a permanent standing force.
- Raja Todar Mal’s revenue reforms brought systematic land surveys, crop yield assessments and organised tax collection across the empire.
- Akbar’s policy of sulh-i-kul promoted religious tolerance by abolishing the jizya, forming Rajput alliances and appointing Hindu officials to key positions.
Thus, by combining efficient administrative structures with inclusive policies, the Mughal *emperors were able to maintain strong and lasting control over their vast empire.
Question 2.
Describe the various forms of resistance to the Mughal Empire. How did different communities contribute to challenging Mughal authority?
Answer:
Several communities and regional powers actively resisted Mughal authority, contributing to the gradual weakening of the empire.
- The Rajputs, led by Maharana Pratap, fought the Battle of Haldighati (1576) and continued guerrilla warfare from the Aravalli hills. He received significant support from the Bhils as archers and guides. During Aurangzeb’s reign, Durga Das Rathore also fought for Jodhpur’s independence.
- The Ahoms of Assam used their paik system and knowledge of the terrain to defeat a Mughal force of 30,000 with just 10,000 soldiers at the Battle of Saraighat (1671), under commander Lachit Borphukan.
- Communities such as the Jats, and tribal groups like the Gonds (under Rani Durgavati), Bhils, Santhals and Kochs resisted heavy taxation and attempts to control their territories.
- The Sikh community transformed into a martial force after the execution of Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa in 1699, which frequently clashed with Mughal forces.
Thus, resistance came from diverse communities across India, reflecting a widespread refusal to accept Mughal domination.
Reshaping India’s Political Map Class 8 Case Based Questions
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
1. A young emperor inherited a vast and diverse empire with people of many faiths and languages. Instead of ruling by fear alone, he decided to win his subjects’ trust through fairness and understanding. He met spiritual leaders from different religions to learn their ideas and values. He abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims and allowed freedom of worship across his empire. Scholars and artists were invited to his court, translating sacred books from Sanskrit into Persian. Temples, mosques and learning centres flourished side by side under his rule. His policy of “peace with all” became the foundation of his governance.
(i) Name the emperor described in this passage and the policy he followed to promote harmony.
Answer:
The emperor described is Akbar and the policy he followed was sulh-i-kul, meaning “universal peace” or “peace with all.” Through this policy, he promoted tolerance and respect for all religious communities.
(ii) How did this emperor’s approach towards religion help in strengthening his empire?
Answer:
Akbar’s religious tolerance helped strengthen his empire by winning the loyalty of diverse groups, particularly Rajput rulers. By abolishing the jizya, welcoming Hindu nobles into administration and encouraging interfaith dialogue, he reduced rebellions and built a more united and stable empire.
(iii) What lesson from this emperor’s governance is relevant for present-day society?
Answer:
Akbar’s governance teaches us that diversity can be a source of strength rather than division. In present-day society, promoting religious tolerance, inclusive policies and respect for different cultures can lead to greater social harmony and national unity.
Class 8 Reshaping India’s Political Map Extra Questions for Practice
Question 1.
Which ruler built the Sürya temple at Konark?
(a) Rana Kumbha
(b) Narasimhadeva I
(c) Krishnadevaraya
(d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
Question 2.
Rana Kumbha of Mewar is remembered for:
(a) Forming alliances with the Mughals
(b) Building the Kumbhalgarh Fort and resisting external incursions
(c) Establishing the Khalsa
(d) Introducing the mansabdari system
Question 3.
Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa in:
(a) 1675
(b) 1699
(c) 1707
(d) 1526
Question 4.
The Mughal currency system included the rupaya (silver) and:
(a) The tanka (gold)
(b) The dam (copper)
(c) The dinar (gold)
(d) The pana (bronze)
The following questions consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer these questions by selecting the correct option:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Question 5.
Assertion (A) : The Vijayanagara Empire faced no rivals in southern India.
Reason (R) : The Bahmani Sultanate and Gajapati rulers were its major rivals.
Question 6.
Assertion (A) : The Ahoms successfully resisted Mughal expansion in the Northeast.
Reason (R) : Their paik system enabled them to maintain a large military force and use guerrilla tactics.
Question 7.
Akbar’s doctrine of _______ promoted tolerance towards all religious communities.
Question 8.
The ________ was a written document that allowed merchants to transfer funds across political boundaries without carrying currency.
Question 9.
The Battle of Talikota was fought in the year
Question 10.
Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s introduction of token currency was a complete success.
Question 11.
The Bhils supported Maharana Pratap by serving as archers and guides through the Aravalli terrain.
Question 12.
Nearly two out of every three Delhi Sultans came to power by overthrowing their predecessor.
Question 13.
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
In a time when kingdoms expanded rapidly, one ambitious ruler introduced copper coins to replace costly silver, hoping to make transactions easier. However, the people began to make fake coins for personal gain. Markets grew confused because the copper coin’s value was uncertain and traders refused to accept it. The economy weakened and the ruler had to withdraw the coins from circulation. Though the idea failed, it revealed his forward thinking about currency and economic reform. Today, we may call this a ‘token currency’ – money whose value depends on government approval, not on the metal used.
(a) Name the ruler who introduced token currency. Why did he do so? (1)
(b) Why did the token currency experiment fail? (1)
(c) What lessons can modern governments learn from this ruler’s economic experiment? Give two points. (2)
Question 14.
What was the iqta system under the Delhi Sultanate?
Question 15.
Why is Lachit Borphukan remembered in Indian history?
Question 16.
What was the significance of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifice?
Question 17.
Explain how the Vijayanagara Empire rose and fell, with reference to the Battle of Talikota.
Question 18.
How did Indian society demonstrate resilience during the 11th to 17th century period despite continuous wars and political instability? Explain with examples from the chapter.
OR
Compare the administrative systems of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. How did Akbar’s reforms improve upon the Sultanate’s system?