Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries: History Optional PYQs

Population, Agricultural and craft production;

Towns, commerce with Europe through Dutch, English and French companies: a trade revolution; Indian mercantile classes, banking, Insurance and credit systems;

Condition of peasants, condition of women;

Evolution of the Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth

History Optional PYQs: Economy and Society in the 16th and 17th Centuries [1985-2024]

1. Write short answer of not more than 200 words: The Mughals and the European trading companies. (1989)
2. Analyse the distinguishing features of the land revenue system under the Mughals and point out its influence on the strength of the Mughal State. (1989)
3. Write brief essay on Mughals and the British East India Company. (1994)
4. Do you agree with the view that the advent of the Turks and the Mughals in India heralded many changes in the means of production? Give reasons in support of your answer. (1995)
5. Give your opinion on the urban development in India during the Mughal times. (2005)
6. Examine the factors which were responsible for opening and development of European trade in India during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. (2006)
7. Delineate the striking features of agricultural and craft production during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in India. How did they impact the social fabric of the country? (2008)
8. Write short essay: Estimates of population of Mughal India. (2009)
9. Critically evaluate various approaches to study medieval Indian towns. (2010)
10. Discuss different types of Karkhanas in Mughal India. How was the production organized in the Karkhanas? (2010)
11. State the structure of medieval village society in Northern India. What were the passive forms of resistance of the peasants in the medieval period? (2012)
12. Medieval Indian towns were merely an extension of villages. Comment. (2012)
13. Give a sketch of Indian trade with Europe during the Mughal period. (2013)
14. On the basis of the accounts of Europeans bring out the agrarian crisis of the 17^th century CE India. (2013)
15. Analyse the Mughal monetary system and examine their policy of minting of coins. (2014)
16. Will it not be correct to say that the rural economy in Mughal India was relatively self-sufficient? (2015)
17. “India had been for hundreds of years the Lancashire of the Eastern world.” Critically examine this view. (2014)
18. Assess the condition of peasantry during 13^th to 17^th centuries C.E. (2017)
19. “An important feature of agriculture in Mughal India has been the large number of crops raised by the peasants”. Illustrate by giving examples. (2018)
20. The emergence of early capitalism in the Mughal period was primarily due to urbanisation and commercialisation. Comment. (2019)
21. Trade and commerce in the Mughal Empire brought about the integration of the Indian subcontinent into a single market. Comment. (2022)
22. Highlight the features of the Portuguese colonial enterprise. (2024)
23. Examine the process of urbanization caused by the establishment of European trading companies in India. (2024)

Evolution of the Siky Community and the Khalsa Panth

1. Write short essay on Evolution of the Khalsa Panth. (2008)
2. The religion of the Sikhs was the main force of their unity. Comment. (150 words) (2017)
3. Discuss the transformation of Sikh community from a Nirguna Bhakti sect into a politico-military organization. (2021)
4. Analyze the rise of the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh. (2023)