Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries

Society: composition of rural society, ruling classes, town dwellers, women, religious classes, caste and slavery under the Sultanate, Bhaktl movement, Sufi movement;

Culture: Persian literature, literature In the regional languages of North India, literature in the languages of South India, Sultanate architecture and new structural forms, painting, evolution of a composite culture;

Economy: Agricultural production, rise of urban economy and nonagricultural production, trade and commerce.

History Optional PYQs: Society, Culture and Economy in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries [1985-2024]

1. Where, when and how did Urduoriginate?  Write short answer of not more than 200 words. (1985)
2. ‘The period of Delhi Sultans witnessed the emergence of Indo-Persian culture.’ Discuss the statement with reference to developments in the fields of language, literature, art and social life. (1986)
3. Write brief essay: Indo – Islamic architecture during the Khalji and Tughluq period. (1992)
4. Write brief essay on Meaning and features of the Maharashtra Dharma. (1994)
5. Growth of regional languages and literature during the medieval period. (1995)
6. Throw light on the Land Revenue System of Sultanate period. (1998)
7. Write brief essay- Amir Khusro was an eminent poet not a historian. (2000)
8. Give a critical assessment of the contributions of Amir Khusrau and Barani to Indo-Persian literature. (2009)
9. Identify the main factors that sustained the expansion of urban economy in the Delhi Sultanate. (2009)
10. Examine the increasing importance of maritime trade of India during thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. (2010)
11. Analyse the racialcomposition and the role of nobility under the successors of Iltutmish. How did it affect the contemporary politics? (2012)
12. Bhakti and mysticism of Lai Ded emerged as a social force in Kashmir. Comment. (2013)
13. Evaluate the Malfuzat texts as sources of medieval history. (2013)
14. Evaluate the conditions of industries in India from 1200- 1500 CE. (2013)
15. Critically evaluate the educational development during the Sultanate period.  (2013)
16. Evaluate criticallythe conditions of labour from 1200 – 1500 CE on the basis of historical sources. (2013)
17. Assess the Lekhapaddhati as an important source for evaluating the society and economy of the thirteenth century CE with special reference to Gujarat. (2013)
18. Evaluate the contribution of Vaishnava saints to the growth of medieval Bhakti literature. (150 words) (2014)
19. Trace the technological and stylistic development in the architecture of the Sultanate period. (2014)
20. “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)
21. Discuss in brief the land – revenue system and judicial administration of the Delhi Sultanate. (2015)
22. Evaluate the contents of the Tabaqat-iNasiri as a source of medieval history. (2016)
23. Delineate non – agricultural production and urban economy in the 13th and 14^th centuries C.E. (2017)
24. Discuss evidence on slavery provided by Ibn Batuta with special reference to female slaves. (2018)
25. Discuss the advancement made in Textile Technology under the Delhi Sultans. (2018)
26. Describe the new architectural features added by successive Sultans in the construction of Tombs in India. (2018)
27. Delineate the state of agriculture during the Sultanate period. (2019)
28. Critically evaluate the Muslim Nobility during the period of Tughlaq dynasty, (in 150 words) (2020)
29. How did international trade support urbanisation in North India during the 13- 14th century CE. (in 150 words) (2020)
30. Some new crafts production were introduced by the Turks. Comment.  (2020)
31. Identify the different categories of Persian Literature which emerged during the Delhi Sultanate, (in about 150 words) (2021)
32. The establishment of large number of urban settlements in North India in the thirteenth century was principally owing to the deployment of Turkish garrisons across the lands. Comment. (2022)
33. Compare and contrast the position of Hindu and Muslim women in 13th and 14th century India. (2024)