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Amity International School

Power Grid complex, Sec -43, Gurgaon
First Term Examination
History
Class XII
Time- 3 Hours Max Marks- 80

General instructions:

(i) Answer all the questions. Marks are indicated against each question.
(ii) Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part ‘A’ – Questions 1 to 3) should not exceed 30 words.
(iii) Answers to questions carrying 4 marks (Part ‘B’ – Section I & II – Questions 4 to 9) should not
exceed 100 words.
(iv) Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part ‘C’ – Questions 10 to 14) should not exceed 500
words.
(v) Part ‘D’ (Questions 15-17) has questions based on 3 sources.
(vi) Attach maps with the answer scripts (Part ‘E’).

Part – A (2X3=6)

1. Why was Mauryan Empire regarded as a major landmark in the early Indian history? 2
2. ‘By the eleventh century Sufism evolved into a well-developed movement.’ Give any two
examples. 2
3. Which dynasty did Krishnadeva Raya belong to? Mention any one of his expansion and
consolidation policies. 2

Part – B (4X5= 20)

SECTION I

Answer any five of the following questions:

4. Describe briefly how the centres of craft production are identified. 4

5. Explain the sources of reconstructing the histories of the Gupta rulers. 4
6. Why did Abu’l Fazl describe the land revenue as remuneration of sovereignty’? Explain. 4
7. Describe briefly the relationship between the Mughals and the Ottomans. 4
8. Describe briefly what the buildings that survive tell us about the way spaces were organized
and used in Vijayanagara. 4
9. ‘The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras also contained rules about the ideal occupations of
the four categories of Varnas.’Critically examine the statement. 4
Part- B
SECTION II (2+2= 4)

10.1 Explain the unique system of communication in India which amazed Ibn Battuta with
special reference to the Postal system.
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10.2. How far this postal system is relevant in contemporary India?

PART C (8x3= 24)

Long answer Questions

Answer any three of the following questions:

11. Examine the role of Panchayat as the main constituent of the Mughal Empire. 8
12. Describe some distinctive features of the Harappan culture. 8
13. Explain the significance of Kabir’s poems and the traditions he drew to describe the ultimate
reality. 8
14. Discuss the apogee and decline of Vijayanagar Empire. 8

PART D (7X3=21)
Passage Based Questions

15. Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
This is an excerpt from the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, part of the Sutta Pitaka: As the Buddha lay dying,
Ananda asked him: “What do we do Lord, with the remains of the Tathagata (another name for the
Buddha)?” The Buddha replied: “Hinder not yourselves Ananda by honouring the remains of the
Tathagata. Be zealous, be intent on your own good.” But when pressed further, the Buddha said: “At the
four crossroads they should erect a thupa (pali for stupa) to the Tathagata. And whosoever shall there
place garlands or perfume….or make a salutation there, or become in its presence calm of heart, that shall
long be to them for a profit and joy.”

a. Where has this excerpt been taken from? 1

b. Why did Buddha ask his followers to build stupas? 2
c. Describe the main structure of the stupa. 4
16. Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

An excerpt from Bernier’s description of the peasantry in the countryside:

“Of the vast tracts of country constituting the empire of Hindustan, many are little more than
sand, or barren mountains, badly cultivated, thinly populated. Even a considerable portion of
the good lands remains untilled for want of labourers; many of whom perish in consequence of
the bad treatment they experience from governors. The poor people, when they become
incapable of discharging the demands of their rapacious lords, are not only often deprived of
the means of subsistence, but are also made to lose their children, who are carried away as
slaves. Thus, it happens that the peasantry, driven to despair by so excessive a tyranny,
abandon the country.”
In this instance, Bernier was participating in contemporary debates in Europe concerning the
nature of state and society, and intended that this description of Mughal India would serve as a
warning to those who did not recognize the “merits” of private property.

a. Why did the peasantry abandon the land? 2

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b. Explain the reasons given by Bernier for the exploitation of the peasants. 3
c. How did his observations influence thinkers in Europe? Explain. 2

17. Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Here is an excerpt of a mantra from the Rigveda, which was probably inserted in the text c. 1000
B.C.E, to be chanted by the priest while conducting the marriage ritual. It is used in many
Hindu weddings even today: “I free her from here, but not from there. I have bound her firmly
there, so that through the grace of Indra she will have fine sons and be fortunate in her
husband’s love.” Indra was one of the principal deities, a god of valour, war and rain. “Here”
and “there” refer to the father’s and husband’s house respectively.

a. Where has this extract been taken from? 1

b. Who was Indra? 2
c. Which are the four forms of marriage acceptably by the Manusmriti? 4

Part ‘E’
Q18. On the given map of India, locate and name the following:
a. Rakhigadi
b. One major Mahajanapada which existed in 6th century BCE.
c. A new kingdom in South India in 2nd century BCE
d. Place where Buddha attained enlightenment
e. A Major Rock Edict of Asoka 5
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HISTORY -12
ANSWER KEY:

1. Land mark – due to spread from Kashmir to Modern Myanmar, administration

was depicted in inscriptions.
2. Faith of the ruler and the subjects, Policies of rulers towards Sufism
3. Taluvas Dynasty.
4. Presence of material remains, Remains of potteries
5. Inscriptions, Rock edicts, coins,Written materials etc
6. Provided security by the government, Fear of ant external aggression, main source
of revenue
7. Maintain free movement for pilgrims, export things, Mecca and Medina
8. Construction of Roads and Fortification, Temples and Palaces
9. Varna system an order by Brahmanas, Criticism of varna system
10. Efficiency of Postal service, send information and remit cards, goods reached in
short period, routes had inns and rest houses
11. Compostion of Panchayat, Functions of Panchayat, Authority of Panchayat
12. Features of Harappan culture- WellL planned city, Drainage system, Agriculture,
Great Bath , Citadel etc.
13. Early life of Kabir, Verses by Kabir, language used, diverse and conflicting ideas
14. Rise of Vijaynagar empire under Krishna deva Raya, His conquest and expansion,
Death of Krishna deva raya, Decline of the vijay nagar empire due to weak
successors.
15. Answers to passage based questions may vary.