Practise Class 8 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 2 – Reshaping India’s Political Map with this NCERT worksheet. Prepare more with important questions and revision exercises designed to strengthen understanding, improve practice and support effective preparation for class tests and examinations.
Class 8 Social Science
Exploring Society: India and Beyond
Chapter 2 – Reshaping India’s Political Map
Fresh Practice Worksheet
Instructions:
Answer all questions carefully. Write in simple and complete sentences.
Use the map and space provided wherever required.
🟦 A. Very Short Answer Questions
1. What is meant by the term “medieval” in this chapter?
2. Which dynasty established the Delhi Sultanate in 1206?
3. Who founded the Vijayanagara Empire?
4. In which year was the Bahmani Sultanate established?
5. Who attacked Delhi in 1398?
6. Who founded the Mughal Empire in India?
7. Who fought in the First Battle of Panipat?
8. Who was Krishnadevaraya?
9. Who was Maharana Pratap?
10. Who was Lachit Borphukan?
🟩 B. Fill in the Blanks
1. The Delhi Sultanate was established in ________.
2. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in ________.
3. The First Battle of Panipat took place in ________.
4. The Battle of Talikota was fought in ________.
5. The Battle of Haldighati was fought between the forces of Akbar and ________.
6. The Battle of Saraighat was associated with the ________ kingdom.
7. Guru Gobind Singh founded the ________ in 1699.
🟨 C. Match the Following
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Ala-ud-din Khilji | a. Battle of Saraighat |
| 2. Harihara and Bukka | b. Vijayanagara Empire |
| 3. Babur | c. Delhi Sultanate |
| 4. Lachit Borphukan | d. First Battle of Panipat |
| 5. Guru Gobind Singh | e. Khalsa |
| 6. Krishnadevaraya | f. Vijayanagara |
🟧 D. Short Answer Questions
1. How did foreign invasions reshape India’s political boundaries?
2. What were the main dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate?
3. Why was Ala-ud-din Khilji interested in expanding his empire?
4. What problems were caused by Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s decision to shift the capital?
5. What was the importance of the Vijayanagara Empire?
6. Why was the Battle of Talikota important?
7. What role did geographical conditions play in the success of the Ahom kingdom?
8. What was the importance of the Khalsa?
9. What was the mansabdari system?
10. What was the role of trade and traders during this period?
🟪 E. Think and Answer
1. Looking at Fig. 2.6, why do you think Ala-ud-din Khilji called himself ‘the second Alexander’?
2. What kind of resources do you think were needed to maintain an army and wage war in those days? Discuss in groups the various types of expenditure involved, from weapons or food for soldiers to animals used in warfare, road construction, etc.
3. Why do we use the term ‘image’ rather than common terms like ‘idol’ or ‘icon’?
4. Do you think it would have been an easy task to bring together 75 leaders in those days?
5. Why do you think such locations were chosen for many of the medieval forts? Discuss pros and cons.
6. Can you guess what these three terms might mean: Narapati, Ashwapati and Chhatrapati?
7. In Fig. 2.14, what elements do you observe? What do they tell you about life then?
8. What strikes you in Babur’s impressions of India? Discuss in groups.
9. Why do you think Akbar employed different strategies to expand his empire, while the earlier rulers of Delhi relied mostly on military might?
10. Compare the maps in Figs. 2.3, 2.12 and 2.16. What differences do you notice? What is the ‘reshaping’ that has occurred?
11. We saw above that Delhi sultans’ average reign lasted about nine years. This figure becomes 27 years in the case of Mughal emperors up to Aurangzeb; and 16 years if we consider all Mughal rulers, up to the end of the empire in the 19th century. What do you make of these numbers of years of reign?
12. What do these words tell us about Aurangzeb? How do you feel about them?
🟥 F. Geography and Warfare
1. How did rivers, hills and forests help the Ahoms defend their kingdom?
2. How did the geography of the Deccan influence the rise of different kingdoms?
3. Why were forts often built at strategic locations?
4. How could geographical knowledge help an army during warfare?
🟦 G. Administration and Economy
1. What was the iqta system?
2. What were the main responsibilities of the Diwan and Mir Bakhshi?
3. What was a jagir?
4. How did Todar Mal’s revenue system help the Mughal administration?
5. What was a hundi?
6. Name some important goods traded during this period.
🟩 H. Society and Culture
1. How did agriculture support the economy?
2. How did irrigation help farmers?
3. What role did temples play in the economy and society?
4. What values did the Sikh Gurus and the Khalsa embody?
5. How are the values of equality, seva and justice relevant today?
🟪 I. Chapter Questions and Activities
1. Compare the political strategies of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. What similarities and differences existed between them?
2. Why did kingdoms like the Vijayanagara Empire and the Ahom Kingdom manage to resist conquest for a longer time compared to others? What geographical, military, and social factors contributed to their success?
3. Imagine you are a scholar in the court of Akbar or Krishnadevaraya. Write a letter to a friend describing the politics, trade, culture, and society you are witnessing.
4. How come Akbar, a ruthless conqueror in his young days, grew tolerant and benevolent after some years? What could have led to such a change?
5. What might have happened if the Vijayanagara Empire had won the Battle of Talikota? Imagine and describe how it could have changed the political and cultural history of south India.
6. Many values promoted by early Sikhism, including equality, seva, and justice, remain relevant today. Select one of these values and discuss how it remains relevant in contemporary society.
7. Imagine you are a trader in a port city (Surat, Calicut or Hooghly). Describe the scenes you see as regards goods, people you trade with, movement of ships, etc.
🟨 J. Timeline Practice
Arrange the following events in chronological order:
- Battle of Haldighati
- First Battle of Panipat
- Establishment of Vijayanagara Empire
- Battle of Talikota
- Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate
- Battle of Saraighat
- Arrival of the Portuguese
- Establishment of the Khalsa
🟧 K. Map-Based Practice
1. On an outline map of India, mark and label Delhi.
Paste / draw an outline map of India here
2. On the map, mark the region associated with the Vijayanagara Empire.
Paste / draw an outline map of India here
3. Mark the region associated with the Ahom Kingdom.
Paste / draw an outline map of India here
4. Mark the location of Mewar.
Paste / draw an outline map of India here
📝 L. Quick Revision Challenge
1. Name any three dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate.
2. Name two important battles mentioned in the chapter.
3. Name two kingdoms that successfully resisted powerful empires.
4. Name two important rulers discussed in the chapter.
5. Name two important trade centres mentioned in the chapter.
6. Write three important values associated with early Sikhism.
7. Write three factors that could help a kingdom resist invasion.
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