Question Bank — Cultural Currents: 13th to 17th Centuries

NCERT Class 8 Social Science · Chapter 15 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 15 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

  1. Which tradition became especially popular during the 13th to 17th centuries as a path to moksha without requiring rituals or priests?
    (a) Karma marga
    (b) Bhakti marga
    (c) Jnana marga
    (d) Raja yoga

  2. Kabir’s doha compares wheat being ground into flour with the unity of Ram and Rahim. What message does it convey?
    (a) Ritual differences are essential
    (b) All distinctions disappear when one realises the divine
    (c) Only one religion is true
    (d) Social barriers should be strengthened

  3. Who among the following was the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century?
    (a) Nur Jahan
    (b) Razia Sultan
    (c) Mirabai
    (d) Purandaradasa

  4. The Mughal garden design known as charbagh was inspired by which source?
    (a) Rigveda descriptions of udyana
    (b) Persian design representing rivers of Paradise in the Quran
    (c) Buddhist vihara layouts
    (d) Ancient Greek garden plans

  5. Tansen, one of the nine ratnas at Akbar’s court, was influenced by which tradition in some of his compositions?
    (a) Only Carnatic music
    (b) Sufi saint’s teachings
    (c) Buddhist chanting
    (d) Greek musical scales

  6. Assertion (A): Indian culture endured political instability and invasions between the 13th and 17th centuries.
    Reason (R): Indian society adopted or adapted the best of external cultural currents while retaining its core values and traditions.
    (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.

  7. Assertion (A): The Kerala School of Mathematics made pioneering contributions to calculus in the 14th–15th centuries.
    Reason (R): Madhava and his followers developed infinite series expansions for trigonometric functions and an exact value of π.
    (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.

  8. Which musical form was developed by Amir Khusro by fusing Indian, Persian and Arabic singing traditions?
    (a) Dhrupad
    (b) Qawwali
    (c) Kirtana
    (d) Patachitra

  9. In which region did the veil (ghunghat) become more widespread as a consequence of invasions from the 12th century onwards?
    (a) South India
    (b) Parts of north India
    (c) Kerala
    (d) Tamil Nadu

  10. The translation of 52 Upanishads from Sanskrit to Persian was undertaken by which Mughal prince?
    (a) Akbar
    (b) Dara Shikoh
    (c) Aurangzeb
    (d) Jahangir

Section B — Very Short Answer (6 questions, 2 marks each)

  1. Define bhakti marga as described in the chapter and state one reason for its renewed popularity in the 13th–17th centuries.
  2. Identify two bhakti saints from north India and state one key message each promoted.
  3. State any two common patterns observed in cultural developments during the period of political instability.
  4. Name the two main streams of Indian classical music that developed during this period and mention one region each.
  5. Identify one contribution of the Kerala School of Mathematics mentioned in the chapter.
  6. State two examples of Persian influence on Indian food or clothing during this period.

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

  1. Explain how the bhakti and Sufi traditions often overlapped and enriched Indian literature.
  2. Compare the themes depicted in Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings.
  3. Give reasons why education continued through decentralised systems like gurukulas and pathshalas despite the destruction of large universities.
  4. Explain the role of women such as Razia Sultan and Nur Jahan in public and political life.
  5. Describe how Indian music and dance-drama traditions evolved while retaining their core identity.

Section D — Long Answer (3 questions, 5 marks each)

  1. Analyse the causes and consequences of cultural continuity and adaptation in Indian society between the 13th and 17th centuries.
  2. Discuss the significance of the bhakti movement in promoting social equality and spiritual resilience during a period of political upheaval.
  3. Examine the contributions of Indian scholars in mathematics and science during this period and explain how knowledge traditions were preserved.

Section E — Source-Based (2 questions, 4 marks each)

Source 1

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.” — Mahatma Gandhi

(a) What does the quote suggest about Indian culture’s approach to external influences? (1 mark)
(b) Which chapter theme does this quote illustrate? (1 mark)
(c) Give one example from the chapter of Indian culture adopting or adapting external currents. (1 mark)
(d) How did this approach help Indian culture endure political instability? (1 mark)

Source 2

“kabā phir kāsī bhayā, Ram bhayā re Rahīm
moṭ chūn maida bhayā baiṭhi Kabīrā jīm”

(a) Who composed this doha? (1 mark)
(b) What everyday example is used in the doha? (1 mark)
(c) What message about unity does the doha convey? (1 mark)
(d) How did such compositions help connect people across religious lines? (1 mark)

▶ Answer Key Attempt all questions first,
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Section A

  1. (b)
  2. (b)
  3. (b)
  4. (b)
  5. (b)
  6. (a)
  7. (a)
  8. (b)
  9. (b)
  10. (b)

Section B

  1. Bhakti marga is the path of devotion to realise moksha without rituals or priests (1 mark); renewed popularity reflected cultural continuity and search for spiritual resilience amid upheaval (1 mark).
  2. Kabir — one God, against rituals of both religions (1 mark); Ravidas — equality and oneness of all, breaking varna-jati barriers (1 mark).
  3. Continuation of traditional practices; patronage by rulers of various backgrounds; active participation by all sections of society (any two, 1 mark each).
  4. Hindustani in the North (1 mark); Carnatic in the South (1 mark).
  5. Madhava’s series expansion for trigonometric functions and exact value of π as infinite series (any one point, 2 marks).
  6. Introduction of zari/zardozi and brocades in Banaras silk; naan, samosa and jalebi (any two examples, 1 mark each).

Section C

  1. Bhakti and Sufi traditions overlapped through shared ideas of devotion, inner search and unity; poets combined concepts from different religions; Sufis adopted yogic and Vedantic techniques (any three points, 1 mark each).
  2. Rajput paintings depicted traditional Hindu themes, beauty expressions like lotus, elephants, large-eyed women (1 mark); Mughal paintings showed secular themes — court scenes, portraits, landscapes (1 mark); both exchanged styles, techniques and colours (1 mark).
  3. Decentralised systems like gurukulas, mathas, temple schools and apprenticeships were local and flexible (1 mark); not affected by destruction of single large centres (1 mark); continued under local patronage and community support (1 mark).
  4. Razia Sultan led military campaigns, established educational institutions and appeared unveiled (1 mark); Nur Jahan issued royal orders, attended court and supported art and trade (1 mark); both exercised real political power despite restrictions (1 mark).
  5. Music and dance-drama remained integral with regional manifestations; Natyashastra traditions continued flexibly; dhrupad developed under Raja Mansingh Tomar; Carnatic music evolved independently; instruments like sitar and tabla adapted while retaining older repertoires (any three points, 1 mark each).

Section D

  1. Causes: political instability and invasions yet openness to external currents (1 mark); patronage by rulers and participation of all sections (1 mark). Consequences: new art forms, languages and music emerged while core traditions survived (1 mark); resilience shown in temple reconstruction and decentralised education (1 mark); significance: culture grew richer and adaptable (1 mark).
  2. Bhakti saints composed in local languages promoting love, compassion and equality (1 mark); broke rigid varna-jati walls and emphasised one God (1 mark); appealed across sections through songs, music and dance (1 mark); provided spiritual resilience and cultural unity (1 mark); connected with Sufi ideas of oneness (1 mark).
  3. Kerala School produced world-first infinite series for π and trigonometric functions (1 mark); Narayana Pandita’s Ganita Kaumudi; Nilakantha’s planetary model (1 mark); translations of Sanskrit texts into Persian preserved knowledge (1 mark); Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani systems continued (1 mark); significance: scientific temper survived political turmoil (1 mark).

Section E

Source 1

(a) Indian culture welcomed external influences while retaining its core (supported by the quote’s “blown about my house… refuse to be blown off my feet”).
(b) Cultural continuity and adaptation of external currents.
(c) Any one example such as fusion in music (qawwali), miniature painting styles, or food items like samosa.
(d) Allowed adoption of best elements while preserving identity, enabling survival through invasions.

Source 2

(a) Kabir (supported by the chapter’s attribution of the doha).
(b) Wheat ground into flour, where individual grains lose distinctions.
(c) When one realises the divine, all differences (Ram and Rahim) dissolve into oneness.
(d) Used everyday language and imagery accessible to common people, promoting unity across religious lines.

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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.