History Model Questions

Indus Valley Civilization

1. ‘Both the beginning and the end of the IVC were not sudden’ do you agree. Give reasons.
2. Write the salient features of IVC with special reference to town planning.
3. ‘(By 1750 BC) what ended were cities of IVC but not the culture’. Elucidate.
4. Discuss the growth of Art and Architecture in IVC.

Vedic Civilization

1. Discuss the growth of religious and philosophical literature during Vedic age.
2. Discuss the significance /contribution /legacy of the Vedic culture and how it was different to the earlier civilization.
3. Give a brief account of the changes in the political system from Rig Vedic to Later Vedic period with special reference to the evolution of Monarchy.
4. Discuss the element of change between early vedic economy and later vedic economy. What role did iron lay in this change.
5. Discuss the social system of Vedic age with special reference to emergence and salient features of Varna system. Was it (Varna) so rigid in ancient period?

Pre-Mauryan Age

1. Trace out the Persian and Macedonian invasions and their impact over India.
2. ‘The differences between Monarchies and Republics of 6^th C BC are seen not only in politico-administrative sphere but in the whole way of life’. Discuss.
3. Describe the early state formation in Indo-Gangetic basin. Trace out the factors that led to ascendancy of Magadha.
4. Describe the factors that contributed to the urbanization in Indo-Gangetic basin. How it was different with early urbanization?
5. ‘Among many factors that led to the emergence of heterodox religion in 6^th C BC, the intensification of social stratification is the main one’. Do you agree?
6. Describe the factors responsible for the rise and growth of Buddhism and Jainism.

Mauryan Age

1. Discuss the comparative merits of Ashokan inscriptions over the literary evidences, as the source of information, for the study of Mauryan Empire.
2. Describe the principles of Ashoka’s Dhamma in the light of his edicts. Do you think that it is still relevant to the present society?
3. ‘The Mauryan art is the first imperial art in India’. Discuss.
4. Briefly discuss the administration of Mauryans with special reference to their foreign policy/ external relations.
5. To what extent Ashoka is responsible to the decline of Mauryan Empire.

Post-Mauryan / Pre-Guptan

1. Give an account of Sangam texts. To what extent they are useful to study the society of Tamilham in early centuries of Christian era. (South to Vengalam Hills to Kanyakumari – Tamilham i.e. three Tamil kingdoms)
2. Discuss the economic developments in post-Mauryan period with special reference to foreign trade and growth of urban centers.
3. Briefly discuss socio-religious conditions of India between 200BC to 300AD.
4. Describe chief Schools of Art developed in post-Mauryan period. How they were influenced by the contemporary economic-religious developments.

Guptan

1. Critically examine the conquests of Samudragupta in the light of Prayaga (Allahabad) prasasti.
2. Discuss the social conditions of the Guptan Age describing the position of common man and women.
3. Briefly describe the economy of the Guptan Empire with special reference to land grants and decay in urban centers.
4. Bring out the striking differences between Mauryan and Guptan administration. Do you find any feudal elements in Guptan administration?
5. Guptan age witnessed, if not golden age, classical age the history of ancient Indian. Examine the statement explaining the growth of literature, art and architecture in this period.